Seminar on Self-Esteem and Stress

The Women’s Ministries of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks invites the public to a seminar today featuring Christian speaker Kathy Collard Miller talking about self-esteem and stress.

Registration is $10 and includes lunch. The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Child care will be provided.

The seminar will be held at Founders’ Hall, behind the main sanctuary of Ascension Lutheran Church at 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive. The office phone number is 495-0406.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Buddhist Family Service, Halloween Party

The Oxnard Buddhist Temple (Nishi-Honwanji) Dharma School family service will be held at 4 p.m. today at the temple at 250 S. H St. The Rev. John Iwohara from the Vista Buddhist Temple will deliver the dharma message. After the service, Sangha Teen will present a Halloween party at the social hall.

Sunday’s adult assembly will feature the Rev. Kay Nakagawa leading the Shinshu (Nembutsu) practice with the aid of the translated sutras at 10 a.m. For information about the temple or its services, call 483-5948.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Forum Calls to People of All Faiths

The Faith Connection has scheduled its next interfaith meeting for Tuesday in Oxnard.

“At our last meeting we had Muslims, Religious Scientists, Catholics, Protestants--literally, people of all faiths from throughout the county in attendance,” said spokesman Larry Tyler-Wayman, who is the regular minister of the North Oxnard United Methodist Church.

Faith Connection aims to bring together all of Ventura County’s congregations and community groups to “act as a clearinghouse and create a forum for health and wholeness. We provide a contact to learn what other faith groups are doing in the county to help those who’ve been hurt by alcohol, tobacco, drugs or affected by violence,” he said.

“We can put together a vigil very quickly whenever a tragedy occurs, particularly when one young person kills another. We bring support to neighbors and the family affected.”

Tyler-Wayman said anyone interested is welcome to attend the October meeting at North Oxnard United Methodist Church, 1801 Joliet Place, from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 485-0778 or 983-2572.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Evangelist to Be Guest at Sonrise Service

Evangelist Dick Mills will be the guest speaker at a special service Wednesday at Sonrise Christian Fellowship in Simi Valley.

Mills is the author of seven books and a contributor to the “Spirit-Filled Life Bible.” His goal is to “encourage and motivate people to a higher level of commitment to God,” said David Wilkinson of the fellowship.

The service is free and open to the public. Sonrise Christian Fellowship is at 2350 Shasta Way. For information, call 581-1628.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Dinner Dance Set for Temple’s Bar Mitzvah

A gala black-tie-optional dinner dance and silent auction will be held at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel to celebrate the bar mitzvah, or 13th birthday party, of Temple Beth Haverim, a conservative congregation in Agoura Hills. The temple serves the Conejo and west San Fernando valleys.

Festivities will start at 6:30 p.m. with the auction, followed by dinner and entertainment. The cost is $75 per person and reservations must be made by Nov. 1. The temple is at 5126 Clareton Drive. Call (818) 991-7111 for information.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Jewish Academy Offers Adult Classes

Fall semester adult education classes at the Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills begin Nov. 3. Classes include “Living Judaism,” the Kabbala, the Talmud, prayer series, six days of creation, Chodesh women study group and “Art of Shabbat.”

To make reservations for any of the above or for a brochure, call (818) 991-0991. The academy is at 30345 Canwood St.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Mr. Blackwell to Join in Temple’s Gala

Mr. Blackwell, famed for his “Worst Dressed List,” will be joined by comedians, a magician and Temple Adat Elohim’s own cantor, Michael Anatole, all of whom will entertain at the Thousand Oaks temple’s first gala in its new social hall on Nov. 8.

“The community is invited to share a delectable meal prepared and served by the ‘crew’ of Temple Adat Elohim,” said member Gloria Meyerson.

The temple and social hall are at 2420 E. Hillcrest. Tickets for the event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., are $25. For information, call 497-7101.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Spiritual, Social Event Keyed to Disabled

The west county Handicapables meeting, open to people of all faiths, will be held Nov. 15 at St. Anthony’s parish hall, 2511 South C St., in Oxnard. Transportation by wheelchair-accessible van is available by making a reservation.

“It’s a day of spiritual and social enrichment for the physically disabled,” said member Armand Mueller.

Registration is at 11 a.m., followed by an optional Mass. Lunch and entertainment are also part of the get-together and are free.

For more information, call the Ventura Catholic Charities office at 643-4694, the Oxnard office at 486-2900 or Ed Conway at 499-4437.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.

Council of Churches Dialogue Series Set

“Packing for the Millennium--What Should You Take With You?” is the title of an ecumenical dialogue series hosted by St. John’s Seminary and College in Camarillo. This is the 14th annual series sponsored by the Ventura County Council of Churches. The topic for the Nov. 19 discussion will be “Media & the Church: What Shapes Our Faith and Values?”

Patrick Mitchell, a theology and philosophy professor at St. John’s, moderates the dialogues, which convene at 1:30 p.m. in the theology library’s salon room on the campus. The series has been planned by Mitchell, Jean Spencer and the Rev. Edwin Girod of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Camarillo.

The discussions are open to all. For information, call Mitchell at 482-2755 or Girod at 484-0553.

Religion Briefs is a weekly listing that runs each Saturday. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.