‘Healing From Baha’i Perspective’

Susan Beautiful-Bald Eagle will speak on “Healing From the Baha’i Perspective” today.

Eagle of Piru has lived and taught on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota.

Her talk begins at 7:30 p.m. at 5596 Hollings St., Ventura. The event is free and open to the public. Call 676-1606 or 644-6809 for more information.

Library to Host Spiritual Seminars

* A series of seminars on classic Christian practices for the cultivation of spiritual life is set for three Saturday mornings, beginning today at the Thousand Oaks Public Library.

Writer and radio host John McLarty will lead the sessions, which will address “the intersection of intellectual culture and the life of faith.” Rich DuBose will perform sacred folk music.

The seminars are free. Thousand Oaks Public Library is at 1401 E. Janss Road. For information, call 496-2684.

Churches to Swap Choirs, Speakers

* The annual “Pulpit/Choir Exchange” between Bethel A.M.E. Church and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, both in Oxnard, is planned Sunday at St. Paul’s when C. Jessel Strong of Bethel A.M.E. delivers the 10:15 a.m. worship message at St Paul’s, while St. Paul’s pastor, the Rev. Alan Gorsline, delivers the 11 a.m. worship service at Bethel A.M.E.

St. Paul’s Chancel Choir will also sing for the Bethel A.M.E. congregation, and the Bethel A.M.E. Choir will sing at St. Paul’s on Sunday morning.

Spanish-language church school for all ages will begin at noon. The Rev. Carlos Saavedra will lead the Spanish-language worship at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Rev. Harayushi Fujimoto will lead the Japanese-language worship service in the parlor, also at 2 p.m.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is at 1800 South C St. For more information on services, call Bethel A.M.E. Church at 486-6477 or St. Paul’s United Methodist at 487-2711.

Touring Choir to Perform

* The 40-person Lycoming College Tour Choir will perform at Bardsdale United Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The choir has performed throughout the United States, including at the White House in 1996, and in Europe and the Czech Republic. Its repertoire consists of religious and secular music, both traditional and contemporary.

The event is free. The church is at 1498 Bardsdale Ave., near Fillmore. For more information, call 524-2070.

Group for Returning Catholics

* St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Simi Valley invites all inactive or returning Catholics to the parish community’s Landings program.

“Landings is designed especially for people who may have felt rejection in the past related to the church, and, as a result, have become non-practicing,” said Landings Chairwoman Madeleine Sorensen.

The program begins Tuesday. For information about when and where Landings get-togethers are held, call Sorensen at 522-6107 or the rectory at 526-6499.

The church is at 5649 Pittman.

Open House at Christian School

* Simi Valley Seventh-day Adventist School will hold an open house Wednesday for parents seeking a kindergarten through eighth-grade Christian education, Principal Ed Phillips said.

The open house will run from noon to 7 p.m. at the school at 1636 Sinaloa Road. For information, call 583-1866.

Workshop to Focus on Sabbath

* A “World of Shabbat” workshop, sponsored by Chabad of the Conejo and the Council on Jewish Life is set for March 1 in Agoura Hills.

“The goal of the program is to focus on the elements of the Sabbath that take place in the home,” said Rabbi Yisroel Levine.

Admission, demonstrations and most crafts are free, as children and adults learn to create a challah cover, kiddush cup, candle holder, spice ball and havdallah candle.

The workshop will be held at Willow Elementary School, 29026 Laro Drive, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. For more information, call Chabad at (818) 991-0991.

Heschel Day School Offers Tours

* The two campuses of Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School West in Agoura will hold open house tours March 1 and 8.

The open houses will allow prospective students and their parents to “meet our faculty, tour our facilities and get to know our families,” said Marci Robinson of the school.

Children’s Wonderland kindergarten and transitional kindergarten tours will be offered between 1 and 3 p.m. at the campus at 27400 W. Canwood in Agoura. From 3 to 5 p.m., the first- through fifth-grade campus at 29646 Agoura Road will be open to tours.

For more information about touring either campus, call (818) 707-2365.

March Sermons to Focus on Faith

* “Lent, Journey of Faith” will be the March sermon series at Camarillo United Methodist Church.

“In this series, we will look at faith,” said the Rev. Jim Decker-Mahin. “Sometimes the choices we make are hard or do not bring the results we intend. Jesus models for us these choices of courage.”

Sunday services are held at 9 and 10:30 a.m.

The church is at 291 Anacapa Drive. For information, call 482-4312.

Taize-Style Service Planned

* A Taize-style ecumenical worship service of song, readings and silent prayer will be held March 1 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ventura at 196 N. Ashwood Ave.

“Taize services originated in Taize, France, the home of an ecumenical monastic community of monks, for whom contemplative prayer is at the center of life,” said Cecil Hoffman of the Ventura Contemplative Community.

The style of worship is the “sung prayer” or simple chants sung repeatedly. Instrumental accompaniment will be led by Ron Zell, music minister at Trinity Lutheran.

The service will begin at 6:45 p.m. For information, call 647-6831 or 642-7785.

Temple to Hold Purim Carnival

* Temple Beth Haverim will hold an all-day Purim Carnival on March 15 at Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills.

Attractions include rides, games, prizes, food, a petting zoo and musical entertainment, said Bobbi Rubinstein of the temple.

Cantor Kenny Ellis and Cindy Paley will perform “Di Gantze Megillah” and tell the Purim story. Admission is free to the event, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine.

The school’s address is 29026 Laro Drive. The conservative Temple Beth Haverim’s address is 5126 Clareton Drive. For more information, call Pam Katz at (818) 889-2501.

Temple Seeks Executive Director

* The Thousand Oaks Temple Adat Elohim is searching for an executive director to assist the needs of its growing membership, spokeswoman Gloria Meyerson said.

The temple has 600 families, Meyerson said, adding that the executive director will be the chief administrative employee of the congregation. His or her principal responsibility will be to implement policies set by the board of directors, Meyerson said.

The executive director will also take direction from the rabbi and collaborate on administrative matters. Inquiries should be made to Larry Levine at 496-0500.

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.