Aid Agency Planning Auction

The faith-based aid agency Project Understanding held its annual fund-raising dinner at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ventura on Friday night.

Members of about two dozen churches and synagogues in Ventura and Oxnard that are involved in Project Understanding’s assistance efforts discussed future projects at the dinner, such as the annual fund-raising auction, to be held Oct. 3 this year.

A special feature was a tribute to the ministries of Lynn and Virgil Nelson of Ventura, who have accepted a “call to serve” in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), said board member Kenmere Davidson. Between them, the Nelsons have worked with Project Understanding for 21 years. They will leave Ventura for language training in August before heading to Africa, where they will teach seminary students.

In the Nelsons’ honor, member Gene Cherry prepared a Congolese dinner of oxtail soup, mango salad and African fruit punch.

Project Understanding assists economically disadvantaged people with tutoring, transitional housing, emergency food, hot meals, counseling and a shower facility.

To donate items for the upcoming auction or obtain more information, call Rick Pearson at 652-1326.

Church to Mark Children’s Day

The annual Children’s Day celebration Sunday at St. Paul Baptist Church in Oxnard will include 8 and 11 a.m. worship services. The pastor’s choir will perform at 4 p.m.

Next month, a special week of activities will feature a cottage prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at Hueneme Beach Park.

Three nights of the Young People’s Revival kick off Aug. 19, when the children’s ministry will preside at 7 p.m. On Aug. 20, the youth ministry will direct the 7 p.m. revival, and on Aug. 21, the young adult ministry will lead the revival, also at 7 p.m.

An Aug. 22 praise festival with the inspirational choir is set for 11 a.m. in the church parking lot.

At the Youth and Young Adult Day on Aug. 23, Trina Winfrey will be the guest speaker at the 8 a.m. service. Winfrey is youth president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

St. Paul’s finance committee reminds members that its current goal is for 200 members to donate $28 each between now and the Aug. 23 service. For more information, call 487-1555. The church is at 1354 South C St.

5-Day Vacation Bible School

Bethel Christian Fellowship of Agoura Hills will host a vacation Bible school Monday through Friday at the church.

Children 5 through 12 are welcome to attend the school from 9 a.m. to noon.

The week will include Bible teachings, arts and crafts, and snacks. The cost per child is $20 for the week.

To enroll, call Jan Delia at 498-1215 or the church office at (818) 889-7215. Bethel Christian is at 5310 Derry Ave., Suite P. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Schedule for Sunday Worship

The summer Sunday worship schedule at Oxnard’s All Saints Episcopal Church begins with an 8 a.m. Rite I service, followed by a 9 a.m. Spanish service and a 10 a.m. Rite II service. Child care is provided from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

On Monday, a Christian spirituality prayer meeting will begin at 7 p.m. The computer club for all interested youths will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

All Saints is at 144 South C St. For more information, call 483-2347.

Church Plans Family Barbecues

St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church of Thousand Oaks will hold a summer outreach dinner and fund-raiser called “Friday Family Gourmet Barbecue” on several Friday evenings on the church grounds. Everyone is welcome.

The barbecue will offer a variety of entrees and side dishes, available to take out or eat on the premises. The barbecue will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, then weekly through Sept. 11.

Steaks, fish and chicken dinners, hot dogs and beverages will be on the menu.

The barbecue team works in tandem with the charitable group People to People, which has served thousands of meals to local needy and homeless people.

“We hope this will encourage a return to the family meal and help raise money for, and community consciousness of, some of the outreach programs to the needy in which St. Paschal Baylon participates,” said Msgr. Joseph George, pastor.

St. Paschal Baylon is at 155 E. Janss Road. For information, call 496-0222.

Commemoration Scheduled

Congregation Am Hayam in Oxnard will hold Tishah B’Av services Aug. 1 and 2 in members’ homes.

On Aug. 8, the synagogue’s second annual dessert social and art auction will begin at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $18 per person.

Regular Shabbat services, conducted by Rabbi Gerald Hanig during August, will be held at the Oxnard Monday Club, 1401 W. Gonzales Road. Friday evening services begin at 8 p.m.; Saturday services are at 10 a.m.

For details about services, High Holy Day tickets, activities or Hebrew school, call 656-6634.

Temple Plans Tishah B’Av Service

Thousand Oaks’ Temple Etz Chaim will hold a special service Aug. 1 to commemorate Tishah B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew calendar month of Av.

This remembrance of the destruction of two temples, one by Babylonians in the year 586 BCE, and the other by the Roman army in the year 70 CE, will include a day of fasting and refraining from festivities for many Jews.

Rabbi Shimon Paskow and Hazzan Jeff Cohen will conduct the 8 p.m. service, which will feature the traditional Mincha service, followed by Maariv and the chanting of the lamentations.

In addition, the temple will host open houses at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, Aug. 30 and Sept. 13. Prospective members are invited for a tour of the temple and the opportunity to meet with Paskow and Cohen.

The temple is at 1080 Janss Road. For more information, call the temple office at 497-6891.