Unitarian Church Holds Auction

Ventura’s Unitarian Universalist Church will hold a fund-raising auction at the church beginning at 5 p.m. today. “Hot Hawaiian Nights in Ventura” will be the theme and dinners, artworks and cultural outings will be auctioned.

Appetizers and the silent auction start the evening. The live auction begins at 7. Tickets are $5 at the door.

For more information, call 644-3898.

Unitarian Universalist Church is at 4949 Foothill Road.

Country Celebration at Church

The public is invited to Thousand Oaks’ Ascension Lutheran Church for Conejo Christian Country Celebration at 6 p.m. today and at 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. Sunday. Sunday school will be offered at 9:45 and 11 a.m.

Nursery care is provided at all services, and the church has handicapped access.

Call 495-0406 for more information.

The church is at 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive.

Church Plans Oktoberfest

The annual Oktoberfest celebration at Ojai’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is set for today on the church grounds.

A traditional German meal, a table of homemade baked goods, music, dancing and a silent auction will begin at 4 p.m. The day will close with dancing under the stars until 9:30 p.m.

Call 646-1885 for ticket reservations. A suggested fee of $10 for adults and $4 for children under 13 includes dinner and all activities.

St. Andrews is at 409 Topa Topa Drive.

Brotherhood to Offer Brunch

The Brotherhood will sponsor its first Sunday brunch of the year at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Ventura’s Temple Beth Torah. Areyh Cohen will speak on “A Robot Has No Brains--Computers vs. Classical Torah Commentary.”

The brunch costs $7 in advance or $10 at the door.

“A Taste of Judaism: Are You Curious?” is a three-part series that will be held at 7:30 p.m. on three consecutive Tuesdays starting this week and conducted by Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller.

On Wednesday, the temple’s social action committee will host the League of Women Voters in a presentation on the “Pros and Cons on the Propositions.” The public is welcome at the 6:45 p.m. event in the social hall.

A video profile, “A Tribute to Bella Abzug,” is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, also in the social hall.

Temple Beth Torah is at 7620 Foothill Road.

For more information, call the office at 647-4181.

Sermon in Song and Word

Camarillo’s United Methodist Church will present “Man of La Mancha,” a sermon in song and word, at its 9 and 10:30 a.m. worship services Sunday.

The church is at 291 Anacapa Drive. Child care is available at both services.

For information, call 482-4312.

Discussion on Quakerism

How Quakerism began and where it is going will be the topic of a Unitarian Group of Ojai discussion Sunday.

The public is invited to attend the 10 a.m. meeting at Grey Gables, 701 N. Montgomery St. in Ojai. The Rev. W. Norman Cooper, who has taught religion around the world, will lead the discussion.

For more information, call 640-9838.

Lecture on Sin and Character

Marjorie Suchocki, vice president of academic affairs and dean at Claremont School of Theology, will discuss sin and its relationship to character at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks at 10 a.m. Monday.

Suchocki is widely known and published in the field of religious study. Her publications include “The Fall to Violence” and “The End of Evil,” plus dozens of articles.

The discussion will be held in Samuelson Chapel.

For more information, call the school at 493-3151.

Cal Lutheran is at 60 W. Olsen Road.

Series on Old, New Testaments

An Old Testament series, “The Historical Books,” will be presented by Sister Karen Wilhelmy on Tuesdays from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m. at St. Anthony Church in Oxnard.

The New Testament series will be held Wednesdays at the same hours.

Mass times are at 5:15 p.m. Saturdays and 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. in English and at noon and 1:30 p.m. in Spanish on Sundays.

Call 486-7301 to register or for more information.

St. Anthony is at 2511 South C St.

Israel 50th Anniversary Event

A multimedia extravaganza culminating the milestone year of Israel’s 50th birthday will be presented Thursday at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance will sponsor the event, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

Singer Chava Alberstein, the Re’im duo and songwriter Craig Taubman will be featured in the evening’s celebration.

Ticket prices range from $18 to $125 and may be purchased from community sponsors, Ticketmaster or the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza box office.

For more information, call (818) 464-3200.

Cal Lutheran Plans Founders Day

New convocators will be introduced at Cal Lutheran University’s Founders Day Convocation at 10 a.m. Friday at the college’s Samuelson Chapel.

In addition, the Rev. Rudolph Featherstone, professor of cross-cultural theological studies at Trinity Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, will speak on Cal Lutheran as a character-building community.

Founders Day also serves as the annual meeting of university supporters who represent the church, faculty, students and community.

The Founders Day service will be open to the public. For information, call 493-3936.

Cal Lutheran is at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.

Camarillo Temple Festivities

In honor of Simchat Torah, JFC Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo is throwing a party with Israeli dancing, singing and the traditional ingredients of a Simchat Torah celebration. The festivities get underway after the 7 p.m. Friday Shabbat service at the temple. All are welcome to attend the free event, said Rabbi Kenneth Milhander.

Torah study with the rabbi will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 24.

The temple is at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D.

For more information, call the temple at 388-3824.

Unity Center Offers Workshops

The Unity Center Church of Agoura Hills will hold several free Friday night workshops during October.

All workshops begin at 7 p.m. at the Westlake Village Community Room at the City Hall and library, 4373 Park Terrace Drive, Westlake Village.

On Oct. 23, Oestmann will lead “Prosperity’s Ten Commandments,” which she described as “a workshop in which you will learn to see abundance everywhere, especially in your own life.”

An introduction to Oriental feng shui principles, used as a guide in selecting and placing elements in a harmonious space, will be led by Charlo Stuart on Oct. 30.

Church Plans Boutique, Lunch

Ventura’s First Christian Church will hold its annual boutique and luncheon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 24.

Handcrafted items, decorations, jams, pickles, baked goods and candies will be sold. A $5 lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost for children under age 10 is $1.50.

First Christian Church is at 38 Teloma Road.

For more information, call 642-4146.

Gifts and Crafts at Oxnard Church

A women’s fall boutique featuring gifts, crafts, jellies and baked goods will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at Oxnard’s First Presbyterian Church.

For more details, call the office at 983-0204.

The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive.

Temple Offers Evening of Fun

Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will hold Monte Carlo night Oct. 24, with games of chance, prizes, a raffle, dinner and an auction scheduled. The $25 ticket includes dinner and $1,000 in fun money.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and the casino will open at 7. Proceeds will support the temple’s youth programs.

For more information or reservations, call 497-6891.

Temple Etz Chaim is at 1080 Janss Road.

New Series of Evening Classes

The Conejo Valley Consortium for Adult Jewish Education is offering a new series of evening classes in Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills.

“Jewish Home Depot” with Rabbi Nina Feinstein begins Oct. 27 at Temple Beth Haverim, also at 7:30 p.m.

On Oct. 28, “Eco-Kosher and Feng Shui” combines Chinese environmental science and Jewish sensibilities at Temple Etz Chaim.

At Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks, “Carnal Israel: Gender, Love and Marriage in Ancient Israel” will be held weekly at 7:30 p.m. beginning Oct. 29.

Class fees range from $10 to $45.

Temple Beth Haverim is at 5126 Clareton Drive, Suite 140. Temple Etz Chaim is at 1080 Janss Road. Temple Adat Elohim is at 2420 E. Hillcrest Drive.

For information on all classes, call Maxine Meyer at the Jewish Federation at (818) 464-3230.

Congregation Notes Anniversaries

Congregation B’nai Emet in Simi Valley will hold a celebration Nov. 6-8 to mark its 20th anniversary and Israel’s 50th anniversary.

A special Shabbat service Nov. 6 will be followed by Israeli dancing.

Events Nov. 7 will include a gala with food, dancing, auctions and entertainment. A Jerusalem fair will culminate the weekend at the preschool at 3050 Kadota St. with games, a Chanukah bazaar and food.

Call 581-3723 for information and location of events.

B’nai Emet is at 4645 Industrial St., 2C.

Society to Hold Rummage Sale

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Thousand Oaks’ St. Paschal Baylon Church is preparing for its annual rummage sale on the church grounds Nov. 6 and 7.

Proceeds will help those in need.

“Over the past five years, we have helped more than 600 individuals and families in this area,” said society President Don Zweng.

Donations of items may be dropped off at the church hall Nov. 5.

The church is at 155 E. Janss Road.

For information on donating or requesting help for families in the area, call 496-0222, ext. 109.

New LDS Bishops Selected

David G. Black has begun a term as bishop of the Oxnard second ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He replaces Steve Davis, who served as bishop for eight years.

Paul B. Lewis has been named as the new bishop of the Camarillo first ward. Lewis replaces Thomas Martin. Lewis will be assisted by John Maddux as first counselor and John Parker as second counselor.

Camarillo’s fifth ward also has a new bishop. Rob Olson replaces former Bishop Robert Bell. Olson will be assisted by Robert Speakman as first counselor and Peter Lassen as second counselor.

For more information, call Howard Hamilton, director of public affairs for the Camarillo LDS church at 484-3920.

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