Religion Briefs : Church Plans Prayer Workshop

* St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Thousand Oaks will hold a centering prayer workshop today from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Rev. Martin O’loghlen, a colleague of Thomas Keating, will teach this transdenominational method of silent intimacy with God.

No reservations are required. A $15 fee will be asked, though some scholarships are available. Late arrivals are welcome.

St. Patrick’s is at 1 Church Road, near the Thousand Oaks Library. For information, call 495-6441.

Church to Hold Swing Dance

* Fillmore’s First United Methodist Church will hold a swing dance today. Music will be provided by the LeRoy Andrews Trio, along with the jazz vocal group Section 8.

The dance gets underway at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome and admission is free, Pastor Abe Lara said.

First United Methodist is at 421 Sespe Ave. For information, call Lara at 524-4814 or LeRoy Andrews at 642-3288.

Special Blessing for Couples

* Married couples will be given a special blessing during Mass on Sunday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard. Sunday is World Marriage Day as well as Valentine’s Day.

An afternoon of prayer and spiritual reflection in English or Spanish will be offered to all married couples from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Condon Center. Babysitting is available. Call Sister Mary Ann at 486-7301 for reservations or information.

St. Anthony’s is at 2511 South C St.

Series About Love Continues

* Interfaith Church for Today will hold a special Valentine service Sunday morning. The Rev. Giff Smith will continue his “Isn’t Love Wonderful” series.

The church meets at 10 a.m. at the Thousand Oaks Inn’s garden room, 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., for worship, Sunday school and nursery care.

For more information, call 379-9336.

Bible Institute to Open at Church

* The Channel Islands Bible Institute will open its doors Monday on the grounds of Nyeland Community Church in Oxnard, said Troy S. Welch, senior pastor at the church.

“The unusual thing with this new school is that there will be no registration or tuition fees for those desiring Christian college and seminary training,” said Welch, who will serve as the institute’s first president.

The school will begin without accreditation and be open to all, regardless of age or previous education, he said.

The first session will run Monday through May 21, with six course offerings in both day and night classes: Basic Bible Doctrines, New Testament Survey, Exposition of Ephesians, Basic Piano and Hymn Playing, New Testament Greek I and an internship program.

Welch also founded the California Bible Institute in Monrovia.

For a brochure or information, call 485-7072. The institute will be at 3326 Nyeland Ave.

Ash Wednesday Service Planned

* St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Newbury Park will hold an Ash Wednesday service this week at 6:30 p.m., followed by a soup supper.

St. Matthew’s congregants will hear the senior high youth group deliver the message “Got Faith?” on Feb. 21 at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Special music is planned for both services.

Child care and children’s classes are available during the second service, the Rev. Lynne Austin said.

The church is at 1360 Wendy Drive. Call 498-6910 for more information.

Course in Basic Judaism Offered

* Congregation K’hilat HaAloneem of Ojai is offering a free “crash course” in basic Judaism in five evenings, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Sponsored by the National Jewish Outreach Program, the course’s topics are “Belief in God,” “Prayer,” “The Sabbath,” “Jewish Observance” and “Sexuality.”

To enroll or for details, call 646-4464, class instructor Baruch Cohon said.

Classes will be held at 530 W. El Roblar Drive.

Discussion on Fatherhood

* At Ventura’s Temple Beth Torah, a discussion on fatherhood and related issues for the Reform Jewish man will be led by Rabbi Jeffrey Marx and sponsored by the Men’s Club at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The temple’s monthly Tot Shabbat service, a shorter service for young children, is set for 7 p.m. Friday.

The temple is at 7620 Foothill Road. Call 647-4181 for more information.

Jewish Academy Plans Lectures

* Conejo Jewish Academy will present a four-part lecture series on the Jewish response to some of today’s moral and ethical issues, beginning Thursday.

Jewish medical ethics will be the first topic in the series, with Rabbi Yosef Schusterman focusing on organ transplants and euthanasia Thursday.

On Feb. 25, business ethics will focus on “Kosher Business in the Marketplace,” featuring Rabbi Immanuel Schochet as guest speaker.

The March 4 lecture will address Jewish social ethics, particularly “the obligations we have to one another,” Rabbi Moshe Bryski said.

Justice Norman Epstein, a state appellate judge, will speak at the March 11 session on Jewish legal ethics, joined by Rabbi David Eleizri.

Fee for the series of lectures, all of which begin at 8 p.m., is $36. The Conejo Jewish Academy is at 30345 Canwood St., Agoura Hills. Call (818) 991-0991 for information.

Fish Fries Scheduled for Lent

* St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard plans fish fries each Friday during Lent, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Condon Center. The parents’ club will serve a dinner of a fish fillet, Tater Tots, coleslaw, roll and drinks for $5.50 per plate. Takeout orders are also available.

All parishioners are invited for food and fellowship. Lenten stations of the cross devotions are held on Fridays during Lent at 7 p.m.

Call 486-0018 for more information. The church is at 2511 South C St.

Tikvah Group Plans Service

* Tikvah Group Leisure Village will hold its next Shabbat service Friday. Tikvah meets the third Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Heritage House, 903 Carmen Drive, Camarillo. All are welcome.

For information, call 484-8129.

St. John’s Announces Luncheon

* St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oxnard will hold its women’s luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 20. Barbara Hudson will portray women of the Bible at the $5 luncheon.

A video called “Weigh Down,” about a Christian way to lose weight, will be shown.

Call 983-8119 for more information. St. John’s is at 1500 N. C St.

Solo Dramatist to Appear

* The women of Congregation B’nai Emet in Simi Valley invite adults to an evening with Roberta Randall, a solo dramatist, as she presents “A Woman of Independent Means” on Feb. 20.

Desert and coffee will be served at the 7 p.m. event. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12.50 at the door.

Call 581-3723 for reservations. B’nai Emet is at 4645 Industrial St., 2C.

Social Security to Be Discussed

* The Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura will hear the Rev. Dick Weston-Jones discuss Social Security at its Feb. 21 service.

Weston-Jones will speak at 9:15 and 11 a.m.

Lily Starobinets will play the piano. Religious education is available for all grade levels.

The church is at 4949 Foothill Road. Call 644-3898 for additional information.

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Religion Briefs run Saturdays. Please submit items at least a week in advance to Religion Briefs, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items, which must include a publishable telephone number, may be faxed to 653-7576.