St. John’s to Host Women’s Lunch

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

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 Perform

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” tonight.

Dessert 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.

Evening of Worship, Fellowship

The Camarillo Christian Singles Connection invites all single Christians to an evening of worship and dessert fellowship at Camarillo Christian Church at 5:30 p.m. today.

The church is at 1777 Arneill Road. Call 445-9932 for more information.

Japanese Culture and Language

Japanese culture and language school will be held from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Oxnard Buddhist Temple.

On Sunday at 1 p.m., a special Eshin’ni-ki service will celebrate the memory of Shinran Shonin’s wife, Eshin’ni-ko.

The service is also dedicated to past members of the Oxnard Buddhist Women’s Assn.

The temple is at 250 South H St. Call 483-5948 for more information.

Law Professor to Speak at Temple

Ventura’s Temple Beth Torah will host a lox and bagel brunch at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Law professor Roy Schneider will discuss ethical issues. The brunch is $7 in advance and $10 at the door.

At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Rabbi Seth Hochberg-Miller will lead a discussion titled “The Essentials of Judaism.”

Jewish Family Service of Ventura County will hold its second annual “Evening of Imagination” at 6:30 p.m. on March 6 at the temple.

The evening--which will include a catered gourmet dinner, entertainment that includes a magician, fortune teller and palm reader, and a silent auction--will benefit Jewish Family Service counseling programs, a free legal clinic and senior-to-senior peer counseling.

For reservations, call 641-6565. Temple Beth Torah is at 7620 Foothill Road.

Pastor to Speak on ‘Better Life’

Pastor James K. Bain will speak on “Keys to a Better Life,” based on Genesis 3:1-6, Sunday at Oxnard’s First Presbyterian Church.

A hobby fair with lunch will follow the worship service. Youth confirmation classes will begin at 11:30 a.m. Confirmation is scheduled for Palm Sunday.

Pastor Varre Cummins will lead the Monday adult Bible study class at 7 p.m.

First Presbyterian is at 850 Ivywood Drive. Call 983-0204 for more information.

Church Has New Meeting Site

Unity Center Church of Westlake Village now meets at Old Meadows Center, 1600 Marview, at 10 a.m. Sundays.

At 11:15 a.m. Sunday, “Conversations with the Rev. Irma Oestmann” will begin.

For more information about Unity, call 496-6901. Unity Center is affiliated with Unity School of Christianity in Unity Village, Mo.

Guest Speaker at Methodist Church

The guest speaker at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard on Sunday morning will be Dave Richardson, superintendent of the Santa Barbara District of the California Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Worship begins at 10:15 a.m. and is preceded by children’s, youth and adult school at 9 and praise time at 10 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., the annual potluck lunch and church conference will get underway.

Japanese-language ministry worships at 2 p.m. and Spanish language Sunday school begins at 1 p.m., with worship at 6 p.m.

The church is at 1800 South C St. Call 487-2711 for more information.

Church Service for New Members

Interfaith Church for Today in Thousand Oaks will hold a new member orientation service at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The church meets at the Thousand Oaks Inn garden room at 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Call 379-9336 for more information.

Social Security to Be Discussed

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

Jewish Academy to Hold Seminar

The Conejo Jewish Academy, in conjunction with Chabad of Malibu and Pacific Palisades, will host a weekend “Shabbaton” seminar at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Ventura Harbor from Friday through Feb. 28.

The weekend program, for the whole family, will offer kosher cuisine, lectures, classes, entertainment, singing and dancing.

Rabbi Immanuel Schochet will be the guest speaker.

For reservations or more information, call the academy in Agoura Hills at (818) 991-0991.

Council Plans Annual Assembly

The Ventura County Council of Churches invites the public to attend its annual assembly and

dinner meeting at the Ventura First United Methodist Church on Friday.

The choir from El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church of Santa Paula will sing.

The church is at 1338 E. Santa Clara St. in Ventura. Cost for the dinner is $10. To make reservations, call council Vice President Beverly Coakley at 485-3911.

1-Act Play at Ventura Church

“The Confession of Saint Patrick,” a one-act play written by St. Patrick, will be performed by Roger Nelson at 7 p.m. Friday at the Community Presbyterian Church in Ventura.

The one-hour performance will be in full Irish costume and will conclude with a reception.

The public is invited to the free performance, co-sponsored by the George Washington-Patrick Henry Supper Club of the Southern California Constitution education committee.

For more information, call 648-2737. Community Presbyterian Church is at 1555 Poli St.

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.

Purim Carnival in Simi Valley

Congregation B’nai Emet will hold its 22nd annual Purim Carnival on Feb. 28 from noon to 3:30 p.m. at its preschool in Simi Valley.

Food and games will be offered.

The preschool is at 3050 Kadota St. Call 581-3723 for more information.

Class on Jewish Holiday Offered

Rabbinic intern Neal Loevinger will lead a class titled “Purim: Holy Celebration” at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28.

Purim is a festive day, but also considered one of the holiest days of the Jewish year, said Linda Friedlander of the temple.

At noon, the annual Purim carnival will get underway with pony rides, food, games and a costume contest.

Call the temple at 497-6891 for more information. The temple is at 1080 Janss Road.

Temple Hosts Musical Program

JFC Temple Ner Ami of Camarillo will present a special program of music, songs and commentaries reflecting stages of Jewish life in different periods of history at 7 p.m. Feb. 28.

Cantor-Rabbi Baruch Cohon will perform this “Jewish Life Through Music” program. Though now retired, Cohon was UCLA’s Hillel Foundation cantor and taught at Hebrew Union College. He is rabbi for the Ojai congregation.

The program will be held at the temple, 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. Refreshments will follow the program, which is free for temple members and $5 for nonmembers.

Call 388-3824 for reservations.

Temple to Celebrate Purim

The holiday of Purim will begin at 7 p.m. on March 1 at Thousand Oaks’ Temple Etz Chaim. Children are encouraged to attend in costume for a masquerade walk, which will follow a brief evening service conducted by Rabbi Shimon Paskow, along with cantor Jeff Cohen and teenagers of the temple.

At the end of the service, the temple’s sisterhood will serve pastries and other sweets.

The temple is at 1080 Janss Road. Call 497-6891 for more information.

Congregation Schedules 3 Lectures

Congregation Am HaYam of Oxnard has scheduled three special lectures.

On March 7, Rabbi Elliot Dorff will speak on “Matters of Life and Death.” Dorff is rector and professor of philosophy at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and a law school instructor.

On April 18, Alice Greenfield will talk on “The Soul of Israel.” She will discuss such issues as whether Israel will remain a democracy or turn to theocracy.

On May 23, Lillian Rosenbloom’s topic will be “Waters of Eden.” Rosenbloom is administrator of the mikvah at the University of Judaism. The mikvah is the ritual Jewish bath, symbolizing rebirth and renewal.

All of the free lectures will begin at 7 p.m. at the Oxnard Monday Club, 1401 W. Gonzales Road. Seating is limited, and attendance at the lecture series is by reservation only. For more information or reservations, call 985-2853.

Ceremony to Dedicate Church

Oxnard’s Saint Paul Baptist Church will hold a dedication ceremony on the grounds of its future church, senior citizen complex and gymnasium at the corner of Iverson and Pacific streets at noon on March 13. The public is invited to celebrate the occasion.

“God has blessed us with tremendous growth during the past eight years,” said Pastor Broderick Huggins.

Currently, Saint Paul holds all worship services at its 1354 South C St. church. For more information, call church secretary Claudette Hester at 487-2015.

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.