Comedy Troupe to Perform

The improvisational comedy troupe Tangent will perform at 7:30 p.m. today at Congregation B’nai Emet in Simi Valley.

Admission is $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Snacks and coffee will be served.

The temple holds at least one Tot Shabbat service each month, from 7 to 7:30 Friday nights, and caters to families with young children. The next Tot Shabbat will be Friday, conducted by Rabbi Michele Paskow.

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

Arizona Author to Speak

* The Rev. James Ford of Arizona will speak at two Sunday morning services at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura.

Ford, who is an author, will explore some of the thoughts of Zen and Buddhism for Unitarian Universalists. Lily Starobinets will play the piano.

Religious education is available for all grade levels at the 9:15 and 11 a.m. services. Socializing on the patio follows each service.

The church is at 4949 Foothill Road. For information, call 644-3898.

‘Heart of the Matter’ Is Topic

* The Rev. James K. Bain Jr. will speak on “The Heart of the Matter,” based on Matthew 5:1-12, at Oxnard’s First Presbyterian Church on Sunday.

The service begins at 10 a.m. and is preceded by a 9 a.m. adult class that addresses healthy personal growth.

Sunday school for youths in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade is held during the 10 a.m. worship service.

A worship service in Spanish begins at 10:30 a.m., and a Bible study group for Spanish speakers of all ages is held every Friday evening at 7.

Child care is available during the worship service.

The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. Call 983-0204 for details.

Environmental Seder

* In observance of the Jewish Arbor Day, Tu B’Shvat, Temple Beth Torah in Ventura will offer a special Seder with environmental emphasis at 9:40 a.m. Sunday.

“Begun through the mystics of Safed some 500 years ago, Tu B’Shvat has become a Jewish holiday centered on trees and the natural world around us,” said Jeff Auerbach, founder of the Jewish League for Environmental Awareness and Seder co-leader.

Those interested in attending are requested to call the temple office at 647-4181.

Temple Beth Torah is at 7620 Foothill Road.

Church to Hold Visitors Sunday

* Oxnard’s Church of the Nazarene will hold a special visitors Sunday this weekend, beginning at 10:15 a.m.

Adults and teenagers will receive a New Testament, and children will receive small prizes.

Sunday school will begin at 9 a.m. A children’s treasure hunt will also be featured.

Church of the Nazarene is at 1630 Saviers Road. For details, call Alice Coonradt at 483-7046.

‘Biblical Literacy’ Course

* The Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills will offer a five-week course on “Biblical Literacy” beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The course will focus on the Book of Genesis and discuss important people, events and ideas in the Bible.

“The course will put the student in touch with some of the most profound biblical episodes that have shaped the character and moral compass of the Jewish people,” said Rabbi Moshe Bryski, one of the instructors.

Rabbis Yitzchak Sapochkinsky, Shlomo Bistritzky and Yisroel Levine will also instruct.

The $18 fee will include all Tuesday night sessions and class materials. To register or get directions, call (818) 991-0991.

Sessions on New, Old Testaments

* At St. Anthony Church in Oxnard, the adult faith formation meets for the Old Testament series on the prophets each Tuesday from 1:15 to 2:15 and 7 to 8 p.m. The New Testament series on the letters of Paul is held Wednesdays from 1:15 to 2:15 and 7 to 8 p.m. Sister Karen Wilhelmy is the leader.

Mass times in English are at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, and 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Two Spanish-language Masses are at noon and 1:30 Sundays.

St. Anthony is at 2511 South C St. Call 486-7301 for information.

Discussion Group Offered

* A “Conversations With God” discussion group will be held at the Pleasant Valley Center for Positive Living starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Jan Guzman and Gracia Marks will host the group.

Call 482-4300 for details. The center is at 221 Daily Drive, Suite 1, Camarillo.

Church Schedules Fund-Raiser

* The Westlake Church of Religious Science will hold its first 1999 fund-raiser, a cabaret and auction, on Friday.

Musical entertainment by Bob Holland and church musicians and a no-host wine bar with hors d’oeuvres will be accompanied by a live and silent auction of products and services.

Donations of auction items are needed at the church by Monday.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $5.

The church is at 2649 Townsgate Road, No. 500, Westlake Village. For details, call the church office at 495-0105.

The church will also begin a 12-class Prosperity Program in February. Two informational sessions will be held Sunday and Feb. 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the church.

Call the church for details.

Italian Catholic Group to Meet

* Branch 380 of the Italian Catholic Federation will meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday at St. Paschal Baylon Church in Thousand Oaks.

All Italian-American Catholics are invited to join or attend. The year’s social and spiritual events will be planned.

A St. Joseph’s Table on March 21 will also be discussed.

The church is at 155 E. Janss Road. Call 497-3275 for information.

Congregation Plans Winter Social

* Congregation Am HaYam in Oxnard will hold its second annual winter social, featuring a dance to the music of Buster, a silent auction, and kosher barbecue and dessert buffet Feb. 6.

Tickets are $15 a person. The festivities will run from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Mobile Home Estates clubhouse at 5th Street and Mandalay Beach Road in Oxnard.

For reservations or information, call Frieda Harary at 985-1574. To donate auction items, call Brenda Rich at 382-4880.

New Oxnard Pastor to Be Installed

* Brian Elster, recently a pastor in the state of Washington, has begun serving as pastor at Oxnard’s Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer.

At 3 p.m. Feb. 7, Bishop Paul Egertson will preside at Elster’s installation, which is a service of Holy Communion. The community is invited, and a meal will follow the service.

The church recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

For information on its midweek youth programs, music ministry and community social service, call 983-0612. The church is at 721 Doris Ave.

Jewish Community Finds Home

* The Ojai Jewish Community K’hilat HaAloneem has acquired the former Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Meiners Oaks for its permanent home. Its first Sabbath service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, with a formal dedication and celebration planned for March. Rabbi Baruch Cohon will lead services.

The facility has a larger sanctuary, separate classrooms and room for a weekly homeless shelter, said David Feigin, member of its board of directors.

Calvary Missionary Baptist Church has often shared its grounds and building with the Ojai Jewish Community over the years. Calvary Baptist congregants will meet in a new location.

The new temple and community center are at 530 W. El Roblar Drive. For information, call 646-9898.

Bible Institute to Open at Church

* The Channel Islands Bible Institute will open its doors Feb. 15 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 Feb. 15 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.

Tikvah Group Plans Service

* Tikvah Group Leisure Village will hold its next Shabbat service Feb. 19. 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.

Temple Hosts Musical Program

* JFC Temple Ner Ami of Camarillo will present a special program of music, songs and commentaries reflecting different 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.

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