Church to Honor Graduates

* Oxnard’s First Presbyterian Church will honor its 1999 high school and college graduates during Sunday’s 10 a.m. worship service and at a reception that immediately follows.

All “keenagers”--anyone over 50--are invited to lunch on Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. at the church. Cost is $4 per person.

For more information call the church at 983-0204. It is located at 850 Ivywood Drive.

Church Plans Family Camp-Out * Ventura’s First United Methodist Church plans an all-church family camp-out this weekend at Lake Piru Recreation Area.

Swimming, fishing, hiking and boating, plus nightly campfires and music are planned. Stay overnight or just for the day.

Call the church at 643-8621 for more information. The church is at 1338 E. Santa Clara St.

Arts Festival Opens Today * A juried arts festival with biblical and religious themes is open to the public today and Sunday at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village.

Two- and three-dimensional fine art will be shown representing Expressionist, impressionist and old master realism styles. Artists from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles will be represented and judged on inspirational impact and artistic impression.

Today’s hours are 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday’s are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. An artists’ reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

The church is at 5495 Via Rocas. Call (818) 575-2213 for information. Artists with questions should call Iris Carignan at 496-4580.

New Time for Spanish Service * Oxnard’s All Saints Episcopal Church announces a new 9:30 a.m. time for its Sunday service in Spanish.

This Sunday, church youth will hold a bake sale after morning services in the parish hall.

The church is at 144 South C. St.

Church Marks 40th Anniversary * St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard will culminate its 40th anniversary celebration Sunday, the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua.

The celebration will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Thomas J. Curry, bishop of the Santa Barbara pastoral region. He will be joined by priests from the area and past St. Anthony priests.

A reception will follow in the Msgr. Condon Center. A pictorial display will illustrate growth of the parish from the original Laurel Street site to the present church facilities.

Local officials will present commendations from the city, Ventura County, and Assembly and state Senate offices.

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

Temple to Hold Land Dedication * Temple Beth Haverim of Agoura Hills will hold a land dedication at its future home at 200 Ladyface Circle from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

The dedication will include a barbecue with dessert, Israeli dancing and a formal dedication ceremony.

The Conservative congregation of 460 families has been in existence 14 years, Rabbi Gershon Johnson said.

Free parking will be available at the Litton parking lot at 29851 Agoura Road, with shuttle vans available. The community is welcome at the celebration.

For information, call the temple at (818) 991-7111.

Chabad to Celebrate Anniversary * Chabad and the Conejo Jewish Academy will celebrate Chabad’s 20th anniversary in the Conejo Valley with a banquet Sunday at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills.

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

Church Sponsors Organ Recital * The American Guild of Organists, Ventura Chapter, and St. Paschal Baylon Church in Thousand Oaks are sponsoring an organ recital at 8 p.m. Friday.

James Pingelli will perform music by J.S. Bach, Larry King, Eugene Gigout, Gerald Near and Santa Barbara composer Emma Lou Diemer. Gregorian chant will also be on the program.

The church is at 155 E. Janss Road.

Talmud Torah School Extended * Congregation Am HaYam in Oxnard plans to extend its Family Talmud Torah School to two days a week next year. The school has openings.

For details on the school, which is run by the 3-year-old Conservative congregation, call 985-2853.

The congregation will also hold a Shabbat dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, to be followed by Shabbat services and installation of new officers. Cost of the dinner is $18 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under.

For reservations and directions, call 985-2853.

3-Day Seminar Focuses on Healing * A seminar on “The Ministry of Healing” is set June 18-20 at Oxnard’s Seventh-day Adventist Church.

At 7 p.m. Friday, “God’s Design for Longevity” will be presented on hydrotherapy and simple remedies by Dr. Charles Thomas of the Desert Springs Therapy Center.

The June 19 lineup includes “What Manner of Person Ought Ye to Be” at the 11 a.m. divine service. At 3 p.m., a health talk on “Common Ailments and Arthritis” will explore the common cold, constipation, backaches, headaches and insomnia.

June 20’s topic is “The Skillful Use of Water Demonstrated for Health and Healing,” or how to use water to promote health, from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

The church is at 211 W. Birch St. For information, call 486-7918.

Simi Congregation Plans Events * Congregation B’Nai Emet in Simi Valley has several activities on its June calendar.

A tot Shabbat service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday for parents and young children. A regular Shabbat service will follow at 8 p.m.

The annual camp-out for fathers and children, sponsored by the Men’s Club, is set June 25-27.

Call the temple for details at 581-3723. It is at 4645 Industrial St., Unit 2C.

Concert Features Gospel Singer * Ojai Valley Community Church invites the public to a free concert featuring South African gospel singer Manuel Escorcio at 6 p.m. June 20 at the church.

Escorcio has sung in more than 40 operas at the Cape Town City Opera.

He sings fluently in six languages.

Call the church at 646-4324 for more information. It is at 907 E. Centro.

Father’s Day Picnic Scheduled * Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will hold its annual Men’s Club Father’s Day picnic and barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. June 20. Food, games and prizes will be offered.

The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family.

The temple is at 1080 Janss Road. Call 492-7404 for information.

Quakers to Host Talk on Iraq * The Ojai American Friends Service Committee, known as Quakers, will sponsor a talk on Iraq by Kitty Barragato at 11:15 a.m. June 27.

Barragato has just returned from Iraq, where she was part of a team trying to determine how the United States embargo is affecting Iraqi children.

A potluck lunch will follow the talk.

There is no charge, but reservations should be made by calling 640-0444 and leaving a message.

The Ojai Friends Worship group will also hold a meditation service at 10 a.m. that day.

For more information, call 640-0444. The group meets at 506 Crestview Drive.

Vacation Bible School in Ventura * Ventura’s First United Methodist Church will hold vacation Bible school from 5:45 to 8:30 p.m. June 27 through July 1.

“Under Construction” will be the week’s theme, as the children learn about building a community and sharing gifts with others. Throughout the week, children will learn about the work of Habitat for Humanity and will get to try child-size hands-on construction projects.

An adult class will also be offered.

Each night, a free 5:45 p.m. dinner will precede the classes and activities for children and adults.

For information or to reserve a space, call the church office at 643-8621. First United Methodist is at 1338 E. Santa Clara St.

Ojai Church Offers Bible School * Children from kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome at Ojai Valley Community Church’s Bible school the week of June 28 through July 2 on the church grounds.

The school will offer crafts, songs, live exotic animals and refreshments, director Jan Worsham said.

“A special feature this year will be ‘I Witness News,’ a TV broadcast that presents the life of Jesus from birth to resurrection,” she said.

The one-week school is free. Children may purchase T-shirts for $8.

To sign up, call 646-4324. The church is at 907 El Centro St.

Day Camp Offers 2 Sessions * Camp Gan Israel, a Jewish day camp, will hold two four-week sessions this summer--from June 28 through Aug. 20.

The camp, for children ages 3 to 13, is at Heschel West Day School in Agoura-Calabasas.

Instructors in drama, music, karate, sports, crafts, Jewish heritage and swimming will be on hand.

For information, call (818) 991-0991.

CLU to Hold Vocation Program * Young people interested in a vocation within the Lutheran Church can explore a variety of options at the eighth annual Invitation to Service at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks on Aug. 5 to 7.

Students from late high school through college age will have a chance to explore the roles of pastor, missionary, associate in ministry, and music and youth ministries, said the Rev. Reg Schultz-Akerson of CLU, who is coordinating the event.

Young adults of Region II of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America are invited to attend the $95 event.

For information, call Linda LeBlanc at 493-3936.

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