Students Invited to Write Essays for National Day of Prayer

With the approach of the National Day of Prayer, California high school students have been invited to enter an essay contest that could result in a free trip to Washington and tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm.

Established in 1952, the day was designated by Congress in recent years as the first Thursday in May and is proclaimed each year by the White House. The observance has taken on an evangelical and Pentecostal Christian focus, largely because of the leadership from that segment of religious leaders.

This year’s theme is “Light the Nation With Prayer,” and essays should be 250 to 350 words long. The entry deadline is April 1. For more information about the contest, call Patricia Massie at (760) 948-4144 or write NDP Inland Empire Task Force, Box 2775, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729-2776.

CONFERENCES

Representatives of the Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, from 11 nations in North and South America will meet Thursday to March 21 in Whittier for the annual meeting of the Friends World Committee for Consultation--Section of the Americas. Sessions begin at 9 a.m. each day, after a 7 a.m. worship service. Meetings will be at First Friends Church and the Whittier Hilton. (562) 698-9805.

* Biola University’s annual two-day Christians and Media Conference ends today. Participants today include radio talk show hosts Michael Reagan and Warren Duffy, author Rich Buhler, executive producer Ken Wales of the “Christy” television series, comedian Dan Rupple, producer Jim Penner of the “Hour of Power,” CBS Studio Center President Michael Klausman, agent Victorya Michaels-Rogers, writers Lee and Janet Batchler, and actress Nancy Stafford. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the conference runs until 5 p.m. Registration is $65. (714) 971-4728. The university is at 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada.

* The Roman Catholic archdiocese’s second Justice and Peace Conference will be held next Saturday on the campus of Loyola Marymount University. Speakers include Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Bishop Diarmuid Martin, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; and Sharon Daly, vice president of social policy at Catholic Charities USA. Working sessions will focus on Third World debt, local economic justice issues, restorative / criminal justice and environmental justice. Registration is $20. (213) 637-7550.

* The third annual Western States Conference on Israel-U.S. Cultural Ties is scheduled for Sunday and Monday at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 Sepulveda Blvd. The program starts at 1 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. Monday. Israeli diplomats, including Rafi Gamzou, counsel for cultural affairs for North America, will attend, as will local entertainment and cultural personalities. The conference is sponsored by the state of Israel in cooperation with the Skirball Cultural Center, the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity, and the Valley Alliance of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles.

EVENTS

A Valley Interfaith Council symposium, “Do America’s Children Need a Bill of Rights?” will be held Sunday at Temple Ner Maarav, 17730 Magnolia Blvd., Encino, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

* Jewish pluralism will be discussed Tuesday at Stephen S. Wise Temple by a panel that includes Rabbi Eli Herscher, Cantor Nathan Lam of Stephen S. Wise Temple, Rabbi Harold Schulweis of Valley Beth Shalom and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, who oversees educational and spiritual institutions in Efrat, Israel. 8 p.m. For information, call Ann Terrick, (310) 889-2213.

* M. Scott Peck, author of “The Road Less Traveled” and other books will appear on Michael Levine’s radio show, “The Spiritual Seeker,” on KRLA (1110 AM) from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday.

* Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazine, will lecture Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Conrad N. Hilton Center for Business on the Loyola Marymount University campus, 7900 Loyola Blvd., Westchester. Free.

* How the medieval monasteries saved priceless art and books from barbarian invaders will be the subject of the second in a three-part lecture series Sunday by Father Clint Albretson, professor emeritus of English at Loyola Marymount University. A third lecture will be held March 28. Each lecture begins at 2 p.m. on campus, 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 338-1972.

PEOPLE

Wilshire Christian Church, one of the city’s landmark “big steeple” churches on Wilshire Boulevard, has called the Rev. Donald B. Colhour as its new senior pastor. Colhour was with ABC for 20 years and is a former president and partner of HMC Entertainment. In 1994, he entered the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, to explore relationships between media and theology. He received his master’s degree in theology in 1995.

DANCE and MUSIC

“The Eloquence of Chinese Dance,” a presentation of guest artist Alice Lo, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday by the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, 2936 W. 8th St., Los Angeles. The presentation is part of a five-concert series. Single tickets $7.50. Call (213) 389-1356.

* A concert featuring Jessica Smith and friends will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Josephites (the Society of St. Joseph). The concert, including Mel Carter and the Brookins Community African Methodist Episcopal Frederick O. Murphy Mass Choir, will be held at St. Brigid’s Parish, 5214 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles. Donation is $15. Call (323) 292-0781.

* St. James Episcopal Church presents Verdi’s “Requiem” on Sunday at 7 p.m. James Paul Buonemani conducts the St. James Choir, accompanied by organist William Trafka. 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets: $18 students and seniors, $20 general and $30 front.

* For the record: In last week’s Southern California File the co-author with Jack Canfield of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series should have been identified as Mark Victor Hansen.

Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Nona Yates, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or faxed to Nona Yates, Southern California File at (213) 237-4712. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.