Teens to Hold Garage Sale

Teenagers of Ojai Valley Community Church will hold a garage sale from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in the church’s parking lot.

Furniture, citrus, baked goods, gourmet coffee, barbecue lunch, a car wash and a jolly jumper for children will be offered.

Proceeds will help church teens attend summer camp.

Ojai Valley Community Church is at 907 El Centro. For more information, call 646-4324.

Pastor to Discuss Littleton Tragedy

The Rev. Lynne Austin will hold a special meeting Sunday of the “Teens Talk With a Pastor” series on the subject “After Littleton: Making a Difference.”

“I hope that teens will come together with other teens to talk with a pastor about your thoughts and your feelings about the Littleton tragedy and your own life, and take your ideas back into your school and home,” said Austin of St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church.

Austin said she will bring yards of ribbon.

“Come and receive a piece of blue ribbon, one of Columbine High School’s colors,” she said. “You can carry that ribbon out with you as a sign of your decision to help change the world.”

The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the church at 1360 S. Wendy Drive. Call 498-6910 for more details.

In addition, a community forum called “Moving Beyond Littleton--Strategies of Hope” will be open to all parents, community leaders and clergy at the church at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Austin will moderate the forum.

A discussion panel will include Newbury Park High School Principal Max Beaman, Ed Tumbleson of the Thousand Oaks Police Department, Annette Marcus of Interface Children Family Services, Helaine Esterson of Jewish Family Service and the Rev. Stephen Meadors of the American Assn. of Pastoral Counselors.

“The Littleton, Colorado, tragedy is not confined to a city far away,” Austin said. “It has affected children, adults and families everywhere, including the Conejo Valley.”

Child care will be provided.

Events at United Methodist

The week’s events at Moorpark United Methodist Church include Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m. with Pastor Rick Uhis speaking on “Baptized by the Force.”

On Monday, the R.E.A.C.H. program begins at 4:30 p.m. Scout Troop 601 meets at 7:30. Tuesday’s 8:45 a.m. prayer group meets in the sanctuary.

On Wednesday, R.E.A.C.H. meets again at 4:30 p.m., with Bible study beginning at 7:30.

Thursday choir practice begins at 7:30 p.m.

The church is at 261 Flory Ave. Call 529-1401 for more information.

Sermon on ‘Difficulties of Life’

The sermon of Pastor Steven Day at Community Christian Church of Moorpark on Sunday is one of a series on “How Christians Handle the Difficulties of Life.”

Services will be held at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Nursery, preschool, elementary and junior high Bible school classes also begin at 9 and 10:45 a.m.

The church is at 216 Moorpark Ave., No. 200. Call 529-3572 for more information.

Temple to Celebrate Feast of Weeks

Thousand Oaks’ Temple Etz Chaim will join synagogues throughout the world Thursday to celebrate Shavuot--the Feast of Weeks, which comes seven weeks after Passover.

Twenty-five students from Ventura County who have completed the 10th-grade confirmation at Temple Etz Chaim will gather at 6 p.m. for dinner with Rabbi Shimon Paskow and their teachers. The service will follow.

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

Shabbat Services in Oxnard

Shabbat services at Oxnard’s Congregation Am HaYam will be held at 8 p.m. Friday and at 10 a.m. May 22.

Shavuot services are scheduled for Thursday at the home of Rabbi Gerald Hanig, followed by a study session. Two services on Friday are scheduled: one at a member’s home at 10 a.m. and another at 8 p.m. at the Oxnard Monday Club. The May 22 Yizkor service begins at 10 a.m. at the Monday Club.

A lecture by Penelope Oppenheimer will begin at 7 p.m. May 23. She will speak on “Waters of Eden--the rituals and customs of the mikvah.” Oppenheimer is assistant administrator of the mikvah at the University of Judaism.

Non-members are welcome. There is no charge for the lecture series, but reservations are required.

The Oxnard Monday Club is at 1401 Gonzales Road. For more information, reservations or directions, call 985-2853.

Ten Commandments to Be Read

The highlight of the Shavuot services at Chabad of Agoura Hills, Chabad of Oak Park and Chabad of Westlake Village will take place on Friday at 11 a.m. when the Ten Commandments will be read. A family pizza party will follow all three services. The service will be repeated at 5 p.m., and evening services will begin at 7.

The Yizkor memorial service is set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, also at all three locations.

Chabad of Westlake Village is at 741 Lakefield Road, No. D. Chabad of Oak Park is at 5998 Conifer St., and Chabad of Agoura Hills is at 30345 Canwood St. For more information on all services, call (818) 991-0991.

Temple Plans Activities for May

Consecration service of all religious school students at JFC-Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday. All students will receive a mini Torah.

On May 22, a community Yizkor memorial service for the second day of Shavuot will begin at 10 a.m.

Las Vegas Night will begin at 7 p.m. May 22. The cost is $30 at the door, and trips to Las Vegas, Reno and Laughlin will be awarded. Music and refreshments will be available.

All events will be at the temple at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. The community is welcome. For more details, call 388-3824.

Program Looks at Families

Priscilla Partridge de Garcia and her husband, Pedro Garcia Jr., will present a “Celebrate the Family” program from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer.

Priscilla Partridge de Garcia wrote the new book “Mentoring” and teaches at Oxnard College. Pedro Garcia Jr. is superintendent of Corona-Norco Unified School District.

The program is free and will be held at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 721 Doris Ave. Call 985-8704 for more information.

Ventura LDS Church Offers Fair

A fair called “Prepare for Life” will be held at the Ventura Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1 to 4 p.m. May 22.

Displays and workshops on Y2K, storage, disaster preparedness, career development, financial management and health will be featured.

The event is free. The church is at 3501 Loma Vista Road. Call 646-7806 for more information.

Bible Study Group Forming

Trinity Lutheran Church in Simi Valley is forming a small group Bible study class. Anyone interested is welcome. Groups will form based on common needs such as time schedules, child care and level of study.

All participants will meet for a special worship service at 7 p.m. May 22.

The church is at 2949 Alamo St. For more information, call 526-2429.

Regionary Bishop to Be Installed

The Right Rev. Hein van Beusekom will be installed as regionary bishop of the Province of the United States of the Liberal Catholic Church at Our Lady and All Angels church in Ojai on May 23.

Van Beusekom, an Ojai resident, is auxiliary bishop of the church. Until last year, he also served as rector of the Ojai church.

The ceremony will be conducted by retiring Regionary Bishop Lawrence Smith of Chicago, with the assistance of World Presiding Bishop Johannes Van Alphen of Johannesburg, South Africa, and other bishops and clergy from throughout the country.

The ceremony, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will be part of the celebration of the Ascension Day Eucharist at Our Lady and All Angels. The public is welcome.

The Liberal Catholic Church is independent of the Roman Catholic Church. It administers the seven sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church and regards freedom of thought as an integral part of spiritual growth and inquiry.

For more information, call 640-1371. The church is at 1502 E. Ojai Ave.

Christian Science Lecture

A free Christian Science talk titled “Removing the Mask of Fear” will be presented at the United Methodist Church in Westlake Village by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of both Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, at 2 p.m. May 23.

The church is at the corner of Westlake and Hampshire boulevards.

Child care is provided. For more information, call 495-8202.

Temple Sponsors Pajama Party

Temple Etz Chaim of Thousand Oaks will sponsor a pajama party and open house May 25.

The evening will feature snacks and stories by professional storyteller Adriene Anderson, said Linda Friedlander of the temple.

Those interested should RSVP by May 20 by calling the office at 497-6891.

The temple is at 1080 Janss Road.

Academy Hosts Talk by Scientist

The Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills will host a lecture May 27 by author and scientist Gerald Schroeder on the topic “Evolution: The Religion of the Blind Watchmaker.”

Schroeder has also written a book, “Genesis and the Big Bang,” comparing the scientific event of billions of years ago to the first six days described in Genesis.

The lecture begins at 8 p.m. and costs $10. For reservations and directions, call (818) 991-0991.

Church to Present Music Program

All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard invites the public to its spring musical program at 7p.m. May 29 in the parish hall.

The church is at 144 South C St. Call 483-2347 for more information.

School Plans Reception for Parents

St. Augustine Academy of Ventura will hold a reception May 29 for parents interested in enrolling their children for the upcoming school year. The reception will be held in Santa Paula, with the curriculum being presented during a social hour.

For the past four years, the academy has operated near Transport and Telephone roads in Ventura, but in 2000, it will move to a location near Wells Road and Highway 126. The academy educates children from grades four through 12.

For more information, call 658-8161.

Church Offers Support Groups

Sonrise Christian Fellowship in Simi Valley offers several ongoing support groups to the public during the week. The meetings are free and child care is available.

A co-dependency support group for those struggling with co-dependency and for adult children of alcoholics meets Mondays at 7 p.m.

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 may be faxed to 653-7576.