Simi Church Holding Boutique : ...

* St. Peter Claver Church’s seventh annual boutique will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

There will be handcrafted items for sale, prize drawings and refreshments, and Santa will pose for pictures with children.

The church is at the corner of Cochran and Stow streets in Simi Valley. For more information, call 583-0466.

Workshop on Centering Prayer

An introductory workshop on centering prayer will be held at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in Thomas Aquinas Hall.

Sister Catherine Marie Bazar, a member of the international faculty of Contemplative Outreach, will conduct the workshop.

Centering prayer is described as a gentle method of consent to God’s presence and healing action through silent, contemplative prayer and meditation.

The workshop is designed to provide participants with information to begin a successful practice of centering prayer. The four sessions are “Developing a Relationship With God,” “The Method of Centering Prayer,” “The Use of the Sacred Word” and “The Effects of Centering Prayer in Daily Life.” Individual assistance will be available.

The workshop is open to the public at a cost of $10. The church is at Janss and Moorpark roads. For more information, call 496-0222, Ext. 119. Bring a sack lunch.

Handicapables Plan Special Day

* Handicapables of West Ventura County, open to all physically disabled people, will hold a day of spiritual and social enrichment today at St. Mary Magdalen Parish Hall in Camarillo.

Registration is at 11 a.m., followed by an optional 11:30 Mass, then a luncheon with entertainment. All faiths are welcome and there is no charge.

For more information, call Catholic Charities at 643-4694 or 486-2900 or call Pat at 482-4050.

St. Mary Magdalen Parish Hall is at the corner of Las Posas and Crestview in Camarillo.

New School to Hold Open Houses

* The new Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village will give families of prospective ninth- and 10th-grade students an opportunity to explore the campus and meet with faculty members during a series of open houses. The school will hold its first classes in fall 2000.

An admissions open house will be held on the new high school’s campus at 31749 La Tienda Drive from 9 a.m. to noon today and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

At all preview events, prospective students and their families will meet Oaks Christian High School headmaster Jeff Woodcock and other faculty members. The open houses will feature campus tours and information on financial aid.

For more information, call (818) 575-9900.

Christmas Market to Help Needy

* An alternative Christmas Market celebration will be held at Moorpark United Methodist Church from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Items may be purchased for the needy in Ventura County and throughout the world.

Blankets can be sent in someone’s name to refugees in another country. Or a beehive, a cow or some chickens can be purchased to help develop independence in a village in Asia or Africa. Donations will also be accepted for Moorpark’s food pantry or Catholic Charities, along with an opportunity to buy books for local schools.

Calligraphers at the market will inscribe Christmas cards describing the gifts bought to honor friends, relatives, teachers or co-workers.

There will also be gifts on sale created by people in developing countries. Proceeds from these sales will go back to help those countries.

The church is at the corner of Flory Avenue and 3rd Street.

Hymn Festival Features Composer

* Church organist David Cherwien and the Cal Lutheran Choir will present an All Saints Day Hymn Festival at 4 p.m. Sunday in Samuelson Chapel.

During the festival, Cherwien, a composer and improviser, will bring his creativity to hymns of various traditions and styles. He has won national acclaim as a leader of congregational songs with hymn festivals.

A freewill offering will be received. For more information, call 493-3151.

Weeklong Services at All Saints

* All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard offers services all week, beginning Sunday with 8 and 11 a.m. worship services in English and a 9:30 a.m. Spanish worship service.

From 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., all children are invited to participate in a Christmas musical rehearsal. The Youth Group will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

Adult lectionary Bible study led by Warren V. Porter begins at 9:30 a.m. and Christian education for children of all ages led by Sunday School superintendent Cindy Morales is at 10:30 a.m.

Midday prayer takes place at noon Tuesday through Friday. Christian spirituality class begins at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in Parish Hall. Holy Eucharist service in Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Choir rehearsal is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

The church is at 144 South C St. For more information, call 653-7519.

Unity Minister Speaks on Serenity

* “Simplicity, Sincerity, Serenity” will be the topic for a sermon Sunday by Unity minister Irma Oestman.

Elizabeth Eiswald, who has completed the prayer ministry courses, will be ordained a prayer minister during the service and will accompany soloist Elizabeth Henneberg.

The service is at 10 a.m. at Old Meadows Park, 1600 Marview in Thousand Oaks. For more information, call 496-6901.

Alternative Christmas Fair

* First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard will hold its annual Alternative Christmas Fair at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the church.

Donations can be made to service organizations in honor of friends and relatives. Organizations represented at the fair will include the Ventura County Rescue Mission, the YMCA, Ventura County Food Share, Habitat for Humanity and Project Understanding.

Donors will receive a Christmas card with an inscription noting the gift. The cards can be used as Christmas gifts.

The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. For more information, call 983-0204.

B’nai Emet Hanukkah Boutique

* Congregation B’nai Emet in Simi Valley will host its annual Hanukkah boutique and book fair at the temple from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

In addition, a course in reading Hebrew will be offered at the Congregation B’nai Emet’s Preschool on Sundays from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

The temple is at 4645 Industrial St. 2C. The preschool is at 3050 Kadota St. For vendor or other information, call 581-3723.

Temple Has Busy Month Planned

* Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks has many events planned for November.

On Wednesday, Temple Etz Chaim Preschool will hold its annual Hanukkah boutique shop and nosh from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be raffles, prizes, bagels and juice. Admission is free.

On Nov. 14, the men’s club will hold its monthly brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The speaker will be Rabbi Jack Shecter, who will share “Tales of Jewish Wisdom.” The cost, which includes a lox and bagels buffet, is $4 for members and $5 for guests.

On Nov. 19, psychologist Lori Hops will speak at Shabbat services on “Jacob’s Ladder, Heaven and Earth Connected.” Hops specializes in child and family therapy. Services begin at 8:15 p.m.

On Nov. 24, Temple Etz Chaim and the United Methodist Church will hold an interfaith Thanksgiving service beginning at 7 p.m. The service will be held in the Thousand Oaks church, 1000 E. Janss Road.

On Nov. 26, John Lutzker, professor and chairman of the psychology department and director of graduate training at the University of Judaism, will speak at Sabbath services on “Autism and the Jewish Perspective on Disabilities.” Services begin at 8:15 p.m.

The temple is at 1080 E. Janss Road. For more information, call 497-6891.

Coffeehouse, Parent Workshop

* First Lutheran Church in Ventura is hosting a coffeehouse from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday.

Tim Frantz and Friends will be the featured musical group. Musician Russell Greene will make a special appearance playing his original compositions.

Families with children are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

On Nov. 13, First Lutheran Church will present a workshop for parents who would like to improve discipline at home and learn positive ways to motivate a child to do homework and chores.

“How to Get Your Children to Mind Without Losing Your Mind,” led by counselor and author Tom Prinz, will run from 9 to 11 a.m. There will be child care available, and a continental breakfast will be served.

The church is between Main and Thompson at 78 Chrisman Ave. For more information, call 643-5586.

Catholics to Host Mini-Retreats

* A series of mini-retreats will be held in the church sanctuary at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Westlake Village beginning Nov. 13, with a session on “The Holiness of God.”

The Saturday meetings will be from 9 a.m. to noon each week until the final session Dec. 4, titled “Generosity of Spirit.”

The series will be taught by Mitzie Butler, founder of “Women of Promise” Catholic Women’s Fellowship.

The church is at 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, Nos. A6 and A7. For more information, call (818) 991-3915.

Family Bingo Night at Temple

* JFC-Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo will host Family Bingo Night on Nov. 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. Prizes and refreshments will be available, and there will be a silent auction. Bring a white elephant gift in good condition for the auction and receive one free bingo card.

The cost is $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 5-10; under 5 free. Free child care is available for children 5 and under.

The temple is at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. For more information, call 388-3824.

Author to Speak at Temple

* “The Vicissitudes of Forgiveness--Post Holocaust Jewish-Christian Relationships” will be the topic of a speech by David Weiss from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 14 at Temple Beth Haverim in Agoura Hills.

Weiss, a writer and medical researcher, has written the book “Reluctant Return: A Survivor’s Journey to an Austrian Town.”

In August of 1938, Weiss, his parents and sister made a daring escape from his native Austria. Years later, he was contacted by the pastor of a small Austrian Pentecostal church. The pastor’s church based its theology on making amends for the anti-Semitism of its Christian countrymen that led to the Holocaust. His book is about this experience of forgiveness.

The entire community is invited to join Rabbi Gershon Johnson and Weiss to discuss the topic of personal and societal forgiveness.

A continental breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m.

The temple is at 5126 Clareton Drive. For reservations or more information, call (818) 991-7111.