Church Plans Parent Workshop

First Lutheran Church in Ventura 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. today. There will be child care available, and a continental breakfast will be served. The cost is $7.

The church is 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 today, 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 from 7 to 10 p.m. today. 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.

Information on Tissue Donations

The Transplant Recipients International Organization will have members available to answer questions and give information on organ and tissue donation at a table outside St. Paschal Baylon Roman Catholic Church in Thousand Oaks on Sunday from 9 a.m. through the noon Mass.

The church is at 155 E. Janss Road. For more information, call 496-0222.

Church to Dedicate Labyrinth

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ventura invites the public for a dedication of its new permanent labyrinth.

The ceremony will take place at 11:45 a.m. Sunday in the new upper plaza at St. Paul’s, where the labyrinth is the centerpiece of the garden and provides a place where people can experience walking meditation, a mystical ritual.

The dedication will be followed by a labyrinth workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. in St. Paul’s Parish Hall. The workshop, conducted by the Rev. Jerome Kahler, will provide information on the history of the labyrinth and give suggestions in the use of this ancient tool for Christian pilgrimage and meditation.

Resources will be provided and there is no charge to use the labyrinth or for the workshop. After 3 p.m. the plaza will be open for those interested in walking the labyrinth.

The church is at 3290 Loma Vista Road. The labyrinth is open to the public by appointment. For more information, call 643-5033.

St. Matthew’s Hosts Special Market

St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park will host its annual Alternative Christmas Market at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, when gifts helping the needy may be purchased.

The market will benefit Heifer Project International, which assists agricultural needs of Third World countries, and Habitat for Humanity, which helps provide homes to low-income families.

In addition, baskets, beaded and crocheted items and carved nativity scenes will be sold, with proceeds helping the countries where the crafts were made.

Worship services will be at 8:30 and 10 a.m.

The church is at 1360 S. Wendy Drive. For more information, call 498-6919.

Temple Has Busy Month Planned

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

On Sunday, 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 Friday, 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.

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

Psychologist to Speak at Temple

Friday evening Sabbath services at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will feature Lori Hops, a clinical psychologist who specializes in child and family therapy.

The 8:15 p.m. service will be conducted by Rabbi Shimon Paskow, with hazzan Jeff Cohen leading in chanting the Kabbalat Shabbat Sabbath service.

Hops, a Thousand Oaks resident, helps people cope with life-threatening illnesses. She became interested in that after her first child was diagnosed with severe asthma and food allergies. She co-founded a food allergy support group in the Conejo Valley and has volunteered at a research facility in Oxnard that helps educate inner-city families about asthma.

John Lutzker, professor and chairman of the department of psychology and director of graduate training at the University of Judaism, will speak at 8:15 p.m. Nov. 26.

Lutzker has published more than 100 articles and has presented nearly 300 papers. The Agoura Hills resident has written the book “Behavior and Change and Ecobehavioral Family Interventions in Developmental Disabilities” and is conducting research into child abuse and neglect, developmental disabilities and behavioral medicine.

Temple Etz Chaim is at 1080 Janss Road. For more information, call 497-6891.

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 Sunday 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.

Quakers Post Message on Grief

“Making Room for Grief” will be the subject of the daily Quaker Dial-a-Thought for the week starting Sunday. This two-minute recorded message can be heard 24 hours a day at 646-0939 or on the Web athttps://home.earthlink.net/~vals/OjaiFriends. This number and Web site also give the address for the Sunday unprogrammed meetings of the Ojai Friends Worship Group.

Sing-Along at Unity Center

Unity Center Church in Thousand Oaks invites the community to a sing-along of inspirational music at 9:15 a.m. Sunday.

The Rev. Irma Oestmann presents “Harmless as Doves,” and pianist and vocalist Tim Donohue will provide the music along with pianist Richard Jones. Children will attend classes offered in the upper room at Old Meadows Park, 1600 Marview Drive.

For more information, call 496-6901.

Wedding Directors to Meet

The Assn. of Church Wedding Directors will hold its November meeting at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Oak Park at 6 p.m. Monday. Any church wedding director of any denomination whose work is sanctioned by their church is welcome.

The church is at 5450 Churchwood Drive. Call (818) 991-4797 for more information.

20th Century Through Jewish Eyes

With the year 2000 approaching, Professor Velvl Greene will take a close look at the accomplishments and failures of the 20th century as it relates to the Jewish people and where the Jewish people are heading.

Greene spent years working for NASA searching for life on Mars. He is presently the Carlin professor emeritus of public health and epidemiology at Ben Gurion University Medical School, in Beersheva.

The lecture will be given at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Conejo Jewish Academy, 30345 Canwood St., Agoura Hills. Admission is $10 a person. For more information or reservations, call (818) 991-0991.

United Methodist Annual Boutique

The United Methodist Women’s annual holiday boutique is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 in Witman Hall at Simi Valley United Methodist Church.

Handmade jewelry, Ken and Barbie doll clothes, Christmas tree skirts and runners, personalized books and baked goods will be on sale.

The church is at 2394 Erringer Road. For more information, call 526-9168 or 526-6231.

Special 2-Day Event for Men

A two-day event “designed to challenge Ventura County men to increased levels of worship, prayer, fellowship and leadership” is scheduled for Friday and Nov. 20 at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, said Cecil Martinez of the Ventura County Christian Men’s Ministries.

Guest speakers will include Gordon Dalbey, author of “Healing the Masculine Soul”; Isaac Canales, director of Hispanic Ministries at Fuller Theological Institute; Jesse Miranda of the urban ministries program at Azusa Pacific University; and Dennis Wilson, former Promise Keeper staff member.

The program will run from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 20. For more information or to register, call 488-8104. Calvary Community Church is at 5495 Via Rocas.

Lecture to Explore Psalm 23

Guest speaker Brian Clendenen, a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship, will speak on Psalm 23 during a lecture sponsored by the First Church of Christ Scientist, Oxnard, on Nov. 20, at the Oxnard Main Library.

Free copies of Science and Health along with other Christian Science publications will be available.

The library is at 251 South A St. For more information, call 486-3029.

First Church of Christ Scientist has Sunday services at 10 a.m.

Monday Bible lessons are broadcast on cable channel 6 in Oxnard and Port Hueneme at 5 p.m. Testimonies of healing through prayer are included in the 7:30 p.m. Wednesday meetings.

The church is at 375 South K St.

The Christian Science Reading Room, 721 South A St., is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, call 483-3041.

Author to Speak in Fillmore

The Rev. Katherine Yates, author of “The Warrior Within,” will speak at the 10 a.m. service of the Fillmore Church of Religious Science on Nov. 21.

Her topic, “Why Giving Thanks Frees Us From Stress and Struggle,” is based on Bible teachings and other sacred books.

The church is at 808 River St.