Methodist Women Hold Boutique
The United Methodist Women’s annual holiday boutique is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today 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 information, call 526-9168 or 526-6231.
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, today 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 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 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 Sunday.
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. For information, call 524-0246.
Forum on Church-State Issues
The state field director of the Christian Coalition and a national advisory council member of Americans United for Separation of Church and State will discuss church-state issues at a public forum and brunch at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Ventura County Jewish Council-Temple Beth Torah’s Meister Hall in Ventura, 7620 Foothill Road.
A question-and-answer period will follow the comments about religion in public schools and government made by Ross Bradder, state field director of Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition, and Harry Schwartzbart, founding president of the San Fernando Valley chapter and member of the National Advisory Council of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Tickets that include brunch cost $7 in advance and $10 at the door.
For information, call 647-4181.
Sunday Services at St. Matthew’s
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park will have worship services Sunday at 8:30 and 10 a.m. The Rev. Lynne Austin will deliver the message “Thankfulness,” focusing on Deuteronomy 8:7-18 and Luke 17:11-19.
There will be special music presented by Carla Stoffel at the 8:30 a.m. worship. At 10 a.m., the chancel choir will be directed by Steve Hobson.
Austin’s other topics during Sunday worship in the coming weeks will include “Strength” on Nov. 28, “Comfort and Peace” on Dec. 5, “Devotion” on Dec. 12, “Love” on Dec. 19 and “Joy” on Dec. 26.
Church Lists Thanksgiving Sunday
On Sunday, Simi Valley United Methodist Church will celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday and Faith Covenant Sunday.
The Rev. Brandon Cho will preach at the 8 and 10 a.m. services on the theme “Out of a Thankful Heart” from Psalms 95:1-7. Communion will be celebrated at the 8 a.m. service.
Child care will be provided for infants and preschoolers at both services. Sunday school for all ages begins at 9 a.m. Spanish services are at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Youth fellowship programs are from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The church is at 2394 Erringer Road. For information, call 526-6231.
Unitarians to Give Thanks
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura will hold special Thanksgiving services Sunday at 9:15 and 11 a.m. All are invited to bring a symbol of thanks. Services will include a religious humanist communion ceremony. Child care is available at the early service.
On Nov. 28, the church will welcome the Rev. Bets Wienecke as a guest minister for the 9:15 and 11 a.m. services. She will speak on “Hospitality of the Heart.”
The church is at 4949 Foothill Road. For information, call 644-3898.
‘Come Home for Christmas’
Those who have not attended church for a time are invited to “Come Home for Christmas” at Sacred Heart Church in Ventura.
The church is offering a five-week session Monday evenings for those who would like to tell why they left the church and want to be welcomed back.
The first class will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday.
The church is at 10800 Henderson Road. For information, call 647-0895 or 647-2335.
Churches, Temples Join for Service
The St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Choir of Westlake Village will join Temple Adat Elohim of Thousand Oaks and other local churches and temples for the annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Temple Adat Elohim, 2420 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Refreshments will follow in the temple hall.
A special Thanksgiving day Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. in Westlake Village at St. Maximilian Kolbe, 1125 Lindero Canyon Road. Those attending are asked to donate a gift to the Ventura County Outreach programs.
For information, call (818) 991-3915.
Temple to Offer Interfaith Service
Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks has two events planned later this month.
On Wednesday, the temple 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 Friday, 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 information, call 497-6891.
Volunteers to Visit Shut-Ins
The Shoreline Care Center at 5225 South J St. in Oxnard is seeking people to bring holiday joy to shut-in residents.
Ministries could include worship and drama teams, children’s choirs and visiting animals.
Volunteers are asked to call Marijo Cosgrove at 644-9818 or Barbara Smalley at 499-1712.
Church Opens New Facility
Bible Fellowship Church of Ventura has opened a revamped state-of-the-art church facility with a 1,000-seat auditorium at 6950 Ralston St. Services are held Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 8:45 and 10:45 a.m.
Roland Niednagel, the church’s senior pastor, oversees nearly 100 outreach ministries and dozens of small groups to help families cope. More than 1,000 children are on the church campus each weekend.
Casual dress is appropriate at church functions, and nursery care is available at all services.
For information, call the church at 656-7766.
Mass Offered Every Saturday St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard will celebrate evening Mass today and every Saturday at 5:15 p.m. Sacrament of Penance times are from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Sunday Mass times are 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m., with Masses in Spanish at noon and 1:30 p.m.
The church is at 2511 South C St. For information, call 486-7301.
Youth Groups Meet in Oxnard
Youth groups meet throughout the week at the First Presbyterian Church in Oxnard.
Kids for Christ, for youngsters in fourth through sixth grades, is held Sundays at 11:30 a.m., after Sunday school, which begins at 10 a.m. for youth in kindergarten through 12th grades.
The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. Call 983-0204 for information.
Marriage Encounter Weekend
A marriage encounter weekend sponsored by St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church in Thousand Oaks will be held Dec. 3 to 5 at the Holiday Inn in West Covina.
Marriage encounter is open to all married couples regardless of faith. A $50 nonrefundable fee confirms food and lodging.
Call (818) 848-6729 for details.
Cal Lutheran Post Filled
The Rev. Gary Knutson of Northfield, Minn., has accepted the invitation to serve as interim pastor at Cal Lutheran University.
He arrived on campus to begin his work Oct. 1 and will stay through the end of the school year. Knutson is serving as interim pastor after the departure of the Rev. Mark Knutson, who accepted a parish call at San Marcos Lutheran Church in September.
Knutson graduated from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and began his work as a pastor in 1957 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks.
His association with Cal Lutheran began in 1959 when he was asked by the university’s first president, Orville Dahl, to lead the Wednesday chapel services on campus. He and the Rev. Bob Lawson shared the role of chaplain, leading the weekly service in a tent before a permanent structure was built.
In 1997, he and his wife Gloria returned to Cal Lutheran as senior mentors for the academic year. Before his retirement, Knutson also served as a Lutheran bishop in Wisconsin.
Services at Covenant Church
Simi Covenant Church offers a worship service the first and third Sundays of the month with coffee, food and music from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Worship is from 7 to 8 p.m.
The church is at 4680 Alamo St., Simi Valley. For information, call 526-8855.
Lutherans Schedule Weekly Events
Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oxnard offers Sunday services at 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Mary Ann Feine. Spanish services with the Rev. Dennis Bradshaw are at 11 a.m.On Monday, a Step Recovery Group meets from 7:30 to 9 p.m. On Wednesday, Youth Group is at 7 p.m. and Bible study is at 7:30 p.m.
The church is at 905 Redwood St. For information, call 486-5383.
Book Provides Guide to Advent
Santa Paula resident Barbara Baumgarten has published a book for the season of Advent that begins Nov. 28.
The book, “Teach Us to Number Our Days,” is a guide to Advent. It offers three Advent calendar craft projects--one made from junk mail, a no-sew felt version and a quilted calendar.
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