Meditation Retreat to Hold Lecture
* The Mantra Yoga Meditation Retreat will sponsor a luncheon and lecture at its facility in Ojai at 2 p.m. today that will include a vegetarian meal, chanting and special guest Purushottarn das, a disciple of Bahktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who will speak on “Is There a God?”
Call (800) 985-3354 for more information.
Simi Festival to Feature 12 Bands
* The band Jars of Clay will headline the 12-band Edgefest in Simi Valley from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today at the Edgefest Festival Grounds at the 118 Freeway and 1st Street.
Founder and event coordinator James Craft, the senior-high youth pastor of Sonrise Christian Fellowship in Simi Valley, said, “We’ve expanded an evening concert into an all-day music festival for the entire family.”
The cost for the entire day is $12 in advance and $14 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at The Edge at 2350 Shasta Way or by calling (877) 958-EDGE.
Concert to Aid At-Risk Children
* Musical Connections, a concert of contemporary and inspirational music sponsored by the Unity Center Church, will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at the Westlake Church of Religious Science in Westlake Village.
Proceeds from the $12 tickets will benefit With Love, Grandma, a nonprofit group that provides backpacks to at-risk children.
Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 496-6901. The Westlake Church of Religious Science is at 2649 Townsgate Road.
Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
* The Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class in Ventura announces that Diana Boydstun, Barry Brenner, Elinor Chaum, Leslie Diamond, Bill Fulton, Sylvia Goldstein, Cindy Hansen, Laurel Hunter, Mary Ann Lish, Alison Mizraji, Penelope Murillo, Geri Pearl, Fern Perusse, Linda Rubenstein, Sharon Schill, Susan Sher, Reanne Singer, Chris Weber and Lisa Yanover will be called before the Torah at 10 a.m. today as a bat mitzvah and bar mitzvah.
Services will be held at the Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, 7620 Foothill Road.
First Presbyterian Church Events
* First Presbyterian Church in Oxnard offers several events next week.
On Sunday, the Covenant Players will present the sermon in drama. Adult Sunday school is at 9 a.m., worship service and children’s Sunday school begins at 10 a.m., Spanish-speaking worship is at 10:30 a.m. and Kids for Christ Youth Group meets in the youth lounge at 11:30 a.m.
Those wishing to learn more about religion can explore the Biblical base and history of worship with Pastor Varre Cummins in the Verbum Dei Room or find ways to enter into a deeper expression of faith with Elder Sylvia Narula in the Agape Room. Both classes are offered at 7 p.m. Monday.
On Tuesday, junior and senior high school students meet in the youth lounge at 7 p.m. for a Youth Group meeting.
The Growth Group, a women’s support group open to all women, meets at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in the Agape Room.
On Friday, there is a Spanish Bible Study for adults and children at 7 p.m.
The entire family is invited to a Harvest Festival at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 31, where there will be games, food and fun.
The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. For more information, call 983-0204.
Special Music at St. Matthew’s
* St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park will have special music directed by Steve Hobson during its Sunday service beginning at 10 a.m. The Rev. Lynne Austin will deliver the message, “Sharing Ourselves--Is It Worth It?”
The church is at 1380 S. Wendy Drive. For more information, call 498-6190.
Unity Center Church Events
* Unity Center Church meets at Old Meadows Park community room, 1600 Marview in Thousand Oaks, each Sunday morning at 10.
On Sunday, the Rev. Irma Oestmann will speak on “Your Life Parable.” Children of all ages may attend children’s church in the upper room.
Call 496-6901 for more information.
The Jewish Approach to Death
* The Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills will begin a three-part series titled “With Honor and Dignity,” focusing on the Jewish approach to death, burial and mourning.
The series will deal with issues such as what to do when a loved one is dying, how to properly accord honor and dignity to the deceased, the proper preparation for the burial, the traditions of a Jewish funeral and their meaning, the significance of reciting kaddish, the customs of the shiva, the Jewish belief in the afterlife and the Jewish perspective on embalming and cremation.
The free meetings will be held at 8 p.m. each Monday beginning this week and continuing until Nov. 8 at the Academy at 30345 Canwood St.
To make reservations, call (818) 991-0991.
Chabad, Store Plan ‘Kosher Week’
* Chabad of the Conejo will co-sponsor “Kosher Week” this week with Bristol Farms Supermarket in Westlake Village.
Tours of the market will educate the public on products that are or are not kosher. A lecture titled “Why Keep Kosher?” will be held at the Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills at 8 p.m. Monday. A workshop on gourmet salads is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Avi’s Kosher Connection, 30313 Canwood St., in Agoura Hills.
For more information on kosher week events, call Rabbi Yisroel Levine at (818) 991-0991.
Discussing the Gospel of Life
* St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Westlake Village presents the Rev. Matthew Cumberland speaking on “The Gospel of Life, Its Message and Meaning for the New Millennium” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the church sanctuary.
Sponsored by the Respect Life Ministry, the lecture will include thoughts on the dignity of each person as a child of God, the solidarity of all people in Christ’s love, the gospel of life versus the culture of death, spiritual problems in America and the transforming vision of Jesus Christ and his church.
The church is at 1125 Lindero Canyon Road. For more information, call (818) 991-3915.
Halloween With a Biblical Twist
* Children enrolled in the Simi Valley United Methodist Church Discovery Club will celebrate Halloween as their favorite Bible characters this year. The program, for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, meets Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7:30, and the community is welcome to register for the weekly program or join in the special Halloween event Tuesday.
The church is at 2394 Erringer Road. For more information, call 526-6231 and ask for the children’s ministries director.
Scholar Lectures on Heaven
* Paul Ford, a C.S. Lewis scholar, will speak at the biweekly meeting of the Moorpark College Catholic Club at noon Wednesday at Moorpark College.
His topic will be, “Heaven: What’s It Like?”
All are welcome to attend the free lecture.
For more information, call Catholic Club advisor Janice Daurio at 378-1400, Ext. 1310.
Bethel Christian Fellowship Forum
* The Rev. Craig Johnson, pastor of Bethel Christian Fellowship in Agoura Hills, will continue the Bethel Forum with the fourth lecture in a five-part “Ultimate Concerns” series on Wednesday.
His topic will be “How Can You Believe? Reflections on God, Evil and Human Suffering.”
The final lecture on Nov. 3 will ask the question, “Where Do You Believe They Go? Questions about God, Children and Heaven.”
Those attending may participate in a Forum Dialogue after the lecture and question time.
The meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are free. Refreshments will be served.
The church is at 5310 Derry Ave., Suite P. For more information, call (818) 889-7215.
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 Nov. 6 and from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 7.
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.
In addition, an informational coffee will be held Tuesday in the area.
For more information, call (818) 575- 9900.
Halloween Party for the Family
* Simi Valley United Methodist Church will host a Family Halloween Party on Friday at the church.
A dinner is scheduled from 5:30 to 6 p.m. followed by games and activities geared for children ages 1 to 11. There will be a candy and costume parade at 7 p.m.
Parents should bring a treat to share with the children as they parade the grounds. Donations of canned and dry goods for Care and Share are being collected and those attending are asked to make a contribution.
The church is at 2394 Erringer Road. For more information, call 526-6231.
Ventura Church to Hold Boutique
* The Ventura First Christian Church will hold its annual boutique and luncheon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 30.
Handcrafted items, decorations, jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, baked goods, candies and a trinkets-and-treasure room will be included. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $5 for adults and $1.50 for children under 10.
The church is at 38 Teloma Drive. Call 642-4146 for more information.
Trunk or Treat Festival
* Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village is hosting its first Trunk or Treat festival on Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the church.
Children ages 2 to 12 and their parents are invited to come in friendly costumes and gather treats from 125 decorated cars. More than 100,000 pieces of candy are expected to be handed out.
The cost is $6 per child. Parents and children under 2 are free. Dinner from Domino’s Pizza and Wood Ranch Barbecue may be purchased at a reduced rate.
The church is at 5495 Via Rocas. For more information, call (818) 575-2233.
Ventriloquist to Perform
* As a Halloween alternative, Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks invites families to a free performance of ventriloquist Jim Adams starring in “James and the Professor” on Oct. 31.
A hot dog barbecue will kick off the evening at 4:30 p.m., followed by Adams and his troupe at 6.
The church is at 101 N. Skyline Drive. Call 496-6186 for additional information.
Course in Hebrew Reading Offered
* A crash course in Hebrew reading will run for five Mondays at JFC-Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo beginning at 7 p.m. Nov. 1. Laura Milhander will conduct the free course, which is open to the community.
The temple is at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. Call 388-3824 for more information.
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.