Ventura Church to Hold Boutique

* The Ventura First Christian Church will hold its annual boutique and luncheon today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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.

Oxnard Church Offers Classes * First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard offers a variety of classes and activities Sunday, beginning with an adult Sunday school class at 9 a.m. The worship service at 10 a.m. will be presented by Pastor James K. Bain Jr., who will deliver the sermon “Keys to Success,” based on Matthew 23:1-12.

Sunday school for youth and children will be held during this worship service.

There will be a worship service in Spanish beginning at 10:30 a.m.

A harvest festival begins at 11:30 a.m., with worship, games and food.

On Monday, two adult Bible classes will be held at 7 p.m. “The Study of Worship: Its Biblical Base and History” with Pastor Varre Cummins will be in the Verbum Dei Room. “Soul East: Experiential Way to Explore and Enter Into a Deeper Expression of Faith” with Elder Sylvia Narula will be in the Agape Room.

The annual Alternative Christmas Fair will be held Nov. 7 at 11:30 a.m. 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.

Worship 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 a message focusing on Ezekiel 37:1-14 and 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13.

There will be special music by Kathy Leslie at the 8:30 a.m. service; the music at the 10 a.m. service will be provided by the Chancel Choir directed by Steve Hobson.

Child care and children’s classes are provided during the worship services.

The church is at 1360 S. Wendy Drive.

Cal Lutheran to Present Concert * Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks will present Ken Medema in concert Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and Monday at 10 a.m. in the Samuelson Chapel.

Blind from birth, Medema has been writing and performing songs since 1970.

He began composing material for his work as a music therapist in a psychiatric hospital.

His music is earthy and direct, full of stories and humor. He uses a grand piano, two synthesizers and an electronic percussion machine. He challenges his listeners to work for a world of justice and peace.

For more information, call 483-3151.

Trunk or Treat Festival * Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village is hosting its first Trunk or Treat festival Sunday 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 free. Dinner from Domino’s Pizza and Wood Ranch Barbecue can 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 Sunday.

A hot dog barbecue will kick off the event 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.

Vineyard Fellowship Services * Channel Islands Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Oxnard has Sunday services at 9 and 11 a.m. each week. Sunday evening college-age worship services are at 7 p.m. with Pastor Bill Coulter. Casual dress is appropriate for all services, which feature contemporary music.

The church is at 1851 Holser Walk, Suite 200. For more information, call 485-0050.

Course in Hebrew Reading Offered * A crash course in Hebrew reading will run for five Mondays at JFC-Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo beginning Monday at 7 p.m. Laura Milhander will conduct the free course, which is open to the community.

A Hanukkah bazaar is set for Wednesday, 4 to 7 p.m., and will feature a magic show at 5:30 p.m. for children.

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

Rabbi to Speak of Alaska, Israel * Rabbi Israel Haber will speak on “From the Heights of Alaska to the Golan Heights” at the Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Haber, who served for many years as a U.S. Air Force chaplain in Alaska and then moved to Israel, is known for his humorous and entertaining style.

He will tell of living an observant Jewish life with his wife at an Army base in Alaska, where he overcame many obstacles and challenges. He will also share stories about his current life in the Golan Heights in Israel.

The academy is at 30345 Canwood St. For reservations and information, call (818) 991-0991. Tickets for the lecture are $10.

‘Battle for the Jewish Soul’ * Temple Etz Chaim Men’s Club will present a lecture by Rabbi Tovia Singer on Wednesday titled “The Battle for the Jewish Soul: Are the Missionaries Winning?”

The free lecture, sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Men’s clubs, Western Region, begins at 8 p.m. at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks.

Singer is director of Outreach Judaism, a full-time national organization dedicated to countering the efforts of Christian groups and cults that target Jews for conversion, and a consultant to the Jewish Community Relations Council’s task force on missionaries and cults. He is an exit counselor who helps families recover their loved ones from the evangelical church, and is the author of a tape series and accompanying guide, “Let’s Get Biblical.”

Temple Etz Chaim is at 1080 Janss Road. For more information, call 497-5891.

World Community Day Service * The World Community Day service of the Conejo Valley Church Women United will be held Friday at the Thousand Oaks United Methodist Church in Thousand Oaks.

Coffee will be at 10 a.m., with a 10:30 a.m. program titled “God’s Passionate Love: Holy Laughter; Holy Tears.”

Expanding on the theme of divine love, introduced earlier this year in the World Day of Prayer and May Friendship Day services, World Community Day will provide participants with an opportunity to experience God’s love anew.

All women are invited. The church is at 1000 E. Janss Road. For more information, call 494-7368.

Special Service at Ventura Church * Christian women throughout Ventura are invited by Ventura Church Women United to gather Friday at 9:30 a.m. at College Methodist Church in Ventura in observance of the 1999 World Community Day service.

The service will be led and enhanced by mimes. The meeting’s purpose is to provide participants with an opportunity to experience God’s love anew.

College Methodist Church is at 4300 Telegraph Road. For reservations, call 643-2301 by Oct. 31.

Workshop on Centering Prayer * An introductory workshop on centering prayer will be held at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church on Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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.

Shabbat Services Coming Up * Shabbat services at Congregation Am HaYam in Oxnard begin with a Shabbat dinner honoring new members Friday at 6:30 p.m.

There will be services Nov. 6 at 10 a.m.; Shabbat services Nov. 19 at 8 p.m.; and services Nov. 20 at 10 a.m.

Services will be held at the Monday Club at 1401 W. Gonzales Road. Check the Web site at www.amhayam.org for more information.

Handicapables Plan Special Day * Handicapables of West Ventura County, open to all physically disabled people, will hold a day of spiritual and social enrichment Nov. 6 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.

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