Powwow at Church Honors Youth

* The fourth annual Native American Honoring Our Youth Powwow will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Hawk’s Grove on the grounds of North Oxnard United Methodist Church,.

Proceeds will provide scholarships for high school seniors and benefit youth cultural programs in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

The event starts with storytelling by local Chumash Elder Alan Salazar and arts and crafts for children. At 10 a.m., there will be a multicultural concert with Channel Islands Taiko Ensemble playing Japanese rhythms and members of the all-women Joyful Noise group, who will play African drums. Traditional dance and music of more than 30 Native American tribes will start at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day.

Fry bread, Navajo tacos and native arts and crafts will be sold. Cherokee recording artist Elk Whistle will entertain with traditional cane and cedar flutes during the afternoon. Native spiritual leaders and Elk Whistle will offer songs for the victims, their families and the Ventura-area fishermen who helped at the scene of the recent Alaska Airlines crash.

Admission is $2 for ages 7 and up, with canned goods requested to help local shelters.

The church is at 1801 Joliet Lane. For more information, call 905-3679.

All Saints Episcopal Activities

* All Saints Episcopal Church of Oxnard will have a week of activities beginning with a youth car wash and burrito sale in the church parking lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, followed by a “Bread of Life” dinner in the parish hall at 5:30 p.m.

On Sunday, there will be worship services at 8 and 11 a.m. A Spanish worship service will be held at 9:30 a.m.

Christian education classes on Sunday will include a 9:30 a.m. adult lectionary Bible study led by the Rev. Warren V. Porter and a 10:30 a.m. Christian education for children led by Sunday School Supt. Cindy Morales.

A Christian spirituality meeting will be held in the parish hall at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

A Holy Eucharist and healing service will be held in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Choir rehearsal will be in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Meetings will be held throughout the Lenten season in members’ homes on Thursdays and Fridays. For information about these meetings, call 483-2347.

The church is at 144 South C St.

Temple Hosts Family Purim Bingo

* Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo will have a month of activities beginning with a family Purim bingo night at 6 p.m. today.

Family Shabbat service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

There will be a Torah study at 9:30 a.m. April 8 and a women’s health forum from 3 to 5 p.m. April 9.

A community Passover Seder will be held at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo at 6 p.m. April 20.

Shabbat service will be at 7:30 p.m. April 28 and there will be a Yom Hashoah program at 4 p.m. April 30.

All events are free and open to the public. The temple is at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. For more information, call 388-3824.

‘Is Christianity Foolish?’

* Trinity Lutheran Church in Simi Valley will hold its April Christian Forum, “Is Christianity Foolish?”, at 6:45 p.m. today. Dinner costs $3 each.

Free child-care will be provided.

The church is at 2949 Alamo St. For more information, call 526-2429.

Church Plans ‘Celebration’ of Life

* The Ventura County Church of Religious Science in Ventura will host “A Reverence for Life Celebration” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Participants will include representatives from the county, law enforcement, Juvenile Court, the Ventura Unified School District, St. Bonaventure High School and churches.

The church is at 101 S. Laurel St. For more information, call 643-1933.

Bishop Named to Ventura Ward

* Lee Pulsipher has been called as the new bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ventura First Ward.

Pulsipher, 70, a real estate broker, will succeed Dennis Garrett. He has chosen Richard James McCulloch and Ronald J. Rasmussen as his counselors.

Church leaders serve without financial compensation. A bishop’s term is usually about five years.

Lutheran Church Hosts Activities

* Our Savior’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oxnard will have a week of activities beginning with worship services from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Child care will be provided during the service, and there is Sunday School for all ages at 10:45 a.m.

A Lenten service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Covenant service will be at 6 p.m. and Bible study at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Easter worship service will be at 9 a.m. April 23.

The church is at 905 Redwood St. For more information, call 486-5383.

St. Matthew’s Offers 2 Services

* St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park will have worship services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Lynne Austin will deliver a message focusing on Psalm 107:1-3 and 17-22. Communion will be served at both services.

Worship at St. St. Matthew’s is relaxed and interactive with child care and children’s classes during the second service.

The church is at 1360 S. Wendy Drive. For more information, call 498-6910.

Hispanic Mission Leader to Speak

* St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard will hear from the Rev. Fernando Santillano, director of the Hispanic Mission of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church, during the service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday. Communion will be offered. There will be no Sunday School so children can participate in communion.

The church is at 1800 South C St. For more information, call 487-2711.

Chabad Sponsors Matzo Bakery

* Chabad of the Conejo will sponsor a model matzo bakery to provide hands-on experience for participants to bake Passover matzo and information explaining the significance of matzo.

The event will take place at the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus in West Hills from 11 am. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $2.50.

The campus is at 22622 Vanowen St. For information, call (818) 991-0991.

‘Faith Talk’ Is Topic of Sermon

* United Methodist Church in Simi Valley will hold services at 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Brandon Cho will speak on “Faith Talk,” using John 3:13-21.

Communion will be celebrated at the 8 a.m. service.

Child care is provided for infants and preschoolers. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9 a.m., and a Spanish service is at 1:30 p.m.

The Discovery Club for pre-kindergarten through grade six and youth fellowship for junior and senior high school students meet at 6 p.m.

A new adult study for Lent, “Cross Walk,” will begin at 6 p.m. in the chapel.

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

‘Pivotal Action’ Topic on Sunday

* The Rev. Irma Oestmann will speak on “Pivotal Action” when Unity Center Church of Thousand Oaks holds services at 10 a.m. Sunday. Youngsters are invited to attend Children’s Church in the upper room. There is a teen ministry and child care is available.

The church meets in the Old Meadows Park Community Room, 1600 Marview. For more information, call 517-1210.

Cuban Refugees to Be Honored

* The Ventura County Native American United Methodist Church Circle of Life will honor two Cuban refugee families during its monthly gathering, held jointly with a worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the North Oxnard United Methodist Church.

There will be a question-and-answer period at 11:45 a.m.

The public is invited. The church is at 1801 Joliet Place. For more information, call 905-3679.

Rock Band to Perform at Service

* Sonrise Christian Fellowship in Camarillo and Dimensions NightClub in Camarillo will present classic rock band RHL during a worship service from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Pastor Mike Lade will give a short religious message during the Soulhouse service. The nightclub’s bar will be open, and alcoholic drinks may be purchased. There is no cover charge, but offerings will be accepted.

The nightclub is at 2258 Pickwick Drive. For more information, call 383-5727.

‘World Religions’ Lecture Scheduled

* Nancy Martin, an assistant professor of religious studies at Chapman University, will lecture on “World Religions in the New Millennium” at 10 a.m. Monday in Cal Lutheran’s Samuelson Chapel in Thousand Oaks.

Martin will discuss the increased role of world religions on the global stage and the importance of understanding in the 21st century.

The university is at 60 W. Olsen Road. For more information, call 493-3151.

Aspects of Jesus’ Life to Be Studied

* “The Passion and Resurrection Narratives of Jesus” will be the Bible study program for men and women at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church during classes from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays or 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays in the Lenten season.

The classes will continue until May.

There will also be a weekly fish fry at the Thomas Aquinas Church Hall at 8 p.m. every Friday until April 14.

The menu includes a choice of baked or fried fish, coleslaw, French fries and coffee or tea. Ice cream and other desserts will be available.

Tickets at the door cost $6.50 for a large meal and $5 for a small meal. Proceeds go to the church’s general fund.

The church will also anoint the sick after each Mass, which take place at 5:30 p.m. today and 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (in Spanish) on Sunday.

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

Weekly Lenten Meetings in Oxnard

* St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard will have a Mass at 5:15 p.m. today, and the Sacrament of Penance will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

There will be Mass at 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Spanish Mass will be at noon and 1:30 p.m.

St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard is offering a “Lenten Wednesday With Jesus” series from 7 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday until April 12.

The church is at 2511 South C St. For more information, call 486-7301.

Emotional Issues Examined

* Linda Montoya, a marriage and family therapy intern, will provide a monthly presentation and discussion group on emotional issues at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura.

The topic for the meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday will be “The Sandwich Generation,” about baby boomers who are sandwiched between concerns of aging parents and raising children.

The church is at 3175 Telegraph Road. For more information, call Sister Teresita Keliher at 289-3499.

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Religion Briefs runs 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.