Pastor to Start New Sermon Series

* Pastor David Smith will begin a new sermon series at Ojai Valley Adventist Church at 10:45 a.m. today. The series, titled “The Patient Shows No Improvement,” will explore “the familiar dilemma of Christian living where there seems little or no evidence of sanctification--or God-given growth.”

Ojai Valley Adventist offers a service that blends contemporary Christian music with classic songs of faith. Bible study hour begins at 9:30 a.m.

The church is at 291 E. El Roblar. For information, call 955-7631.

Heralds Quartet to Offer Concert

* The public is invited to attend a gospel concert tonight at Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church, featuring the Heralds Quartet. The group performs regularly on Trinity Broadcasting’s “Praise the Lord” program. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. An offering will be taken.

The church holds its morning worship service each Saturday at 10:50. Sabbath school, for all ages, is also held Saturday mornings at 9:15. The church is at 6300 Telephone Road, Ventura. For more information, call 642-5387.

Family, Faith and Fellowship

* Senior Pastor Adiel De Pano will lead a worship service at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard at 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

Following the service the nurture team will conduct a “Family Fun, Faith and Fellowship” session for family members of all ages. Child care is available for children 4 and younger. Rev. Victor Salas will lead a Spanish-language Bible class at 1 p.m. in the church parlor. The Japanese ministry worships at 2 p.m.

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

Interfaith Fellowship Meeting

* Interfaith Fellowship meets in the ballroom of Thousand Oaks Inn in Thousand Oaks at 10 a.m. Sunday. There will be a children’s program and child care.

On Tuesday, the men’s group will meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for a potluck dinner. Information: 379-0041 or 241-7030.

On Thursday, a study group will focus on “A Course in Miracles,” beginning at 6:30 p.m. Information: (818) 889-6264.

The inn is at 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. For information, call 379-9336.

Guest to Speak at Unity Church

* Unity Center Church in Thousand Oaks holds its Sunday service at 10 a.m. with a message from guest speaker Lorraine Wilson, an ordained minister, on “Learning to Know You.”

The church meets at the Old Meadows Park community room at 1600 Marview Road. Child care is provided. For information, call 496-6901.

Congregation to Host Open House

* Congregation Am HaYam in Oxnard will hold an open house Sunday and Aug. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. for anyone interested in joining a conservative synagogue. The gathering will be at Oxnard Monday Club, 1401 W. Gonzales Road.

Rabbi Gerald Hanig presides over temple services. The temple also offers Talmud Torah Family School, Chavarim, adult education classes and social activities.

For more information, call 985-2853.

Folk Music Fellowship Service

* Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will host an “Intergenerational Folk Music Service” Sunday at 10 a.m. at Goebel Senior Adult Center in Thousand Oaks. Husband and wife duo Tom and Dawn Kuznkowski will perform a family-oriented folk music program. The center is at 1385 E. Janss Road. For information, call 492-8751.

First Presbyterian to Hold Service

* First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard will hold a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor James K. Bain Jr. will deliver the sermon, “The Artist Within You.”

There will be Sunday school for youth during the service. Adult Sunday school will begin at 9 a.m. Child care is available at all services. The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. For information, call 983-0204.

Evening Vacation Bible School

* All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard will begin an evening vacation Bible school on Monday that will feature craft projects, puppetry, singing, dancing and Old Testament children’s videos. The classes, held each night through Friday, will take place at Parish Hall from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The church is at 144 South C St. For more information, call 483-2347.

Service at Oxnard Lutheran Church

* Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oxnard will hear from the Rev. Mary Ann Feine during its 9:15 a.m. Sunday service. Sunday school is held at 10:45 a.m. for all ages and child care is provided.

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

Mass Schedule at St. Anthony’s

* St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard will celebrate evening Mass at 5:15 p.m. today and have confessions from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. in English and Spanish-language Mass will be at noon and 1:30 p.m.

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

Unity Church Hosts Classes, Services

* Unity Church in Ventura will have weekly meetings throughout August.

Weekday prayers will be held at noon. Healing sessions from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Metaphysical Bible study classes will be held from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and church services at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sundays.

The meetings will be held at the church, 2065 G Sperry Ave.

Fellowship Offers Worship

* Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Thousand Oaks will have its Sunday worship celebration at 10:05 a.m.

A nursery and Sunday school classes are provided, while those who are high school or college age will remain for the regular service.

The church has music, teaching and a casual atmosphere. The fellowship is at 480 W. Gainesborough Road. For information, call 379-0237.

Vineyard Fellowship Plans Services

* Channel Islands Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Oxnard has services with contemporary music and casual dress at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday.

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

Temple Beth Torah Shabbat

* Shabbat services are held at 8 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. Saturdays each week at the Temple Beth Torah in Ventura.

The temple is at 7620 Foothill Road. For information, call 647-4181.

Temple Hosts Discussion Groups

* Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will sponsor a yeshiva for the beginning of the High Holidays--Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur--with a Havdallah service at 8 p.m. Sept. 23 led by Rabbi Richard Spiegel, the temple spiritual leader, and Hazzan Jeff Cohen.

At 9:15 p.m. there will be several discussion groups, including “Singing the High Holy Day Melodies” with Cohen, who is a cantor; “The Christian Right’s Attack on Separation of Church and State” with Judge Bruce Einhorn; “Laugh a Little: Enjoy Some Good Humor” with John Keats; “Being Effective Every Day of Your Life” with Barbara Freedman; “Sounding the Shofar for Rosh Hashana” with Ronald Goldstein; “Putting on Tefillin” with Myles Sympson; “A Woman’s Perspective on the High Holidays” with Leah Shechter, and “Understanding the High Holiday Prayer Book” with Spiegel.

Participants can choose any class. The first class will end at 10:05 p.m. and all will be repeated at 10:50 p.m. There are no fees except for a crafts program. The public is invited to attend. At 10:50 p.m. the Temple Etz Chaim Sisterhood will present a dessert reception. At 11:30 p.m. all are invited to at tend a midnight Selichot service, which marks the beginning of Jewish High Holy Days.

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana 5761, will begin at sunset Sept. 29. Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins at sunset Oct. 8.

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

Church to Take Trip to Italy

* St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fillmore will take a pilgrimage of prayer to Italy from Sept. 28 to Oct. 12.

Pastor Joseph Hernandez will celebrate daily Mass and spiritual direction. Those joining the pilgrimage will tour holy places that include shrines and major basilicas. The cost for the trip will be about $3,000.

For information, call Michael Lara at 524-1306.

Group to Tour Holy Land

* A two-week tour of Israel will be led by Rabbi Shimon Paskow and his wife Carol, beginning Oct. 29.

People of all religions are welcome to join the tour, which will visit many cities including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Jericho and Masada. Those participating will have the opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea, see the Dead Sea Scrolls, the ancient Western Wall and the recently opened tunnel of the Western Wall and other historic and archeological sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims. The group will also meet prominent Israeli personalities.

Paskow is the spiritual leader at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks and has led more than two dozen tours to Israel.

The cost will be about $4,200 per person, based on double occupancy. For information, call 497-6891.

Temple Offers Programs for Youths

* Registration is being accepted for fall after-school programs at Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo. The school provides students with a comprehensive and positive Jewish experience that enhances Jewish identity while focusing on Jewish culture, history, ethics and Hebrew language, art, cooking, music and dance. Bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah preparation and confirmation are also available.

The temple is at 4098 D Calle Tesoro. For information, call 388-3824.

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