Religion Notes

COMMANDMENT PROGRAM: The Rev. Bill Schirmer will present a program on “The Greatest Commandment” at 10 a.m. Sunday at La Crescenta Church of Religious Science, 4845 Dunsmore St. Free. Information: (818) 249-1045.

GOING WITHIN: The Rev. Bonnie Rowsell will discuss “If I Don’t Go Within: I Go Without” at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Glendale Church of Religious Science, 2146 E. Chevy Chase Drive. Free. Information: (818) 244-8171.

SHABBAT WORKSHOP: Kol Tikvah Temple, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, will hold a free Shabbat workshop that will cover prayers, music and preparation for Shabbat from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Information: (818) 348-0670.

STORY POWER: The Rev. Bonnie Tarwater will discuss “The Healing Power of Stories,” including her own personal stories and religious stories from the Unitarian-Universalist heritage, at 10:45 a.m. Sunday at Sepulveda Unitarian-Universalist Society, 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills. Free. Information: (818) 894-9251.

HEALING SERVICE: Northridge United Methodist Church will offer a Service of Healing that will cover the roots of and possibilities for healing at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, 9650 Reseda Blvd. Free. Information: (818) 886-1555.

AUTHOR’S LECTURE: Cecile Andrews, author of “The Circle of Simplicity: Return to the Good Life,” will lecture on simple living and connecting with one’s real values in life while consuming less at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Society Church of Studio City, 12355 Moorpark St. Free. Information: (818) 769-5911.

KABBALA PROGRAM: Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz will discuss “Why Kabbala?” as part of the Monday night lecture series sponsored by Em Habanim Northridge and Cal State Northridge’s Hillel House from 8 to 10 p.m. at the CSUN Hillel House, 17729 Plummer St. Free. Information: (818) 832-8293.

A LIFE STORY: Tova Mordechai, a lecturer and author from Israel, will lecture on “Playing With Fire: Back to Her People,” a tale of her life story and her transition from Christian asceticism to Jewish observance, at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Conejo Jewish Academy, 30345 Canwood St., Agoura Hills. Free. Information and reservations: (818) 991-0991.

JEWS AND ARABS: Deana Armbruster, the Southern California director of the American Friends of Neve Shalom-Wahat Al Salaam Peace Village, will speak on “The Oasis of Peace,” a cooperative community in Israel of Jews and Arabs living and teaching tolerance, understanding and mutual respect, at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Temple Beth Hillel, 12326 Riverside Drive, Valley Village. The cost is $2. Information: (818) 763-9148.

CHRISTIANITY BASICS: The Rev. Rand L. Reasoner will teach “Basic Christianity,” a free class for seniors, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Shomrei Torah Synagogue, 7353 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. Information: (818) 992-5133.

MARRIAGE DISCUSSION: The Social Concerns Committee of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council will host a discussion on Proposition 22, an initiative that would recognize only marriages between men and women, from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd., Northridge. Those speaking in opposition to the initiative will include the Rev. Ralph Midtlyng of All Saints Lutheran Church in Sun Valley and the Rev. Gail Geisenhainer of Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church of Canoga Park, and among those speaking in support of the initiative will be the Rev. Eric Thomas of Christ Community Church of Canoga Park. Free. Information: (818) 718-6460 Ext. 3007.

GRANT PRESENTATION: Kol Tikvah Temple will hold a Friday Shabbat service in which Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs will present a grant from Justice for Judaism to Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and the Rev. James Lawson Jr. at 7 p.m. at the temple, 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. Free. Information: (818) 348-0670.

News and announcements for this column can be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311.