Young Singles Congregation
* A new congregation for single adults ages 18 to 30 has been established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Westlake Village to serve members from Agoura, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and parts of Thousand Oaks.
Bishop of the new congregation will be Jim Doolan of Westlake Village, assisted by Bob Bowen of Newbury Park and Howard Laguna of Westlake Village.
The ward was created to serve the spiritual and social needs of young single adults.
Church services are Sundays at 11 a.m. at 32165 Watergate.
Public Invited to Screening
* Pastor Tim Beal and the congregation of Emmanuel Church in Thousand Oaks invite the community to view a free family film titled “A Vow to Cherish” at 7 p.m. today.
Ken Howard, Barbara Babcock and Ossie Davis lead a cast in portraying the challenges faced by a Christian family when the mother is diagnosed with a devastating illness.
This film--released by World Wide Pictures, the motion picture ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn.--provides a look at the power of love.
The church is at 588 Camino Manzanas, at the corner of Lynn Road. For more information, call 498-4502.
Interactive Worship Service
* 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 the message “Out of the Wilderness,” focusing on Mark 1:4-11 and Genesis 1:1-5.
Worship is relaxed and interactive, with child care and children’s classes offered during the second service.
The church is at 1380 Wendy Drive.
Writer’s Memories of the Catskills
* Temple Beth Torah Brotherhood of Ventura will feature guest speaker Allan B. Zeller, journalist and winner of six Emmys for broadcasting excellence, during a lox and bagel brunch from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Zeller will speak on “Catskill Memories and TV Stars of Yesterday and Today.” The temple is at 7620 Foothill Road. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information, call 647-4181.
Calvary Millennial Messages
* Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village will offer the following messages during regular services at 8:45 and 11 a.m. in January.
“The Walk of the New Millennium Believer” on Sunday; “Celebrate the Harvest of 1999” on Jan. 16; “The Vision of the New Millennium Believer” with guest speaker Paul Cedar, the Lighthouse Movement chairman, on Jan. 23; and “The Mark of a New Millennium Believer” on Jan. 30.
The church is at 5495 Via Rocas. For more information, call (818) 991-8040.
‘Faith Talk’ Series to Begin
* The Rev. Brandon Cho will preach at the 8 and 10 a.m. services Sunday and begin a sermon series titled “Faith Talk” at United Methodist Church in Simi Valley.
Sunday’s message is on baptism using Mark 1:1-11, and the renewal of baptism will be celebrated. Communion will be celebrated at 8 a.m., and child care is offered for both services.
Sunday school for all ages begins at 9 a.m. A service in Spanish will be offered at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Five weekly classes on coping with grief begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 in the chapel.
The classes, which are open to the community, will be led by the Rev. David Burgeson and will use the book “When Grief Breaks Your Heart” by James W. Moore. Participants will explore grief as a natural part of life and ways to cope with feelings of heartache, pain, disappointment and loss.
The church is at 2394 Erringer Road at Cochran Street. For more information, call 526-6231.
‘Celebrate Live’ Is Theme
* Unity Center Church will meet at Old Meadows Park community room in Thousand Oaks at 10 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Irma Oestmann will give the inspirational message, “Celebrate Live,” with Estaban Ramirez providing contemporary music. A children’s church meets in the upper room. Child care is provided.
The park is at 1600 Marview. For more information, call 496-6901.
Author to Speak on Intimacy
* The Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills will host a lecture by Rivka Slonim at 8 p.m. Monday.
Slonim is a nationally known teacher, lecturer and author who has traveled the world addressing traditional Jewish observance and contemporary life. As the author of “Total Immersion--A Mikvah Anthology,” Slonim offers information about spiritual family purity and its direct influence on marital intimacy and harmony.
The title of the lecture is “The Sexual and the Sacred--Thoughts on Marital Intimacy and Harmony.”
The lecture is for married couples. Space is limited.
Reservations can be made by calling (818) 991-0991. Tickets are $10 with reservations and $12 at the door. The academy is at 30345 Canwood St.
‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ Sermon
* The Rev. James K. Bain Jr. will deliver the sermon “Tuesdays With Morrie” based on scripture 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 at the 10 a.m. worship service Jan. 16 at First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard.
Youth groups will have a spaghetti fund-raising lunch. Proceeds will be used toward tuition for church winter camp. The lunch is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
During the worship service there will be Sunday school for youths. Adult Sunday school will be at 9 a.m.
Child care is available at all services.
At 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, seniors ages 55 and over are invited to a luncheon and program. Reservations are required.
The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. For more information, call 983-0204.
Italian Federation to Meet
* Branch 380 of the Italian Catholic Federation will hold its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Friday at St. Paschal Baylon Church in Thousand Oaks. All Italian-American Catholics are invited to join the group and share in its spiritual and social events.
The church is at Janss and Moorpark roads.
For more information, call 492-9658.
Bilingual Worship Service
* All Saints Episcopal Church of Oxnard will have a worship service at 8 a.m. Jan. 16 and a 10 a.m. bilingual worship service with guest speaker Butch Gamara, diocesan missionary for multicultural ministries.
At noon there will be an annual parish meeting with approval of budget, election of new members for vestry and delegates for the diocesan convention. A potluck dinner will follow.
Christian education classes that day will include a 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study led by the Rev. Warren V. Porter and a 10:30 a.m. class for children led by Sunday school Supt. Cindy Morales.
On Jan. 18, a Christian spirituality meeting will be held in Parish Hall at 7:15 p.m.
A Holy Eucharist service will be held in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel at 6 p.m. Jan. 19.
There will also be a Bible study class at 1:30 p.m. that day. Choir rehearsal will be Jan. 20 in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The church is at 144 South C St.
‘Faith Finds a Way’ Sermon
* The Rev. Irma Oestmann will speak on “Faith Finds a Way” when Unity Center Church meets at Old Meadows Park community room in Thousand Oaks at 10 a.m. Jan. 16. The children’s church meets in the upper room. Child care is provided.
The park is at 1600 Marview. For more information, call 496-6901.
Meaningful Life Course to Begin
* A six-part course titled “Toward a Meaningful Life” will begin at 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills.
The course will discuss how to lead a more fulfilling life based on the teachings of Judaism. Topics will include body and soul, birth and childhood, home and family, faith and suffering, work and productivity and our generation.
Instructors for the course will include Rabbi Moshe Bryski, Rabbi Yitzchak Sapochkinsky, Rabbi Yisroel Levine and Rabbi Shlomo Bistritzky.
The course is accredited by the Bureau of Jewish Education.
An eight-week course focusing on the mystical aspects of prayer will be offered at the Conejo Jewish Academy beginning at 8 p.m. Jan. 20.
There is a $25 fee for registration and materials for each course. The academy is at 30345 Canwood St. For more information, call (818) 991-0991.
Seder in Honor of TuB’Shevat
* Congregation Am HaYam of Oxnard will have a mini-Seder in honor of TuB’Shevat followed by a Shabbat dinner and services at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21.
There will be traditional Torah services at 10 a.m. Jan. 22.
Both services will be conducted by Rabbi Gerald Hanig and will take place at the Oxnard Monday Club at 1401 West Gonzales Road, east of Ventura Road, in Oxnard.
For more information, call 985-2853 or visit the www.amhayam.org Web site.
Living the Ten Commandments
* Barbara Freedman, a family therapist and temple member, will speak on “Life’s Ten Challenges: The Ten Commandments in Everyday Life” on Jan. 28 during the Sabbath eve service at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks.
The service begins at 8:15 p.m. and will be conducted by Rabbi Shimon Paskow, spiritual leader of the congregation. Cantor Jeff Cohen will chant the traditional Kabbalat Shabbat liturgy. After the service, everyone is welcome to the Oneg Shabbat reception in the temple social hall where Freedman will be available to answer questions.
On Jan. 29, Shabbat services will begin at 10 a.m. Chelsea Mangel will be called to the Torah in celebration of becoming bat mitzvah. Everyone is welcome to attend kiddush after the service.
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