Calvary Playground to Open

* Calvary Community Church of Westlake Village will dedicate and open its new children’s playground at 4 p.m. today.

Kelsey’s Playground is a 27,000-square-foot play area that will be available to all programs and ministries of the church.

The playground was named for a child of a Calvary community family.

Kelsey Farwell died several years ago, and members of the community, friends of the family and church members have donated money, time and materials to develop the play area.

Refreshments will be served after a brief dedication and prayer ceremony.

The church is at 5495 Via Rocas. For information, call (818) 991-8040.

Church Offers Seminar for Couples

* Simi Covenant Church in Simi Valley will offer a relationship improvement seminar for couples from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at $35 per person.

The church is at 4846 Alamo St. For information, call 526-8855.

Sermon Deals With ‘Healing Love’

* The First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard will hold a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor James K. Bain Jr. will deliver the sermon “Healing Love,” based on John 15:1-9.

Communion will be served.

There will be Sunday school for youths during the worship service. Adult Sunday school will be at 9 a.m.

Following the worship service, there will be a free health fair with cholesterol screening, blood pressure checks and blood sugar testing done by representatives from St. John’s Medical Center.

Child care is available at all services.

The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. For more information, call 983-0204.

Music Teachers to Perform

* The Conejo/Simi Music Teachers Assn. will present teachers in recital at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The free recital will feature piano solos, a string trio, accompanied violin and accompanied soprano. The program will include works by Debussy, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn.

The church is at 1 W. Avenida de los Arboles. For more information, call 379-5690.

Temple Members to Lend a Hand

* Temple Beth Torah of Ventura will hold its annual “Mitzvah Day” from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday. Temple members of all ages will fan out into the community and perform good deeds, in keeping with the Jewish commandment of tikkun olam, or healing the world.

Service projects and locations include bagging foods for needy families at Project Understanding in Ventura, planting at Juanamaria Park in Ventura, working on the RAIN Project facility in Camarillo, making dolls for children at Casa Pacifica in Camarillo, caring for animals at the Ojai Humane Society, beach cleanup at Marina Park in Ventura and a blood drive at the temple.

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

LDS Ward to Hear Testimonies

* The Newbury Park First Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hear from Hank Trefethen during a fast and testimony meeting at 9 a.m. Sunday.

The 19-year-old, who has been called to serve a two-year proselytizing mission in Salt Lake City, and other members of the congregation will share personal testimonies of Jesus Christ.

Sunday school classes for all ages are held at 10:20 a.m. There will be classes for children, teenagers, men, women and children until noon.

The church is at 35 S. Wendy Drive. For more information, call 498-4962.

Discussion on Native Americans

* The Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura will host Gordon Hall, a Methodist ministerial student at Claremont Theological School, who will speak about Native Americans who live outside the reservation and who practice traditional spiritual beliefs, at 11 a.m. Sunday.

On June 11, the church will host its annual religious education service led by children and teachers at 11 a.m.

Child care is available each day.

The church is at 4949 Foothill Road. For information, call 644-3898.

All Saints Presents Concert

* All Saints Episcopal Church of Oxnard will hold a concert in the sanctuary at 4 p.m. Sunday with music by the All Saints Choir and the Ventura Master Chorale. The concert is free and open to the public. Child care will be provided and refreshments served.

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

Church to Hold Homecoming

* Oxnard First Baptist Church will have a homecoming for former ministers, missionaries and members during its centennial celebration weekend, beginning with a picnic from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and continuing at worship services at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The church is at 936 W. 5th St. For more information, call 483-2205.

Unity Center to Offer Service

* Unity Center Church will hold a worship service at Old Meadows Park Community Room in Thousand Oaks at 10 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Irma Oestmann will deliver the message “Power of Hope and Imagination.” Children are invited. Child care is provided.

The center is at 1600 Marview. For information, call 517-1210.

Discussion on Fathers’ Roles

* Our Lady of Assumption Church in Ventura will present a discussion on “Fathers, Pregnant Dads” at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Hurley Hall. Marriage and family therapy intern Linda Montoya will lead the discussion and focus on God’s purpose, plan and power to equip men for leadership in their children’s lives.

The public is invited and there is no charge. The church is at 3175 Telegraph Road. For more information, call Sister Teresita Keliher at 289-3499.

Group Helps Women in Transitions

* A nonsectarian support group for women coping with life transitions such as marriage, divorce, a new relationship, loss of a partner, health issues, aging parents, moving into the workplace or retirement meets from 9 to 11 a.m. every Wednesday at Jewish Family Services in Ventura.

There is a fee of $10 or less, depending on need.

The location is 1915 E. Main St. For information, call 641-6565.

Centers to Hold Shavout Services

* Shavout services will be held at Chabad centers in Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Oak Park at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The 10 Commandments will be read at the 10 a.m. Friday service followed by pizza and ice cream.

Coffee and refreshments will be served at an all-night learning experience beginning at 11 p.m. Thursday.

The services and programs will take place at all three Chabad centers. They are at 30345 Canwood St. in Agoura Hills, 5998 Conifer St. in Oak Park and 741 Lakefield Road No. D in Westlake Village. For more information, call (818) 991-0991.

Continental Singers to Perform

* The Continental Singers “Testify to Truth” tour will continue at the South Coast Fellowship Faith Center of Ventura at 7 p.m. June 16. The group of 25 vocalists and a 25-piece brass band will perform high-energy music with choreography and personal testimony.

Admission is free. The church is at 4050 Market St. For more information, call 658-7646, Ext. 7.

Race Unity Celebration Planned

* The Ventura County Race Unity Celebration, a festive gathering to build bridges of friendship and understanding, will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. June 17 at Constitution Park in Camarillo.

The free event is open to the public and will feature Grammy Award winner K.C. Porter, a 50-member gospel choir, singer Walter Heath, Mexican quintet La Barca and the Polynesian dance troupe Ports of Paradise.

Those attending should bring folding chairs, sunscreen and a picnic lunch. The event is sponsored by 14 communities of the Bahai faith in Ventura County and western Los Angeles County.

The park is at 600 Carmen Drive.

Monte Vista to Feature Singers

* Monte Vista Presbyterian Church of Newbury Park will feature singing by Toby and Barb Waldowski during worship services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. June 18.

The church is at 3797 W. Lynn Road.

Exploring Vocations in the Church

* Young people who belong to Region II of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America can explore a variety of church vocations at the ninth annual Invitation to Service at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks Aug. 3-5.

Young people from high school to college age will learn about the roles of pastors, missionaries, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers, music ministers and youth ministers during the event, which will feature special music, small group interaction, recreation, devotionals and Bible study.

The cost for the program is $105. For more information, call Linda LeBlanc at 493-3936.

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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.