Ventura County Religion

* Pastor David Smith of Ojai Valley Adventist Church will deliver the message “Reading the Windows 2000 Handbook” today. Communion will also be celebrated. The sermon is an installment of the pastor’s “Your Most Radical Decision” series.

Services are held at 10:45 a.m. each Saturday and include contemporary and traditional Christian music. Bible study begins at 9:30 a.m.

Beginning Monday, the church will host the Ojai Valley Vegetarian Cooking School, which will run five consecutive Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Casa de La Luna bed and breakfast, 710 S. La Luna Ave., Ojai. The $5 cost per installment includes a full-course dinner and dessert.

The church is at 291 E. El Roblar Drive. Call 955-7631.

*

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Camarillo will offer the following services:

Today, 10 a.m.: Divine liturgy in celebration of Lazarus. Sunday: Divine liturgy at 10 a.m.; vesper bridegroom service, 7 p.m. Monday, 7 p.m.: Vesper bridegroom service. Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Holy Unction service. Thursday: Divine liturgy, 9:30 a.m.; reading of the 12 gospels, 6:30 p.m. Friday: Lowering from the cross, 3 p.m.; lamentation service, 7 p.m. April 14: Easter resurrection liturgy, 11 p.m., followed by a buffet. April 15: vespers, noon.

The church is at 400 Skyway Drive. Call 488-0560.

*

Ventura Seventh-day Adventist Church holds a service at 10:45 a.m. each Saturday. Bible study for all ages begins at 9:30 a.m. Today, an all-vegetarian potluck luncheon will follow the worship service.

The church is at 6300 Telephone Road. Call 642-5387.

*

Pastor James K. Bain Jr. will deliver the sermon “Tiger Jesus” at 10 a.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard. The message will be based on Luke 19:28-42.

On Thursday, the church will hold a Tenebrae service in commemoration of the Last Supper. The evening will begin at 6:15 p.m. with a soup and bread potluck supper, followed by the service at 7.

There will be Sunday school for youths during the service. Adult Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. Child care is available at all services. The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. Call 983-0204. Internet: https://www.1stpresoxnard.com.

* Pastor Rob Calderhead will give a sermon titled “Tiger Jesus” on Sunday at United Methodist Church of Westlake Village. An informal interactive service meets at 8 a.m. in Alton Hall; casual attire is encouraged. Traditional worship services are held at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school classes for all ages meet at 9 a.m. Infant and toddler care is provided during each service.

Tonight at 7, the Through HIS Hands Puppet Ministry will perform the Easter story in the sanctuary.

The church is at 1049 S. Westlake Blvd. Call 497-7884. Internet: https://www.umcwv.org.

*

The Rev. Brandon Cho will deliver the sermon “Guess Who’s Coming to Town?” on Sunday at Simi Valley United Methodist Church. The message is based on Luke 19:28-40.

Regular services are at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Mission Hispana Biblica worships in Spanish at 2 p.m., followed by fellowship in Witman Hall. Sunday school for children begins at 9:05 a.m. in the chapel. Youth Sunday school and adult classes begin at 9:10 a.m. Coffee fellowship begins at 10 a.m. in Witman Hall.

On Friday at 7 p.m., congregants from St. Francis Episcopal Church and United Church of Christ will join Simi Valley United Methodist Church for a special service of prayer and meditation on the suffering and death of Jesus.

The church is at 2394 Erringer Road. Call 526-6231.

*

The Rev. Judith Cohen will preach from Julia Sweeney’s book “God Said, Ha!” on Sunday at Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura.

Services will be at 9:15 and 11 a.m. Child care and religious education are available during the first service. The church is at 4949 Foothill Road.

Call 644-3898. Internet: https://www.uuventura.org.

*

The Rev. Lynne Austin will deliver a Palm Sunday message titled “Passion” at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park. Worship services are at 8:30 and 10 a.m.

Worship at St. Matthew’s is relaxed and interactive, with child care and children’s classes available during the second service. The church is at 1360 S. Wendy Drive. Call 498-6910.

*

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard will hold a Palm Sunday service beginning at 10 a.m. on the patio for a procession of the palms. The service will include the proclamation of the Passion story with a dramatic reading based on scripture from Luke.

Child care is available for children 4 and younger.

Also Sunday, the Japanese ministry worships at 2 p.m., led by the Rev. Shiro Kato; the Rev. Victor Salas will lead a Spanish-language Bible study session and worship service at 5 p.m.

The church is at 1800 South C St. Call 487-2711.

*

Pastor Phil Robillard will continue a sermon series Sunday titled “Jesus of Nazareth, Friend of Sinners” at Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Thousand Oaks. The church will hold its worship celebration at 10:05 a.m.

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

*

The Rev. Irma Oestmann will deliver the message “Digging Wells” on Sunday at Unity Center Church in Thousand Oaks. The 10 a.m. service will include music.

Children’s church is held during the service. Also Sunday, an adult discussion series will be held at 9:15 a.m.

The nondenominational church meets at Old Meadows Park’s Community Room, 1600 Marview Road. Call 496-6901.

*

The Rev. Betty Stapleford will deliver the message “Lessons from Harry Potter” during the 10 a.m. Sunday service at Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Services are held at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Call 492-8751.

*

St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Camarillo will offer the following services:

Sunday: Communion, 7:45 a.m.; Festival Choral Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m.

Thursday, commemorating Maundy Thursday: Holy Eucharist, noon; agape meal, 6 p.m.; Holy Eucharist and foot washing, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Liturgy of Good Friday, noon and 7:30 p.m.; Stations of the Cross, 2:30 p.m.

April 14: Easter Eve service, 7:30 p.m.

April 15: Easter service, 7:45 a.m.; Festival Choral Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m.

The church is at 1251 Las Posas Road. Call 482-8831.

*

Community Christian Church of Moorpark, led by Pastor Steven Day, holds its worship service each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. This week’s Palm Sunday service will include a musical parable titled “Calvary Love,” presented by the Community Adult Choir.

The church is at 216 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200. Call 529-3572.

*

Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oxnard will hold a Palm Sunday procession of the palms Sunday beginning at 8:55 a.m. A worship service will follow at 9:15 a.m.

Thursday, 7 p.m.: a Maundy Thursday service will include a foot washing.

The church is at 905 Redwood St. Call 486-5383.

*

Monte Vista Presbyterian Church in Newbury Park will hold a Palm Sunday service on Sunday that will include a musical program performed by preschool children. A potluck brunch and Easter egg hunt will follow the 10 a.m. service.

The church is at 3797 W. Lynn Road. Call 498-8213.

*

All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard will hold Palm Sunday services on Sunday that will include a procession of the palms. Communion worship services are at 8 and 11 a.m. A Spanish-language worship service will be held at 9:30 a.m.

Also, Sunday school classes for children ages 5 to 12 begin at 10:30 a.m.; Bible study for junior high and high school students begins at 11 a.m.

The church is at 144 South C St. Call 483-2347.

*

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

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

Thursday: prayer, 8 a.m.; Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: prayer, 8 a.m.; Stations of the Cross, noon; Meditation of the Seven Last Words, 12:45 p.m.; Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, 1:30 p.m.; El Via Crucis, 6 p.m.; Liturgia de la Pasion de Nuestro Senor, 7:30 p.m.

April 14: prayer, 8 a.m.; Easter vigil Mass, 7:30 p.m.

April 15: Easter Masses in English, 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m.; Easter Masses in Spanish, noon and 1:30 p.m.

The church is at 2511 South C St. Call 486-7301.

*

The Rev. Craig Brown will give a sermon Sunday at United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks.

Services are held each Sunday at 9:45 and 11 a.m. Adult ministries meet at 8:45 a.m.; youth ministries, 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; children ministries, 9:45 a.m., and children’s worship, 11 a.m. Child care is available from 8:45 a.m. to noon.

The church is at 1000 E. Janss Road. Call 495-7215.

*

B’nai Emet will hold a Passover Seder from 6 to 9 p.m. Sundayat the Simi Valley Senior Citizens Center. The Seder will be conducted by Rabbi Michele Paskow. Call 581-3723 for ticket information and reservations.

*

Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo holds weekly Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m. Fridays with Rabbi Kenneth Milhander.

The temple will hold its annual community Passover Seder at 6 p.m. Sunday. Call for space availability.

The temple is at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. Call 388-3824.

*

Temple Beth Torah in Ventura will hold its annual community Passover Seder on Sunday at 6 p.m. Call for space availability.

Shabbat services, led by Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller and Cantor Michael Anatole, are held each Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

The temple is at 7620 Foothill Road. Call 647-4181.

*

Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will hold its annual community Passover Seder on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Call for space availability.

The temple is at 1080 Janss Road. Call 497-6891.

*

Camarillo Community Church holds Sunday worship services at 8, 9, 10:10 and 11:20 a.m.

Children’s programming is at 9, 10:10 and 11:20 a.m.

The church is at 1322 Las Posas Road. Call 482-2657.

*

The Rev. D. Paul Hickman will deliver a message Sunday at Thousand Oaks Baptist Church. The morning worship service begins at 10:45, followed by an evening service at 6. Other programs include training hour, 5 p.m. Sunday; Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; prayer hour, 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The church is at 2685 Calle Abedul. Call 492-4224.

*

The Rev. E. W. Greene will deliver a sermon Sunday at United Church of Christ in Simi Valley. Services are held each Sunday at 10 a.m.

The church is at 370 Royal Ave. Call 526-6001.

*

Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura holds “Welcome Back” sessions each Monday at 7 p.m. for inactive Catholics.

The church is at 3175 Telegraph Road. Call 289-3499.

*

Sonrise Christian Fellowship in Simi Valley will hold the ninth installment of its 11-part series, “10 Great Dates to Energize Your Marriage,” on Friday. The meetings are held on consecutive Fridays beginning at 7 p.m. The cost for the series, including materials, is $10. Free child care will be provided. Registration, call 581-1628.

The church is at 2350 Shasta Way.

*

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westlake Village holds the following services and programs each Sunday:

Worship services at 9 and 10:30 a.m., a celebration for children 3 years old through fourth grade at 9 a.m., and Sunday school for ages 3 to adult at 10:30 a.m. Nursery care is provided during both worship services.

The church is at 32111 Watergate Road. Call 496-2394. Internet: https://www.wpcwestlake.org.

*

GriefShare, a recovery seminar and support group, meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Ventura Missionary Church.

The program features nationally recognized experts discussing grief and recovery topics. The sessions are free. An optional workbook is $15.

The church is at 500 High Point Drive. Call 642-0550.

*

First Baptist Church in Thousand Oaks offers the following schedule of Sunday services and programs: Bible study, all ages, 9:15 a.m.; worship service, 10:30 a.m.; children’s church, 10:30 a.m.; youth fellowship, 5:30 p.m.; children’s program, 5:30 p.m.; adult training, 5:30 p.m., and evening worship service, 6:30 p.m.

The church is at 1250 Erbes Road. Call 495-2531.

*

Simi Valley Presbyterian Church holds worship services with live contemporary music at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 8 and 9:30 a.m. Sundays. A traditional worship service is held at 11:15 a.m. Sundays.

Call 526-5475. Internet: https://www.simiprez.com.

*

Camarillo United Methodist Church will hold worship services, directed by Jim Decker-Mahin, each Sunday at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school and child care are available during both services for infants through fifth grade.

The church is at 291 Anacapa Drive. For a Sunday school registration form, call 482-4312.

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.