TEMPORARY CHURCH: While St. Mel Catholic Church...

TEMPORARY CHURCH: While St. Mel Catholic Church in Woodland Hills undergoes repairs for damage sustained in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, parishioners are attending weekend Masses in temporary quarters on its lawn, dubbed “St. Mel in the Field.”

The name for the oval-shaped structure, which holds 700 worshipers, was inspired by St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, a famous London church--not St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church on Winnetka Avenue just a few miles away, a spokesman said.

“We hope that repairs will be completed by Nov. 26, which will be the 40th anniversary of the first Masses here,” said Bob Sheehy, the parish administrator for the church on Ventura Boulevard.

The cost of repairs is being covered by the Los Angeles archdiocese, Sheehy said.

PURIM CARNIVALS: The happy Jewish holiday of Purim, commemorating the biblical story of the deliverance of the Jews by Esther from a general massacre, will be celebrated with fairs and other events next week.

In an interfaith gesture, Adat Ari El synagogue at 12020 Burbank Blvd. in North Hollywood invited members of North Hollywood First Christian Church to join their fair on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Other Purim carnivals on Sunday include an event at the West Valley Jewish Community Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Shadow Ranch Park and Shomrei Torah Synagogues’s carnival during the same hours at 7401 Shoup Ave. in West Hills.

A Purim service and concert with musician-humorist Lenny Solomon will start at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday in the Satellite Student Union on the Cal State Northridge campus. Tickets at the door cost $15 for adults, $5 for students and $10 for children. Sponsors include Young Israel of Northridge.

GROUNDBREAKING: Christ Lutheran Church in Valencia will launch a $300,000 expansion project at noon Sunday with a groundbreaking ceremony, potluck lunch and a hoedown featuring a country-western band and line dancing.

Pastor Paul Kloth said the construction project at 25816 N. Tournament Road includes the addition of six classrooms, enlargement of the sanctuary and remodeling of the church’s preschool.

CANTORS’ CONCERT: In a benefit performance for earthquake repairs at Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge, Cantor Nathan Lam of Stephen S. Wise Temple in the Sepulveda Pass and Cantor Farid Dardashti of Baltimore will sing in a program at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Dardashti served as cantor from 1981 to 1986 at Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire St.

Although most damage from the Northridge earthquake has been repaired through donations, loans and budget cuts, the synagogue is still faced with the need to replace cracked windows, tiles, block walls and classroom doorways.

Basic ticket prices range from $12 to $25. For reservations and more information, call the synagogue at (818) 885-5805.

‘ELIJAH’ PERFORMANCE: The 110-voice Los Robles Master Chorale will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio, “Elijah,” at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at St. John de la Salle Catholic Church, 16545 Chatsworth Ave., Granada Hills.

Baritone John Ross Nelson will sing the role of the biblical figure while James Stemen directs the chorale.

General admission tickets are $12. For more information or ticket purchases, call the host church at (818) 363-1326.

PASSION PLAY DATES: Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch has set five dates for the performance of its annual Passion Play: April 7, 8, 9, 14 and 15. The performances will be at 3 p.m. on April 9 and 15, and at 8 p.m. the other days. For more information, call (818) 831-9333.

News and announcements for this column may be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. News releases may also be sent by fax to (818) 772-3501.