Church to Hold Rummage Sale

The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ventura will hold a rummage sale on the church grounds from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. All proceeds will go to Project Understanding.

Furniture, tools, toys, books, kitchen items and small appliances will be for sale.

On Sundays, praise and worship time begins at 11 a.m., preceded by church school classes at 10 a.m.

The church is at 1848 Poli St. Call 643-2786 for more information.

2-Day Conference for Women

Unity in the Community of Thousand Oaks-Agoura Hills will sponsor a Bible-based women’s conference called “Empowering the 21st Century Christian Family” today and May 22 at Willow Elementary School, 29026 Laro Drive, in Agoura Hills. For information on the conference, to be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, call (818) 382-0165.

Pastor and former television actor Bill Woodard founded the non-sectarian Unity in the Community in an attempt to bring “true unity, harmony and focus to our community.”

“Right here in the Conejo Valley, we have Africans, African Americans, white Americans, Europeans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, East Indians, Middle Easterners, Mexicans, Central Americans and Native Americans all living side by side,” he said. “We view this unique community as a mosaic, a tapestry, a potentially harmonious blend of cultures that, by working together, can become a model for today’s world.”

Seminar on Children’s Ministry

Bible Fellowship Church of Ventura begins a children’s ministry seminar called “For Kids Only” today, Friday and May 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. All children’s pastors and volunteers are welcome to attend the national Christian ministry program.

Johanna Townsend will run the session, called “A New Game Plan for Children’s Ministries.” Lunch will be provided on Friday.

For more information about tax-deductible fees for the seminars, call (888) 646-4562.

Church to Honor Mothers

The Rev. Lynne Austin of St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church of Newbury Park will present a Mother’s Day talk titled “Patchwork Quilt, Patchwork Lives--Holding It All Together” at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday at 1360 S. Wendy Drive.

A display of quilts will accompany the service. The children’s choir will sing a special tribute to mothers.

For more information, call 496-6910. The church is at 1360 Wendy Drive.

Special Blessing for Mothers

Mothers will receive a special blessing during all the Sunday Masses this weekend at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard.

Saturday’s Mass is at 5:15 p.m. Sunday’s Mass times are 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. in English, and noon and 1:30 p.m. in Spanish.

St. Anthony’s is at 2511 South C St. Call 486-7201 for more information.

Mother’s Day Message by Church

Unity Center Church of Thousand Oaks will present a special Mother’s Day message, “The Hand of God,” on Sunday. All mothers and grandmothers will be honored with a flower.

The children’s church is open to all children. Ann Robin is the youth director.

Call 496-6901 for more information. The church meets at 10 a.m. at Old Meadows Centers, 1600 Marview.

Sermons on Criticism and Anger

Pastor Mike Dietz at Moorpark’s Community Christian Church will talk Sunday about “Handling Criticism.”

The title of his sermon May 16 will be “Winning Over Anger.”

Worship is at 9 and 10:45 a.m. All Bible classes begin at 9 a.m.

The church is at 216 Moorpark Ave., No. 200. Call 529-3572 for more information.

Minister Speaks of ‘Mama’s Prayer’

The Festival of the Christian Home Mother’s Day will be celebrated at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. The Rev. Alan Gorsline’s sermon will be “Mama’s Prayer.”

For more information, call 487-2711. The church is at 1800 South C St.

School to Honor Longtime Priest

A celebration Thursday at Ojai’s Villanova Preparatory School will mark the 60th anniversary of Father John Glynn’s ordination as a Catholic priest.

Glynn began teaching at Villanova in 1959 and eventually became headmaster. He is also known for his vigorous campaign to recruit international students to Villanova. When he saw the need to develop more modern science and athletic facilities, he became the development director for the school, stepping down as headmaster. Glynn raised more than $1 million for two new buildings.

As a current faculty member with the longest tenure in the school’s 75 years, the 86-year-old Glynn still teaches three Latin classes daily.

He plans to celebrate a simple Mass of Thanksgiving on Ascension Thursday at 9 a.m. with the students and faculty of Villanova.

For more information, call 646-1464. The school is at 12096 N. Ventura Ave.

Italian Catholic Group to Meet

Branch 380 of the Italian Catholic Federation will meet Friday at St. Paschal Baylon Church in Thousand Oaks.

All Italian Americans are invited to attend the event, at which spiritual and social events will be planned for the remainder of 1999.

In honor of Mother’s Day, a women’s appreciation dinner will be catered by the men of the federation at the 6:30 p.m. meeting.

For more information, call 497-3275. St. Paschal is at Janss and Moorpark roads.

Temple Hosts Learning Program

“What It Means to Be a Jew in America” will be the focus of a learning and discussion program on Friday and May 15 at Ventura’s Temple Beth Torah.

Rabbi Bradley Artson, the new dean of students at the Rabbinic School at the University of Judaism and executive vice president of the board of rabbis of Southern California, will speak during the services.

Friday night’s Shabbat begins at 8, followed by refreshments. Saturday’s service begins at 10 a.m. Cost for a vegetarian luncheon buffet is $15 per person.

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

Temple Plans Activities for May

JFC-Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo will hold a family pot luck Shabbat at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Call the temple for a dish assignment. The cost will be $3 for adults and $1 for children.

Consecration service of all religious school students will begin at 7:30 p.m. May 21. All students will receive a mini Torah.

On May 22, a community Yizkor memorial service for the second day of Shavuot will begin at 10 a.m.

Las Vegas Night will begin at 7 p.m. May 22. The cost is $30 at the door, and trips to Las Vegas, Reno and Laughlin will be awarded. Music and refreshments will be available.

All events will be at the temple at 4098 Calle Tesoro, Suite D. The community is welcome. For more details, call 388-3824.

Workshop Looks at Families

The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer invites the community to a workshop called “Everything They Didn’t Tell You in LaMaze--Principles for a Healthy Family” from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Friday. Self-control training, moral character training, establishing boundaries and parenting will be discussed. Stan and Bonnie Edwards will lead the event.

On May 21, Priscilla Partridge de Garcia and her husband, Pedro Garcia Jr., will present a “Celebrate the Family” program from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Priscilla Partridge de Garcia wrote the new book “Mentoring” and teaches at Oxnard College. Pedro Garcia Jr. is superintendent of Corona-Norco Unified School District.

All programs are free and will be held at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 721 Doris Ave. Call 985-8704 for more information.

Temple to Celebrate Feast of Weeks

Thousand Oaks’ Temple Etz Chaim will join synagogues throughout the world May 20 to celebrate Shavuot--the Feast of Weeks, which comes seven weeks after Passover.

Twenty-five students from Ventura County who have completed the 10th-grade confirmation at Temple Etz Chaim will gather at 6 p.m. for dinner with Rabbi Shimon Paskow and their teachers. The service will follow.

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

Christian Science Lecture

A free Christian Science talk titled “Removing the Mask of Fear” will be presented at the United Methodist Church in Westlake Village by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of both Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, at 2 p.m. May 23.

The church is at the corner of Westlake and Hampshire boulevards.

Child care is provided. For more information, call 495-8202.

Speech on ‘Waters of Eden’

Congregation Am HaYam will sponsor a speech by Lillian Rosenbloom on “Waters of Eden” on May 23. Rosenbloom is administrator of the mikvah at the University of Judaism. The mikvah is the ritual Jewish bath, symbolizing rebirth and renewal.

The free lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at the Oxnard Monday Club. Seating is limited, and attendance is by reservation only.

For more information call 985-2853.

The Oxnard Monday Club is at 1401 W. Gonzales Road.

Temple Sponsors Pajama Party

Temple Etz Chaim of Thousand Oaks will sponsor a pajama party and open house May 25.

The evening will feature snacks and stories by professional storyteller Adriene Anderson, said Linda Friedlander of the temple.

Those interested should RSVP by May 20 by calling the office at 497-6891.

The temple is at 1080 Janss Road.

Academy Hosts Talk by Scientist

The Conejo Jewish Academy in Agoura Hills will host a lecture May 27 by author and scientist Gerald Schroeder on the topic “Evolution: The Religion of the Blind Watchmaker.”

Schroeder has also written a book, “Genesis and the Big Bang,” comparing the scientific event of billions of years ago to the first six days described in Genesis.

The lecture begins at 8 p.m. and costs $10. For reservations and directions, call (818) 991-0991.

Religion Briefs run 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.