Adventists Celebrate Communion

* Ojai Valley Adventist Church will celebrate its quarterly communion service today along with the Ordinance of Humility, or foot-washing service.

Pastor David Smith’s sermonette, “Poor Stupid Soldiers,” will describe the spiritual blindness of the Roman guards who presided over the execution of Jesus Christ without realizing the pivotal moment they were witnessing in human history.

The 10:45 a.m. service features a blend of contemporary Christian music and classic songs of faith. Bible study begins at 8:30.

The church is at 291 E. El Roblar St. For more information, call 955-7631.

St. Paul’s Welcomes New Pastor

* St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard welcomes the Rev. N. Adiel A. De Pano as the new senior pastor. He, his wife, Brenda, and their three children came from the First United Methodist Church in National City, near San Diego.

St. Paul’s has also received an appointment for part-time Spanish-language Pastor Victor Salas. He and his wife, Grace, are residents of Santa Paula.

Worship celebration at St. Paul’s begins at 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

Child care is available for children up to age 4. Church school will be on break for the summer.

The Japanese language service worships at 2 p.m. each Sunday.

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

St. Paschal Baylon Hosts Festival

* St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church’s 40th annual summer festival runs through Sunday with carnival rides, a miniature train ride, a fun house, a high slide and bumper cars.

The Thousand Oaks church has a sweet shop full of homemade cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and muffins. Other food booths offer hamburgers, chicken, pizza and popcorn.

There are game booths with prizes, such as toys, candy and gold fish. Entertainment will include Irish dancers.

Live and silent auction items will include cases of wine, dinner at local restaurants, hotel stays, day spa visits and tickets to sporting events. A drawing for a Maui trip for two, computers and televisions will be held.

Festival hours are noon to 10 p.m. today and Sunday. Admission is $1 for those over 18. Parking is free.

Funds will be donated to charities in the Conejo Valley, such as Many Mansions, Project Response, Handicapables, Mary Health of the Sick and the Boy Scouts.

The church is at 15 E. Janss Road. For information, call 496-0222.

Sermon Examines ‘Power to Guide’

* St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park will have a sermon Sundayby the Rev. Lynne Austin as she continues her summer series on “The Power of God.” She will speak on “The Power to Guide” focusing on Psalms 48:1-2 and II Corinthians 12:2-10.

Services will be at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Worship is relaxed and interactive, with child care and children’s classes during the second service.

The church is at 1360 S. Wendy Drive. For information, call 498-6910.

Unity Center Sermon on ‘Virtues’

* Unity Center Church in Thousand Oaks will hold a service at 10 a.m. Sunday in Old Meadows Park community room.

The Rev. Irma Oestmann will speak on “Seven Sacred Virtues.” Daniel Nehmad, a pianist, singer and guitarist, will perform. There is also a children’s church and child care is provided. All faiths and denominations are invited.

The park is at 1600 Marview Drive. For information, call 496-6901.

Artists Discuss ‘Wisdom of Sufism’

* “The Ancient Wisdom of Sufism,” an ancient, mystic, esoteric side of Islam, will be shared by artists Joel Valbrow and Susan St. Thomas, who are Sufis of the Mevlevi Order, during a service of the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Goebel Senior Adult Center in Thousand Oaks.

Religious education classes for children and child care for toddlers and preschoolers will be provided.

The senior center is at 1385 E. Janss Road. For information, call 492-8751.

Mass Schedule at St. Anthony’s

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

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

The church is at 2511 South C St. For information, call 486-7301.

Couple to Serve as Campus Pastors

* The Rev. Scott and the Rev. Melissa Maxwell-Doherty have been selected to serve as campus pastors at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The husband-and-wife team, who are currently serving a parish in Grand Forks, N.D., will arrive in August.

Members of the CLU Class of 1977, the pastors also attended Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tacoma, Wash., together before he served as pastor and she as associate pastor at Salem Lutheran Church in Glendale.

For nearly 10 years, the couple worked in all aspects of youth and family ministry. They have served together in three congregations over the past 19 years.

They replace the Rev. Mark Knutson who served as campus pastor for 13 years at Cal Lutheran before accepting a parish assignment at San Marcos Lutheran Church in San Diego last year. During the past academic year, the Rev. Gerhard Knutson, no relation, served as interim pastor. He will retire in August.

For information, call 493-3151.

First Presbyterian to Hold Service

* First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard will hold a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor James K. Bain Jr. will deliver the sermon.

There will be Sunday school for youth during the service. Adult Sunday school will begin at 9 a.m. Child care is available at all services. The church is at 850 Ivywood Drive. For information, call 983-0204.

Fellowship Offers Worship

* Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Thousand Oaks will have its Sunday worship celebration at 10:05 a.m.

A nursery and Sunday school classes are provided, while those who are high school or college age will remain for the regular service.

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

Vineyard Fellowship Plans Services

* Channel Islands Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Oxnard has services with contemporary music and casual dress at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday.

The church is at 1851 Holser Walk, Suite 200. For information, call 485-0050.

Interfaith Fellowship to Meet

* Interfaith Fellowship meets in the ballroom of Thousand Oaks Inn in Thousand Oaks at 10 a.m. Sunday. The inn is at 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. For information, call 379-9336.

Group Helps Women in Transition

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

Rabbi to Lecture on Bioethics

* Temple Beth Torah in Ventura will host a lecture on bioethics by Rabbi Richard Address, director of Jewish concerns at the United American Hebrew College. Address, who is visiting from New York, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Women of Reform Judaism will have a discussion and book review led by temple member Deborah Pollack on the recent bestseller “The Color of Water” by James McBride. The book is an African-American man’s loving tribute to his Jewish mother. The discussion will be at 7:30 p.m. July 18.

Temple Beth Torah’s Outreach Committee will sponsor a get-together from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 23 at Marina Park in Ventura. Participants are asked to bring lunch. Dessert and drinks will be provided. Reservations are required.

Temple Brotherhood will have its annual membership picnic at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 at Marina Park. Families are invited to bring a salad or two to share, along with utensils, plates, chairs, sports equipment and games. Drinks, hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided.

There are Shabbat services at 8 p.m. every Friday and 10 a.m. Saturdays.

The temple is at 7620 Foothill Road. For information or special event reservations, call 647-4181.

Sonrise Christian Teen Event

* Teens are invited to the Frontline Summer Kick Back at Sonrise Christian Fellowship of Moorpark from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

There is no charge for the event, which will have an open floor for break dancing with a DJ, games, pizza and drinks. The band AMR will perform.

The church is at 5384 Kazuko Court. For more information, call 522-9868.

Temple to Hold Obon Festival

* The 45th annual Obon Festival will be held by the Oxnard Buddhist Temple from 1 to 9 p.m. July 15.

Obon is considered a time for rejoicing for all Buddhists--a time to remember the love of parents, forefathers and to show gratitude to the living and the dead.

The Obon legend involves a disciple of Buddha, who sought help for his suffering mother. Buddha told him to make an offering of food to his fellow monks, whose combined spiritual power was needed to save her. Once she recovered, the disciples clapped their hands and danced with joy, in what is considered the first Obon dance.

The public is invited to come in traditional Asian dress--kimonos, yukata or a happi coat--and enjoy Oriental foods, such as teriyaki chicken and beef, sushi, and American and Japanese pastries.

Obon dancing will begin at 6 p.m. The Oxnard Togen Daiko, a Japanese drum group, will perform at 1 p.m. There will be other live entertainment throughout the day and games with prizes for children.

The temple is at 250 South H St. For information, call 493-5948.

Methodists Host Bible School

* Ventura First United Methodist Church and College United Methodist Church in Ventura invite children from age 3 to those in fifth grade to “Club Can Do” vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon July 17-21.

Through Bible stories, crafts, music and recreation, children will learn about the teachings of Jesus and how they can show love and care for others. A snack will be provided. There is no charge to attend.

The school will be at College United Methodist Church, 4300 Telegraph Road. For information, call 642-3282 or 643-8621. The registration deadline is July 9.

Temple Offers Programs for Youths

* Registration is being accepted for fall after-school programs at Temple Ner Ami in Camarillo. The school provides students with a comprehensive and positive Jewish experience that enhances Jewish identity while focusing on Jewish culture, history, ethics and Hebrew language, art, cooking, music and dance. Bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah preparation and confirmation are also available.

The temple is at 4098 Calle Tesoro No. D. For information, call 388-3824.

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