Lenten Services at Oxnard Church

* First Presbyterian Church of Oxnard will begin a series of contemporary worship services beginning at 6 p.m. today and continuing on Saturdays through Lent. The church will also hold a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor James K. Bain Jr. will deliver the sermon, “A Letter to My Grandson.” There will be Sunday School for youths during the worship service. Adult Sunday School will be at 9 a.m. Child care is available at all services.

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

Mass Schedule at St. Anthony’s

* St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard will celebrate Mass at 5:15 p.m. today. Confessions will be heard from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Masses will be celebrated at 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Spanish Masses will be said at 12 and 1:30 p.m.

St. Anthony’s will complete its “Lenten Wednesday With Jesus” series at a meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The church is at 2511 South C St. For information, call 486-7301.

Episcopal Church Hosts Dinner

* All Saints Episcopal Church of Oxnard will have a week of activities beginning with a “Bread of Life” dinner in the parish hall at 5:30 p.m. today. On Sunday, there will be worship services at 8 and 11 a.m. A Spanish worship service will be held at 9:30 a.m.

Christian education classes on Sunday will include a 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study led by the Rev. Warren V. Porter and a 10:30 a.m. class for children led by Sunday School Supt. Cindy Morales.

There will be a Holy Eucharist and Healing Service in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Choir rehearsal will be in the chapel from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Youth Bible study will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The church is at 144 South C St.

Church Forming Children’s Choir

* St. Paschal Baylon Church in Thousand Oaks is forming a children’s choir to perform at the Easter Mass on April 23. All first- through eighth-grade children of the parish are welcome to join. Rehearsals begin today at 10 a.m.

The church is at 155 E. Janss Road. For information, call 496-0222.

Church Plans Spiritual Journey

* A weeklong spiritual journey begins this evening at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Oxnard as the Rev. Tom Devine, pastor of Guardian Angel Church in El Paso, Texas, leads nightly meetings through Friday.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be at the church, 463 W. Pleasant Valley Road. For information, 488-3446.

Church Celebrates First Year

* Gold Coast Christian Church will host a first anniversary celebration Sunday at the Cowen Conference Center at Camarillo Airport, 550 Airport Way. The church will hold services at 9 and 10:45 a.m.

Following the second service will be a barbecue, carnival and entertainment from noon to 3 p.m. outside the center. For more information, call 384-0752.

Hospital Clergyman to Speak

* St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard will hear from the Rev. Ed Henig, clinical pastoral education supervisor at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, during a service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

Children will meet in the sanctuary before being dismissed to attend Sunday School. Japanese worship will be at 2 p.m.

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

Brunch at Temple Beth Torah

* Temple Beth Torah’s Brotherhood will host a brunch featuring Aryeh Cohen, Ph.D., who will discuss “The Triumph of Rabbinic Judaism: The World of Talmud” at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The lox, cream cheese and bagel brunch costs $10 per person.

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

Children to Lead Special Service

* St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park will have a special worship service led by children and youth at 10 a.m. Sunday. There will also be a tour of the facilities.

Worship at St. Matthew’s 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.

Oxnard Church Plans Health Fair

* Santa Clara Church in Oxnard and St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard will host a health fair from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the Santa Clara School auditorium, 324 South E. St., Oxnard.

There will be blood pressure screening, cholesterol testing, bone density testing, chiropractic exams, dental exams, and other tests, information, education and prizes. The fair is free and open to the public.

The church is at 323 South E St. For information, call 487-3891, ext. 500.

‘Facing Fear’ Is Topic of Sermon

* Unity Center Church of Thousand Oaks will hold services at 10 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Irma Oestmann will speak on “Facing Fear.” Children are invited to attend Children’s Church in the upper room.

The church meets in the Old Meadows Park Community Room, 1600 Marview. For information, call 517-1210.

CLU Presents ‘Way of the Cross’

* Cal Lutheran University’s Lord of Life congregation in Thousand Oaks will present “The Way of the Cross,” a reenactment of the last week of Jesus’ life, at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Samuelson Chapel. The reenactment will take place at various sites around the campus and will conclude with a hike to the cross on Mt. Clef Ridge.

The play is free and open to the public. The university is at 60 W. Olsen Road. For information, call 493-3228.

Mahony to Dedicate Science Hall

* Cardinal Roger Mahony will celebrate Palm Sunday services at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula and preside over dedication ceremonies of the college’s new Albertus Magnus Science Hall at 11 a.m. April 15.

The new 15,000-square-foot science building features five laboratories and four classrooms. The college is at 10,000 N. Ojai Road. For information, call 524-4417.

Music and Masterpieces at Church

* Community Presbyterian Church in Ventura will have a Good Friday presentation at 7 p.m. April 21 featuring Messiah in Art performing a Vivaldi concerto for two violins.

Portions of Handel’s “Messiah” with life-size replicas of masterpieces depicting Christ’s passion will also be a part of the program that includes an adult choir performance with soloists accompanied by a chamber orchestra.

The church is at 1555 Poli St. For information, call 648-3526.

Temple to Reenact Moses’ Trek

* Families are invited to join a reenactment with Moses, Aaron and Miriam as they make an Egyptian pyramid, escape the wrath of pharaoh, cross the Red Sea, escape from the Amelikites and enjoy the first Seder in the land of milk and honey at Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 16.

Everyone is to bring one small box to build a pyramid. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $4 per person or $10 per family.

The temple is at 2420 E. Hillcrest Road. For information, call 497-0361.

Program on ‘Changes in Church’

* An ecumenical dialogue focusing on “Changes in the Church” sponsored by Ventura County Council of Churches will be held in the Salon Room at the Theology Library of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo from 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 19.

Participants may also meet in the cafeteria for lunch from 12:10 to 1 p.m. for an informal gathering. The lunch costs $5 cash.

The seminary is at 5012 Seminary Road. For information, call 482-2755.

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.