Volunteers to Fix Up Old Church

* The century-old First Christian Church of Santa Paula invites the public and volunteers to its “Miracle Day” today, starting at 7 a.m. and going until at least 3 p.m.

One hundred years ago, the congregation held a basket dinner and decided to purchase a lot and build a church at 9th Street and Railroad Avenue, volunteer Peggy Kelly said.

They did. The congregation laid the cornerstone in 1900 and today, volunteers from throughout the state will show up early to redecorate and repair the aging church with its stained-glass windows that look out over the city.

Painting, cleaning, waxing, landscaping, plumbing and help with carpeting are some of the chores to be done.

The front parlor of the church will be restored to its original turn-of-the-century look, Kelly said, including furniture, artwork, memorabilia and a history corner showing original church paperwork, including items related to its creation.

The church pump organ was donated 100 years ago, and its ornate altar chairs were gifts from the First Christian Church in Los Angeles almost 100 years ago.

Volunteers should show up at 825 Railroad Ave. this morning. For information, call 658-0035.

Marriage Workshop Offered

* The First Lutheran Church of Ventura will hold a marriage workshop today, beginning with a continental breakfast at 9 a.m. The workshop will run until 11:30 a.m. Child care is available.

Entitled “The Five Languages of Love,” the video workshop will be led by marriage and family counselor Marge Danielson and the Rev. Larry Bogardus.

Call 643-5586 for directions or information. The church is at 78 Chrisman Ave.

Ministry Fair at Catholic Church

* St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church in Thousand Oaks will hold a ministry fair Saturday and Sunday at St. Thomas Aquinas Hall next to the church. Parishioners are invited to visit the ministry information booths, talk with representatives from ministries, and discover the programs and opportunities that the church offers.

Ladies of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Men’s Club, Youth Ministries, Seniors Club, Communications Committee, Home Schoolers, Religious Education, and Separated, Divorced and Widowed Catholics will be represented.

The hall will be open after all Masses both days. Refreshments will be provided.

The church is at 155 E. Janss Road. Call 492-3027 for information.

Temple Offers Yom Kippur Services

* The service for the solemn day of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will begin with the chanting of Kol Nidre on Sunday evening at 7:30. Monday morning, services will begin at 9:30. Services will continue throughout the day at 1:30 and 4:15 p.m., ending with the sounding of the shofar and havdalah at 7:30 p.m.

Family services on Yom Kippur will also be held in the temple sanctuary at 2:30 p.m.; the temple’s junior congregation will have a 10 a.m. service Monday.

For reservations or information, call the temple office at 497-6891.

Sukkot services will begin Friday evening with the feast of booths. On the morning of Sept. 25, the first day of Sukkot, services begin at 10, with Rabbi Shimon Paskow and Hazzan Jeff Cohen. A kiddush will follow.

The Sept. 26 Sukkot service also begins at 10 a.m. Services continue in the temple throughout the week.

On Oct. 2, 10 a.m. services will include Yizkor memorial prayers.

The temple is at 1980 Janss Road. Call 497-6891 for information.

Chabad Services at 3 Sites

* The rabbis of Chabad of the Conejo invite all Jews to attend Yom Kippur services, which begin with the Kol Nidre service Sunday evening at 6:45. Yom Kippur services continue Monday, starting at 9:30 a.m.; the Yizkor memorial service will be at noon. The Neilah services begin at 5 p.m. and the Yom Kippur fast will end at 6:45.

Services will be held in three locations: Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel grand ballroom, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village; Willow Elementary School, 29026 Laro Drive, Agoura Hills, and the Chabad Center in Westlake Village, 741-D Lakefield Road.

For information, call (818) 991-0991.

Revival Planned at Ojai Meetings

* Barry Perez will hold meetings at Ojai Foursquare Church on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. with Morningstar Ministries, featuring a revival, prophesy and healing.

Evangelist Ronnie Webb will appear at the church at 7 p.m. Sept. 26, focusing on prophesy and healing, reconciliation and revival.

Ojai Foursquare Church is at 441 Church Road. Call 646-2833 for information.

Kol Nidre Service in Simi

* Simi Valley’s B’Nai Emet will hold a Kol Nidre service for Yom Kippur at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Rancho Santa Susana Recreation Center, 5005 Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley.

On Yom Kippur, the morning service is at 10, with a children’s service at 1 p.m. and an adult study session at 3:30 p.m. Yizkor and concluding services start at 4:30 p.m.

Call 581-3723 for ticket information. The congregation meets at 4645-2C Industrial St.

Bible Study for Women Offered

* Two Bible study programs for women get underway this month on Monday evenings and Thursday mornings at the Ventura Missionary Church.

Beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, the evening women’s Bible study program studies the Book of Ephesians. Cost is $6 for the fall session; child care is free. Call Malia McCaulley at 984-1225 for information.

The Women of the Word Bible study course Thursday mornings at 9:45 is ongoing and will study I and II Corinthians. The $7.50 fee also covers child care. Call Lynda Eberhard at 659-0809 for information or directions.

The church is at 500 High Point Drive.

Church Planning Parish Picnic

* St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard will hold its third annual parish picnic on the church patio from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The parish will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings, punch and coffee.

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

All Saints Welcomes Back Pastor

* Parish Priest Anthony Guillen returns to leading the worship service at All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard on Sunday after a four-month sabbatical.

That day, a parish picnic will begin at Broome Ranch at 1 p.m.

All Saints is at 144 South C St. Call 483-2347 for information or directions.

Church Launches TNT Program

* Moorpark Presbyterian Church kicks off its TNT program Tuesday at 6 p.m. The program offers high-energy music, games, dramas and small group Bible study for children in grades 1 through 5.

The $15 program runs for 10 weeks.

A dinner program is also offered.

To sign up or for information, call Valerie Renville at 529-8422. The church is at 13950 Peach Hill Road.

Program for Inactive Catholics

* Returning and inactive Catholics are invited to join the Landings program beginning Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter Claver parish church in Simi Valley.

The church is at 5649 Pittman St. Call Madelaine Sorensen at 522-6107 for information.

College Catholic Club to Meet

* The second fall semester meeting of the Moorpark College Catholic Club will take place on campus Wednesday at noon in M-109 (music building). Father Jim Stehly of St. Mary Magdalen Chapel in Camarillo will speak to the question, “Was St. Paul a Male Chauvinist Pig?”

For information, call 378-1400, Ext. 1810, and leave your name.

Church to Hold Elder Care Seminar

* A special seminar on the care of elderly family members is open to the public at Ventura Missionary Church at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Sponsored by the county’s Long Term Care Ombudsman program, the seminar will be led by Candace Stewart, field services coordinator. Topics will include home health care, Alzheimer’s disease, special facilities, senior behavior, adult day support, elder care managers and long-term care insurance.

The $5 seminar will be held in the church’s Fireside Room. For information, call the Long Term Care Ombudsman program at 656-1986.

Registration for Prayer Gathering

* Preregistration for “Prayer--Raise It Up” is due Sept. 25 at Westlake Village’s Calvary Community Church. Cost is $20 for the Oct. 2 prayer gathering and includes lunch.

The prayer group for women, sponsored by Moms in Touch International, will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fern Nichols will be guest speaker.

For information or reservations, call (818) 991-8040. The church is at 5495 Via Rocas.

Camarillo Church Plans Concert

* Recording artist Chris Keith and the To the Cross band will entertain single adults and single parents Sept. 25 at Crossroads Community Church in Camarillo.

The event is free. Appetizers will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the 7 p.m. concert. Dessert hour begins at 8:30. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share.

The church is at 1221 Calle Suerte. For information, call 388-8917.

Bible Camp Offered in Santa Paula

* First Presbyterian Church of Santa Paula will offer Bible camp for children of all ages beginning Sept. 29. A free supper begins at 5:30 p.m. Donations are welcome.

A parent-child group to help improve parenting skills is also offered.

The church is at 121 Davis St. Call 525-6654 for information.

Marriage Encounter Weekends

* A marriage encounter weekend sponsored by St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church in Thousand Oaks is set for Oct. 15 to 17 and Dec. 3 to 5 at the Holiday Inn in West Covina.

Marriage encounter is open to all married couples regardless of faith. A $50 nonrefundable fee confirms food and lodging.

Call (818) 848-6729 for details.

Council of Churches Plans Dinner

* The Ventura County Council of Churches will put on its annual fall fellowship dinner Oct. 22 at Ventura’s First United Methodist Church.

All are invited to attend the dinner, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Registration is at 6; the program begins at 7:30. The cost for the evening is $10 per person. For information, call the Rev. Richard Beving at 482-9566.

The council also sponsors an ecumenical dialogue on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. Call 643-8621 for information.

Youth Groups Meet in Oxnard

* Youth groups meet throughout the week at the First Presbyterian Church in Oxnard.

Kids for Christ, for youngsters in grades 4 to 6, is held Sunday mornings at 11:30, following Sunday school, which begins at 10 a.m. for youth in kindergarten through 12th grade. Call 983-0204 for information.