Biet HaLev

Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater of Beit HaLev, House of the Heart, is offering a new class: Judaism 101.

In addition to the Rabbi’s weekly classes in Hebrew and Torah Trope, a class on basic Judaism will be held once a week. Topics will include a history of the Jewish people, a study of Jewish beliefs, customs and traditions and an explanation of Jewish holidays and observances.

Beit HaLev welcomes all to Jewish egalitarian Kabbalat Shabbat services at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5.

The Torah reading this week is a double Parashah, “Matot-Masei” (33:50-36:13), a detailed description of how the land of Israel was to be apportioned to each of the 12 tribes.

Congregation members who are unable to attend services are asked to contact Rabbi Galit Levy-Slater about hosting a service in their homes.

The Rabbi also conducts an online service Thursdays beginning with a 15-minute warm-up at 3:45 p.m. featuring folk songs and holiday melodies.

A brief weekday Ma’ariv service at 4 p.m. includes a prayer for healing, the Mourners’ Kaddish and a D’var Torah (discussion of the Torah service for the week.)

Sim Shalom, the online synagogue, provides online Ma’ariv (evening) services Monday -Friday year-round with a different rabbi each day. To access it, go to http://simshalom.com, click on “Online Services.”

Services are recorded and those who cannot attend can observe them at their convenience.

For more information, contact Rabbi Levy-Slater at 715-0888 or 493-2680.

Community Church

Mary Scifres, a consultant at Community Church, returns to the pulpit on Sunday, Aug. 7 for the 9:50 a.m. service.

A dynamic speaker, she sees change as the only constant in today’s world.

Her desire is to help organizations rediscover passion and purpose in the midst of a quickly changing world.

In her role, Scifres guides organizations and leaders in visioning, strategic planning, creative innovation, and change management.

She will be guiding Community Church as it develops a ministry strategy for the future.

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Pastor Don Roe will continue the summer book study, “Spirituality and the 12 Steps” from 10:30 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays through September in the Fireside Room. Its based on the book by Richard Rohr titled, “Breahing Underwater.”

The book is available for $10 at the church office. This 12-step study is open to everyone. The group can be joined anytime during the series.

Marty Hirt will be lay liturgist on Aug. 7. Guest organist will be Don Frederickson.

Worship services begin at 9:50 followed by a coffee hour

First Christian

First Christian Church invites shareholders to join the Bible study at 9 a.m. Sunday with Elder Jack Frost teaching from the book of Acts.

That will be followed by light refreshments and fellowship from 9:30-10 in the hospitality room .

The service starts at 10:15 with Pastor Bruce Humes. Margaret Humes will lead the congregation in hymns of worship prior to the communion meditation and service. Elder Frost will preside.

During the offertory, pianist Rhonda Sandberg will play “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling.”

Edith Emilio will read Scripture from the book of Mark 10:46-49.

Jerry Tester will sing “What a Day That Will Be”.

Pastor Gene Cherryholmes will present his message for the day “He is Calling You.”

Prayer and verse-by-verse Bible studies during the week are held on Tuesdays with Pastor Humes and on Thursdays with Pastor Cherryholmes, both at 9:30 a.m.

For the Wednesday home study class in LW, call Sue Dougherty at 430-5170.

The Calvary Chapel Bible study meets in the chapel at 6 p.m. on Thursdays with Pastor Phil O’Malley.

For more information, call 431-8810 Mondays

or Fridays from 9-11 a.m.

St. Theodore

The Rev. Reese Riley will be the Celebrant for Holy Communion on Sunday at St. Theodore Episcopal Church.

In his homily, “Do the Right Thing,” Rev. Riley will incorporate scriptural and secular references.

Scriptural references are from passages in the Old and New Testaments: Genesis, Hebrews and Luke.

The secular reference is from Mark Twain who said: “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”

The service begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse 3 lobby. A coffee hour follows in Room 9.

All are welcome.

Holy Family

Holy Family Catholic Church will celebrate the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time this week.

The first reading is 1 Wisdom 18:6-9; the responsorial psalms are 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22; the second reading, 2 Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 or Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12; the Alleluia, Matthew 24:42A, 44; and the Gospel, Luke 12:32-48 or Luke 12:35-40

The church celebrates Sunday Mass at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon.

The Vigil Mass is 5 p.m. on Saturday; and daily Mass begins at 8:30 a.m., Monday-Saturday.

Confessions are heard Saturday and eves of Holy Days, 4 -4:45 p.m., and First Fridays 7:15 a.m.

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Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held from 9 a.m- 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6 concluding with a holy hour from 3- 4 p.m.

The Life in the Spirit Seminar continues from 1-2:15 p.m. on Tuesdays through August in the church.

For more information, call Kathie Paradis at 375-0871.

LW Baptist

Members of Leisure World Baptist Church will meet at 8:40 a.m. this week for the growing Sunday school program in Clubhouse 4.

Morning worship begins at 9:45 with the singing of “Doxology” and a selected responsive reading.

On Communion Sunday, members will recall the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross by singing the old hymns.

Jean Davidson will lead the special music with her song, “The Love of God.”

The choir follows with “The Unveiled Christ.”

Pastor Rolland Coburn’s message,“God’s Lamb” from his series in Exodus 11-12, will complete the program.

All are invited to attend.

For more information, call 430-2920.

Faith Christian Assembly

All residents are invited to the August series on truth that resumes at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Faith Christian Assembly. The series is presented by Christian Apologist Ravi Zacharias.

Scripture says that Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is Truth?,” then walked away.

Faith Christian Assembly is located at 13820 Seal Beach Blvd., outside the St. Andrews Gate, in Seal Beach.

Sunday services include: adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m., early worship at 10:30 a.m., and celebration worship at 5:30 p.m.

The Faith Fellowship Group meets at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays in the Garden Room. Midweek Bible study meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the Garden Room.

For a free newsletter and more information, call 98-9010 or visit www.FCAchurch.net

Table Fellowship

The Table Fellowship will meet at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 12, at the Mutual 10 home of Doris Sandrick, 3110 Seaview Lane, 245-D.

A free soup dinner will be served, and fellowship will revolve around the table.

Those who seek a deeper relationship with God and others are invited.

All backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.

The group meets on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

Due to limited space, reservations are required by calling Sandrick at (714) 896-0140.

Aglow International

Aglow International will hold a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug.11, at Mimi’s Restaurant, 6670 E.Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach.

Men and women are welcome.

Reservations should be made by Aug. 8 by calling 343-8066.

Redeemer Lutheran

This Sunday, Pastor Gil Moore of Redeemer Lutheran Church will use the Epistle lesson of Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16 as his text for a message titled “More Than Meets the Eye.”

Guest organist will be Evelyn Oglesbee,and Jean Ackerman and Pam Smithson will be the greeters. Nancy Luebben will sing “The Holy City.”

Altar flowers will be from Lois Beatty in memory of her husband John’s birthday and from Cedric and Lynda Elmer in honor of the first birthday of Tabitha Grayson.

The service with Holy Communion begins at 10:30 a.m. Coffee hour follows in the fellowship hall during which Kate Pedigo’s 105th birthday will be celebrated. The bargain basement will be available.

Bible class, led by Pastor Lynda Elmer, meets in the fellowship hall from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.

On Aug. 10, the second chapter of the Epistle of James will be discussed.

From 9 a.m.-noon on Friday, Aug. 5, money for We Care of Los Alamitos, a homeless prevention program, will be collected at JJ’s lemonade stand at Ganahl Lumber.

 Website for the congregation is available at www.redeemerlutheransealbeach.com

For more information, or to register, call 596-1209.

Assembly of God

With so many different religions around the world, what’s the difference? That will be the topic of Pastor John Heide’s Sunday message beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 2.

Is there just one true religion or as some teach do all roads lead to heaven? Pastor Heide will explore the differences in some of the world’s major religions.

Sunday night hymn sing begins at 6 p.m. in Clubhouse 3. All are welcome.

For more information, call 343-3655.

SBCSL

Rev. Joshua Reeves will speak on the theme “Overcoming the Dragons Within” at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the Seal Beach Center for Spiritual Living (SBCL).

Musical guests will be Cheryl Crandall and Bill Wolfe.

The Seal Beach Center for Spiritual Living is located at 500 Marina Drive, Seal Beach. Everyone is welcomed.

At 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, Nicole Von Atzingen, RScP, will speak on “Answering Each Other’s Prayers.”

The book of the month is “Big Magic, Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s available in the bookstore.

New classes are “Making Mandalas Playshop,” at 1 p.m. on Aug. 6 and “Spiritual Narrative,” from 10 a.m.-noon Wednesdays, from Aug.10-Sept.14.

Practitioners are available Sundays for short spiritual mind treatment.       

For more information, call the church office at 598-3325.

To watch or listen to past sermons, go to www.sbcsl.org  online.

Little Flower Guild

The Little Flower Guild will hold its monthly card party at noon today, Thursday, in Clubhouse 2. Pinochle, bridge and canasta games will be played.

Everyone is welcome to attend, but a table of four is necessary to play, so bring partners.

People who want to substitute for bridge or who need a substitute are asked to call Gail Mandell at 799-0117.

Cost is $1 per person and refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 799-0117.

Congregation Sholom

With the high holidays approaching fast, residents are welcome to become part of the process at Congregation Sholom.

Three student rabbis and a cantor have been added for the balance of the summer and High Holidays

Members are requested to evaluate them for the future.

The Friday service on Aug. 5 will be conducted by Student Rabbi Karen Isenberg at 7 p.m. in the Clubhouse 3 lobby.

It will be followed by an Oneg Shabbat in Clubhouse 3, Room 9, to celebrate new members. There will be services with traditional melodies and English reading.

The Aug. 6, services will be led by student Rabbi Eric Dangoff, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The Torah will be read. Services will be followed by a dairy/vegetarian potluck Kiddush luncheon and Torah study/discussion.

The walking group leaves the front of the Clubhouse 3 lobby at 6:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays.

The afternoon short story book club will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the home of Mort and Helene Goldberg.

They will read and discussing the chapter “Watery Season,” from the book “After Abel” by Michal Lemberger.

The evening book club will meet at 7 on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at the home of Willard Michlin.

The book is “Rashi’s Daughters Book 1 Joheved,” by Maggie Anton.

For the Michlin address and additional book club information, call Carol Levine at 505-3622.

New membership forms are available from Alberta Karch at 296-5567.

To get or give a ride to services, get a newsletter, or need information, call Jeff Sacks at 431-8050.