Church of Religious Science announces holiday programs

The Westlake Church of Religious Science invites the public to the following upcoming activities for the holiday season. All services will take place at the church at the WaterCourt, 880 Hampshire Road, suites V and W, in Westlake Village.

The church will present its annual Holiday Candlelight Service tonight, Thurs., Dec. 21. Pre-service caroling begins at 7 p.m., followed at 7:30 p.m. with a program commemorating Christmas, Hanukkah and the Winter Solstice.

The Westlake Celebration of Life band will accompany the adult and youth choirs, as well as special soloists. Dr. Sue Rubin, senior pastor, and the Rev. Jim Lockard, co-pastor, will deliver messages on the “Season of Light.” Refreshments will be served following the service.

Lockard will lead a preservice Healing Meditation from 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. on Christmas Eve, Sun., Dec. 24. At 10 a.m., Lockard and Rubin will present the Christmas Celebration of Life service, with Leigh Blakely providing special Christmas music.

Rubin will facilitate the 21st annual World Peace Meditation at 4 a.m. New Year’s Eve, Sun., Dec. 31 at 880 Hampshire Road, Ste. V, Westlake Village. On this day, millions of people throughout the world will join at noon, Greenwich Mean Time, to pray for world peace. The church’s staff ministers and licensed Religious Science practitioners will assist in the service, which will incorporate inspirational readings, music, prayer and meditation. A light breakfast will follow.

Later that same day, Rubin will host a year-end Healing Time for Transformation service from 9:30 to 9:50 a.m., followed by the last 2006 Sunday Celebration of Life service at 10 a.m. Rubin’s topic for the morning is “Out of the Darkness, Into the Light.” Guest musician, the Rev. Joanna Johnson, will present special music.

The service will include a Burning Bowl Ceremony, which consists of the conscious release of whatever is no longer wanted in one’s experience, burning it and then replacing that with the desired experience of greater good in 2007.

For more information on any service, call the church at (805) 495-0105.