Christmas Cantata, children's pageant to be presented
      United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks at 1000 E. Janss Road, near the 23 Freeway, will host a 10 a.m. Christmas Cantata on Sun., Dec. 23. The church will also hold three Christmas Eve events: a 4 p.m. children's pageant; a 7 p.m. candlelight service; and lessons, carols, communion and candle lighting at 11 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 24.
More ...

Baptist church raises $1 million for Hurricane Katrina relief
      Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, N.J., recently reached the goal of raising $1 million for Hurricane Katrina relief, six months before the scheduled two-year deadline. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University says that is the second largest donation by an individual church ever.
More ...

OneSpirit center to hold seminar
      Acorn columnist Dennis Merritt Jones will present "The Journey of Your Soul," an eightweek class inspired by the book "Soul to Soul" by Gary Zukav, beginning Wed., Jan. 9 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the OneSpirit Center for Conscious Living, 1756 Erringer Road, Simi Valley.
More ...

Reagan Library offers holiday hours and exhibits this month
      The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library at 40 Presiden tial Drive, Simi Valley, is offering extended operating hours for the holiday season. The 14th annual "Christmas Around the World" exhibit features 38 decorated trees. The exhibit also includes many menorahs given to Reagan while he was in the White House.
More ...

United Methodist schedules Christmas Eve services
      The United Methodist Church of Westlake Village will host only one service at 10:30 a.m. on Sun., Dec. 23, and Sunday School classes won't meet that day. Three Christmas Eve services will be presented Mon., Dec. 24. A Family Service with nursery care begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes "Through His Hands" puppet ministry presentation.
More ...

Santa's helper
      Dressed in a Santa suit, Mitch Mitchell hops into his makeshift "sleigh" to treat kids of all ages to open-air rides along the streets of Greenville, S.C. For $5 the riders listen to Christmas carols and take a spin in a souped-up Chevrolet Astro Van driven by the jolly old elf.
More ...

Practicing their songs of the season
      ADDING MERRIMENT TO ALL THE FESTIVITIES- Members of the La Reina High School choir warm up their voices before a performance at Simi Valley's Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. From left are Blair Pefley, Adriana Nusbickel, Jennifer Zahlit and Skye Privat.
More ...