NEW FACES: Two local churches are welcoming...

NEW FACES: Two local churches are welcoming new pastors. The Rev. John F. Payne will deliver his first sermon--appropriately titled “A New Beginning”--on Sunday at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Chatsworth. Payne, 50, has served the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the Theological Education/Congregational Ministries Division through his work with congregations in Kentucky, Iowa and Northern California. He most recently served as interim pastor of a church in Chesapeake, Va.

Prior to entering the ministry, Payne was an executive with General Electric. Payne, who will live in Chatsworth, replaces Jeff Goldsmith, who left the church two years ago. Sunday services are regularly held at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at the church, 20121 Devonshire St. (818) 360-7460.

Earlier this month, the Rev. Jeffrey Pulling returned to Los Angeles to serve as new pastor of Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley. From 1975 to 1980, Pulling was on the faculty and administrative staffs of the Samaritan Theological Institute, the educational institution of the West Hollywood-based Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, which ministers to gays and lesbians.

Pulling, 47, returns to Southern California from New England where he served 13 years in Hartford, Conn., and most recently completed a one-year interim assignment in Boston. The church holds services at 10 a.m. Sunday at 5730 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 762-1133.

AWARD-WINNING CHURCH: Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Granada Hills did well at a breakfast last Saturday sponsored by Lutheran Social Services of Southern California when it was honored as Lutheran Congregation of the Year, and its church secretary won the Lutheran of the Year award.

The church, led by the Rev. Rowland Chandler, has been successful in building its membership and reaching out to the community, in addition to running an excellent preschool, said Jerome Nilssen, area director for the agency. “It’s a rather vital congregation,” he said.

Church secretary Janice Maseda was honored because she is “an outstanding volunteer who is highly involved in a number of activities,” Nilssen said. As the mother of a developmentally disabled daughter, Maseda is works with Special Olympics and is an advocate for special-needs children.

Also at the breakfast, Peter Digre, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, was presented with the agency’s first-ever Impact Award, given to a Lutheran layperson who has made a significant contribution to public policy and social development in the county.

Henry “Hank” Klehn of Santa Clarita, who serves as chairman of the board of Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, was also honored for his commitment to the agency.

SPECIAL DINNER, SERVICE: Valley Beth Shalom will begin its inspirational Shabbat Shira service (Sabbath of Song) with a Sephardic dinner Friday night. A 40-voice choir will offer a Sephardic program with music written by the synagogue’s resident composer, Ami Aloni. There will be music for flute, oboe, trumpet, cello and a variety of Spanish percussion instruments. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the service at 8:15 p.m. Dinner runs $22 per person, which must be paid by Monday. The service is free. (818) 788-6000.

DISCUSSING PEACE: Attorney David F. Aberson, U.S. publications editor of the Jerusalem Institute for Western Defense, will make a presentation to the Temple Beth Emet Men’s Club about the peace process between Israel and neighboring communities, especially following the recent Hebron agreement. The talk will begin at 10:15 a.m. Sunday at the synagogue, 600 N. Buena Vista St., Burbank. Brunch will be at 9:30 a.m., costing $3 for men and free for women. The presentation is free. (818) 843-4787.

CLASS OFFERINGS: The spring semester of Adat Ari El’s Multi Interest Day program--offering a variety of daytime classes--will begin Wednesday. The offerings include, “Jewish Women in Current Literature and Video,” “Introducing the Dead Sea Scrolls,” and “Line and Israeli Dance.” Cost is $75 for the semester, which covers three classes for 14 weeks in addition to a noontime “Contemporary Challenges” speakers program. The synagogue is located at 12020 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. (818) 766-9426.

ORGAN CONCERT: Gospel organist Paul Mickelson will present a one-hour concert of Broadway hits, sacred favorites and contemporary tunes Feb. 2 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Tarzana. A Burbank native, Mickelson began studying music at 9 and by the age of 12 was regularly playing the piano at church. He has served as organist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. and has been a producer for Pat Boone, and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, among others.

A noon lunch presented by the Chancel Choir will follow the 10:30 a.m. worship service at the church. 5619 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. Cost of the lunch is $3.50 per person or $10 per family. The concert is free, with donations appreciated. (818) 708-7068.

NEWLYWEDS’ GATHERING: New brides or those planning to marry within the year are invited to join the Hadassah Newlyweds group at a no-host “Getting to Know You” dinner Monday evening. The group meets monthly, alternating between couples and women only. Intermarried couples are welcome. The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. at Ragetti’s (formerly Balducci’s Trattoria), 15300 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 783-3488.

MUSICAL PRESENTATION: Cantor Caren Glasser and the Kol Tikvah Chorale will present a musical program titled “Our Jewish Roots (They’re Supposed to Show)” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 348-0670.

JUDAISM BASICS: An 18-session course on the basics of Judaism will begin Monday at Temple Ahavat Shalom, 18200 Rinaldi Place, Northridge. Sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the class provides an entry point for people of all backgrounds--Jewish and non-Jewish--to participate more comfortably in Jewish life. Classes are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays. Cost is $275 for singles or couples, $175 for those who belong to UAHC-affiliated temples. Registration: (213) 653-9962.

HEALING SERVICE: Temple Judea will present a second healing service for the community--blending liturgy, poetry, music and meditation--at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 5429 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. The synagogue’s first healing service in November was well attended. (818) 758-3800.

JEWISH MEDITATION: A workshop in spiritual transformation through Jewish texts will be offered from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday and on March 9 by the University of Judaism Department of Continuing Education. Rabbi Stephen Robbins and Cantor Eva Robbins will lead the workshops on “Kabbalah, Meditation and Torah: A Transformational Theatre of Midrash.”

No prior knowledge of Kabbalah or meditation is necessary. The university is at 15600 Mulholland Drive in Sepulveda Pass. Cost is $60 for both workshops or $35 for one. Registration: (310) 476-9777, Ext. 246.