Religion Briefs

Christian voters guide available

A voters guide of candidates seeking office in San Joaquin County is available at selected locations in Lodi and elsewhere in the county.

The guide, compiled by Christian Community Concerns, contains responses to questionnaires submitted by the Christian organization. Candidates range from the Lodi City Council and Lodi Unified School District board to congressional and U.S. Senate races.

In the partisan races, Republicans tended to respond to the survey, while only one Democrat responded.

Questions focus mostly on moral and Christian issues, such as separation between church and state, whether "Under God" should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance, abortion and gay rights issues.

Survey results are available at www.christiancommunityconcerns.org.

Former Lodi pastor now in New Hampshire

Michele Bagby Allan, a pastor at United Congregational Christian Church from 2001 to 2004, is now pastor of United Church of Christ, a 260-year-old church in North Hampton, N.H.

Bagby left United Congregational Christian Church in Lodi in 2004 to become manager of Bogle Vineyards in Clarksburg. She took the New Hampshire position a year ago.

Messianic Jews to have service today

A worship experience reminiscent of first-century believers will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today by the Beth Hallel Messianic Fellowship at 600 S. Ham Lane, Lodi.

The service, featuring Jews who believe in Jesus, will include Israeli dancing, Hebrew songs and kosher foods. At 9:30 a.m., a Messianic Judaism class will be held.

For more information, call 365-1824 or 981-1478.

Local women to address women's conference

Lockeford resident Linda Whalen and the Rev. Julie Sawyer will speak at a women's conference, Reflecting God's Splendor, today and Sunday at the Doubletree Hotel conference center in Modesto.

Whalen is an author who has written "Valley of Childhood," an inspirational Christian book. She also is a graduate of the Scripture Institute at the Stockton School of Ministry in the Stockton Catholic Diocese.

Sawyer is pastor of healing ministries at Westside Assembly in Lodi. She ministers at conferences, retreats and churches.

The keynote speaker will be Carolyn Suty, a U.S. director with Aglow International.

Registration is $65. For more information, call Mary Ellen Estrada at 727-5192 or Helen Warren at 759-3812.

Fall Bible Conference to begin Sunday

The Erwin Family Singers from Mesquite, Texas, led by evangelist and preacher Dennis Erwin, will perform four times at the Fall Bible Conference at The Home Church, 11451 N. West Lane, Lodi.

The conference will be held at 10:30 and 6 p.m. on Sunday and at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

At 10:30 a.m. Oct. 29, the church will have an open house party to celebrate new buildings. Music, children's activities and free refreshments will be available. For more information, call 339-7333.

First published: Saturday, October 21, 2006