UCLA Lecturer Expands Scripture Course

Bill Creasy, a lecturer at UCLA who teaches English composition, saw his weekly Bible class at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on the Westside grow to 200 parishioners by 1992. If that wasn’t enough, several Catholic pastors around Los Angeles and one in Arizona then arranged for him to launch his unusual, five-year-long course in their parishes, too.

The new year finds Creasy adding an eighth Scripture teaching commitment--this one in San Diego--marking his first for an ecumenical group of churches.

Students from 13 churches, who will meet Tuesday nights at the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in San Diego, come from Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Baptist, Greek Orthodox and Messianic Jewish congregations as well as Roman Catholic ones.

Until now, Creasy’s classes have been free of charge. But there will be a voluntary fee of $45 in San Diego to cover his expenses.

A onetime Presbyterian who studied decades ago under Bible teacher and radio preacher Vernon McGee, Creasy is a Catholic convert and holds a doctorate in English literature.

“I teach the Bible as literature and that approach lends itself to interdenominational groups,” Creasy told Times staff writer Mary Rourke in a recent interview. But he does not take a secular academic approach. “I personally believe every word of Scripture is inspired by God,” he explained.

Creasy’s technique is to read the text aloud, verse by verse, as students follow along in their own copy. He alternates between the Hebrew Bible and New Testament books, pausing to explain history and geography, religious practice and tradition in a course that covers everything from Genesis to Revelation.

His San Diego assignment, which will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, was initiated by a student who lives in La Jolla but who works in Los Angeles and attends St. Paul’s class.

Creasy’s daunting class schedule: Sunday night--American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach; Monday morning and evening--St. Paul the Apostle, Los Angeles; Tuesday night--Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan; Wednesday night--St. Monica, Santa Monica; Thursday night--St. Euphrasia, Granada Hills; Friday night--Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Tempe, Ariz., and Saturday morning--Our Lady of Malibu, Malibu.

KING BIRTHDAY

In the first of many Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebrations this month, about 300 religious leaders and activist are expected to take part Wednesday in an annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast honoring the late Baptist minister at Los Angeles’ Holman United Methodist Church, 3320 Adams Blvd. The Rev. Robert Wilkins, executive director of the Ketchum downtown YMCA, will be the keynote speaker. Also speaking will be the host pastor, the Rev. James Lawson, and Jim Hilvert, executive director of the National Conference, which co-sponsors the breakfast with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Reservations ($15). (213) 250-8787.

DATES

Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral Yoga International teaching centers, will speak Friday on “Finding Balance in Times of Change” at St. Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 1227 4th St., Santa Monica. He will be introduced by actress Diane Ladd at the 7:30 p.m. event. $10 donation at the door. (310) 452-5815.

* On the 12th day of Christmas--Sunday--Bach’s six-part “Christmas Oratorio” will be performed at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 580 Hilgard Ave., Westwood, at 3 p.m. James Vail will conduct the church orchestra, choir and soloists. Donations. (310) 208-6516.

* The differences between “competing Jewish movements” such as Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Hasidic and Orthodox will be studied Jan. 11 at the University of Judaism atop Sepulveda Pass in a 4:30 p.m. continuing education program led by Gil Graff, executive director of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Los Angeles. The fee is $22 in advance. (310) 476-9777, Ext. 246.

* Stephanie Edwards, co-host of KTLA’s annual Rose Parade broadcast, will talk about her spiritual values at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Free.

* Writer-attorney Jonathan L. Kirsch will give a lecture, “You Mean That’s in the Bible?” on Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the Jewish Federation Building, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. A book critic for The Times, Kirsch has written “The Harlot by the Side of the Road, Forbidden Texts of the Bible,” to be published in the spring by Ballantine Books. Donation $3. Reservations: (213) 852-3272.

* Brush Arbor, a six-member Christian country band, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 11 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. Tickets are $12.50 and $7.50. (310) 944-1143.

* Bishop Carlton Pearson, a nationally known preacher and singer from Tulsa, Okla., will be featured in the Sunday night service of Life Church of God in Christ at Riverside Municipal Auditorium. Pearson will be joined by recording artist Helen Baylor at the 7 p.m. service, which will be led by the Rev. Ron M. Gibson, founder-pastor of Life Church. (909) 787-7678.

* A 10-session UCLA Extension course on artistic and sacred monuments of India cherished by Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims starts Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The course will be taught by Nalino Rao, an art historian and archeologist. Tuition is $285. (310) 206-1423.

AHEAD IN 1997

* Jan. 25-28, Anaheim Convention Center: Annual convention, National Religious Broadcasters Convention and Exposition.

* Feb. 14-16, Anaheim Convention Center: 1997 Religious Education Congress of the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese.

* Oct. 20-Nov. 9: U.S. tour, including Los Angeles, of Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (Istanbul).

* Nov. 7-9, San Diego: Annual meeting of Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Assn.

FINALLY

The only religious-sponsored float in the Rose Parade on Wednesday took the top prize for best depicting the Tournament of Roses’ theme, “Life’s Shining Moments.”

The prize-winner titled “Sunday Morning” showed a minister greeting people seeking either marriage, confirmation or a baby’s baptism. Sponsored by the Lutheran Hour, the float featured the Rev. Dale Meyer, the regular speaker on the worldwide radio program of the same name, as the welcoming pastor.

This year marked the 46th year that the 150-year-old Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has had a float in the New Year’s event--usually the only church-backed float entry.

Another parade distinction belongs to the Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band, whose 145 red-uniformed members this year celebrated the band’s 78th appearance--a Rose Parade record for bands.

Led by musical director Chris Malett, the Salvation Army band included timbrelists--women twirling tambourines, an instrument long associated with the evangelistic Salvation Army musical rallies.

Notices may be mailed to Southern California File, c/o John Dart, L.A. Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311, or faxed to Religion desk (818) 772-3385. Items should arrive about three weeks before the event, except for spot news, and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.

HOLIDAYS

Christians of the Armenian Apostolic, Serbian Orthodox and some Russian Orthodox churches will observe Christmas on Monday. Coptic Orthodox Christians, following a slightly different tradition, will commemorate the birth of Christ on Tuesday. In keeping with ancient tradition, the birthday rites also recall the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.

Meanwhile, Eastern-rite Catholic churches and most Eastern Orthodox churches will observe Epiphany on Monday, recalling the baptism of Jesus with hymns, prayers and the annual blessing of the water rites. Most Roman Catholic and Episcopal parishes will note Epiphany in regular services Sunday.

* Muslims are expected to begin Ramadan, a lunar month of daytime abstention from food, drink and sensual pleasures, on Friday, according to astronomical calculations that the sliver of the crescent moon will be sighted on Thursday night. The fast of Ramadan, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is regarded by believers as a way to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity.

The Muslim holiday celebrating the breaking of the fast, Eid al-Fitr, is expected to begin on or around Feb. 9.