‘Prayer Around Cross’ Scheduled

People of all ages and religious faiths are invited to celebrate the Lenten season at “Prayer Around the Cross” services Friday and March 14 at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church, 300 E. Taft Ave. in Orange.

The first Prayer Around the Cross service was held in a monastery in the village of Taize, France, by an ecumenical group of religious brothers dedicated to world peace. Orange County’s Prayer Around the Cross services are being introduced by Sister Claire Sullivan.

The prayer service involves chants, silence, readings of Scripture and prayers of petition. Sullivan will lead the service, assisted by Cantor Ken Dufault, Denis Melbourne and St. Norbert’s Adult Choir.

Both services will be held at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call (714) 974-6210.

The Rev. Edward Caldwell will preach during the 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services at Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. Sunday school for children and teen-agers will be held at 9 a.m. Two new adult classes, “The Life of Christ” and a film series, “New Wine,” will also be held at 9 a.m. A class for new members will meet in the church parlor at 4 p.m. Nursery care will be provided during both worship services. For more information, call (714) 494-7555.

The Laguna Christian Fellowship, an interdenominational group, will present Tim Hansel, a speaker and author, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Laguna Beach Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s Drive. Hansel will speak on “Living Is Still the Best Way to Celebrate Life.” Hansel is president of Summit Expedition, a Christian wilderness survival school. For more information, call (714) 497-3541.

“The Healing Touch: Temptation” is the title of the first of a Lenten sermon series by the Rev. David Beadles at 9 and 11 a.m. services at Laguna Hills United Methodist Church. The theme of the 1986 Lenten season is “The Healing Touch.” Sunday school will be held at 9 a.m. and high school and adult Bible classes will be held at 10 a.m. Nursery care is available. The church is located at 24442 Moulton Parkway in Laguna Hills. For more information, call (714) 837-3414.

Singles services will be held at Temple Beth Sholom at 8 p.m. Friday in the temple sanctuary, located at Tustin and Fairhaven avenues in Santa Ana. A dinner preceding services will be held at 6 p.m. at the Cook Book Restaurant in Tustin. An Oneg Shabbat will follow services. Dinner reservations are required. For more information, call (714) 532-6724.

“The Tenth Coin,” a Christian drama group, will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, 2121 N. Grand Ave. in Santa Ana. Using sign language, song, drama and pantomime, the youth group will perform Christian texts, such as the story of Jonah and the whale and Christ on the Cross. The group, which was formed 14 years ago, has traveled extensively overseas. For more information, call Pastor Gary Beard at (714) 542-2219.

“Hooked on Life,” a four-film series dealing with a variety of emotional problems, will be screened Thursday and Feb. 27 at the South Coast Community Church, 5120 Bonita Canyon Drive, Irvine. Tim Timmons, pastor of the church, and Steve Arterburn share the limelight in the films, which explain how people get drawn into a destructive life style. Two films will be shown each night, beginning at 7 p.m. Support groups will be formed following the film series to help those who are interested in discussing their problems.

“The Authority of Sacrifice” is the title of a speech by the Rev. John Buehrens, guest speaker at 10:30 a.m. services at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. Buehrens, senior minister of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas, will speak on whether crises in the modern world are due to freedom or authority problems. Religious education programs for children will be conducted during the service. For more information, call Frankie Harrigan at (714) 963-9773.

A special service of dedication and celebration will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ, 30121 Niguel Road in Laguna Niguel. The service will feature a dedication of recent building completion. John Rogers, conference minister for the United Church of Christ in Michigan, will be guest speaker. A dedication breakfast will be held on the church patio beginning at 8 a.m. For more information, call (714) 495-1310.

The Sisterhood of Temple Beth Ohr in La Mirada will hold a chocolate party and luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the temple, 15721 Rosecrans Ave. in La Mirada. A buffet luncheon will be served plus a demonstration by the Chocolate Factory on how to make chocolates. Participants will be able to make four pieces of chocolate and keep their mold. There will also be a drawing for a special chocolate delicacy. Donation for the afternoon is $7.50. For reservations, call (714) 521-6765.

Sonship Christian Bookstore is sponsoring the annual vacation bible school preview at 7 p.m. Friday at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 2850 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa. The preview will feature speakers and demonstrations of materials from three major publishing companies. There is no fee, and refreshments will be served. For more information call (714) 631-1974.

A new early worship service tailored for the Lenten season will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday at the University United Methodist Church, 18422 Culver Drive, Irvine. Designed for those who wish to worship earlier, the services will be conducted by one of four ministers on staff and will include observance of the Lord’s Supper each week. “Yes or No?” is the title of this week’s sermon, to be delivered by the Rev. Michael E. Winstead. The church will continue to offer its regular worship hours of 9 and 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (714) 786-8354.

The second annual Clergy Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Capistrano by the Sea Hospital, 33915 Del Obispo St. in Dana Point. Guest speaker Granger E. Westberg will discuss “The Role of the Congregation in the Present Health Care Revolution.” A $5 fee includes lunch and a copy of Westberg’s book, “Good Grief.” For registration or more information, call Leslie Whitlinger at (714) 496-5702.

The Orange Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Killian Parish, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo. The theme of this month’s meeting is the Songhigh Project in West Africa. Mass and luncheon will follow the presentation, made by Leonard Lepera and Maureen Robbins. Fee is $3.50. For more information, call (714) 581-9969.

The Philios Foundation will honor the return to Orange County of William (Cherry) Parker at a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1507-F N. Tustin Ave. in Santa Ana. Parker is the author of the best-seller, “Prayer Can Change Your Life,” and the founder of Prayer Therapy groups. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call (714) 836-4895.

Father Matthias Ryder, pastor of St. Callistus Church in Garden Grove, will hold a five-session series of classes from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through March 18 at the church, 12921 Lewis St. “I Used to Be a Catholic, But . . .” is designed for those who have been away from active church life and will discuss what the Catholic Church has to offer to people today. For more information, call (714) 971-2141.

Visiting Christian Scientist Bruce Fitzwater of Oregon will deliver a lecture at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Christian Science Church, 1300 N. Raymond Ave. in Fullerton. Fitzwater will discuss the role of Christian prayer in modern life styles and how to live by Christian dictates. Nursery care will be provided and there is no admission charge. For more information, call (714) 525-4312.

Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach will hold a special dedication Sabbath service at 8:15 p.m. Friday at the temple, 2401 Irvine Ave. The service will be dedicated to singles of all faiths in Orange County. Rabbi Steven Shatz will discuss some of the strains placed on single adults in today’s society and how Judaism can help. A special reception will follow the service. For more information, call (714) 548-6900.

The musical ministry of “Sharon and Robin” will be presented at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Rose Drive Friends Church, located at the corner of Rose Drive and Bastanchury Road in Fullerton. Sharon Brumbaugh-Hoffman and Robin Howard, musicians who have traveled throughout the United States since 1978, will perform a variety of Christian music, ranging from semi-classical through contemporary. For more information, call (714) 528-6496.