Church Women United to Sponsor Day of Prayer

“Choose Life” is the theme of a worldwide call to prayer for peace to be celebrated by women of different faiths Friday at church services throughout the United States and abroad.

Church Women United, an ecumenical movement of Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox women engaging in Christian prayer, advocacy and service, is sponsoring the day of prayer. The event will focus on the choices women must make in the quest for world peace. More than 170 countries will join in this 99th annual event.

The service will officially be celebrated by Church Women United in the Newport Mesa-Irvine area beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Christ Church by the Sea, 1400 Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach. The program, following the theme of “Choose Life,” will feature the Rev. Laurie Sauder, assistant minister of the United Church of Christ in Corona del Mar, with women of other denominations taking part. Luncheon will follow the program for a fee of $4. For more information, call (714) 548-7176.

Catholic Spirit-Renewed Christians will sponsor a day of healing, Bible teaching and shared prayer in a celebration beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday. Led by Father Benedict Simeone, the event will be at the Marywood Center, 2811 E. Villa Real Drive, Orange. Healing Mass will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a Bible class from 1-3 p.m. and a prayer meeting and Mass from 8-10 p.m. For more information, call (714) 974-7120, Ext. 221.

A youth-sponsored ice cream supper and talent show will be held at 7 p.m. today at the First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove, 11832 Euclid St. Proceeds from the show, a traditional event, will be used to redecorate the youth room at the church. Many different acts, from singing and dancing to melodrama, will be featured in the talent show. For more information, call (714) 534-2269.

“Annulment and Today’s Catholic” is the topic of a presentation by Father George Luznicky to be given at 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Philip’s Parish Hall, 235 Pine Drive, Fullerton. As a member of the marriage tribunal in the Orange Diocese, Luznicky will answer questions about annulment after his presentation. Fee is $2. For more information, call (714) 871-3610.

A seminar for single parents will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. Sponsored by Positive Christian Singles and the Christian Counseling Service, “Kaleidoscope” is designed to help single parents develop a sense of “wholeness.” Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch since there is no lunch break. Fee is $25. For more information, call (714) 971-4061.

A musical celebration featuring violin and piano music, along with singing by the congregation, will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Laguna Hills, 24521 Moulton Parkway. Guest musicians will be Mary Huston on violin and Catherine Carver Burton on piano. A reception to honor both musicians will be held after the program. For more information, call (714) 837-2435.

The Los Angeles Baroque Players will appear in concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Red Hill Lutheran Church, 13200 Red Hill Ave., Tustin. Using instruments made in the 18th Century, the musicians are able to re-create the original tonal quality for pieces composed in that period. The ensemble will perform works by Buxtehude, Corelli, Handel, Telemann and Quantz. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call (714) 544-3131.

“AIDS, It’s Your Problem Too” is the title of a forum to be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1221 S.E. Wass St., Tustin. A panel of speakers is scheduled, including Dr. L. Rex Ehling, an Orange County medical officer; Father Albert Ogle from the AIDS Project in Los Angeles, and Richard Bacon, whose son died of AIDS. At 11:30 a.m. March 9, the forum will talk about the Shanti movement, which is a support group for AIDS patients and their families. For more information, call (714) 544-3141.

The second of a series of “teen issue workshops” will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach. The focus of this panel discussion will be substance abuse, including drugs, alcohol, smoking and eating disorders. The main presentation will be followed by separate workshops for teen-agers and their parents. There is no admission charge. For more information, call (714) 644-1999.

Teen Encounter Christ, a Roman Catholic weekend program, is scheduled for the weekend of March 7 to 9 at the Divine Word Seminary in Riverside. Youths ages 16 to 21 are invited to attend the retreat, which is designed to introduce the adolescent into adult Christian life. Fee for the weekend is $45 per person. For more information, call (714) 761-0883.

The Chamber Choir from the College of St. Theresa in Winona, Minn., will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Wednesdayat St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. The concert, featuring a West Coast premiere of “Love Letters” by Stephen Paulus, will also feature folk songs and classical works. Admission is $3. For more information, call (714) 644-1341.

“The Healing Touch: Islands of Hope in a Sea of Despair” is the message of the Rev. Harry Haines at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Sunday at the United Methodist Church of Laguna Hills, 24442 Moulton Parkway. A special feature of the service will be a presentation on the Laguna Hills Outreach program in local and world missions by the Mission Festival. A visitor booth and films will available at 10 a.m. and “world meal” will be served to congregants at 11 a.m. and noon. For more information, call (714) 837-3414.

A spiritual renewal weekend is planned at the Presbyterian Church of the Master, at the corner of Oso and Marguerite parkways in Mission Viejo. At 6:30 p.m. today, a potluck dinner will be served, preceding a message by Bob Vernon, assistant chief of police for the Los Angeles Police Department. Vernon will speak again at the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services on Sunday. Child care will be available. For more information, call (714) 582-2670.

Mission Aviation Fellowship, an organization which flies goods to missionary bases throughout the world, will be featured at the adult forum at 9:15 a.m. Sunday at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar. Sam Gay, a former vice president of Paine Webber and the New York Stock Exchange, and now an adviser to Mission Aviation, will be guest speaker. Child care will be provided. Regular worship services will be held at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For more information, call (714) 644-0463.

John Humbert, general minister and president of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, will be guest minister at the First Christian Church of Orange, 1130 E. Walnut St. Humbert will deliver the sermons at both 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Sunday, using the Lenten theme of “The Transforming Cross.” Sunday school is also held at 9:45 a.m. For more information, call (714) 538-9681.

St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Catholic Church, 205 S. Glassel St., Orange, will host the Rev. Robert Mercer of Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, at 6 p.m. Sunday. Bishop Mercer is on a tour of Anglican congregations throughout the United States. The evening prayer service at 6 will be followed by a potluck supper. For more information, call (714) 532-4697.