Russian to Talk About Religion in Soviet Union

A rare chance to get a firsthand account of the practice of religion in the Soviet Union will be available Sunday at the Orange First Christian Church.

The Rev. Anatoly Sokolov, director of the All Union Council of Evangelical Christians/Baptists of the Soviet Union and also pastor of a Baptist church outside Moscow, will be the guest speaker at the 11 a.m. worship service at the church, 1130 E. Walnut Ave., Orange.

Co-sponsored by the church, the Interfaith Peace Ministry and the Society for Cultural Relations/U.S.--U.S.S.R., the program will be followed by a continental breakfast at noon. Church members will have a chance to meet, discuss issues and ask questions of Sokolov and other Russian guests. The fee is $2.50, and breakfast reservations are required. For more information call (714) 538-9681.

Dennis Prager, moderator of KABC radio’s “Religion on the Line,” will be the third featured speaker of the 1986 Jewish Community Forum Lecture series at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Chapman College Memorial Hall in Orange. Prager will speak on “God as a Source of Morality.” Tickets are available at the door. For more information call (714) 638-8605.

Irvine Presbyterian Church will hold its annual Seder at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 5 Meadowbrook, Irvine. The traditional Passover feast will be followed by Communion and Israeli folk dancing. The fee is $3.75 for adults and $3.25 for children under 12. Child care will be provided for a fee of $1.50. Reservations are required. For more information call (714) 786-9627.

Temple Sharon of Costa Mesa will be host to visiting youths from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church during special interfaith evening services Friday at the temple, 617 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa. Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal will conduct the service. It will be followed by a question-and-answer session about the Passover observance. For more information call (714) 631-6232.

Crown Valley Covenant Church will host Steve and Joan Carman at 7:30 p.m. services Wednesday at 24600 La Plata Drive, Laguna Niguel. The Carmans will discuss “Christ in the Passover.” There will be a question-and-answer session. For more information call (714) 495-6071.

The Sanctuary Choir of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church will present its second annual “Favorites II” concert at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. Accompanied by Steven Pilkington on the Casavant pipe organ, the choir will present a program of traditional holiday music, including Faure’s “Requiem” and contemporary gospel pieces, along with a hymn-sing-along for the congregation. Fee is $3 for adults and $1 for children. For more information call (714) 631-3821.

The Youth Group of Temple Bat Yahm will hold a Purim Carnival from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach. Featured will be game booths, pony rides, a fortune teller and a variety of foods. Prizes will be awarded to game winners. There is no admission charge, but there is a fee of 25 cents a game. For more information call (714) 644-1999.

St. Hedwig’s Young Adult Ministry will hold a Fish Fry dinner from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fridayat the church’s parish hall, 11502 Los Alamitos Blvd.. Los Alamitos. Prices are $3.50 for adults and $3 for children under 12 for the dinner which includes fish, vegetables, cole slaw, roll and beverage. Clam chowder and rolls will be served for $1.50. Tickets will be sold only in advance. Proceeds from the dinner will be used for the young adult church program. For more information call (213) 430-6643.

The Southern California Son (Zen) Center will hold weekly meditation meetings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning today at 2 Hopkins St., Irvine. The program will include sitting meditation, chanting and a vegetarian lunch. Fee is $15. For more information or reservations call (714) 786-9585.

A mini-seminar on disaster preparedness will be held by Community Christian Child Care Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Community Baptist Church, 17345 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. “Disaster Preparedness--When 911 Is Not Enough” will be presented by registered nurses from Martin Luther Hospital. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. For more information call (714) 996-1742.

The sanctuary movement will be the topic of the 9:15 a.m. Sunday Adult Forum at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar. Guest speakers will address the question of whether religious convictions justify civil disobedience. The Rev. John Davis, rector of St. Michaels, will act as moderator. Child care will be provided. For more information call (714) 644-0463.

The fourth annual Mass of the Cross will be presented by St. Edward’s Church at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at 33926 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point. The holiday tableau will depict Christ’s journey on his way to Calvary. For more information call (714) 496-1572.

A mini-retreat will be held by the Orange County Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Norbert’s Church, 300 E. Taft Ave., Orange. Father Eamon O’Gorman will act as retreat master. Mass and lunch will follow the morning presentation. The donation is $3.50 per person. For more information and reservations call Mary Leary at (714) 532-2929.

Country-Western musician Hugh Cherry will speak at 10:30 a.m. services Sunday at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. Cherry, a Seal Beach resident, will explore the history of his style of music. There is no admission charge. For more information call (714) 646-4652.

The Garden Grove United Methodist Church will hold an organ concert featuring musician Ted Storm at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 12741 Main St., Garden Grove. The evening program will include excerpts from the works of Bach, Schumann, Franck, Mendelssohn, Andriesson and Dupre. Fee is $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. For more information call (714) 534-1070.

“A Choice: Theology of Glory or Theology of the Cross” is the title of the Rev. Frank Starkey’s sermon at 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Lenten services Sunday at Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo. Special 30-minute Lenten services will also be held at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. For more information call (714) 837-7467.

A two-week adult education class, “A Walk with Christ,” will begin this Sunday at the Community Presbyterian Church, 32202 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano. Worship services will be held at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., with a coffee fellowship after each service. Child care will be provided. For more information call (714) 493-1502.