Orthodox Churches to Mark Easter

Local Eastern Orthodox Christians will join with the other 200 million worldwide members of their church Sunday in celebrating Easter, more than a month after other churches marked the event.

The Orthodox Christian church calculates the date of Easter by following orders issued by the church’s First Ecumenical Council in the year 325. According to the council, the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, following the Jewish observance of Passover.

This evening at 11 p.m., St. Luke’s Orthodox Church will wrap up Holy Week celebrations with a Resurrection service featuring Paschal Matins and the Divine Liturgy. On Sunday, the “Vespers of Love” service will be celebrated at noon.

The church is located at 13261 Dunklee Ave. in Garden Grove. For more information, call (714) 971-2244.

St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church will celebrate Easter with a Vespers service at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at 4949 Alton Parkway in Irvine. The Gospel reading of the Resurrection will be read in different languages and St. Paul’s Choir will perform. Following the service, the church will hold the annual Easter picnic on the church lawn, where the traditional meal of lamb will be served. For more information, call (714) 733-2366.

St. Clements by-the-Sea Episcopal Church will hold its 39th annual Strawberry Festival from 3 to 7 p.m. today at 202 Avenida Aragon in San Clemente. Freshly baked strawberry pies, shortcakes, tarts and other homemade goods will be offered for sale by the Episcopal Church Women. Proceeds from the sale will be used to refurbish the church’s parish hall. There is no admission charge. For more information, call (714) 492-3401.

“The Abraham Connection,” a dialogue between Judaic, Christian and Islamic scholars, will be presented from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at St. Michael and All Angels Parish Center, 3233 Pacific View Drive in Corona del Mar. George B. Grose, president of the Academy for Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies, and his colleagues Henri E. Front and Muzammil H. Siddiqui, will speak about the’links among the three faiths. Admission is $5. For more information, call (714) 660-6365.

St. Francis Guild is sponsoring a roast beef dinner to be served from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the dining room of the St. Francis Rest Home for the elderly, 17618 West 6th St. in Santa Ana. The home, which is operated by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, houses 83 elderly women. Proceeds from the fund-raiser will be used for kitchen improvements. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12. For more information, call Ray Rinehart at (714) 847-7642.

St. Polycarp’s Senior Services will host a morning of reflection at 9:30 a.m. Monday at 8182 Chapman Ave., Stanton. Maryloyola Yettke, chaplain and instructor at Chapman College, will lead the meeting, which will explore the ways women have been depicted in the Bible. Participants are asked to bring their own Bibles. For more information, call (714) 897-6306.

“New Start,” a music and puppet show featuring Cheryl and Doug Wynn, will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church, 24521 Moulton Parkway in Laguna Hills. Cheryl Wynn, a soprano soloist with a repertoire of classical and contemporary pieces, and Doug Wynn, a professional puppeteer for five years, will use their talents for their ministry to young and old alike. There is no admission charge. For more information, call (714) 837-2435.

St. Irenaeus Church will celebrate its silver anniversary with a special service beginning at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at 5201 Evergreen Ave. in Cypress. The church’s 25th anniversary will be celebrated by Father John Keller and Cardinal Timothy Manning, who retired as head of the Los Angeles diocese. A reception will follow the Mass in the Parish Hall. For more information, call (714) 826-0760.

John Balka, organist at St. Mary’s Church in San Francisco, will present a concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St. in Garden Grove. The concert is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the French composer Marcel Dupre. There is no admission charge. For more information, call (714) 971-4000.

“Religion and Science--No Dichotomy” is the title of a program to be presented during the Adult Forum at 9:15 a.m. Sunday at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 3233 Pacific View Drive in Corona del Mar. Ted Clarke, a Caltech physicist, will speak on space exploration and its impact on religion. Child care will be provided. For more information, call (714) 644-0463.

“The Resurrection,” a cantata featuring music and drama, will be presented at 10 a.m. services at the Lutheran Church of the Cross, 24231 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. Written by Bryan Leech, the cantata about the life of the apostle Peter will be performed by the Chancel Choir. A coffee hour will follow the service. For more information, call (714) 837-4673.

The First Presbyterian Church of Orange, 191 N. Orange St., will present ceremonial hymns and heraldic fanfares as part of its 20th annual Festival of Choirs during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service. Participating will be the church’s combined choirs, the Southern California Brass, soloist Mindy Ball and the Westminster Handbell Choir. For more information, call (714) 538-2341.

Organist Derrien Symonds will present an organ recital at 3 p.m. Sunday at Morningside Presbyterian Church, 1201 E. Dorothy Lane, Fullerton. Symonds will perform works by such composers as Bach, Mouret, Bingham, Karg-Elert and Reger. There is no admission charge. For more information, call (714) 871-7072.

“Lay Sunday, Ministry of the Membership” will be celebrated at 9 and 10:30 a.m. services Sunday at the Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. The worship service will be produced and staffed by adults and youths of the lay congregation. Individual church members will give testimonies on how “God Is Working in My Life.” The Children’s Choir will perform and a guitarist will accompany the congregation in singing contemporary hymns. Nursery care will be provided for both services. For more information, call (714) 494-7555.

A vocal and instrumental program will be presented at 10:30 a.m. services Sunday at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St. in Costa Mesa. “Somewhere There’s Music, a Syncopated Sermon” will feature Betty Wylder on the piano, Undean Wildman as solo vocalist and Paul Wehmeyer on instrumentals. The program will also include a congregation sing-along. There is no admission charge. For more information, call (714) 646-4652.

Catholic Spirit Renewed Christians will present a six-week “Life in the Spirit” seminar series from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays from May 9 through June 13 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 340 10th St., Seal Beach. Participants may register at the door. For more information, call (213) 431-0721.

“Getting Into Heaven” is the topic of the Rev. David O. Beadles’ sermon at 9 and 11 a.m. services Sunday at the United Methodist Church of Laguna Hills, 24442 Moulton Parkway. Sunday school for youths will be held at 9 a.m., with classes for high school students and adults held at 10 a.m. Nursery care will be provided. For more information, call (714) 837-3414.