Sister From L.A. Shelter to Speak

Sister Judy Vaughan, coordinator of a shelter for homeless women, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa.

Vaughan has been involved with the operation of the House of Ruth in Los Angeles since its founding four years ago. The house provides emergency shelter for homeless women and children.

Child care will be provided during the free program. For more information, call the church at (714) 646-4652.

A day of prayer and retreat will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Marywood Center of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, 2811 E. Villa Drive, Orange. Father Joseph Glynn will present the program, which includes a lecture on Scripture and the great mystics, contemplative prayer techniques and liturgy. The cost is $5 and includes lunch. For more information, call (714) 871-4815.

First Congregational Church of Anaheim is screening a series of films dealing with parenting, families and childhood at 7 p.m. on consecutive Sundays beginning July 20 and ending Aug. 31, with the exception of Aug. 3. James and Shirley Dobson’s six-part series, “Focus on the Family,” urges the return to Christian values in the home. Admission is free and child care will be provided. For more information, call the church at (714) 776-0960.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is holding several youth-oriented activities over the next week, including a youth leadership workshop at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, an ice cream social and concert by Shaliach at 7 p.m. July 26 and youth rally from 7 to 9 p.m. July 27. Youths from throughout the county are invited to attend the events. Admission is free to all events, but there is a $1 charge for the ice cream social. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is at 4800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine.

Vacation Bible school will be held from 9 a.m. to noon July 21-25 at Capistrano Valley Church, 32032 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano. Children 4 years old through fifth grade are invited to attend. There is no charge but pre-registration is encouraged. For more information, call the church office at (714) 661-4991.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is holding a weekend seminar of instruction in the Sympto-Thermal method of birth control from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The seminar will be conducted by the Natural Family Planning Apostolate for the diocese and is open to all married or engaged couples. Cost is $40 per couple. For more information or to register, call (714) 974-7263.

Abiding Savior Lutheran Church is holding a special worship service featuring the contemporary Christian music of Choices at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The church is at 23262 El Toro Road, El Toro. The service is free and open to the public. For more information, call the church at (714) 830-1460.

The African Children’s Choir will present two concerts Sunday as part of an effort to raise funds for the development of children’s homes in Uganda. At 10 a.m., the choir will perform at Yorba Linda Friends Church, 5211 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda. The second performance will take place at 6 p.m. at Rose Drive Friends Church, located at the corner of Bastanchury Road and Rose Drive, south of Imperial Highway, in Yorba Linda. Admission is free to both concerts, however a collection will be taken.

Trinity Episcopal Church in Orange will hold memorial services at 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday for the Rev. Robert Rusak, Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles, who died Wednesday. Liturgy for the Dead will be incorporated into the regular service. Trinity is at 2400 N. Canal St.

Guest speaker Mark Vincent Hansen will present “I Am Special” at the Church of Religious Science, Laguna Beach, at the 9:15 and 11 a.m. services Sunday. The church is at 27802 El Lazo Road, South Laguna. Hansen is a motivational speaker and business consultant with a doctorate in human behavior. He will also present a seminar, “Outperform Yourself Totally,” Sunday evening. For more information, call the church at (714) 831-2683.

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd will hold a vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays July 21-Aug. 1. The school is open to children 4 years of age through sixth grade and costs $7 per child. Discounts are available to families with more than one child. The church is at 7082 Crescent Ave., Buena Park. For additional information, call the church at (714) 827-6021.