Eminent Latino Pastor Will Be Guest Speaker

Dr. Juan Carlos Ortiz will be the guest speaker Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church in Garden Grove.

Ortiz is pastor of Hispanic Ministries at the Crystal Cathedral and appears worldwide on the Spanish-language broadcast of “Hour of Power.”

He is the author of several books, including “Disciple” and “The Cry of the Human Heart,” which have been translated into many languages.

Born and educated in Argentina, Ortiz was a leading figure in a spiritual renewal movement there that has had widespread influence.

The service is at 9:45 a.m. at 11832 Euclid St., Garden Grove. Information: (714) 891-0142.

The topic of Sunday’s 10:30 a.m. sermon at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church will be “Liberal or Conservative: Which is Better?”

Presented by the Rev. John Alexie Crane, the sermon will focus on the need for understanding and tolerance among various congregations.

Widely traveled, Crane is the former minister of the Santa Barbara Unitarian Society and is an author and licensed family counselor.

The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 646-4652.

The Sunday sermon delivered by the Rev. Edward Caldwell at the Laguna Presbyterian Church will be “Gifts for Christ.”

The Chancel Choir will provide music for the two services, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. Information: (714) 494-7555.

Geneva Presbyterian Church is offering a seminar conducted by Dr. Bernard Ramm, a Biblical scholar, beginning Sunday and continuing through March 17.

The sessions will be on Sundays at 10:10 a.m. during the Adult Education Hour between church services. The first portion of his seminar will be “Luke, the Historian.”

Geneva Presbyterian Church is at 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills (one block off Moulton Parkway). Information: (714) 837-2323.

On Sunday, the Jewish Community Forum will present Rabbi Marvin Hier, who will discuss “Anti-Semitism: Past, Present and Future.”

Hier created the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles after visiting Holocaust sites in Europe. He is one of the most vocal and controversial Jewish leaders in the country and is the only rabbi ever to have received an Academy Award.

The presentation will be at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom, 2625 Tustin Ave., Santa Ana. Information: (714) 538-0404.

The Catholic Alumni Clubs International is sponsoring a Winter Dance at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel in Costa Mesa on Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The organization offers activities for single, Catholic college graduates.

This dance was organized by Catholic Alumni Clubs in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix and Colorado.

The Westin South Coast Plaza hotel is just off the San Diego Freeway at the Bristol Street North exit, at 666 Anton Blvd. Tickets are $12 at the door. Dress for the dance: coats and ties for men; cocktail dresses for women. Information: (714) 830-5775.

A series of workshops begins Tuesday at the Holy Family Cathedral in Orange with Dr. Louis Stoetzer’s “Returning Home: Empowering the Spiritual Child Within.”

The workshops meet for three consecutive Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 566 S. Glassell Street. Information: (714) 639-4470.

The Center for Spiritual Development in Orange has scheduled a weekend retreat, “Matthew’s Gospel: Spirituality of the Heart,” led by Father Michael Crosby.

The retreat is Feb. 1 through 3 at the Center for Spiritual Development, 434 S. Batavia St. Registration is required by Jan. 18. Information: (714) 744-3175.

Seacrest Community Church is sponsoring a money management seminar series, “How to Beat the Recession,” presented by Pastor Scott Meineke beginning Sunday at 10 a.m.

The seminar will be held in the Fine Arts Theater at Orange Coast College, Fairview Road and Merrimac Way, Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 751-5683.