Melodyland Puts On ‘Shadow of the Almighty’ for Easter Show

Melodyland is presenting its Easter production, “Shadow of the Almighty,” today and Sunday.

The theatrical production includes a cast and choir of more than 250, an orchestra and live animals to tell the story of Easter.

The show is produced and directed by Rich Cook. A Hollywood-based film crew will create a laser display, dancing waters and an aerial angel performance.

The event has been dedicated to American military personnel, particularly those who have served in Operation Desert Storm. Free seats have been reserved for the military and their families.

Today’s performance is at 5:30 p.m. with two performances scheduled for Sunday, at 3 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $7, or $5 for those in groups of 20 or more.

Melodyland is across from Disneyland in Anaheim at 400 W. Freedman Way. Information: (714) 635-6391.

South Coast Community Church will hold Good Friday services at noon and 7 p.m.

At the noon service, the pastors will discuss Christ’s last words on the Cross and their significance. Music will be provided by the South Coast Chorale.

On Friday evening the Celebration Choir will present the Easter portion of Handel’s “The Messiah.” There is no charge for admission and child care will be provided.

South Coast Community Church is in Irvine at 5120 Bonita Canyon Drive. Information: (714) 854-7600.

A musical pageant, “The Victor,” is scheduled for tomorrow’s Palm Sunday program at Fountain Valley Baptist Church.

The public is invited to attend the free program at 9 and 11 a.m. at 10460 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley. Information: (714) 963-9708.

A special Palm Sunday celebration will be held at the Crystal Cathedral at 6 p.m.

Pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz will preside over the service, which will include music by the children’s and youth choirs.

A free-will offering will be taken at the service.

On Good Friday, two services will be held, at 12:15 and 8:15 p.m.

Dr. Robert H. Schuller will lead the the 12:15 Communion service, which will feature the Crystal Cathedral Choir with Frederick Swann, organist and director.

The 8:15 Candlelight Communion service, “The Holy Candles of Our Lives,” with pastors Bruce Larson and Juan Carlos Ortiz, features the Cathedral Chorale.

The Crystal Cathedral is at 12141 Lewis St. in Garden Grove. Information: (714) 971-4150.

Emmy Award nominee Gilbert Amelio will present his trilogy of art forms, “Face of Christ,” on Sunday at Laguna Presbyterian Church.

He uses music, narration and acting along with sculptured forms to give a dramatic portrayal of the last hours in the life of Christ.

The one-hour presentation begins at 7 p.m. at 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. Child care is available. Information: (714) 494-7555.

A ceremony for firstborn sons (Siyum) will be held as part of South County Chabad’s regular 6:45 a.m. service on Friday.

South County Chabad Jewish Center is in Irvine at 4872 Royce Road. Information: (714) 786-5000.

On Maundy Thursday, First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa presents “The Way of the Cross.”

A musical drama by Kathryn Kietzman, it is modeled after the Latin and German “Via Cruxis,” which portrayed the events leading up the Crucifixion. The free performance is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at 420 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 548-7727.

Morningside Presbyterian Church has planned a children’s musical on Palm Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Also scheduled are: Maundy Thursday 6:30 p.m. supper followed by the drama “Were You There?”; Prayer vigils from 3 to 10 p.m. on Good Friday and Holy Saturday; Easter Sunday 5:30 sunrise service with continental breakfast following and a 10:30 a.m. worship service.

Morningside Presbyterian Church is in Fullerton at 1201 E. Dorothy Lane. Information: (714) 871-7072.

Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach is sponsoring its 17th Annual Passover seder on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The symbolic foods, which will be part of the kosher dinner, will represent the customs of ancient times. Dinner will take place after the first part of the seder. Special songs and renditions will follow.

Temple Isaiah is at 2401 Irvine Ave. Early reservations are suggested due to limited seating. Reservations must be accompanied by checks. For information on donations call the temple office at (714) 548-6900.

Seven Garden Grove churches are inviting the public to attend the third annual Good Friday “Way of the Cross” walk. Participants will walk about 2 miles from one church to another, carrying a wooden cross.

The walk begins with a service at noon at St. Anselm’s of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 13091 Galway St. A second service is at 1 p.m. at St. Columban’s Roman Catholic Church, 10801 Stanford Ave. At 2 p.m., a service will be held at United Methodist Church, 12741 Main St. The final service of the day is at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 11832 Euclid St.

Those who wish to participate may join at any of the services.

Other participating churches are: St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and Garden Grove Friends Church.

People of all ages should enjoy the walk. It is requested that no one bring bicycles or skateboards. Information: (714) 534-1174.

The Resurrection musical “The Day He Wore My Crown” will be performed by the sanctuary choir at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Maundy Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday services are at 7, 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. The full sanctuary choir will sing at all three services.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is in Newport Beach at 600 St. Andrews Road. Information: (714) 631-2880.

An Easter egg hunt follows the 10 a.m. Good Friday service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The morning service is designed to appeal to youth. The Good Friday evening service at 7:30 features the senior choir.

The Easter sunrise service begins at 6:30. Other services are at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Continental breakfast is served from 7 to 10 a.m.

All are invited to attend services at 3352 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos. Information: (213) 430-3444.

The Tustin Church of Christ has scheduled a special series of Bible studies Sunday through Friday. The weekday afternoon sessions are for study of the Sermon on the Mount, while the Sunday and evening studies will cover the Book of Romans.

Evangelist Paul Earnhart of the Douglass Hills Church of Christ in Kentucky and editor of Christianity Magazine, will lead the Bible study classes. His ministry has taken him to Africa, Italy, Honduras and Chile.

The public is invited to attend any of the Bible study sessions or worship services. Sunday Bible study is at 9:30 a.m.; weekdays at noon and 7:30 p.m. Worship services are at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The Tustin Church of Christ is a nondenominational congregation of Christians meeting at 16481 Main St. in Tustin. For transportation or information call (714) 972-9922.

For the ninth year, St. Edward’s Church in Dana Point presents a liturgy production which depicts Christ’s journey on His way to Calvary.

The program includes readings, meditations and inspiring music. It is designed so the 14 stages of Christ’s suffering lead to the offering of the Mass.

The program is on Palm Sunday at the 12:30 p.m. Mass and again on Good Friday at 7:30 p.m.

St. Edward’s Church is at 33926 Calle La Primavera in Dana Point. Information: (714) 496-1572.

A workshop on “The Intermarried Family” takes place Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin.

The workshop will be presented by Linda Fife and Rabbi Spitz and is based on a successful program recently held at the University of Judaism. Topics include: intermarriage and the Jewish community, and family dynamics of an intermarried couple.

Cost of the workshop is $30 for an individual or $50 for a couple, including lunch.

Congregation B’nai Israel is in Tustin at 655 S. B St. For reservations call (714) 730-9693.

Selections from the oratorio “Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn will be performed Sunday by the Anaheim Mormon Chorale and guest soloist Wayne Shepperd. The Chorale, directed by JoLane Jolley, will be accompanied by Bertigene Will at the piano and organist Tim Thorman. Shepperd is a member of the Los Angeles Opera Company.

All are invited to the 7 p.m. performance at the Anaheim East Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 441 S. Fairmont Blvd., Anaheim. Information: (714) 854-3100.

The Senior Choir and orchestra at St. James Episcopal Church in Newport Beach will perform “The Faure” Requiem on Good Friday at 7:30 p.m. Earlier on Good Friday, beginning at noon, the ancient three-hour service of Meditations of the Seven Last Words from the Passion narrative will take place at the church.

The church is at 3209 Via Lido. Information: (714) 675-0210.

Sunday worship at Lutheran Church of the Cross includes inspirational music and the procession of the palms at both the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services.

The Tenebrae service will be held on Good Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Lutheran Church of the Cross is at 24231 El Toro Road in Laguna Hills. Information: (714) 837-4673.

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