Irvine Mayor to Light Jewish Center Menorah

South County Chabad Jewish Center’s “Hanukkah Celebration 1991” will be Sunday and include the lighting of a 20-foot menorah by Irvine Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan.

A children’s rally will be at 2 p.m. to be followed by the outdoor activities at 4 p.m. A live orchestra will play during the menorah lighting.

All are invited to the event at 4872 Royce Road, Irvine. Information: (714) 786-5000.

A Hanukkah Open House hosted by Orange County Kindershule and the Jewish Secular Assn. will be held today in Los Alamitos.

For admission, bring a wrapped gift worth $3 to $5 to exchange.

The open house is at 7 p.m. at 11571 Weatherby Road, Los Alamitos. For information or reservations, call (714) 891-6883 or (714) 968-0998.

Temple Isaiah’s Rabbi Marc Rubenstein will conduct the traditional candle-lighting ceremony followed by a potluck dinner and entertainment, in celebration of Hanukkah tonight.

The celebration will start at 6:30 in the Social Hall at 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. Donation is $8, youths under 18 admitted free. For information or reservations call (714) 548-6900.

Storytelling, crafts, Israeli folk dancing and a book fair are all part of today’s “Hanukkah Happening” from 9:30 a.m. to noon at University Synagogue.

The public is invited to the event at 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine. Information: (714) 553-3535.

The community is invited to a Hanukkah party Sunday hosted by Adat Ari, the North County synagogue. The party will be from 6 to 8 p.m. and include a candle-lighting ceremony, games, prizes and a magic show.

A $1 donation is requested to attend the party at 5100 E. La Palma Ave, Suite 104, Anaheim Hills. Information: (714) 970-9304.

Hanukkah will be celebrated by the Adat Hamashiach Messianic Congregation today. At 10:30 a.m., Adat’s recently acquired Torah Scrolls will be dedicated.

At 6 p.m., a Hanukkah celebration with Davidic dancing, a Hanukkah play and music will take place at 17101 Armstrong Ave., Irvine. Information: (714) 588-8770.

The Women Alive Ministry at South Coast Community Church is hosting its annual Christmas event today at the Irvine Marriott Hotel.

The theme is “Christmas: The Gift of Love” and the speaker is Pat Rexroat, director of Women’s International Network. There will also be a holiday fashion show.

Tickets are $20 for either the breakfast at 8:45 a.m. or the luncheon at 12:45 p.m. For reservations, call (714) 854-7600.

The Most Rev. Norman McFarland, bishop of Orange, will lead a procession in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in downtown Santa Ana.

Msgr. Jaime Soto, Episcopal vicar of the Latino community said: “Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Diocese of Orange. We rely on her prayers and intercession to further the mission of the Gospel here in the county of Orange. She is also a symbol of great pride and devotion among the Latino community, particularly those of Mexican descent.”

The procession will begin at the intersection of Main and 4th streets and proceed east on 4th Street to Spurgeon Street. There will be a presentation of flowers to the mosaic image of Mary at 4th Street and Spurgeon, as well as a cultural program with Azteca dancers and the ballet folklorico. Information: (714) 974-7120.

The Annual Christmas Concert at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach will be presented twice on Sunday, at 4 and 7 p.m. The concert will include traditional Christmas music and a Christmas carol sing-along. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students.

On Dec. 15, a Messiah sing-along is planned for 4 p.m. Messiah scores will be available for purchase at the door for $6. Tickets are $5 per person.

Christmas Eve candlelight services at St. Andrew’s will be at 5, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. at 600 St. Andrew’s Road. Information: (714) 631-2880.

The music ministry at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress will present a concert today in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Noel Night Celebration will be at 8:15 p.m.

Daniel Gary Busby, director of music ministries, will conduct and a reception will follow the concert. An offering will be taken.

The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave. Information: (714) 826-0760.

The Timotheans, a youth group at St. Timothy Catholic Community Church in Laguna Niguel, planned the “Give the World a Present” Alternative Christmas Bazaar, which will begin today at noon.

Organizations that will benefit from the two-day bazaar are: Berkeley Ecumenical Chaplaincy to the Homeless, Catholic Charities, Catholic Worker, Church World Services, Episcopal Service Alliance, Food for the Poor, Friendship Shelter Inc., Guatemalan Projects of the School Sisters of St. Francis, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, Holy Childhood Assn., Olive Crest, St. Edward’s Christian Service Emergency Food Program, St. Timothy’s Mexican Ministries and the YWCA Hotel for Women.

The bazaar will be from noon to 5 p.m. today and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at 29102 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel. Information: (714) 495-5634.

The 15th annual “Bethlehem Walk” at West Anaheim United Methodist Church will be today, Sunday and Dec. 14 and 15. The “Bethlehem Walk” is a re-creation of the city of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth.

Wandering prophets, beggars, townspeople and dancers lend authenticity to the event. Admission is free and the event is a gift to the community from the church. Hours are from noon to 5 p.m. all four days, with group reservations available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

The church is at 2045 W. Ball Road, Anaheim. For reservations or information, call the church office at (714) 772-6030.

A Midwinter Madrigal Festival will be held at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa on Friday with a second performance Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

The event is overseen by church musical director Mieque Weinstein and features singing, dancing and a medieval-style dinner each day.

Admission is $17.50 per person and child care is available. Reservations are required. Tickets will not be sold at the door. The church is at 1259 Victoria St. For reservations, call (714) 646-4652 or (714) 898-7183.

An Alternative Gift of Hope Market will follow the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Irvine.

Among the organizations to benefit are: Church World Services, Heifer Project International, Habitat for Humanity and Third World Hand Arts.

St. Andrew’s is at 4400 Barranca Parkway. Information: (714) 559-4699.

Interim Pastor Tari Lennon is giving a series of Advent sermons at the Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach.

Worship service will be at 10 a.m. Sunday at 340 St. Ann’s Drive. Information: (714) 494-8061.

The Mesa Verde United Methodist Church will present a Christmas concert on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The free concert is at 1701 Baker St., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 979-8234.

Senior Adult Day on Sunday at the Garden Grove Free Will Baptist Church will be a day to honor seniors in the church and the community.

Seniors will lead all aspects of the 11 a.m. worship service, including music presented by a senior choir. The Rev. Francis W. Boyle, former pastor of the congregation, will give the message. The church is introducing a new ministry to seniors and plans to be instrumental in forming a LIFE (Live in Full Effectiveness) group on Tuesday. Seniors in the community are invited to the LIFE meeting at the church, which will be followed by a luncheon and sightseeing trip.

The church is at 8782 Lampson Ave., Garden Grove. For information about the LIFE club, call the church at (714) 636-9320.

St. Alban’s Church in Huntington Beach will present the annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” Sunday at Brea Congregational Church, 300 E. Imperial Highway, Brea.

The festival will be at 8 p.m. Information: (714) 840-4995.

The annual Christmas program at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Westminster will feature traditional and contemporary music.

A free-will offering will be taken for the 7:30 p.m. program on Sunday at 8152 McFadden Ave. Information: (714) 897-0100.

Carols, Crafts and Cookies Night will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Irvine Presbyterian Church. The evening’s activities will include music, refreshments and decorating the church Christmas tree.

All are welcome to the free celebration at the church at 5 Meadowbrook, Irvine. Information: (714) 786-9627.