Celebrating Israel’s Independence

An celebration to mark Israel Independence Day will be held Sunday at the Jewish Community Center of Orange County. The Israeli consul, the mayor of Costa Mesa and various public officials and community leaders will take part.

More than 50 booths will offer food, crafts and information. Choirs from Temple Beth David, the Hebrew Academy and Temple Beth Yahm, and Israeli dancers will be among the performers.

The celebration is from noon to 6 p.m. at 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. Tickets are $5 for adults; $3 for students and seniors; and $2 for children under 12. Information: (714) 751-0608.

University United Methodist Church in Irvine will honor its high school and college graduates Sunday during the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services. A reception for the graduates will be held in the fellowship hall between services.

A concert will be held at 7:30 p.m., entitled, “So Glad I Know.” The church is at 18422 Culver Drive. Information: (714) 786-8354.

John Rutter’s “Requiem” will be performed by the chancel choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Anaheim on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

All are invited to the special service at 310 W. Broadway. Information: (714) 535-2176.

On Sunday Bishop Jack M. Tuell will present a charter to the congregation at Santa Margarita United Methodist Church. The Rev. Judy Flanegin is the founder of the church.

The special 4 p.m. service will be followed by a potluck dinner. The church meets at Cielo Vista Elementary School, 21811 Avenida de Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita. Information: (714) 589-1502.

The singles ministry at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach will present a film on marriage Wednesday. The film is part of a series called “One Is a Whole Number,” featuring author Harold Ivan Smith. The films on divorce and sexuality will be shown the following Wednesdays.

The film will be shown from 7:30 to 9 p.m. A $2 donation includes refreshments. Reservations are not necessary. Child care reservations can be made by calling (714) 631-2885 by Monday noon.

Also at the church, a five-session grief recovery group will meet Tuesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Stewart Lounge. Pat Yoder and Lydia Sarandan will lead the sessions. Materials for the five weeks will cost $10. Reservations are not necessary. The church is at 600 St. Andrews Road. Information: (714) 631-2880.

A free charitable giving seminar will be held today in the education building at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be a second session on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Certified Financial Planner Henry Haddad will discuss estate planning techniques. The sessions are free, and there will be no solicitations.

Also, a “Spring Sing” concert will be tonight at 8:15. A free-will donation will be taken. The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave. Information: (714) 826-0760.

The Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach announced that the Rev. Tari Lennon will be the new senior minister of the church. She is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary. She has served at the Downey Congregational Church and the Church of the Oaks in Thousand Oaks.

The church will observe Memorial Day on Sunday. After the worship service at 10 a.m., a farewell potluck luncheon for Associate Pastor Todd Schmidt will be held in Bridge Hall. The church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive. Information: (714) 494-8061 or (714) 951-7260.

St. James Episcopal Church in Newport Beach is holding a two-day seminar beginning Friday called “Power to Live,” led by Lee A. Buck.

The first session of the free seminar will begin Friday at 7 p.m. Three sessions will be held on Saturday with the first session beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the last session beginning at 7 p.m.

On June 7, a special Pentecost celebration service will be held at 7 p.m. at the church, 3209 Via Lido. Information: (714) 675-0210.

“Couple Counseling: Tools for the Pastor” is the title of a seminar at Azusa Pacific University’s Orange County Center in Santa Ana. The seminar will be from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday and includes a continental breakfast.

The department of marital and family therapy at the university is holding the seminar at 1801 E. Edinger Ave., Suite 115. Information: (714) 973-0637.

The second annual Missions Concert will be held Friday at South Coast Community Church in Irvine. The 7:30 p.m. concert will feature singers Jana Alexander, Fernando Ortega and the Basics musical group.

The concert will benefit church missions and tickets are $6 for adults, $2 for children. The church is at 5120 Bonita Canyon Drive. Information: (714) 854-7600.

Precept Ministries is sponsoring a three-day Bible study workshop at Mariners Church in Newport Beach which will begin on Thursday and continue through June 6. Precept Ministries is based in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was founded in 1970 by Jack and Kay Arthur.

The Mariners Church is at 1000 Bison Ave. Those interested in receiving a brochure or registering for the seminar should call (714) 644-7869 or (714) 760-1891.

A choral concert will be held before the Sunday evening worship service at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. The concert is at 5:15 and the service begins at 6.

There will be a free-will offering. The church is at 12141 Lewis St. Information: (714) 971-4150.

The Rev. Margaret Ims will discuss loneliness Sunday as she continues her series on “Handling and Healing Life’s Hurts” at Unity Community Church in Laguna Hills. She said: “It’s one of the most painful emotions we feel, but we can learn to stop building the walls that protect us and begin building the bridges that connect us.”

Services are at 9 and 11 a.m. at 23461-I Ridge Route Drive. Information: (714) 472-9230.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is offering a class called “What Does It Mean to Be Catholic in the ‘90s?” beginning June 15. The chairman of the department of religious studies at Cal State Fullerton, George St. Laurent, will teach the course.

The class is offered from 9:30 a.m. to noon June 15 to 19 or 7 to 9:30 p.m. June 15 to 18 at the Marywood Center, 2811 E. Villa Real Drive, Orange. The class costs $20. Information: (714) 974-7120.

A rummage sale to benefit church mission projects will be held June 6 at the West Anaheim United Methodist Church.

Organized by the United Methodist Women, the sale will be in the church lounge from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2045 W. Ball Road. Information: (714) 772-6030.