Guitarist to Give Benefit Concert

Guitarist Tony Melendez will give a benefit concert tonight at St. Timothy Catholic Community Church in Laguna Niguel. The concert will help support the “Door of Faith” orphanage in Mexico. A choir from the orphanage will participate in the 7 p.m. concert and a free-will offering will be taken.

On Sunday, the Timotheans youth group will host their annual Alternative Christmas Market. The “Give the World a Present” market is on the parish grounds from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Charities which will benefit include: Catholic Charities, Church World Services, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, Holy Childhood Assn., Catholic Worker, Food for the Poor and Olive Crest Home for Abused Children.

The church is at 29102 Crown Valley Parkway. Information: (714) 495-4862.

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The Women Alive luncheon today is sponsored by South Coast Community Church in Irvine. The 11:30 luncheon features guest speaker Lee Ezell, a fashion show, singer Jana Alexander and the South Coast Community Church Band.

Tickets are $20 for the luncheon at the Irvine Marriott Hotel, 18000 Von Karman Ave. Information: (714) 854-7600.

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The second annual Noel Night Celebration is tonight at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress. The church choirs will sing in the 7:45 p.m. concert.

A free-will offering will be taken. The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave. Information: (714) 826-0760.

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A STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) teen biblical class will be offered at Red Hill Lutheran Church of Tustin beginning Sunday at 10:45 a.m.

The 10-week class costs $12.50 per person and is at 13200 Red Hill Ave. Information: (714) 544-3131.

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St. Alban’s Church in Brea will celebrate the Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday. Their service is based on the annual Cambridge University service at King’s College Chapel. The 8 p.m. service includes Scripture readings and music.

The church is at 300 E. Imperial Highway. Information: (714) 839-1688.

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Tustin Presbyterian Church will present its second annual Christmas Concert on Sunday at 4 and 7:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The concert will include music by Handel and Vivaldi and is similar to the service at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

Reservations are not necessary, but early arrival is suggested. Doors open 15 minutes before each concert. A free-will offering will be taken for the concerts at 225 W. Main St. Information: (714) 544-7070.

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First Southern Baptist Church in Fountain Valley is hosting its annual “Christmas Around the Tables” musical program beginning Friday at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served during the program to the guests seated at their reserved tables.

The program can also be seen Dec.12, at 7 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. The church is at 10350 Ellis Ave. For ticket information, call (714) 968-4222.

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Irvine Community Chabad Center is hosting a “Falafel Evening” tonight at 7. Foods that will be served at a nominal price include falafel, hot dogs, salads and soft drinks.

On Sunday, Chabad’s rummage sale will begin at 9 a.m. at the center, 4872 Royce Road. Information: (714) 786-5000.

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The Orange Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host a Christmas Creche Exhibit today and Sunday. More than 200 creches will be on display. A live Nativity and music will be featured and admission is free.

The exhibit is open from 4 to 9 p.m. today and from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at 674 S. Yorba St., Orange. Information: (714) 633-3368.

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St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church’s “Holly Day” boutique is today. The boutique is from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Episcopal Service Alliance and St. Margaret’s youth program.

The boutique will be in Siller’s Hall at the church, 31641 La Novia Ave., San Juan Capistrano. Information: (714) 661-0110.

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Bishop John Elya, regional bishop for the western United States, will lead the service to commemorate the Feast of St. Nicholas on Sunday at Holy Cross Milkite-Greek Catholic Church in Fullerton. He will preach in both English and Arabic. St. Nicholas is remembered because of his miracles and extreme generosity, and was bishop of Myra in Lycia, which was once in Greece and is now in modern-day Turkey.

The service is at 11 a.m. at 706 S. Lemon St. Information: (714) 992-0652.

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“The Rev. Kenneth R. Brown will be the guest speaker Sunday at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa. His topic will be “The Challenge of Unitarian Universalism in the 21st Century.” He is moderator for a weekly radio program called “Cambridge Forum West” and is the Crisis Response Network coordinator for the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. at 1259 Victoria St. Information: (714) 646-4652.

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“How to Find Christmas Presence” will be the Rev. Peter Larson’s sermon topic Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove.

Services are at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at 11832 Euclid St. Information: (714) 534-2269.

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Temple Bat Yahm Sisterhood’s annual Hanukkah Bazaar will begin Sunday at 9 a.m. and feature ceremonial Judaica, glassware, art objects, books and games for sale. The bazaar will continue through Thursday. Free presentations will include Hanukkah decorating tips on Monday at 11:30; free cosmetic make-overs at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, and “Latkes From Around the World” demonstration and tasting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. The temple is at 1011 Camelback Road, Newport Beach. Information: (714) 644-1999 or (714) 281-1446.

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The combined choirs of University United Methodist Church of Irvine and St. Mark Presbyterian Church of Newport Beach will give two “Now Sing We All” Christmas concerts. The first concert will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at University United Methodist Church, 18422 Culver Drive. The second concert will be at at 7 p.m., Dec. 13, at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar Vista Drive.

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“The Social Life and Attitudes of the Early Christians” will be Prof. Catherine Kroeger’s seminar topic Sunday at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach. She is the founder and president of Christians for Biblical Equality and an adjunct professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The free seminar will be from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.

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The United Methodist Church of Garden Grove’s Alternative Christmas Giving Market will be Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Various local and international charities will benefit.

The church is at 12741 Main St. Information: (714) 534-1070.

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St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Corona del Mar will host an Alternative Christmas Market on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The church is at 3233 Pacific View Drive. Information: (714) 644-0463.