At daybreak Sunday, Christians throughout the Southland...

At daybreak Sunday, Christians throughout the Southland will begin their celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Following are some places of worship that will observe the holiday with music and pageantry.

SUNDAY

St. James’ Episcopal Church celebrates with festal Holy Eucharist services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Special music includes the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” 3875 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 388-3417.

The Chancel Choir of Hollywood United Methodist Church will perform four songs from the motion picture “Sister Act” during the 10:30 a.m. service and conclude worship with the more traditional “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” The Rev. Ignacio Castuera will deliver the sermon, “Suspension of Disbelief.” The church is a Reconciling Congregation, which openly and publicly welcomes gays and lesbians into its fellowship. 6817 Franklin Ave. (213) 874-2104.

Bethel Lutheran Church holds services at 9 and 11 a.m., with a continental breakfast served at 10 a.m. The Rev. Lyle B. Gangsei will deliver the sermons, and “The Victory” will be sung by the church’s combined choirs. 17500 Burbank Blvd., Encino. (818) 788-2653.

Culver-Palms United Methodist Church holds sunrise services at 7 a.m. and “festivals of worship” at 9 and 10:45 a.m., featuring three choirs, orchestra and soloists, performing Mozart’s “Missa in C.” 4464 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. (213) 390-7717.

“Once Upon a Cross,” a musical with a cast of 75, will be presented by Lawndale Christian Church at 10 a.m. Doors open half an hour prior to performances. Nursery care is provided. 4234 W. 147th St., Lawndale. (310) 644-2236.

The Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood holds services in English at 7:30 and 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and in Spanish at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. 6657 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. (213) 463-6211.

Brookins AME Church holds services at 6 , 8 and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. 4831 Gramercy Place, Los Angeles. (213) 296-5610.

The Crystal Cathedral holds a carillon concert at 5 p.m. and presents Handel’s “Messiah” at 6. Nursery care is provided. 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. (714) 971-4000.

DATES

The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council holds interfaith dialogue programs open to people of all faiths, based on the successful National Conference of Christians and Jews model. The Rev. Robert McDill leads an orientation meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Encino at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The five succeeding meetings will be in a private home. The church is located at 4963 Balboa Blvd. (818) 718-6460.

The 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising will be commemorated by Hollywood Temple Beth El at a Sabbath of Heroism Service at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 17. The uprising, though it pitted the vastly unequal forces of starving Polish Jews against the German military machine, constituted the second-largest World War II battle in occupied Europe before 1943. Temple members Max Cukier, a resistance fighter, and Leo Egan, a concentration camp survivor, will be part of a panel that includes veterans of the Partisan movement, the U.S. and Soviet armed forces and a representative of the state of Israel. The event is sponsored by the American Congress of Jewish Survivors of Concentration Camps. 1317 N. Crescent Heights Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 656-3150.

A Christian interdenominational dialogue seeking mutual understanding, rather than consensus, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Rock Room of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. Moderated by Father Mike Walsh of the seminary faculty, it is part of a series sponsored by the Ventura County Council of Churches. 5012 Seminary Road. (805) 983-0157.

Immaculate Heart College Center offers a course in “Feminist Themes in the Poetry of Adrienne Rich,” taught by Anita Caspary, professor of English and president emerita of the college. It meets Saturdays, beginning April 24. For complete information, call the center. (213) 386-3116.

Rabbi David Wolpe, an author and a faculty member of the University of Judaism, will be scholar-in-residence at Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge Friday and Saturday, April 16-17. He will deliver three addresses: at 8 p.m. Friday services, 9 a.m. Saturday services and at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Friday evening’s dinner is available by reservation. The address is 17655 Devonshire St. For complete information, call (818) 360-1881.

Miracle City Apostolic Church presents a free spring concert featuring the award-winning Los Angeles Mass Choir and other local choirs at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 24. Donations accepted. 2333 N. Lake Ave., Altadena. (818) 398-5427.

Immanuel Presbyterian Church is holding meetings to explore the possibility of establishing an elementary school in its mid-Wilshire neighborhood. The next meeting will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18. The church is located at 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. For information, call Jackie Herst at (213) 732-8517.

CONFERENCES

The Alliance of Atheists, Humanists and Ethical Culturalists holds its annual West Coast gathering the weekend of April 16-18 at the Highland Springs Resort in Cherry Valley. Speakers include author and veteran talk-show guest Dan Barker; attorney James Grafton Randall, whose lawsuit forced the Boy Scouts of America to include agnostic and atheist children; scholars Gerald LaRue and Rod Gorney, and Humanist editor Don Page. For reservation information, phone (310) 271-9989.

Send notices to: Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif . 90053. Fax: (213) 237-4712. Items should be brief and arrive at least three weeks prior to the event announced. The date, time and address of events and a phone number for inquiries must be included.