CLERGY TRANSITIONS: On July 1, a longtime...

CLERGY TRANSITIONS: On July 1, a longtime Catholic pastor in Glendale will retire and a United Methodist minister in Northridge will take a new post as a district administrator.

Msgr. Arthur J. Lirette, 70, pastor of the 4,000-family Holy Family Church in Glendale since 1974 and dean of 12 parishes in the San Fernando Pastoral Region of the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese, will begin retirement while remaining a resident at the church.

The Rev. David Richardson, 52, senior pastor since 1987 of the 725-member First United Methodist Church of Northridge, which completed a $2.5-million building project in 1993, has been appointed the denomination’s Santa Ana district superintendent.

Successors to Lirette and Richardson have not been announced.

HOLY WEEK: Protestant and Catholic churches will observe the week leading up to Easter with a variety of services and musical programs. Easter will be observed by Eastern Christian churches this year on April 23, one week later.

A sampling of pre-Easter programs in the San Fernando Valley follows:

Maundy Thursday--Actors Bruce Nechels and Ralph Ahn will perform a dramatic dialogue, “Two Faces in the Shadows,” in a service at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood, 4832 Tujunga Ave. . . . The First Congregational Church of Glendale will present a living tableau of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. A communion service will follow at the church at 2001 Canada Blvd.

Good Friday--St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, 20121 Devonshire St., Chatsworth, will be open from noon to 3 p.m. for silent prayer and meditation. . . . Theodore Dubois’ “The Seven Last Words” will be presented at Trinity Lutheran Church, 18425 Kittridge St., Reseda, at 7:30 p.m. Friday. . . . The Passion Play drama by Dubois also will be featured in the Glendale City Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Service of Darkness 7 p.m. Friday at 610 E. California Ave. . . . John Rutter’s “Requiem” will be performed during an 8 p.m. service Friday at First Christian Church of North Hollywood, 4390 Colfax Ave.

Holy Saturday--A free community Easter egg hunt will be staged by First Presbyterian Church of North Hollywood on its grounds at 5000 Colfax Ave. at 10 a.m. . . . St. Cyril’s Choir will perform during an Easter vigil starting at 7:30 p.m. at St. Cyril Catholic Church, 4601 Firmament Ave., Encino.

PASSOVER SEDERS: A Passover festival featuring aspects of the Jewish holiday ritual meal and its traditions will be held Sunday noon to 3 p.m. at the West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills, costing $2 per family of three and $1 for each additional person.

Many Jewish families will have Seders in their homes on Friday, the first night of Passover.

But among the second-night Seders on April 15 are those at the Verdugo Hills Hebrew Center, 10275 Tujunga Canyon Blvd., at 6 p.m. (Adults, $25. Call (818) 352-3171); Burbank Temple Emanu El, 1302 N. Glenoaks Blvd., 6 p.m. (Adults, $30. Call (818) 845-1734), and Temple Beth Torah, 16651 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills, 6:30 p.m. (Adults, $15. Call (818) 831-0835).

HATE CRIMES: A forum on hate crimes in the San Fernando Valley will be presented by the West Valley Division of the Los Angeles Police Department at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Woodland Hills United Methodist Church, 5650 Shoup Ave.

LOAVES & FISHES: Feeling the pinch from diminished corporate giving and possible deep cuts in government support, the Van Nuys-based Loaves & Fishes service center for homeless and low-income families is launching a three-week appeal for donations. The agency, linked to Catholic Charities, may be reached for information or contributions by calling (818) 997-0943.

News and announcements for this column may be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. News releases may also be sent by fax to (818) 772-3501.