Passover, Easter Services This Weekend

PASSOVER SEDER

A six-course Sephardic Seder dinner--featuring such delicacies as aromatic roast pheasant soup, smoked pepper salad with tomatoes, garlic and artichoke hearts and stuffed matzo turnovers with roasted eggplant and spinach--will will be held at Cava restaurant in the Beverly Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles at 6 p.m. Sunday to benefit Sova Kosher Food Pantry, an anti-hunger program of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles. Chef Toribio Prado will prepare the food in consultation with Karen Berk and Jean Brady of the Seasonal Table Cooking School. Tickets are $50 and may be confirmed with a major credit card by noon Sunday. 8384 W. Third Street. For information, phone (213) 658-8898.

SUNRISE SERVICES

* The Easter sunrise service traditionally held at the Hollywood Bowl will take place instead at the Woman’s Club of Hollywood because of construction under way at the Bowl. The service will be held from 5:45 to 7 a.m. Doors open at 5 a.m. Taking part will be the Rev. Harry Durkee, pastor emeritus of the Hollywood Lutheran Church; actress Marsha Hunt, reading “The Master is Coming”; the Rev. Peggy Owen Clark, Hollywood-Beverly Christian Church; Bob Ralston; the Rev. Gary E. Tibbs, First Southern Baptist Church of Hollywood; the Granada Hills Chorale; the Rev. Jeanne Beharray, First African Methodist Episcopal Church; the Rev. Ignacio Castuera, First United Methodist Church of Hollywood; the Pacific Bells; singers Jennifer Brooks and Janko Benus; pianists Cal Bezemer and Galina Barskaya and 9-year-old violinist Michelle Marifosque. 1749 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood. (213) 938-8410.

* Ecumenical Easter sunrise services will be held outdoors at 6 a.m at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes. Bishop Joseph Sartoris, auxiliary bishop to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, will speak. The St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Ensemble will provide special music. 27501 S. Western Ave. (310) 595-0268.

* Malibu Presbyterian Church will hold an outdoor service overlooking the Pacific Ocean at 6:30 a.m. The Rev. David Worth will speak on “The Splendor of Easter.” A continental breakfast will follow. Warm clothing is recommended. 3324 Malibu Canyon Rd. (310) 456-1611.

* Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Mission Viejo will hold its service at 6 a.m., with the Rev. George Hooper speaking. 26001 Muirlands Blvd. (714) 837-2941.

* The 31st annual Morro Bay Easter sunrise service will be held in the parking area adjacent to Morro Rock at 6:30 a.m. The service is sponsored by the Morro Coast Ministerial Association and the Kiwanis Club of Morro Bay-Cayucos. (805) 772-9754.

* St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown Orange will hold a 6 a.m. service at 185 S. Center St. Child care will be provided. (714) 288-4400.

* Burton Chase Park in Marina del Rey will be the site of a 6 a.m. service. The Rev. Steve Preston of the Westchester Assembly of God will speak. Choirs and soloists will perform. The service is sponsored by the Marina del Rey Evangelical Ministerial Association. (310) 398-9710.

* United Methodist Church of Garden Grove and the First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove will hold joint services at 6 a.m. in the Amphitheatre in the Village Green, 12762 Main St. Following the service, the Methodist Men will serve breakfast across the street in the church fellowship hall. (714) 534-1070.

About 7,500 people are expected to attend 6 a.m. services at five Forest Lawn Memorial Park locations in Southern California:

* At 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale, the Rev. Jose Ricardo Hernandez, pastor of Los Angeles’ Barrington Avenue Hispanic Baptist Church, will conduct Spanish-language services in the Hall of the Crucifixion-Resurrection. A dramatic narrative will accompany the presentation of Jan Styka’s large-scale painting “The Crucifixion.” Music will be provided by the 75-voice United Choir and String Ensemble of the Hispanic Baptist Churches of the American Southwest, sponsors of the service.

* At 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, adjoining Griffith Park in the Hollywood Hills near Burbank, the Rev. Lawrence Witherspoon, director of campus ministries at Azusa Pacific University, will lead services in the forecourt of the Birth of Liberty mosaic. Music will be provided by the 80-voice sanctuary choir and orchestra of the Calvary Bible Church of Burbank. Sponsored by the Burbank Ministerial Association.

* At the Via Verde exit of the San Bernardino Freeway in Covina Hills, the Rev. Wayne Kraiss, president of Southern California College in Costa Mesa, will conduct services in the forecourt of the Life of Christ mosaic. The Academy of Fine Arts, under the direction of E. Martene Craig, will perform. Sponsors are the Covina Ministerial Association, the West Covina Ministerial Association and the Covina Chamber of Commerce.

* At 4471 Lincoln Ave., Cypress, the Rev. David Augsburger, professor of pastoral care and counseling at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, will conduct a service in the forecourt of the Towering Ascension mosaic. Soloist Scott Watanabe of the Crystal Cathedral’s “Hour of Power” and the Chancel Choir and Orchestra of New Life Community Church in Artesia will perform. The service will be televised on the Orange County cable television channel OCN. It is being sponsored by Greater Buena Park and North Orange County area churches.

* At 1500 E. San Antonio Ave., Long Beach, the Rev. Jesse Miranda, associate dean of urban and multicultural affairs at Azusa Pacific University, will conduct services in the forecourt of the Paradise mosaic. Music will be provided by the Vanguard Chorale and Orchestra of Southern California College. Sponsors are the Southern Area Clergy Council, the South Coast Ecumenical Council and the Signal Hill-Long Beach Ecumenical Center.

For information on any of the Forest Lawn services, phone (213) 254-3131.

EASTER VIGILS

* Good Shepherd American Catholic Church in Lakewood will hold its Easter Vigil Mass at 7 p.m. today. The Rev. Brian P. Delvaux is the rector. 5420 Clark Ave. (310) 920-2212.

* St. James Episcopal Church in Newport Beach will hold its Great Vigil of Easter, Holy Eucharist Rite II, at 7:30 p.m. today. 3209 Via Lido. (714) 675-0210.

* St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach will hold worship at 5:30 p.m. today, featuring Christian recording artist John Brown. 600 St. Andrews Road. (714) 631-2880.

EASTER SUNDAY

* Cornerstone Bible Church of Glendora will host a community Easter celebration service at 9:30 a.m. at Azusa Pacific University, at the corner of Citrus and Alosta in Azusa. About 1,000 are expected to attend the event, which will feature the church’s Worship Band and Worship Choir under the direction of Bob Stebbing. The Rev. Donald Shoff will deliver the sermon. A special children’s Easter program will be held simultaneously at the church, 400 N. Glendora Ave. (818) 914-2881.

* A French-language Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. at Saint Jean Marie Vianney’s Chapel in Los Angeles. Gregorian songs will be performed by the choir. The chapel is at 229 S. Detroit, one block west of La Brea, behind Daniel Murphy High School. (213) 251-3540.

* St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach will hold three services: at 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. The full Sanctuary Choir and orchestra, directed by Daniel Sharp, will lead in the musical celebration. The Rev. John A. Huffman Jr. will deliver the sermon, “He Is Risen.” 600 St. Andrews Road. (714) 631-2880.

* At First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, Easter Day worship will begin at 10 a.m. Special music will be performed by a choir and brass quartet. The Rev. Alan W. Deuel will deliver the sermon. Child care will be provided. 1220 Second St. (310) 451-1303.

* Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Mission Viejo will hold services at 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. led by the Rev. Julius E. Del Pino with music by the Chancel and Children’s choirs. 26001 Muirlands. (714) 837-2941.

* Good Shepherd American Catholic Church in Lakewood will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at 9 a.m. 5420 Clark Ave. (310) 920-2212.

* Malibu Presbyterian Church will hold Easter celebrations at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. The early service will feature the Worship Team with guitar and drums; the Chancel Choir and organ will provide music at the later service. The Rev. David Worth will deliver a sermon, “Is Seeing Always Believing?” at both services. 3324 Malibu Canyon Road. (310) 456-1611.

* St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown Orange will hold five services. At 7:45 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., the adult choir, trumpets, timpani and organ will provide special music. The church’s adult handbell choir will perform during an 11:30 a.m. family service, and the Worship Band will play at the 6:30 p.m. contemporary service. Communion will be offered at the 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. services. 185 S. Center St. Child care is provided. (714) 288-4400.

* St. James Episcopal Church in Newport Beach will hold three services: 7 a.m., Holy Eucharist Rite I, with orchestra; 9 a.m., Rite II, with orchestra, and 11 a.m., Rite II, with orchestra. Both nursery care and child care, for children 2 years old through second grade, is provided. 3209 Via Lido. (714) 675-0210.

* The United Methodist Church of Garden Grove will hold services at 9 and 10:30 a.m. at 12741 Main St. in Garden Grove. (714) 534-1070.

* The Rev. Nancy Wilson of Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles will discuss lesbian and gay people in the Bible during 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park in West Hollywood. At 10 a.m. the Rev. Jose Marcos Gonzalez will lead Spanish-language services. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. for a suggested $5 donation. The church ministers to the gay community. The park is off Santa Monica Boulevard between Fairfax and La Brea. (213) 460-2911.

Southern California File welcomes submissions by fax to (213) 237-4712 or by mail c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Items must be brief and arrive at least three weeks in advance of the event announced. Please include a phone number, date, time and full address.