PUPPET PERFORMANCE: The Marionette Theatre of the...

PUPPET PERFORMANCE: The Marionette Theatre of the Word will present “Puppet Parables” using simple puppets and the music of Bach at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, 16221 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. (818) 788-4200.

RUSSIAN GOSPEL: Russia’s premiere folk and gospel ensemble, Good News, will conclude itsfirst California tour with two performances Sunday in the San Fernando Valley. The first concert is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. at Shepherd’s Evangelical Free Church, 5435 Wilhelmina Ave., West Hills. At 6 p.m., the group will be at Grace Community Church, 13248 Roscoe Blvd., Sun Valley. Admission is free. (800) 242-5350.

METHODIST GUEST: The Rev. Brandon Cho), the Chatsworth-based district superintendent for the United Methodist Church, will be the guest preacher Sunday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5619 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. The title of Cho’s 10:30 a.m. sermon is “What a Sight!” (818) 708-7068.

MORALITY TALK: First Amendment lawyer Stephen R. Rohde will speak on “Cyberspeech: Privacy, Censorship, Morality on the Internet” at a meeting of the Ethical Culture Society of Los Angeles at 11 a.m. Sunday at Book Grinders, 13321 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys. (310) 470-2873.

PASSOVER WORKSHOP: A workshop titled “New Choices for Your Passover Seder” will begin Tuesday at the West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills. The series will open with Rabbi Steven Jacobs of Kol Tikvah Temple of Woodland Hills offering ways to make the Seder relevant to today’s world in addition to Rebecca Somberg, choir director of Shomrei Torah Synagogue, teaching songs of the Seder. A Kosher wine tasting is planned for March 25 followed by a class on healthy Passover menus on March 26. All sessions run 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The entire series costs $18 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Purchased separately, the first and third classes are $5 for members and $7 for nonmembers each, with the wine tasting costing $12 for members and $18 for nonmembers. (818) 587-3300.

LUNCHEON TALK: Rabbi Leonard Lewy, coordinator of chaplaincy services for the Visiting Nurse Assn. of Los Angeles, will speak on “The Rabbi, Clinical Pastoral Education and Hospice” at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at Woodland Care Center, 7120 Corbin Ave., Reseda. The program, sponsored by Clergy Network, will include a complimentary lunch. Reservations are due Monday. (800) 707-2224.

HEAVEN AND HELL: A dramatization called “Heaven’s Gates & Hell’s Flames” will be presented March 22-24 at the Church on the Way, 14300 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. Performances will be at 7 p.m., with a Spanish-language version at 3 p.m. March 23 and 24. The performance is suitable for children 7 and older. Admission is free. (818) 779-8450.

CELTIC SPIRITUALITY: The historical aspects of Celtic art and its importance today will be discussed by Celtic-inspired artist Sam Smith of Van Nuys at 1:30 p.m. March 24 at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino. The cost is $12 per person. (818) 784-4515.