Crimson River Quartet to Perform

The Southern Gospel group Crimson River Quartet will be in concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Santa Ana First Nazarene Church. A freewill offering will be taken. The church is at 1500 E. 17th St. (714) 835-8271.

Member Gloria Lenhoff will be guest cantor during the 8 p.m. Friday Shabbat service at Congregation B’nai Israel. Lenhoff, who has Williams syndrome, is said to be a musical savant who cannot read music but can sing in 25 languages. The congregation is at 2111 Bryan Ave., Tustin. (714) 730-9693.

The Rev. Chris Schriner will speak on “The Power of a Promise: Rethinking the Direction of our Movement” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach. Unitarian Universalists have begun a five-year process in which they will collectively redefine the basis of their association. A religious education program for children ages 5 to 12 will take place during the service. The center is at 429 Cypress Drive. (714) 497-4568.

Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach will celebrate Hanukkah with an all-dairy potluck dinner and Latka cookout at 5 p.m. today. Rabbi David Rosenberg will lead a Menorah lighting ceremony. A donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children is requested. The temple is at 2401 Irvine Ave. (714) 548-6900.

The Center for Spiritual Development will present a “New Year’s Eve Sacred Time” event from 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday. Dinner and Jan. 1 Liturgy will be included. The cost is $40. The center is a nonprofit retreat center owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The center is at 434 S. Batavia St., Orange. (714) 744-3175.

Associate Pastor James Wilson will give the message “The Lord Looking Over My Shoulder” during the 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. services at Placentia Presbyterian Church. Sunday school classes will take place at 10:15 a.m. The church is at 849 N. Bradford Ave. (714) 528-1438.

St. Irenaeus Church will offer “Coming Home” inquiry nights from 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 22, except Feb. 15. Roman Catholics who feel alienated or nonactive are encouraged to attend. The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave., Cypress. (714) 826-0760.

The Rev. Leslie Heyboer will give the message “Harvest of First Fruits” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. Heyboer will discuss the African American holiday Kwanzaa. Lunch will follow. The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (714) 646-4652.

The Rev. Margaret Mohit will conclude her “Expressing the Light” series with the message “The Light Emerging” during the 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday services at Unity Community Church. Sunday school classes and child care will be offered. The church is at 22911 Mill Creek Road, Laguna Hills. (714) 472-9230.

A Hanukkah party and menorah lighting ceremony will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Jewish Community Center of Orange County. Music will be provided by the Golden State Klezmer Band. Guests are encouraged to bring a menorah. The cost is $12 for members, $16 for others and $4 for children younger than 10. Reservations are required. The center is at 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. (714) 755-0370.

Within the next few weeks, Mariners South Coast Church will unify its two campuses and expand its Irvine campus onto neighboring property owned by Liberty Baptist Church. The two churches have agreed to a no-cash trade of Mariners’ Newport Beach church for Liberty’s Irvine church. The church is at 300 Fischer Ave., Costa Mesa. (714) 854-7030, Ext. 319.

The Rev. Roger Emry will lead the worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday at Neighborhood Congregational Church. Child care will be available, and refreshments will follow. The church is at 340 St. Ann Drive, Laguna Beach. (714) 494-8061.

The Confirmation Class of 1997 of Temple IJC will dedicate a gift of an Eternal Light (Neyr Tameed) during the Friday evening service. Students earned funds through a baked-goods sale. The Eternal Light, which according to teachings was first lit when the tabernacle was built during the Exodus from Egypt, is placed near the Holy Ark to symbolize the light of Torah. The temple is at 30 Hughes, Suite 200, Irvine. (714) 660-1180.

Seal Beach Church of Religious Science will have a Peace Meditation at 4 a.m. Wednesday. The event will coincide with noon Greenwich Mean Time, when people all over the world will simultaneously participate. The church is at 500 Marina Drive, Seal Beach. (310) 598-3325.

The United Methodist Church of Garden Grove will have a New Year’s Eve worship event celebrating God’s promises beginning with a potluck at 10 p.m. in Acker Hall. Worship will take place at 10 p.m., after which participants will meet at the church bell to ring in the new year. The church is at 12741 Main St. (714) 534-1070.

The Rev. Robert Pietsch will give the message “This Hope Does Not Disappoint” at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Trinity United Presbyterian Church. Adult classes, children’s programs and nursery care will be offered. The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

St. Timothy Church will offer worship services at 9:30 a.m. Sundays beginning Jan. 4 at Oak Grove Elementary School auditorium. Additional Masses may be added as the year progresses. Oak Grove Elementary is at 22705 Sanborn, Aliso Viejo. (714) 249-4091.

Pastor Tino Ballesteros will lead worship services at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the Crystal Cathedral. Special musical guests will be Jason Daniel, Victoria Burnett and the Baroque Trio. Child care will be available. The church is at 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. (714) 971-4000.

Rabbi Arnold Rachlis and Cantor Ruti Braier will lead “Judaism in the 21st Century: A Discussion” during the 8 p.m. Friday service at the University Synagogue. Taking part in the discussion will be Jerry Binder, a member who has written on the topic. The synagogue is at 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine. (714) 654-2720.

The Rev. Garrett Yamada will speak on “The Calm After the Storm” during the 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services at Geneva Presbyterian Church. Children’s Sunday school will take place after the “Training for Young Disciples Moment” during both services. The church is at 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. (714) 837-2323.

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