From Congress to House of Worship

Reps. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) will be the special guest speakers at the Jewish Federation of Orange County’s annual meeting at 7 p.m. Monday. The 1997-98 officers and directors of the federation will be elected and installed. A dessert reception will follow. The federation is at 250 E. Baker St., Suite A, Costa Mesa. (714) 755-5555.

St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church will offer a “Studies in Orthodoxy” course at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The course will focus on the history, beliefs and tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The church is at 4949 Alton Parkway, Irvine. (714) 733-2366.

Mayflower Preschool of the Community Congregational United Church of Christ of Los Alamitos will begin its school year with a “Blessing of the Bears” at 10 a.m. Sunday. Children can bring their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal to be blessed by the Rev. Jack Shepard during the first 10 minutes of the worship service. The church is at 4111 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos. (714) 527-2343.

Anchorhold-at-Connelly Christian Meditation Center will have weekly meetings for contemplative meditation from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 17. Each meeting will include a brief teaching from “The Practice of the Presence of God,” by Brother Lawrence. The center is at the Cornelia Connelly School, 2323 W. Broadway, Anaheim. (714) 491-1390.

The Learning Light Foundation will have a psychic fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The fair will feature lectures on clairvoyance, Tarot, palmistry, numerology and more. Admission is $2. Learning Light is at 1212 E. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim. (714) 533-2311.

The Orange County Catholic Worker community will celebrate its 10th anniversary today, beginning with music at 2 p.m. A celebration of the Eucharist will take place at 7 p.m. The Catholic Worker is at 316 Cypress St., Santa Ana.

First Presbyterian Church of Westminster will celebrate its 125th anniversary this weekend beginning with a choir concert at 3 p.m. today. The Rev. George Munzing, former pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana, will be the keynote speaker during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday worship service. The church is at 7702 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. (714) 893-1393.

The Crimson River Quartet will be in concert during the 10:40 a.m. Sunday worship service at Fountain Valley Baptist Church. The church is at 10460 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley. (714) 963-9708.

A “Creating--An Introduction” workshop based at the book “Creating” by Robert Fritz, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Christ Church Unity. Cost is $50. The church is at 1648 W. Broadway, Anaheim. (714) 774-7660.

Pastor Scott Ganas will give the message “A Confession, a Prediction and a Call to Follow” during the 10 a.m. worship service at West Coast Church. The church is at 25991 Pala, Mission Viejo. (714) 458-0764.

Mission Viejo Women’s Aglow will celebrate its 30th anniversary during a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn, Laguna Hills. Cost is $15 and reservations are required by Sunday. The Holiday Inn is at 25205 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills. (714) 472-0708.

Temple Bat Yahm will have a Celebration for Singles from 7 to 11 p.m. Sunday. Music will be provided by a disc jockey and there will be karaoke. Cost is $15. The temple is at 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach. (714) 644-1999.

Congregation B’nai Tzedek, a reform synagogue, will have an open house for prospective members at 10 a.m. Sunday in the social hall. The congregation is at 9669 Talbert Ave., Fountain Valley. (714) 963-4611.

The Rev. Jon Dobrer will speak on “When Bad Things Happen” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Fullerton. Religious education will be offered. The church meets at Temple Beth Tikvah, 1600 N. Acacia Ave., Fullerton. (714) 871-7150.

St. Irenaeus Church’s Elizabeth Ministry will have a fund-raiser to help baby Kyle Erwin, who has been in intensive care with heart problems since June 10, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Carl’s Jr. restaurant at Cerritos Avenue and Valley View Street in Cypress. Proceeds will help pay for Kyle’s medical expenses. The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave., Cypress. (714) 826-0760.

Bob Shank’s Straight Talk will meet from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. at El Torito Grill. Shank is affiliated with Priority Living in Newport Beach. El Torito is at 1910 Main St., Irvine. (714) 955-3453.

Pacific Coast Community Church will host a tent crusade of praise and worship this weekend and the weekend of Sept. 26-28. Contemporary music and Bible teachings will take place nightly at 7 p.m. The church is at 17581 Newland St., Huntington Beach. (714) 847-5070.

The Rev. Leslie Heyboer will give the message “Spend It All” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. The sermon will focus on the congregation’s vision and members’ role in reaching their goals. Child care and religious education will be offered. The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (714) 646-4652.

Pastor Glenn will speak on “Choosing Our Valuables” at 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday at Placentia United Methodist Church. Sunday school will take place at 9 a.m. The church will sponsor a community yard sale from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. next Saturday in the church parking lot. The church is at 2050 Valencia Ave., Placentia. (714) 528-1483.

Presbyterian Church of the Master will host a 12-week series of classes for families of persons diagnosed with serious mental illness from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays. There is no cost for this “Journey of Hope” series. The church is at 26051 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. (714) 544-8488 or (714) 837-1046.

Stained glass artist Lynda Nosonov will explain the “Jerusalem Windows” project during the 8 p.m. Shabbat service at Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot. Prospective members are invited to a coffee talk at 7 p.m. The congregation is at 3652 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (714) 857-2226.

Congregation B’nai Israel will host an open house for prospective members from 5 to 7 p.m Wednesday. Representatives from each of the congregation’s programs will be present to answer questions. Refreshments will be served. Also, the synagogue’s Hebrew school classes will start Sunday. The congregation is at 2111 Bryan Ave., Tustin. (714) 730-9693.

The Rev. Ed Ewart will lead “The Three Prodigals” series with his sermon “All Sickness is Homesickness” at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Geneva Presbyterian Church of Laguna Hills. Child care will be provided. The church is at 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. (714) 837-2323.

Orange County Religion Notes is published on Saturdays. Send the item at least two weeks before the event to Orange County Religion Notes, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Telephone calls cannot be accepted. Because of space limitations, The Times cannot guarantee that all notices will be published. Items must include subject, telephone number, event date, time and exact address.