Writer Will Speak at Anaheim Service

Howard Lyman will discuss his book “The Mad Cowboy” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Church of Orange County. Sunday school and child care will be available. The church is at 511 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. (714) 758-1050.

Jules Levin, professor of Slavic Linguistics, will discuss “Judaism in Eastern Europe After the War” at 8 p.m. Friday at Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach. There will be a potluck dinner and candlelight ceremony celebrating Hanukkah at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $4. The temple is at 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. (949) 548-6900.

The Rev. Suzanne B. Dougherty will speak on “Gluttony, the Fifth Deadly Sin” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Unitarian Universalist Church of South County. Teresa Page will discuss “Escaping From Cuba” during the 9:30 a.m. early-bird service.

There will be a “Greening of the Halls” celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. today. The church is at 25801 Obrero Drive, Suite 8, Mission Viejo. (949) 581-0245.

The Rev. Fred Plumer will continue the “Horizons of Our Lives” Advent series with the message “Preparing a Space” at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Irvine United Church of Christ. The church is at 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine. (949) 733-0220.

Dick Nelson will speak on “Onomatology 101” from 7 to 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Men’s Fellowship Breakfast of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Breakfast is $2.50. The church is at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. (714) 631-2880.

The Rev. Tari Lennon will continue her “Dreams and Dreamers” series with the message “Surrounded by Lions--Dream Fast” at 10 a.m. Sunday at Neighborhood Congregational Church. Soprano Candace Mabee of the Arizona Opera will perform. The church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach. (714) 494-8061.

Kevin Ford will give the message “One Moment, Please . . .” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. Child care and youth religious education will be offered. The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (949) 646-4652.

Anna Brownell, Chapman University professor, will discuss “What Cloning Is All About” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach. Religious education will be offered. The center is at 429 Cypress Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 497-4568.

Special Services

The Rev. Marguerita Ortiz-Swetman and the Rev. Emily Bell will lead a bilingual service celebrating the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe at 10 a.m. Sunday at St. Clement’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church. There will be a mariachi band and procession followed by a fiesta in the parish hall. The church is at 202 Avenida Aragon, San Clemente. (949) 492-3401.

St. Alban’s Church will celebrate the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. There will be music and readings from the Church of England. The church is at 300 E. Imperial Highway, Brea. (714) 671-4975.

Performances

A Christmas Festival of Music will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday at Geneva Presbyterian Church of Laguna Hills. The Rev. Ed. Ewart will continue his “It’s a Wonderful Life” series with the message “Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ ” at 9:30 and 11 a.m. On Dec. 20 at 5 p.m., there will be a “Christmas in Egypt” children’s musical drama. The church is at 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. (949) 837-2323.

The Laguna Beach United Methodist Church Sunday school children will present their pageant “The Best Place to Celebrate Christmas” at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Child care will be available. A bake sale will follow. The church is at 21632 S. Wesley Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 499-3088.

A Praise Symphony Orchestra Christmas concert will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Community Church. Child care will be provided. The church is at 1465 W. Orangethorpe Ave., Fullerton. (714) 879-6672.

The Cerritos Valley Baptist Church Adult Choir will present the “Celebrate the Season” Christmas program at 6 p.m. Sunday. Nursery care will be available. The church is at 8201 Moody St., La Palma. (714) 952-8422.

St. John’s Episcopal Church and School will present the sixth annual holiday concert at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. Child care will be provided. The church is at 30382 Via con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita. (949) 858-5144.

Seekers Chapel will present the musical drama “The Christmas Post” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 20. Tickets are free. The church is at 1521 E. Orangethorpe Ave., Suite D, Fullerton. (714) 526-2855.

Singer-pianist Andrew Culverwell will be in concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Church of Santa Ana. There will be a Hanukkah n service at 6 p.m. Friday, with music, games and latkes. Cost is $3 and reservations are required for child care. The church is at 1010 N. Tustin Ave, Tustin. (714) 973-4800.

The Chancel Choir, orchestra and soloists of the First Presbyterian Church of Westminster will present Vivaldi’s “Gloria” at 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. The church is at 7702 Westminster Blvd. (714) 893-1393.

The Senior High and College Chapel Choirs with orchestra will perform selections from Handel’s “Messiah” at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Trinity United Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Gary Demarest will continue his “Who Is This Jesus?” Advent sermon series. The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

The Michael Whitney Family Singers will present their annual Christmas concert at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Golden Circle Church. A freewill offering will be taken. The church is at 600 Golden Circle Drive, Santa Ana. (714) 541-3365.

The Chancel Choir of Palisades United Methodist Church will present “A Light Still Shines” at 8:45 and 10 a.m. Sunday. The recently published music highlights the true meaning of Christmas. The church is at 27002 Camino de Estrella, Capistrano Beach. (949) 496-5502.

A “Christmas, This Time--It’s Different” musical drama will take place at 7 p.m. today and 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Chinese Baptist Church of Orange County. Admission is free. The church is at 412 E. Broadway, Anaheim. (714) 533-6681.

The Adult Choir of East Anaheim Christian Church will present a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Sunday. The church will offer a Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. The church is at 2216 E. South St., Anaheim. (714) 535-6276.

The Paul McNeff Singers will present “A Merry Music Wish” at 7 p.m. today at Santa Ana High School auditorium. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 5 or $30 for a benefit ticket ($20 of which is tax deductible). The high school is at 520 W. Walnut, Santa Ana. (714) 525-7464.

The choir and orchestra of South Shores Church and the Saddleback Dance Company will present “Christmas at the Shores 1998” at 6 p.m. today and 5 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. The church is at 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Monarch Beach. (949) 496-9331.

Organist Marvel Jesen will perform an “Olde English Concert of Carols” at 7 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Santa Ana. Admission is free. The church is at 1010 W. 17th St., Santa Ana. (714) 547-2557.

Presbyterian Church of the Master will present its annual Family Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday. A freewill offering will be taken. The church is at 26051 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. (949) 582-2670.

The music department of the United Methodist Church of Garden Grove will have its annual Christmas dinner and concert at 6:30 p.m. today. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. The church is at 12741 Main St., Garden Grove. (714) 534-1070.

The 45-member Covenant Church Choir, worship narrator and orchestra will present the musical “I Have Seen the Light” at 10 a.m. Sunday Covenant Presbyterian Church. The church is at 1855 Orange-Olive Road, Orange. (714) 998-6650.

Fund-raisers and Bazaars

The St. Vincent de Paul Friends Outside program will host its 14th annual “Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday at the Double Tree Hotel. More than 600 children with incarcerated family members will receive gifts from Santa through the Toys for Tots program. The hotel is at 100 the City Drive South, Orange. (714) 228-5600.

Miscellaneous

Rabbi Wendy Spears will speak on “Hanukkah: The Real Story Behind the Miracle of Oil” during the final semester class at 11 a.m. Sunday at Temple Bat Yahm University. Cost for members is $7 per person and $12 per couple and $9 and $16 for nonmembers. Cost for students with identification is $3. The temple is at 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach. (949) 644-1999.

A beginner’s course in Israeli dancing will be offered from 7 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday at the Jewish Community Center of Orange County. An intermediate/advanced course will be at 8:15 p.m. followed by open dancing. Cost is $4 for members and $6 for others. The center is at 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. (714) 755-0340.

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, but faxes can be sent to (714) 966-7711. 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.