Orange County Offers Abundant Christmas Services

The Crystal Cathedral will offer seven services on Christmas Eve, beginning at 3 p.m. and following every 90 minutes through midnight. Services will include performances by the church choirs and orchestra, carol singing by the congregation, and a Christmas message from the Rev. Dr. Robert H. Schuller. The church is at Chapman and Lewis streets in Garden Grove. (949) 971-4000.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of South County will hold its annual candlelight Christmas Eve service--with carols, readings, poetry and music--at 7 p.m. On Sunday, the Rev. Suzanne Dougherty will lead intergenerational midwinter holiday service at 10:30 a.m. There will be a children’s Christmas pageant, Hanukkah menorah and Pagan Solstice presentation. Helen Mills Lindsay will discuss “The Danger of the Santa Claus Myth” at the 9:30 a.m. early-bird meeting. The church is at 25801 Obrero Drive, Suite 8, Mission Viejo. (949) 581-0245.

Placentia United Methodist Church will hold a candlelight family service at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve with a candlelight Communion service at 11 p.m. The church is at 2050 N. Valencia Ave, Placentia. (714) 528-1483.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach will hold a “Candlelight Carols” celebration at 6:30 Christmas Eve, preceded by a potluck supper at 5:30 p.m. The center is at 429 Cypress Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 497-4568.

There will be a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 10:45 p.m. at Neighborhood Congregational Church. The church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach. (714) 494-8061.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church will offer a family Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. Traditional candlelight services, with Holy Communion, the Senior Choir and the Bells of Bethlehem, will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. The church is at 3352 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos. (562) 430-3444.

The Rev. John A. Huffman will lead Christmas Eve services at 5, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The Sanctuary Choir and Brass Quintet will provide music. The children’s choirs will perform during the 5 and 7 p.m. services. The church is at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. (714) 631-2880.

Christmas Eve services will take place throughout the day at St. James Episcopal Church. There will be a children’s service and Holy Eucharist at 4 p.m., a Christmas concert at 7 p.m., a worship service, Holy Eucharist Rite II and concert at 7:30 p.m., another Christmas concert with brass at 10:15 p.m. and a worship service, Festival Eucharist Rite II with choir and brass at 11 p.m. On Christmas Day, there will be a worship service and Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10 a.m. The church is at 3209 Via Lido, Newport Beach. (949) 675-0210.

A special service for Christmas Eve is planned by the Seal Beach Church of Religious Science at 7 p.m. Children of the church will tell the story of Christ’s birth and the service will end with a candlelight ceremony and refreshments. The church is at 500 Marina Drive in Seal Beach. (949) 598-3325.

Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton plans Christmas Eve services at 4, 5:30, 7 and 11 p.m. The church is at 2505 Yorba Linda Blvd. in Fullerton. (714) 449-8787.

A family worship service at 5 p.m. and traditional service at 10 p.m. will be offered at Tustin Presbyterian Church on Christmas Eve. The church is at 225 West Main St. in Tustin. (714) 544-7070.

Christmas Eve services will take place at 6:30, 9 and 11 p.m. at University United Methodist Church. The family service at 6:30 p.m. will feature carols, readings and a Kingdom’s Kids performance. The Service of Joy at 9 p.m. will offer the college and young adult choir in concert and a message by the Rev. Douglas Williams. The candlelight Communion service at 11 p.m. will have music and readings. The church is at 18422 Culver Drive, Irvine. (949) 786-8354.

Golden Circle Church will offer its annual Christmas candlelight service at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. A freewill offering will be taken. The church is at 600 Golden Circle Drive, Santa Ana. (714) 541-3365.

Christmas Eve services will be offered at 7 and 11 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa. A Christmas concert featuring the choirs of the church and Woodbridge High School will take place at 4 p.m. today. A Festival of Worship with a sermon on “Jesus, Prince of Egypt” will be offered at 10 a.m. Sunday. The church is at 420 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. (949) 548-7727.

Children’s carols and a Eucharist will highlight the 5 p.m. Christmas Eve service at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Additional Eucharist services will take place at 9 and 11 a.m. Christmas Eve and 10 a.m. Christmas Day. The church is at 1145 W. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton. (714) 879-8070.

The children and youth choirs of Calvary Church of Santa Ana will perform a Christmas concert at 6 p.m. Sunday. A Christmas Eve service will take place at 5 p.m. The church is at 1010 N. Tustin Ave, Tustin. (714) 973-4800.

A candlelight Christmas Eve service with readings, carols, the Chancel Choir and meditation will be offered at 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Westminster. The church is at 7702 Westminster Blvd. (714) 893-1393.

Christmas Eve services will take place at 1:30, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. at Mariners South Coast Church. Seating and parking are limited. The church is at 5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-7030.

The United Methodist Church of Garden Grove will offer a family Christmas Eve service, with carols, scriptures and stories, at 7 p.m. A candlelight and Communion service will take place at 11 p.m. There will be a Longest Night Service offering scripture, music and prayer at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The church is at 12741 Main St. (714) 534-1070.

The choir of Corona del Mar Community Church, Congregational, accompanied by a string quintet and soloists, will present a Christmas concert during the 8 and 10 a.m. services. The choir also will perform during candlelight Christmas Eve services at 7 and 11 p.m. The church is at 611 Heliotrope Ave., Corona del Mar. (949) 644-7400.

King of Glory Lutheran Church will have a Music Sunday with services at 7:30, 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Christmas Eve candlelight services will take place at 5, 7 and 11 p.m. On Christmas Day there will be a 10 a.m. Communion service. The church is at 10280 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley. (714) 963-5649.

A family Communion service will take place at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve at Faith Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach. There will be a candlelight Communion service at 11 p.m. A Christmas Day Communion service will be at 10 a.m. The church is at 8200 Ellis Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 962-5571.

Special Services

The Rev. Karen Stoyanoff will lead a holiday service 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.

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

Performances

A dedication concert featuring award-winning pianist Michael Hanley will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church. A reception will follow.

A “Wonders of His Love” Christmas Cantata will take place during the 10 a.m. Sunday worship service at Covenant Community Church. The church is at 221 N. Waverly St., Orange. (714) 997-2811.

The Chancel and Chapel Choirs of Trinity United Presbyterian Church will offer their annual Festival of Christmas Music at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. A freewill offering will be taken. Care for children to age 5 will be provided. The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

The Fullerton First United Methodist Church will present a live Christmas tableau in front of the church at 7 and 8 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. There also will be live solos. The church is at 114 N. Pomona Ave. (714) 871-4115.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will present a Christmas concert broadcast from the Salt Lake City Tabernacle at 5 p.m. today at the Stake Center. A Christmas musical program will be presented at 7 p.m. Sunday at the church. The church is at 5402 Heil Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 841-7137. The Stake Center is at 8702 Atlanta Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 775-0387.

The Hanukkah Choir of Temple Aviv Judea Messianic Congregation will present “The Miracle of the Potato Latkes” at 8 p.m. this evening after the 5:30 p.m. service. A potluck dinner and gift exchange will follow the performance. The congregation is at 815 S. Esplanade Ave., Orange. (949) 581-0716.

The Laguna Presbyterian Church will present the best of Handel’s “Messiah” from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. A Christmas sing-along featuring an orchestral ensemble and soloists will take place before the concert. Suggested donation is $2. The church is at 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. (949) 494-7555.