African Children’s Choir to Perform

The Grammy-nominated African Children’s Choir will perform their “A Taste of Africa” concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at Main Place Christian Fellowship. The choir is made up of orphans and disadvantaged children from East Africa. The concert is free and will take place at 13841 Red Hill Ave., Tustin. (714) 505-1734.

Temple Aviv Judea Messianic Congregation, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, will have a worship service at 5:30 p.m. this evening. An Oneg celebration with entertainment will follow. The congregation is at 815 S. Esplanade Ave., Orange. (714) 581-0716.

A World Day of Prayer service will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at Lutheran Church of the Cross. This year’s motto is “informed prayer and prayerful action.” There will be coffee and fellowship before the service. The church will remain open until 4 p.m. to allow for additional prayers. The church is at 24231 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. (714) 837-4673.

An ecumenical Lenten service of the combined churches of Sts. Simon and Jude Roman Catholic, Resurrection Lutheran, First United Methodist and St. Wilfrid’s Episcopal will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Resurrection Lutheran Church. The service will begin with a light supper. Additional services at the other congregations will occur during the following four weeks. The church is at 9812 Hamilton Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 962-5005.

A “Welcome Back” discussion series for nonpracticing Catholics will be offered at 7 p.m. Monday evenings at St. Polycarp Catholic Church in the education complex. Participants can discuss questions, angers or hurts that may have distanced them from the church community. The church is at 8100 Chapman Ave., Stanton. (714) 897-6306.

A Lenten Retreat will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Discussion topics will include “What Good is God?,” “Why Prayers Don’t Work,” “Ten Treasures Our Hearts Value More Than God” and “Ten Kinds of People We Do Not Have to Love.” The church is at 5101 Alton Parkway, Irvine. (714) 857-7936.

The South Orange County--Mission Viejo Christian Women’s Club will have its “Sweet Stuff” monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday at the Holiday Inn, Laguna Hills. Guest speaker Diana James will offer the message “Bread for Life.” Cost is $13 and reservations must be made by Thursday. The Holiday Inn is at 25205 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills. (714) 363-1032.

The Main Street Players will present “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 8 p.m. Friday at McFarland Hall. Additional performances will take place at 8 p.m. March 7, 13 and 14 and at 2 p.m. March 8 and 15. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $5 for children 12 and under. McFarland Hall is at 600 N. Main St., Santa Ana. (714) 547-1872.

The Russian Christian musical group Ecclesiastes will present their “Chords of Love” concert at 1 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Church of Santa Ana. Admission is free. The church is at 1010 N. Tustin Ave, Tustin. (714) 973-4800.

The Newport Mesa Zen Center will offer introduction to Zen meditation from 1 to 4 p.m. next Saturday. There will be lectures, discussion, film, meditation and more. Cost is $30 and reservations are suggested. Additional introductory classes are offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Cost is $30. The center is at 711 W. 17th St., Suite A-8, Costa Mesa. (714) 722-7818.

A service celebrating the 11th annual World Day of Prayer will take place at 1 p.m. Friday at San Clemente Presbyterian Church. The service, which has a theme of “Who Is My Neighbor,” was written by Christian women from Madagascar. A luncheon will be offered at 12:30 p.m. for $3. The church is at 119 Avenida de la Estrella. (714) 366-0643.

Stan Brin, editor of Orange County Jewish Heritage will speak on “Ethics and the Media” at 7 p.m. Sunday at Congregation B’nai Tzedek. The lecture is part of the Jewish Ethics Lecture Series. Cost is $6, or free for students. Child care provided with registration. The congregation is at 9669 Talbert Ave., Fountain Valley. (714) 963-4611.

The Rev. Mauric Ogden will speak on “Selfishness, Solipsism and Sanctimony” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Church of Orange County. Child care provided. The church is at 511 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. (714) 758-1050.

The Crystal Cathedral will have “Great Physician” services welcoming children’s oncologist Benjamin Carson from John Hopkins Medical Institution at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday. Music will be provided by the Cathedral Choir and the Russian musical group Ecclesiastes. The church is at 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. (714) 971-4000.

Rigoberta Menchu, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, will speak during the 10:30 a.m. service at the Unitarian Universalist Church of South County. A “How Unitarians Read the Bible” early-bird service will take place at 9:30 a.m. The church is at 25801 Obrero Drive, Suite 8, Mission Viejo. (714) 581-0245.

The Rev. Gary Demarest will begin a Lenten series with the message “A Sure Foundation” at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Trinity United Presbyterian Church. The series will be based on the Sermon on the Mount.

A “Learning Styles: Making the Most of Learning for Yourself and Your Children” course taught by Dee Engel, minister to children’s education, will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. this and next Tuesday. Cost is $3. The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

The Junior High School children of Calvary Christian School will perform the musical “Clowns” at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children under 10. Proceeds will go toward the student trip to Washington. The school is at 1010 N. Tustin Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 973-2056.

The Rev. Leslie Heyboer will speak on “So What Are We Doing Here, Anyway?” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. The sermon will officially welcome new members. Child care and youth religious education will be offered. The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (714) 646-4652.

Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot will have its annual Purim carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Sunday. Games, arts and crafts and food will be featured. A reading of the Megillah, the scroll of Esther, will precede the carnival at 10 a.m. The congregation is at 3652 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (714) 857-2226.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church will sponsor Alpha courses from 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays through May 3. Video presentations and discussion will explore the meaning of life. Supper will take place at 6 p.m. A freewill offering will be taken. The church is at 1145 W. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton. (714) 879-8070.

Associate minister Lois Ryan will lead a “Keep a True Lent” series at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings through March 4 at Unity Church of Tustin. Suggested donation is $5. The church is at 14402 Prospect Ave., Tustin. (714) 730-3444.

The Hebrew Academy announces the deadline for early registration for its Silver Gan Israel Day Camp will be on May 5. Among the activities offered will be swimming, arts, crafts, sports, drama, singing and more. The camp, for children 2 to 12, will take place this summer beginning on June 29. The academy is at 14401 Willow Lane, Westminster. (714) 898-0051.