Rabbi to Address Capital Punishment

Rabbi Mark S. Miller of Temple Bat Yahm will speak on “Capital Punishment and Jewish Law” during the meeting of the Orange County chapter of the International Assn. of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists’ lunch program from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the offices of Straddling, Yocca, Carlson and Rauth. Reservations are requested. The offices are at 660 Newport Center Drive, 16th floor, Newport Beach. (714) 668-6240.

Biblical scholar Richard Sneed will discuss “Life After Death: Judaism, Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls” at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Student Service Center Lounge (SSC 212) at Saddleback College. The school is at 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. (949) 582-4544.

Rabbi Asher Wade of Jerusalem’s Heritage House will speak on “E=MC2: Metaphysics, Creation and Relativity (Parallel Insights in Kabbalah and Cosmology)” at 7 p.m. Sunday at Beth Jacob Congregation of Irvine. Cost is $5 ($3 for students and seniors). The synagogue is at 3900 Michelson Drive. (949) 788-5230.

Author Carol Matzkin Orsborn will discuss her book “Return From Exile: One Woman’s Journey Back to Judaism” during a book brunch at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Jewish Community Center of Orange County. Cost is free for members and $9 for others. The center is at 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. (714) 755-0370.

Performances

The Newport Beach Higashi Honganji Temple will host a cultural festival featuring taiko drumming, martial arts, a tea ceremony, flower arranging and more from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. There will be food, vendor booths and a raffle with a Japanese vacation as grand prize. The temple is at 254 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (949) 722-1202.

The Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council will present the fourth annual “With Grateful Hearts” Thanksgiving Choir Festival at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Newport Harbor High School auditorium. The Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church Choir, Asian Children’s Choir and choirs from Buddhist SGI, the Episcopal Church of the Messiah and the Hispanic Santa Ana South Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will perform. The school is at 600 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. (949) 660-8665, Ext. 3.

South Shores Church will offer a viewing of Cecil B. DeMille’s “King of Kings” at 6 p.m. Sunday. Organist Christian Elliott will accompany the film. Cost is $10. The church is at 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Monarch Beach. (949) 496-9331.

Special services

The Rev. Fred Plummer will continue his “Eight Steps to God’s Realm” series with the message “Living in the State of Thankfulness” at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Irvine United Church of Christ. The church is at 4915 Alton Parkway. (949) 733-0220.

Fullerton First United Methodist Church will continue its 110th anniversary celebration by presenting a guest preacher, the Rev. Roy I. Sano, bishop of the Los Angeles area, during the 10 a.m. Sunday service. The church is at 114 N. Pomona Ave. (714) 871-4115.

Faith Lutheran Church will have a 35th Anniversary and Homecoming celebration during the 8:30 a.m. traditional service and 11 a.m. contemporary service Sunday. Sunday school will take place at 9:55 a.m. The church is at 8200 Ellis Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 962-5571.

Bazaars and Fund-raisers

St. Francis Guild will have its annual Christmas Boutique from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Items include homemade holiday decorations, needlework, pastries and candy. There will also be a raffle. St. Francis is at 1718 W. 6th St., Santa Ana. (714) 524-0381.

An Alternative Christmas Faire will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton. Participating organizations include Third World Hand Arts, Habitat for Humanity, the Heifer Project, AIDS friends services and Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Services. Shoppers can buy goods or make donations. The church is at 838 N. Euclid St. (714) 526-7701.

Temple Beth Shalom Sisterhood will celebrate the grand opening of the Mazelstuff Hanukkah store with a holiday boutique from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Vendors will sell personalized clothing and gifts, jewelry, toys, books and more. The temple is at 2625 N. Tustin Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 998-0780.

The women of Presbyterian Church of the Master will have their annual Christmas Brunch and Bazaar at 10 a.m. today. There will be a silent auction, Christmas craft sale, entertainment and more. Proceeds will benefit the Missions Ministry. Tickets are $10. The church is at 26051 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. (949) 582-2670.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Food will be available. The church is at 1221 Wass St., Tustin. (714) 544-3141.

Miscellaneous

The Kadima Group of Adat Ari Synagogue will host a children’s holiday workshop from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Reservations are requested. The synagogue is at 5100 E. La Palma Ave., Suites 204 and 205, Anaheim Hills. (714) 970-9304.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host the November meeting of the Interfaith Youth Dialogue of NCCJ at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Road Church. High school students of all faiths are encouraged to attend. The church is at 23 Lake Road, Irvine. (714) 668-9191.

Calvary Baptist Church will host the Rhema Interdenominational Summit Explosion Conference ’98 from 5:30 p.m. today through 9 p.m. Thursday. The Voices of Worship will begin the conference with a Miracle Musical. Speakers will include Bishop Larry Leonard and Robert L. Wilks Jr. The church is at 1524 W. 1st St., Santa Ana. (714) 543-8211.

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.