Mormons to Hold Holiday Lights Ceremony

Continuing a tradition that has brightened the Westside for more than 10 years, the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will usher in the holiday season tonight with the lighting of more than 400,000 lights on the temple grounds.

“Christmas on Temple Hill” will feature the Southern California Mormon Choir singing traditional Christmas songs, ending with the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.”

For the first time, three quartets--Chinese, Korean and Latino--will join the choir in singing “Silent Night” in their own languages.

“The tall palm trees are especially spectacular with their trunks and branches wrapped in colored lights and the backdrop for the choir is a waterfall of lights,” said Jack Renouf, lighting committee chairman.

Television news anchors Chuck Henry from KNBC and Carlos Amezcua from KTLA will join in the one-hour outdoor program with a reading of the biblical story of Christmas. A life-size Nativity scene will be on display.

Concerts will be held each evening through Jan. 6. Visitors can tour the grounds before and after the program and for the duration of the holiday season. For program information call (310) 474-1549.

ADVENT

Many Southland congregations will mark the Advent season, which begins Sunday, with special services:

* The Schola Cantorum (Mixed Adult Choir) will celebrate with an evensong prayer at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 10750 Ohio Ave., Westwood, on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The choir is under the direction of Frank Brownstead. Christopher Walker will be cantor. Call (310) 474-1527.

* All Saints Episcopal Church, 504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, will celebrate the season with an Advent procession with carols featuring the All Saints Choir singing the music of Ledger, Gardiner, Handel and others in a candlelight ceremony Sunday at 5 p.m. Thomas Foster conducts with Craig Phillips as organist. Call (310) 275-2910.

* Christians of all faiths are invited to join in song and prayer in an ecumenical Advent service at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, 215 Foothill Blvd., La Canada-Flintridge, on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The service will include a procession of clergy, choirs and acolytes from nine participating denominations. A combined choir of all the churches will perform. The event is sponsored by the Ecumenical Ministerial Assn. of La Canada-Flintridge. Call (818) 952-1969.

* The Center for Spiritual Development, 434 S. Batavia St., Orange, will host an evening of Advent spirituality Saturday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The program will include song and performances by the Rosary High School Choir, Rev. Steve Beckham and Rev. Robert Bethancourt. Call (714) 744-3175, Ext. 4400.

EVENTS

Insights from the Anglican Observer to the United Nations and grade-schoolers performing Shakespeare will be among the highlights of the Episcopal Diocesan Convention’s 103rd annual meeting Friday and Saturday in Riverside.

The Rt. Rev. James Ottley, Anglican Observer to the United Nations since 1994, will deliver the convention Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Riverside Convention Center’s main hall, 3443 Orange Ave.

On Friday, about 20 fourth- through sixth-graders from Hobart Elementary School in Los Angeles will present scenes from Shakespeare. The students plan to feed the homeless in their school’s urban neighborhood with the honorarium they receive from the diocese. Call (213) 482-2040, Ext. 240.

MUSIC

Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley will present its annual Christmas concert with special guest host Lorna Luft on Saturday at 7 p.m. “Christmas in Song ‘98” will feature soloists, small ensembles and a full choir performing a wide array of music. The program will be presented at the Hall of Liberty, Forest Lawn, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Burbank. Tickets are required for the event, a $10 donation is suggested. Call (818) 762-1133.

* The Chorale Bel Canto and choirs from the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, as well as an 80-voice children’s choir, will present a yuletide program by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams on Saturday at 3 p.m. The concert will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 900 W. La Habra Blvd., La Habra. Admission is $15. Call (562) 907-4203.

* Westchester Lutheran Church, 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westchester, will offer its 29th annual presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. led by conductor Marshall Ramirez. A donation of $10, $5 senior citizens/children is suggested. Call (310) 670-5422.

* “The Sounds of Christmas,” a concert presented by a 60-voice choir and orchestra under the direction of William J. Heide, will be presented at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 185 S. Center St., Orange on Saturday at 7 p.m., and Dec. 6 at 4 and 7 p.m. An offering will be taken. Call (714) 288-4400.

WORKSHOPS

* Sister Joan Treacy will lead a “Grief and the Holidays” workshop to plan how to cope with the holidays and the loss of someone important at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center, 5300 Crest Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, on Saturday from 9:30 to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $30. Call (310) 377-4867, Ext. 223.

LECTURES

* Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblum will discuss “To Change a World: How Ordinary People Made Extraordinary Contributions to Torah Society,” on Monday at 8:30 p.m. His appearance is hosted by the Yeshiva of Los Angeles and its Community Beit Midrash at 9760 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Call (310) 772-2487.

* Belle Daily will discuss “Minimizing Holiday Stress” at the Center of Divine Expression on Sunday. There will be a silent meditation period beginning at 10 a.m., with the program following at 10:30. The group will meet at the Besant Lodge, 2560 N. Beachwood Drive, Hollywood. The center assists people in connecting with an individual and unique expression of spiritual being. Call (323) 938-7686 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Notices may be mailed to Religion Editor, Southern California File, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, 90053 or faxed to (213) 237-4712 or by e-mail to religion@latimes.com. Items should arrive at least three weeks in advance of event and should include pertinent details about the organization, address, phone number, date and time.