Array of Special Christmas Services Scheduled
Today, Christmas Day, marks the birth of Jesus, one of the two holiest days on the Christian calendar. In his Christmas message for 1999, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the archbishop of Los Angeles, cites the Bible in reminding his followers that “as we celebrate our last Christmas of this century and millennium, and begin the third Christian millennium, St. Luke’s Gospel account foreshadows the amazement, wonder and notoriety that will be part of every day of Jesus’ life and ministry.” He says that “throughout the life and ministry of Jesus, every person who came in contact with 1/8him 3/8 was deeply affected . . .”--believers and nonbelievers alike.
Mahony urges his flock to “live out 1/8the 3/8 good news of salvation with joy, gratitude and . . . astonishment that God has so loved us that he sent his only son to redeem us.”
Mahony will celebrate Mass this morning with prisoners at the men’s County Jail.
At 10:30 a.m. he will celebrate Mass at Incarnation Church, 1001 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. (818) 242-2579.
On New Year’s Eve he will lead a Mass at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, also known as La Placita, 535 N. Main St., at 1:30 p.m. (213) 629-3101.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Many churches in the area will hold special Christmas services this weekend.
* St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal-Anglican Church, 7501 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, will have a Eucharist service at 10:30 a.m. today. (323) 876-2102.
* First United Methodist Church, 1008 11th St., Santa Monica, will host a special service Sunday at 10:30 a.m. that will include a sermon by the Rev. James Thomann on “The Gift of Christmas.” Children are invited to bring a toy for a special “blessing of the toys.” (310) 393-8258.
* The visitors center at the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10777 Santa Monica Blvd., will be open today from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. The thousands of holiday lights that decorate the temple grounds will be on display until Jan. 8, 2000. (310) 474-1549.
* Holy Nativity Parish, 6700 W. 83rd St., Westchester, the Episcopal Church serving Westchester, Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey, will celebrate a family Christmas Mass designed with children in mind today at 10:30 a.m. A pageant will be produced on the spot with all the children who show up at the service. The youngest child will play the baby Jesus. The Very Rev. Clifford Gain will preside. (310) 670-4777.
LECTURES
Yeshiva of Los Angeles, in conjunction with the Orthodox Union West Coast Convention, will present two special lectures today. Michael Jay Broyde, law professor at Emory University and an ordained rabbi, will speak at 10:15 a.m. on “Modern Technology and Shabbat Observance: Principles and Applications.” At 3:15 p.m. Rabbi Steven Weil, spiritual leader of Young Israel of Oak Park, Mich., will discuss “Joseph, Pharaoh and Freud: A Talmudic Analysis of Dreams.” Both lectures will be presented at Beit Midrash, 9760 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 772-2485.
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