Season of Plenty: Holiday Celebrations

The holiday spirit will blossom in full this weekend with a variety of Orange County church programs, including a children’s Christmas music program, a celebration of the feast of St. Nicholas, an acoustic guitar concert, and a swami speaking about Jesus Christ. Some of the highlights:

Mount of Olives Lutheran Church presents “A Christmas to Remember” at 7:30 tonight and 7 p.m. Sunday. Concert performances will be given by church music groups. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for teens (children get in free). Tickets are available in the church office or at the door. Child care will be provided. Mount of Olives is at 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo. (949) 837-7467.

More than 150 musicians will present three performances during the 14th annual community Christmas concert at 7 tonight and 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday at San Clemente Presbyterian Church. Performers will include a 25-member orchestra of professional musicians, adult and children’s choirs and a hand-bell group. Child care will be available with reservations. The church is at 119 Avenida de la Estrella, San Juan Capistrano. (949) 492-6158.

St. Mark Presbyterian Church will host its annual “Hanging of the Greens” Christmas decoration party from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature a Christmas cookie contest, crafts and music. The church is at 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 644-1341.

Swami Ishtanada will lecture on “Jesus Christ, the Savior,” at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Ramakrishna Monastery. A Christmas program and potluck will follow. The monastery is at 19961 Live Oak Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon. (949) 858-0342.

Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church will celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, at 10 a.m. Sunday. The church will also hold a Christmas boutique at noon Sunday and Dec. 17. The church is at 995 N. West St., Anaheim. (714) 533-6292.

St. John’s Episcopal Church and School will present a Christmas concert featuring the St. John’s School Choirs, St. John’s Worship Choir and the Festival Singers at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children. At 6:30 p.m., the Middle School Choir will give a free concert. The church is at 30382 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita. (949) 858-5144.

St. Clement’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church will celebrate the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe at 10 a.m. Sunday. This bilingual event, led by the Revs. Diane Jardine Bruce and Packard Okle, will include a mariachi band processional followed by a fiesta. The church is at 202 Avenida Aragon, San Clemente. (949) 492-3401.

The steel-string quartet Acoustic Guitar Summit will give a concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at Trabuco Presbyterian Church. The group will perform a wide variety of music. Admission is one canned-food item, which will go to the Solano Food Bank in Rancho Santa Margarita. The church is at 31802 Las Amigas, Trabuco Canyon. (714) 589-5110.

The First Christian Church of Fullerton will begin its Winter Concert Series with a Christmas music concert at 4 p.m. Sunday. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by organist Mitchell Hanson, will perform. The church is at 109 E. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton. (714) 525-5525.

Bethel Baptist Church will present a Christmas Cantata at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Dec. 17. The Cantata, written by Randy Vader and Camp Kirkland, will be performed for the first time in Orange County. The church is at 901 S. Euclid St., Santa Ana. (714) 839-3600.

The Orange County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will sponsor a concert starring the South California Children’s Chorus at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish Center. A Gala Cookie Reception will follow. A freewill offering is requested. The center is at 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 644-0200.

St. John’s Lutheran Church will present the Sounds of Christmas at 4 and 7 p.m. today. The adult choir jubilate and orchestra will perform. A freewill offering is requested. The church is at 154 S. Shaffer St., Orange. (714) 288-4400.

Events

“What Unites Us as Jews?” will be the topic at the “Four Rabbis in Dialogue” program presented by the Temple Beth David Sisterhood at 7 p.m. Sunday. The four participating rabbis are Conservative Rabbi Mordecai Kieffer of Temple Beth Emet, Orthodox Rabbi Abba Perelmuter of the Shul by the Shore, Reconstructionist Rabbi Arnold Rachlis of University Synagogue, and Reform Rabbi Michael Mayersohn of Temple Beth David. A question-answer period will follow. A donation of $5 per person is requested. Temple Beth David is at 6100 Hefley St., Westminster. (714) 892-6623.