Actors Have Stories to Tell for Counseling Center Benefit
Oscar-nominated actress Angela Bassett and her husband, actor Courtney Vance, headline the second annual benefit performance of “Have I Got a Story to Tell” to support the West Angeles Counseling Center. As an extension of the West Angeles Church of God, led by Bishop Charles E. Blake, the counseling center serves thousands of families in Los Angeles with stress management classes, programs on surviving abuse, bereavement support groups, premarital counseling and parenting classes.
The performance “Have I Got a Story to Tell” draws on emotions of love and loss shared by clients at the counseling center, presented in song and speech. Other actors expected to perform include Akosua Busia, Kim Fields, CCH Pounder, Meshach Taylor, Wren T. Brown and Pauletta Washington. Singer Nancy Wilson and opera diva Rosalyn Smith-Clark are also scheduled to appear.
“Have I Got a Story to Tell” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the West Angeles Church sanctuary, 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets range from $20 to $100 and are on sale at the West Angeles Counseling Center, (323) 737-7463. A VIP reception after the performance is included with all $100 tickets. All proceeds will benefit the counseling center.
EVENTS
The Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold a forum Sunday on “The Role of Alcohol in Crime.” Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti and state Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) are scheduled to speak. The event will be held at 5 p.m. at the Crescenta/Canada Family YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge. For information, call the Muslim Public Affairs Council at (213) 383-3443.
* Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Corona invites the public to a three-day spiritual event called “Mountain Top Explosion 2000” at the Cathedral of Praise in Riverside. The pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Lafayette S. White Jr., will preside over the program, which will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The guest speaker is Pastor William V. Green of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Barberton, Ohio. Cathedral of Praise is at 2591 Rubidoux Blvd., Riverside. For details, call the Mt. Olive Baptist Church office at (909) 898-1402.
* Mount St. Mary’s College is presenting a religious studies lecture series on two topics in contemporary theology. From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. today, Father Jerome Murphy-O’Connor will lecture on “Paul: Promoter of Women’s Ministry.” Murphy-O’Connor, an author and professor of the New Testament at the Ecole Biblique of Jerusalem, will explore Paul’s writings regarding women. From
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. next Saturday, Sulpician priest Philip S. Keane will speak on “Managed Care: Can It Survive, Morally and Politically?” Keane is a professor of moral theology at St. Mary’s University in Baltimore.
Both lectures will take place at the Donohue Center on the Doheny Campus at 10 Chester Place in downtown Los Angeles. Admission is $5. For reservations, call (213) 477-2640.
* Valley Beth Israel is honoring Rabbi Morris L. Rubinstein, who is retiring after 28 years of service at the Conservative synagogue. On Friday, a special Shabbat service will be held at 8 p.m. On June 25, there will be a gala farewell party at the Ventura Club. For more information on either event, call the synagogue at (818) 782-2281. Valley Beth Israel is at 13060 Roscoe Blvd. in Sun Valley.
* Neale Donald Walsch and Marianne Williamson, best-selling authors on spirituality, will speak Friday at 8 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd. They will be joined by John Hagelin, presidential candidate of the Natural Law Party. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. (800) 373-9664, Ext. 475, or on the Internet, https://www.spiritualityandpolitics.org.
* The role of religious institutions in fostering violence toward women will be discussed at 2:30 p.m. June 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5450 Atherton Ave., Long Beach. The panel discussion, sponsored by Feas2t feminist spirituality center, will feature Renee DeLong Chomiak of Su Casa Family Crisis and Support Center of Lakewood. (888) 394-7942.
MUSIC
More than three dozen gospel performances are expected today at Faith Central Bible Church’s Faith Gospel Showcase 2000. KJLH-FM (102.3) radio personalities Andrae Russell and Dolores Thompson will host the event, which will feature performances by Fred Davis’ Living Hope, Terron Brooks, the Tim Peterson Singers and West Angeles Christian Academy’s Hands of Praise. Faith Gospel Showcase takes place in the tabernacle parking lot of Faithful Central Bible Church, 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood.
* Christian recording artist Randy Stonehill will perform at a Father’s Day concert Sunday at Living Way Foursquare Church, 43260 Challenger Way, Lancaster. The concert begins at 6 p.m. and admission is $5.
* Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in Hollywood will celebrate music director Christoph Bull’s 10-year anniversary tonight with a spring concert. The performance will feature the Blessed Sacrament Choir and the Vatican’s Most Dangerous Band, performing a retrospective of music from Bach, Gregorian chants, selections from the Broadway musical “Godspell” and a performance of Bull’s “Mass in 3.” Blessed Sacrament Church is at 6657 Sunset Blvd. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $5.
Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-2358, or e-mailed to religion@latimes.com. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and must include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date, time and cost, if any. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication.