Drive to Revive Jewish Shabbat

Jews across America and Canada will aim to rekindle interest in Shabbat, the weekly day of rest, at events Friday evening. More than 750 synagogues and 70 campus Hillel groups will be opened to unaffiliated Jews, including an estimated 3,000 college students.

In Orange County, the Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot of Irvine will host a catered Shabbat dinner at 5:45 p.m. to mark the event, called “Shabbat Across America.”

The program, which will include Shabbat songs, stories and dance and a 7:30 p.m. service led by Rabbi Bernie King, will be held at 3652 Michelson Drive in Irvine.

Dinner reservations are required and can be made by calling (949) 857-2226. Cost is $15 for adults, $12 for ages 3-11.

Events

* The John Brown University Cathedral Choir will be in concert at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church of Orange. The concert is part of a spring break choir tour of Southern California. The church is at 191 N. Orange St., Orange. (714) 538-2341.

* Nutritional consultant Elaine Willis will lead the seminar “A Lifeplan for High-Level Wellness” from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Seal Beach Church of Religious Science. Tickets are $15. Willis will also lead a service on the subject at 10 a.m. The church is at 500 Marina Drive, Seal Beach. (562) 598-3325.

* Emmanuel Episcopal Church will continue its Lenten series “Practicing the Presence of God Beside Us” at 7 p.m. Sunday. This week’s message will be “Finding Love.” The church is at 1145 W. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton. (714) 879-8070.

* Resurrection Life Center International Mission 2000 Outreach will present Willie Hinn speaking at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Hinn will also speak April 6, 7 and 23. The Hyatt is at 1700 Jamboree Road, Irvine. (949) 975-1234.

* The Rev. Alan Landes will deliver the message “Moses: Foolishly Written in Concrete” at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Trinity United Presbyterian Church. Landes will explore whether the Ten Commandments are outdated. There will be a conference, “Spirituality and Mental Illness,” from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 1. Cost is $10. Later that day there will be a seminar, “Marriage: Going the Distance,” from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $10 per couple. The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

* Christ Lutheran Church will host a worship on the beach at 8 a.m. Sunday at the foot of Avenida Pico. The message will be “Spiritually Lost Generation.” An additional service will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the church. The church is at 35522 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. (949) 496-2621.

* The Rev. Tari Lennon will deliver the message “Before the Parade” at 10 a.m. Sunday at Neighborhood Congregational Church. The sermon is part of the Lenten and Easter series “Hello Dalai, Jesus Loves Me.” The church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-8061.

* The Evangelism Committee of St. Matthew’s Traditional Episcopal Church will host a Lenten dinner at 7 p.m. Friday. Two additional dinners will follow. The church is at 1723 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 646-1152.

* The Rev. Kass Kassouni will give the message “A Call to Freedom” at 5 p.m. this evening and at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Geneva Presbyterian Church of Laguna Hills. Holy Communion will be served. The church is at 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. (949) 837-2323.

* Rabbi Arnold Rachlis and Cantor Ruti Braier will conduct a “Havurah Shabbat” at 8 p.m. Friday at the University Synagogue. The service is part of a national effort called “Shabbat Across America.” The synagogue is at 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine. (949) 553-3535.

* The St. Irenaeus Church Adult Formation will sponsor the Midweek Special evening meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The topic will be “What Do We Model by Our Faith and Actions?” The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave., Cypress. (714) 821-5531.

* The Choir and Chamber Orchestra of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fullerton will present an evening of La Musique Sacree at 7 p.m. Sunday. A freewill offering will be taken. The church is at 1231 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 870-4350.

* An intergenerational service, “Coming of Age,” will be led by junior and senior high students at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. The youth, their mentors and their parents will speak about what it means to enter young adulthood as a Unitarian Universalist. The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (949) 646-4652.

* The Rev. Margaret Mohit will continue the series “Creating the Kingdom” with the message “Priceless Protection” at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Unity Community Church. The church is at 22911 Mill Creek Road, Laguna Hills. (949) 472-9230.

* “A Literary Look at the Genesis Stories of Creation” will be the topic of the Early Bird Discussion at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of South County. The discussion will focus on the two stories of creation. The church is at 25801 Obrero Drive, No. 7, Mission Viejo. (949) 581-0245.

* Joe Scerbo, a Franciscan friar associated with Trinity College, will lead a healing Mass and service at 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Angela Merici Church. Those suffering from emotional, physical or spiritual illness and those concerned for someone who is are encouraged to attend. The church is at 585 S. Walnut Ave., Brea. (714) 525-1774.