Public Invited to Join Interfaith Dialogue on Racism in County

The public is invited to join clergy from various faiths Wednesday in a discussion of racism in Orange County.

At a luncheon meeting at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council will present a discussion led by the Rev. Dennis Short of Harbor Christian Church and the Rev. Karen Stoyanoff of Orange Coast Universalist Unitarian Church. The church is at 2100 Mar Vista Drive in Newport Beach.

Lunch, available for $7.50, begins at noon. The program will run from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Reservations are required: (949) 660-8665, Ext. 5.

Jewish Center Fair Set for Sunday

The Jewish Community Center of Orange County’s annual community fair will be held Sunday in Costa Mesa.

Timed to mark Israel’s Independence Day, the event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the center on the Jewish Federation campus at the intersection of Baker Street and Red Hill Avenue.

Music, food, dancing and games will be offered at the fair, which began in the 1970s and drew 8,000 participants last year. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for seniors and children 12 and under. Information: (714) 755-0340.

Events

* Erin Gruwell of Long Beach, a Wilson High School teacher who inspired her students to write the book “The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Changed the World Around Them,” will lead services at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Rancho Capistrano Community Church. The church is at 29251 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. (949) 347-4000.

* Marriage and family counselor Jeenie Gordon will give the talk “Ready, Set, Go: Risk!” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The event is part of the weekly “Relationship Seminar.” Cost is $5. The church is at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. (949) 631-2880.

* Margaret Duttera, Christ Lutheran Church pastor, will give the message “Scripture in the Light of Christ” during a worship on the beach at 8 a.m. Sunday on North Beach (at the foot of Avenida Pico). An additional service will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the church. A Christian education hour occurs from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. The church is at 35522 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. (949) 496-2621.

* The Jewish Community Center of Orange County will display the exhibit “Anti-Semitism Past and Present” through Friday. The exhibit is in conjunction with Yom HaShaoh, Holocaust Memorial Day. The center is at 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. (714) 755-0340.

* The Music Department and Friends of Music at the United Methodist Church of Garden Grove will present the annual “Celebration Concert” at 4 p.m. Sunday. The program will feature the children’s and youth choirs, with hand bells and the praise choir Proclamation. Cost is $5. The church is at 12741 Main St., Garden Grove. (714) 534-1070.

* A mother-daughter tea, “A Mother’s Legacy,” will take place at 1 p.m. May 13 at Liberty Baptist Church. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for girls age 12 and under. The church is at 1000 Bison Ave., Newport Beach. (949) 760-5444. https://www.libertybaptistchurch.org.

* Kenneth Samples, FACTS for Faith magazine editor-in-chief, will lead the series “Critical Questions for the New Millennium” from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at Lake Hills Community Church. The church is at 23331 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills. (714) 837-7729.

* The Rev. Tari Lennon will lead the series “Resurrection Stories, Past and Present” at 10 a.m. Sunday at Neighborhood Congregational Church. This week’s message will be “Jerry West and the Los Angeles Lakers.” The church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-8061.

* St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fullerton will host a dedication service for its new Rogers organ at 3 p.m. Sunday. Organist Duane Steadman will play works by Bruhn, Bach, Mendelssohn, Whitlock and Leighton. A reception will follow. The church is at 1231 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 870-4350.

* The Santa Ana/Tustin Christian Women’s Club will host its monthly luncheon “Bouquets in May” from 11:45 to 1:45 a.m. Friday at the Tustin Ranch Golf Clubhouse. Cost is $15. Reservations are required. The clubhouse is at 12442 Tustin Ranch Road, Tustin. (714) 731-0432.

* Red Hill Lutheran Church will present the May sermon series “Powered by God” at 9 a.m. Sundays. This week’s topic will be “Steps to Greater Confidence.” The church is at 13200 Red Hill Ave., Tustin. (714) 544-3131.

* Trinity United Presbyterian Church will celebrate “Education Sunday” during the 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services. A 10 a.m. reception will honor educators. The Rev. Alan Landes will preach on “An Opened Mind.” The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

* The Pacific Community of Secular Humanistic Jews will commemorate the Holocaust and the establishment of the state of Israel during a dramatic presentation at 7:30 p.m. this evening at the Unitarian Church of Orange County. Cost is $5. The church is at 511 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. (714) 758-1050.

* Melodyland Christian Center will present Jennifer Knapp in concert at 7 p.m. this evening. Knapp will be accompanied by Third Day. Tickets are $19.50. The center is at 400 W. Freedman Way, Anaheim. (714) 572-6643.

* Pastors John McKeague and Jack Pascoe will begin a study of the Phillip Yancey book “The Jesus I Never Knew” at 9 a.m. Sunday at Presbyterian Church of the Master. The study will continue through July 23. The church is at 26051 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. (949) 582-2670.

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Religious event notices may be sent to Gena Pasillas at the Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa 92626. They also may be faxed to (714) 966-7711 or sent by e-mail to gena.pasillas@latimes.com