Gorbachev to Speak at Crystal Cathedral

Mikhail Gorbachev, atheist and former president of the Soviet Union, will be the guest speaker at the Crystal Cathedral on Sunday at the 9:30 a.m. service.

“I know that he calls himself an atheist, but 11 years ago, as one of the most powerful men in the world, God used this atheist in a mighty way,” said Rev. Robert H. Schuller in a written statement.

Gorbachev, the father of perestroika and democratic reforms, will be followed to the pulpit by country singer Naomi Judd.

Schuller recounted that on Christmas Eve 1989, Gorbachev allowed him to broadcast a sermon on Soviet-controlled Channel 1.

“I want to thank him for his part in that historic beginning,” said Schuller, whose “Hour of Power” show is now broadcast weekly in Russia.

He added that he hoped one day Gorbachev would be “a man of faith.”

Judd will be speaking at Crystal Cathedral’s 11 a.m. service.

The Crystal Cathedral is located at 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove. (714) 971-4069.

Education

Members of the community and Temple Beth David are invited to join together on Simchat Torah for “Yom Limmud: A Day of Jewish Learning” at 10 a.m. Oct. 21. The day will include a variety of adult and family friendly learning experiences. A panel on “Perspectives on Torah” will follow. Simultaneously, children will have the opportunity to discover “Torah On Stage” with Gina Lewald-Fass, the temple’s director of education for lifelong learning. The day will conclude with Havdalah at 4:45 p.m. Temple Beth David is at 6100 Hefley St., Westminster. (714) 892-6623.

A free five-week Hebrew Reading Crash Course will be offered at Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sundays. The course focuses on recognition of the vowels and consonants of the Hebrew alphabet. Preregistration required. Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot, a Reform synagogue, is at 3652 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (949) 857-2226, Ext. 201.

The Center for Spiritual Development will offer a seminar on Enneagram spirituality from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 21. Cost is $60. The center will also offer “Love, Gratitude and Awareness,” a married couples’ retreat, from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 21. Cost is $75 per couple. The center is at 434 S. Batavia St., Orange. (714) 744-3175.

Sermons

The Rev. Crystal Bujol will focus on family unity during a worship service from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday at First Woman’s Church. Bujol’s sermon will focus on healing and nourishing the body, mind and spirit through heightened awareness and appreciation of “the universal nature of the divine woman within.” The church meets at the Latest Thing, 270 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa (949) 645-6211.

Richard Arthur, retired inner-city teacher, principal and community organizer, will speak on “Helping Children Succeed Through Better Schools” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. Arthur is the author of the book “Gangs and Schools.” The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (949) 646-4652.

The Rev. Karen Stoyanoff will speak on “The Science of Happiness” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of South County. The church is at 25801 Obrero Drive, No. 7, Mission Viejo. (949) 581-0245.

The Rev. Kass Kassouni will give the message “Up a Tree With Zacheus,” based on the Gospel of Luke, at 5 this evening and at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Geneva Presbyterian Church of Laguna Hills. The church is at 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. (949) 837-2323.

Renee Kogelk, the Madrikha of the Jewish humanism movement, will speak on “The Big Trend of Contemporary Judaism” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach. The church is at 429 Cypress Dr., Laguna Beach. (949) 497-4568.

Events

Morningside Presbyterian Church will celebrate an early Christmas during its annual mission fair from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Local organizations, worldwide relief and self-development programs will benefit from this “Alternative Christmas Fair.” Alternative gifts of livestock (Heifer Project International), building materials (Habitat for Humanity), blankets (Church World Service) and other items for immediate relief or long-term development can be purchased for those less fortunate. Traditional gifts will also be available. The church will also accept donations to the 2000 Christmas Clearing Program in Fullerton and to the Hispanic outreach efforts of Getsemani Presbyterian Church in Anaheim. The church is at 1201 E. Dorothy Lane, Fullerton. (714) 871-7072.

The First Baptist Church of Santa Ana will host the Orange County chapter of the American Guild of Organists in concert at 4 p.m. Sunday. As part of this pipe organ concert, the group will be joined by the Santa Ana Baptist Chancel Choir, University United Methodist Chancel Choir, St. Kilian Chancel Choir and Fullerton Master Chorale. More than 2,000 performers will participate. The church is at 1010 W. 17th St., Santa Ana. (714) 547-2557.

Mesa Verde United Methodist Church will host author Alice Aspen March speaking on “Testing the Limits” at 7 p.m. Sunday. March will focus on ways parents of young children can confront violence and crude behavior in the media. Cost is $3. The church is at 1701 W. Baker St., Costa Mesa. (714) 979-8234.

St. Clement’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church will offer worshipers a chance to walk through a meditation labyrinth from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Labyrinths appeared in Christian churches since the 3rd century. The church is at 202 Avenida Aragon, San Clemente. (949) 492-3401.

The United Methodist Church of Garden Grove will celebrate the formal installation of the Rev. Kenneth Macklin at 10 a.m. Sunday. Special guests will include Father Joe Scerbo, dean of Trinity College of Graduate Studies, and Debra Gibson, of Jubilee Ministries. A reception will follow. The church is at 12741 Main St., Garden Grove. (714) 534-1070.

New church homes

Trabuco Presbyterian Church will break ground on its new church building at 4 p.m. Sunday. A dinner catered by Kentucky Fried Chicken and Polly’s Pies will follow. Cost is $5 per person or $20 for a family. The church is in its second year of a three-year campaign to build a 650-seat church, fellowship hall and meeting/education space. The church is at 31802 Las Amigas, Trabuco Canyon. (949) 589-5110.

Tod D. Brown, Roman Catholic bishop of Orange, will dedicate the new St. Callistus Church at 9 a.m. Sunday. The St. Callistus Parish was established on Oct. 14, 1961, the feast day of its patron saint. The church is at 12931 Lewis St., Garden Grove. (714) 282-3000.

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 e-mailed to gena.pasillas@latimes.com