Passover and Holy Week Observances Begin

Holy Week at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos will feature an original drama, a prayer labyrinth and a musical celebration Easter morning.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the church’s worship arts group will present a drama depicting the last week of Jesus’ life on Earth through the eyes of the apostles John and Peter and the three Marys. The drama will conclude in a “living” depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, “The Last Supper.” Communion will be served.

On Good Friday, members of the community are invited into the sanctuary for a quiet prayer and meditation from noon to 3 p.m. to mark the crucifixion of Jesus. Beginning at 1 p.m. in the gym, a prayer labyrinth will be set up as a spiritual tool to help people focus their thoughts as they walk the path.

On Easter Sunday, there will be three services, beginning with a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. on the patio. At the 8:30 a.m. service the Chancel Choir will perform. That service will end with the singing of the “Hallelujah” chorus. A contemporary praise service is planned at 11 a.m.

The church is at 11600 Los Alamitos Blvd. (562) 493-2553.

Celebrate Holy Week with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services at Mount of Olives Lutheran Church in Mission Viejo. Services will be at 7:30 both nights. A Family Easter Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 14. The free event includes an Easter egg hunt, Easter stories, games and refreshments. Children as old as 5 may participate. The church will offer five Easter Celebration services: 5:30 p.m. April 14 and 8, 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Easter Sunday. Sunday services will feature the Chancel Choir and the Praise Team. The church is at 24772 Chrisanta Drive. (949) 837-7467. https://www.mountofoliveschurch.com.

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Marking the beginning of Holy Week, the Rev. Tod D. Brown, Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Orange, will bless palms and celebrate Mass at 9:15 a.m. at Palm Sunday services at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange. On Monday, Brown, Auxiliary Bishop Jaime Soto, retired Bishop Norman F. McFarland and about 200 Orange County priests will celebrate the chrism Mass at 6 p.m. The priests will use sacred oils to renew their promises to the Catholic Church. An evening Mass will take place on Holy Thursday. Then on Good Friday, there will be a Stations of the Cross observance, followed by the celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 1 p.m. Easter Eve services will occur at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. April 14. Easter Sunday services will be at 8 and 9:30 a.m. The cathedral is at 566 S. Glassell St. (714) 639-2900.

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At 6 a.m. Easter, an ecumenical choir from several Fullerton churches will welcome Easter worshipers to the Downtown Plaza on Wilshire Avenue just east of Harbor Boulevard. The service is open to the public with seating for the first 200 and standing room for many more. The worship will include an Easter dramatization, a bell choir and familiar Easter hymns. The participating churches are First Baptist, First Christian, First Lutheran, First United Methodist and First Presbyterian. (714) 525-4721 or (714) 871-4115.

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The Fullerton Interfaith Ministerial Assn. will sponsor an ecumenical Good Friday service at noon Friday at the First Church of Religious Science. The theme “What Is the Good Friday Message for Me?” will be explored by speakers representing the diversity of congregations in Fullerton. The public is welcome. The church is at 117 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton. (714) 525-1126.

Passover

Congregation B’nai Tzedek of Fountain Valley will conduct a Seder Sunday for the second night of Passover at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Costa Mesa, The traditional menu includes matzo ball soup, gefilte fish and roasted chicken. Cost is $45 for adults and $28 for children ages 3 to 12. The Seder is open to the community. At 8:15 p.m. Friday, the synagogue will conduct a special Shabbat service to coincide with the seventh day of Passover. The service will include Pesach prayers and Yizkor service to remember loved ones who have died. The temple is at 9669 Talbert Ave. The hotel is at 3050 Bristol St. (714) 963-4611.

First Seder night services, featuring Cantor Shlomo Leib Abramowitz, will initiate the eight-day festival of Passover at 7 tonight at Chabad of Irvine. Abramowitz, a cantor at the Chabad International Synagogue in New York, will perform during all Passover services. A community Seder will be offered at 8 p.m. Sunday. A Yizkor memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. April 15. Several other services will take place throughout the Passover celebration. Chabad of Irvine is at 4980 Barranca Parkway. (949) 786-5000.

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Religious event notices of countywide interest may be sent to Gena Pasillas at The Times’ Orange County edition, 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