Barak to Speak at Temple Bat Yahm in Newport

Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel, will be the guest speaker for the Norman Schiff Scholar Lecture on Jan. 29 at Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach. Barak served as the top elected official in Israel from 1999 to February of this year. He led far-reaching efforts to negotiate peace agreements, first with Syria and later with the Palestinian Authority, with the active participation of President Bill Clinton and his administration.

Prior to politics, Barak served for 36 years in the Israeli Defense Forces as the most decorated soldier in its history. He also served as Israel’s minister of the interior, minister of foreign affairs and defense minister.

The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a special patron dinner reception at Temple Bat Yahm. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a dessert reception at a private home. Patron tickets are $300. General seating for the lecture is $36. The temple is at 1011 Camelback St. (949) 644-1999.

Christmas Season Events

* The St. Irenaeus Music Ministry will present its annual “Noel Night” concert at 7:30 tonight at St. Irenaeus Church in Cypress. The St. Irenaeus Adult and Children’s Choirs and the Contemporary Ensemble will perform. An audience sing-along of carols will round out the evening. The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave. in Cypress. (714) 995-2498.

* Mount of Olives Church in Mission Viejo will host its seventh annual drive-thru nativity display from 6 to 10 tonight. The Christmas story will be performed by actors in period settings with live animals. Narration of each scene is available by car radio. Those preferring a closer view can walk through. Admission is free. The church is at 24772 Chrisanta Drive. (949) 837-7467.

* Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana will present its annual Festival of Christmas Music at 7:30 tonight. Performers will include the Chancel and Chapel Choirs, the Chapel Bell Choirs and organist Frances Johnston. Additional performances will be at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Rev. Alan Landes will speak on “The Right Thing . . .” at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The services will feature the Chancel Choir and a piano duo. A candle-lighting service will be at 5 p.m. The church is at 13922 N. Prospect Ave. (714) 544-7850. www.trinityunitedpres.org.

* Christmas at the Shores, a concert featuring the 60-voice South Shores Sanctuary Choir, the Handbell Ensemble, a two-piano concerto and a full orchestra, will take place at 5 and 7 tonight and 5 p.m. Sunday at South Shores Church in Monarch Beach. Gale Storm Masterson will narrate. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children to age 10. The church is at 32712 Crown Valley Parkway. (949) 496-9331.

* Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Santa Ana will present its Christmas service “Come With Us to Bethlehem” at 7 p.m. Sunday. The church is at 902 S. Broadway. (714) 542-0784.

* A Blue Christmas service will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church of Garden Grove. The holiday season is a painful reminder of isolation, a loss or a broken relationship for some individuals. This service is modeled after “The Longest Night Service” in which people are encouraged to celebrate the gospel in the midst of personal suffering. The church is at 12741 Main St. (714) 534-1070.

* The St. Clement’s Chancel Choir, accompanied by soloists and an instrumental ensemble, will present Handel’s Messiah at 8 p.m. Friday at St. Clement’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in San Clemente. A wine and cheese reception precedes at 7:30 p.m. The church is at 202 Avenida Aragon. (949) 492-3401.

Music

* The Hallel Choir of Temple Aviv Judea Messianic Synagogue will present a reader’s theater production of “Let There Be Lights” after tonight’s 7:30 service. The program will include material written by Jane Yolen, plus traditional Hanukkah songs. The synagogue is at 815 S. Esplande Ave., Orange. (714) 957-0716.

Special Events

* The National Council of Negro Women of Orange County will host its sixth annual Kwanzaa celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the downtown Anaheim community center. Guests will experience an introduction to Kwanzaa, storytelling and an interactive family Kwanzaa ceremony. There will be African dancers, a Karamu feast and Zawadi. The group will also celebrate its 12th year of service. Cost is $5. African attire is encouraged. The center is at 250 Center St. (714) 636-1828.

* Muzammil Siddiqi, director of the Islamic Society of Orange County, will present “Islam, Western Pluralism and the 21st Century” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Irvine. The event will include a discussion on outreach activities between different faith communities. Brad Hawkins, the church’s catechist and professor of religion at Cal State Long Beach, will moderate. The church is at 5101 Alton Parkway. (949) 857-7936.

* The Alliance for Spiritual Community will host its monthly meeting “What Gives You Hope” from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church. There will also be a discussion of the annual Interfaith Peace Day observance from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 1. The church is at 26000 Muirlands, Mission Viejo. (949) 661-3087.

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Religious event notices of countywide interest may be sent to Gena Guisar 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.guisar@latimes.com