Music, Candlelight, Meals for Christmas

Worshipers will have their choice of seven Christmas Eve candlelight services this year at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. Robert H. Schuller and Robert A. Schuller will lead services at 3, 4:30, 6, 7:30, 9 and 10:30 p.m. and a bilingual service at midnight. Musical guests will include Roger Williams, Charles Billingsley, Dorothy Benham, Daniel McGrew and the Crystal Cathedral Academy Chorus. The church is at 12141 Lewis St. (714) 971-4000; https://www.crystalcathdral.org.

Other Services

* A candlelight Christmas Eve service will take place at 11 p.m. in the Gothic-like sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Anaheim. Sheldon Disrud will direct the Chancel Choir in the story of Christmas as told through contemporary Christmas anthems and traditional carols. The Rev. Donald F. Sturm will narrate. The church is at 310 W. Broadway, Anaheim. (714) 535-2176.

* Mount of Olives Lutheran Church will host candlelight Christmas Eve services at 4:30, 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. and a Christmas Day service at 10:30 a.m. Child-care will be available for all Christmas Eve services. Mount of Olives is at 24772 Chrisanta Drive in Mission Viejo. (949) 837-7467.

* Anaheim United Methodist Church will offer several Christmas Eve activities this year. A Los Posadas worship service is at 7 p.m. This will be a child-friendly celebration of the Holy Family’s search for a dwelling (posada) on the night of Jesus’ birth. A pinata and refreshments will follow. A family-friendly Christmas Eve party takes place at 8 p.m. A traditional Christmas Eve service, featuring music by the Chancel Choir, brass and bells is at 9 p.m. The Rev. John Fanestil will give the message, “God Can’t Keep a Secret.” A candlelight service is at 11 p.m. The church is at 1000 S. State College Blvd. (714) 719-0177.

* Saints Simon and Jude Church in Huntington Beach will offer musical Christmas Masses. The music ministry’s choral and hand-bell choirs, with musicians from ages 4 to 84, will celebrate the season. On Christmas Eve, the Cherub and Children’s Hand-bell choirs will perform at a 4 p.m. Mass. At the 6 p.m. Mass, the Junior/Senior High School Choir and High School Ringers will perform. At Masses at 8 and 9 p.m. and midnight, a concert will feature the 80-voice Parish Choir, accompanied by organ and orchestra. Christmas Day Masses are at 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. and feature the Parish Schola and Saints Simon and Jude Parish Bell Ringers. The church is at 20444 Magnolia St. (714) 962-3333.

* Catholic Worker in Santa Ana will offer meals at 2:30 p.m. Christmas Eve and 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day and a Mass at 1:30 p.m. Christmas Day. Donations of hams, coffee, butter and cookies are needed. Also needed are men’s clothing, children’s books, blankets, money and volunteers. Catholic Worker is at 316 Cypress St. (714) 835-6304.

* ROCKharbor Church’s annual dramatic presentation, “The Unexpected King,” is at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday and Christmas Eve. The audience will see how people 2,000 years ago were affected by their encounter with Jesus. Performances are at Mariners Christian School, 300 Fischer Ave., Costa Mesa. (949) 548-2600; https://www.rockharbor.org/christmas.

* Holiday events at the First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton will begin with a family worship service at 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., the ‘Tis the Season Hand-bell Carolers will perform in costume. A communion worship service with a performance by the Kirk Choir is at 8 p.m. At 10 p.m., the church will offer a candlelight worship service with communion and the Kirk Choir. The church is at 838 N. Euclid St. (714) 526-7701.

* Irvine Presbyterian Church will offer a Christmas Eve service for families with children at 4 p.m. Music will be provided by the children’s choirs. A Christmas Eve celebration with worship and caroling is at 6 p.m. At 11 p.m., there will be a communion service, featuring the adult choir. The church is at 4445 Alton Parkway. (949) 786-9627; https://www.irvinepres.org.

* The Rev. Tod D. Brown, the bishop of Orange, will celebrate the midnight Mass of Christmas Eve at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange. Auxiliary Bishop Jaime Soto will celebrate the Mass of Christmas Day at 9:30 a.m. The church is at 566 S. Glassell St. (714) 639-2900.

* Melodyland in Anaheim will host its second annual Christmas HOPE (Helping Our People Eat) celebration at 2 p.m. today, including its “Light a Candle” presentation. Families who have preregistered will receive gifts and food packages afterward. The church is at 400 Disney Way. (714) 635-6391.

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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