Annual Harvest Crusade Adds Days and Events

The Harvest Crusade, the evangelical rock concert and revival that drew more than 125,000 worshipers last summer, will begin Wednesday at Edison International Field with a Fourth of July fireworks show. The crusade has added two days to its traditional three-day run. Other new wrinkles will be a children’s night, a two-night skateboarding exhibition and a car and motorcycle show the next Sunday.

The Thursday children’s night will feature “Salty,” a popular Christian children’s character who will sing songs and deliver a simple Gospel message. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Harvest Jam will feature Christian rock and alternative bands All Together Separate, Bleach, Switchfoot and Delirious. Greg Laurie, co-founder of Harvest Crusades, will present a message each night. He is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside. The event is free. https://www.harvest.org.

MUSIC

Make the most of your Fourth of July with an outdoor concert at St. Andrew’s By-the-Sea United Methodist Church in San Clemente. The Capistrano Chorale will present a concert in the church amphitheater. Fireworks will cap the evening. Families can bring their own picnic dinners or buy edibles in the Food Court. The grounds open at 5:30 p.m.; the concert begins at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free. The church is at 2001 Calle Frontera. (949) 492-2537.

* Encouraging Music recently released the first CD in a series of musical resources developed for churches, titled “Sounds of Saddleback (SOS).” The first release features 14 songs by the singers and musicians of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. Producer Rick Muchow said the eclectic collection includes ballads, praise and worship, jazz gospel, Latin, pop and country. Lead sheets for each song are included with the CD. There are also RealAudio and MP3 song samples at https://www.Encouraging Music.com. Muchow is the music pastor for 15,000 worshipers each weekend at Saddleback Church and an advisor on worship for the more than 150,000 pastors and church leaders who have attended Purpose Driven Church Conferences.

* Teens looking for fun this summer can check out the Christian bands performing Friday nights in July at the Fellowship Center of the First United Methodist Church of Seal Beach. Bands will share their talent and personal faith in concerts from 7 to 8 p.m. The center’s address is 148 10th St. (562) 431-0494.

SPECIAL EVENTS

A new Roman Catholic parish, St. Clare of Assisi in Yorba Linda, will celebrate its first Masses on Sunday in its temporary location at the St. Francis School multipurpose room. The church is the 56th parish in Orange County, drawing from Anaheim Hills and eastern Yorba Linda. (714) 534-1174.

* The Orange County Buddhist Church will observe Obon, a religious custom that honors the dead, with services, dancing and a bazaar/carnival as part of the annual Obon Festival on July 14 and 15. A special service in English will be held at 1:30 p.m. July 8. The temple’s hondo, or sanctuary, will be open to all, and guides will be available. The church is at 909 S. Dale Ave., Anaheim.

EDUCATION

“Tuesdays in the Word,” a summer family series, will begin Tuesday at Trinity United Presbyterian Church and run through Aug. 21. The “outrageous humor and whimsical playfulness” of Jesus will be studied in the parables of the Gospels. The program is free, and care for children through junior high will be provided. Each program will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The church is at 17th Street and Prospect Avenue in Tustin. (714) 544-7850.

* A 26-lesson study on the life of Jesus, “Journey to the Cross,” is underway at Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach. The free study, led by Pastor Dwight Tomlinson, is Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m. Also, Liberty Baptist will celebrate its 25th anniversary July 8 during services at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The church is at 1000 Bison Ave. (949) 760-5444.

* Red Hill Lutheran School of Tustin is gearing up for its 40th annual summer camp program for preschoolers through sixth-graders. This year’s theme, “Reflections of the Son,” will introduce children to Jesus Christ. Camp activities will be divided into three grade levels to provide age-appropriate activities. Classroom activities will include music, computer science, physical education and art. Some on-campus activities will include pony rides, a petting zoo and train rides. Field trips will include the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, Discovery Science Center, Planet Kids, Adventure City, Wild Bill’s and the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Camp begins Monday and continues through Aug. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Day care, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., will be available free. Tuition ranges from $96 to $130 per week, depending upon age. Red Hill Lutheran School is at 13200 Red Hill Ave. (714) 544-3132.

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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.