N.Y. Attack Doesn’t Alter Plans of Ex-O.C. Pastor

Nelson Searcy, a former pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, already had decided to start a church in Manhattan. He and his wife, Kellie, moved to New York City last month and were busy planning the venture: researching, marketing, recruiting, making friends. He figured they would open the church’s doors sometime next year.

But then came the terrorist attacks. The night of Sept. 11, Searcy found himself on a pier on the Hudson River, watching the smoke and flames from the ruins of the World Trade Center and ministering to the New Yorkers around him.

“They asked me about spiritual things, about God and prayer,” he said. “There was a new attitude in the city, a new openness to God.”

Searcy, 29, decided to immediately start his new church, the Journey. Last week, he rented a ballroom on the Upper West Side, put together a makeshift band, developed a sermon and handed out fliers for a remembrance service. More than 80 people showed up, many of them nonbelievers.

“I was surprised and happy,” he said. “And 30% of them said they would like to get involved.”

Searcy then decided to proceed with the Journey’s first regular Sunday service this weekend. Saddleback and two other churches are sponsoring the new church, an expensive proposition because of Manhattan prices. The monthly rent for Searcy’s 600-square-foot apartment is about $3,000.

The pastor said he hopes to reach young, single professionals who live on the Upper West Side in a land that “hasn’t always been fertile ground for new churches.”

“We’re totally nervous and overwhelmed right now,” Searcy said. “But I just got 50 e-mails from across the country from people saying they’re praying for us. That helps.”

Special Events

* Trinity United Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana will celebrate its 125th anniversary Sunday. Festivities will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the Rev. Tom Gillespie, president of Princeton Theological Seminary, as keynote speaker. The church will also dedicate land for the new fellowship hall. The church’s four choirs, including the 100-member Chancel Choir, will perform. A commemorative group photo will capture the event expected to draw more than 1,200 guests. A fried-chicken lunch will be served. The church is at 13922 N. Prospect Ave. (714) 544-7850. https://www.trinityunitedpres.org.

* St. John’s Episcopal Church and School at St. John Chrysostom Church in Rancho Santa Margarita will host a groundbreaking celebration for its church and enrichment center at 3 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Robert Anderson will preside. The 9,000-square-foot addition will include a sanctuary, computer lab, art studio, library and meeting rooms. The church serves more than 200 families and educates nearly 900 children in preschool through eighth grade. On Oct. 6, the church will hold a blessing of the animals service at 10 a.m. All pets are welcome for a brief blessing on the front church driveway. This custom is associated with the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The church is at 30382 Via Con Dios. (949) 858-5144.

* Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot of Irvine will dedicate its new sanctuary during “2001: A Temple Odyssey” at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Significant religious materials will be collected and placed in a time capsule. The capsule will be nailed shut during the dedication ceremony, then reopened by a future generation. The temple is at 3652 Michelson Drive. (949) 857-2226.

* Promise Keepers, the international men’s movement, brings its conference to Arrowhead Pond on Oct. 19 and 20. Making its first visit to Anaheim since 1994, Promise Keepers will offer prayer for the nation during the free conference.

The Anaheim conference is expected to draw thousands of men for encouragement, accountability and solid biblical principles for becoming better husbands, fathers, friends and co-workers. Registration remains open. (800) 888-7595 or register online at https://www.promisekeepers.org.

* Do today’s spiritual truth seekers share any similarities with the ancient Romans? Is living one’s faith more difficult in contemporary times than it was in the days when Christians were persecuted? These are among the questions to be probed in “Rome and the Church from Constantine to Charlemagne,” with author and journalist Desmond O’Grady, at 2 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Newport Beach Central Library’s Friends Meeting Room. The free program is co-sponsored by the library and the California Center for the Book. O’Grady’s newest book, traces the rise to power of the pope and the Roman Empire from the 4th to the 9th centuries. The library is at 1000 Avocado Ave. (949) 717-3801.

Education

* The Orange County Buddhist Church in Anaheim will offer four 8-week classes on Buddhism starting Monday. “The Essence of Spirituality, East and West” (Mondays, 7:30-9 p.m.) will look at what it means to be religious or spiritual using classic theories.

“Introduction to Buddhist Calligraphy” (Tuesdays, 7:30-9 p.m.) covers writing with the Japanese brush, or fude. After covering the basics, the course will focus on the meanings of key Buddhist characters.

“Introduction to Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu” (Tuesdays, 7:30-9 p.m) is a survey course outlining the basic teachings of Buddhism, the life of Shakyamuni Buddha and the development of Buddhism leading to Jodo Shinshu.

“Shoshinge to Koso Wasan” (Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m.) will study Shinran’s Shoshinge and poems of the seven masters. Application deadline is Friday. The church is at 909 S. Dale St., Anaheim. (714) 827-9590 or https://https://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/3540/BECPage.htm.

* “Mixed Doubles,” a discussion for interfaith couples, will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth David in Westminster. This week’s topic will be December holiday observances. Participants will learn ways of maintaining relationships with relatives of different faiths and negotiating religious observances. Wendy Puzarne, assistant director of the Long Beach Jewish Family and Children’s Service, will facilitate. The temple is at 6100 Hefley St. (562) 430-1238.

Music

* A “Hallelujah! for Hospice” benefit concert, featuring the Michael Skidgel Singers, will be held Oct. 13 at the St. Joseph Center in Orange. The program will range from Broadway show tunes to patriotic songs. The concert will help raise community awareness of the care provided to terminally ill patients by the St. Joseph Hospice. Proceeds will directly support special services for hospice patients. Tickets are $15 and tax-deductible.

St. Joseph Hospice is part of St. Jude, St. Joseph, and Mission Hospitals, as well as Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the St. Joseph Health System. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. The center is at 480 S. Batavia St. (714) 786-7691.

* Mission San Juan Capistrano will present religious singer John Michael Talbot on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Franciscan Mercy Care, Mission Basilica families in need and a Trinity College scholarship fund. The cost is $20, or $17 for seniors and $12 for children. The mission is at 31522 Camino Capistrano. (866) 468-3399 or https://www.missionsjc.com.

People

* The Orange County Chapter of the American Jewish Committee will honor Richard M. Gollis, past president of the chapter, for his work in the Jewish community for the past four years. He will receive the 2001 Samuel Gendel Community Service Award on Sunday.

* The American Jewish Committee will host a private showing of an exhibition, “The Holy Land: David Roberts, Dead Sea Scrolls, House of David Inscription,” at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana. Dinner will be served. Space is limited. (949) 660-8525.

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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.