Trinity United to Hold Ordainment

Bill Mangrum will be ordained Sunday by the Los Ranchos Presbytery at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana. He is the assistant director of ministry development at the Fuller Seminary School of Theology in Pasadena and a doctoral student in practical theology at the Center for Advanced Theological Studies there.

He formerly served on Trinity’s staff for six years and was the minister to young adults and seniors and is a founding member of Habitat for Humanity in Orange County. He has accepted a position as pastor at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church, established in 1854. The church building was constructed in 1867.

The service is at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a reception at the church, 13922 Prospect Ave. Information: (714) 544-7850.

The Continentals singing group will give a concert Sunday at the First Christian Church in Garden Grove. Thousands audition each year to perform in one of the 25-member Continentals groups which go on tour for three months following a nine-day rehearsal in Denver. The Continentals program has been in existence for 26 years and 12,000 young people have performed with them.

A free-will offering will be taken for the 10 a.m. concert at 11231 Chapman Ave. Information: (714) 534-3965.

A weekend retreat for Catholics in their 20s and 30s will begin the evening of Dec. 17 at the Marywood Center, Diocese of Orange. Organized by Search of Orange County, the retreat will include inspirational talks, prayer, music and Masses. Cost is $55 per person, which includes meals and lodging.

Registration is required by Friday. The Marywood Center is at 2811 Villareal Drive. To register or for more information, call (714) 753-3533.

The Orange Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) will host their second annual “Christmas Creche Exhibit” featuring 200 creches, or nativities, representing many cultures. Creche sizes will vary from one as small as the head of a pin, to life-size.

The free exhibit opens Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. and continues Dec. 4 from 2 to 9 p.m. and Dec. 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. at 674 S. Yorba St., Orange. Information: (714) 633-3368.

The Jewish Community Center of Orange County and Jewish Family Service will offer a special workshop for interfaith couples about the challenges of the holidays on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The workshop will take place at the Jewish Federation Campus, 250 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. For more workshop information, call (714) 751-0608.

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Anaheim will host their monthly spaghetti dinner on Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Cost is $1.50 per person or $3 maximum per family. During the dinner, the church will accept letters to Santa for mailing.

Also from 5:30 to 7 p.m., those interested may have registered nurse Sue Punches take their blood pressure. On Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, she is available at the church for free general health evaluations. The health ministry program is in partnership with Martin Luther Hospital in Anaheim.

The church is at 2580 W. Orange Ave. Information: (714) 828-1077.

The Rev. Mark Jackson, senior pastor of Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Anaheim, will lead a series on Bible Prophecies on Wednesday evenings at 7:30. Services at the church are offered in English, Spanish and Korean.

The church is at 1926 W. Ball Road. Information: (714) 535-8275.

Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim offers ongoing adult education classes led by Rabbi Arthur Seltzer including Jewish mysticism on Tuesday mornings and lessons on the Talmud on Tuesday evenings.

The temple is at 1770 W. Cerritos Ave. Information: (714) 772-4720.

The board of directors of the Jewish Federation of Orange County approved a design for the next phase of the Jewish Federation campus. When the construction is completed, the Jewish Federation, the Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation and B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation of Orange County will be housed there.

The Jewish Federation also announced that Joseph M. Baim will be chairman of next year’s annual campaign. His activities involving the Jewish community include being a patron of the University of Judaism, a board member of Valley Beth Sholom in Encino and an active member of the Jewish Federation in San Fernando Valley.

Four local women attended the recent National Women’s Division Lion of Judah Conference in Washington. Women who give $5,000 or more to the Jewish Federation are entitled to be a Lion of Judah and be part of the national group dedicated to building the Jewish community.

For more information, call (714) 259-0655.

“Gifts to Our Liberal Religious Faith” is the Rev. Brandoch Lovely’s sermon topic on Sunday. He is interim minister at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa. Next Sunday’s guest speaker will be Phyllis Lerner, who will discuss sexual harassment. She is a consultant to the Gender Equity Office for the California Department of Education.

The Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. at 1259 Victoria St. Information: (714) 646-4652.

The Global Christian Center will host a presentation by Chosen People Ministries’ Daniel Goldberg titled “What is Happening in Israel Now and What the Bible Has to Say About It” on Sunday at 10 a.m. The Chosen People organization was founded in 1894 by Rabbi Leopold Cohn who believed in Jesus as the Messiah of Israel.

The meeting will be at 16267 Laguna Canyon Road, Irvine. Information: (714) 633-6387.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Anaheim will offer an Advent sermon series which will begin on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The church is at 10418 Katella Ave. Information: (714) 535-9742.

The teen group at the Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science is called “Oasis” and meets on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Meditation is on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., with Sunday services at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The congregation meets at Seacliff Village, 2205 Main St., Suite 23, Huntington Beach. Information: (714) 969-1331.

The annual Hanging of the Greens service at First Presbyterian Church of Orange is Sunday and features the decorating of the sanctuary. Artist and church member Oleta McCandless made two new medallions for the church. The Pacific Harp Ensemble will perform during the special service at 10:15 a.m.

The church is at 191 N. Orange St. Information: (714) 538-2341.

The Center for Spiritual Development in Orange offers an ongoing Contemplative Prayer Group which meets twice a month on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The next meeting is on Wednesday at the St. Joseph Center, 480 S. Batavia St. A free-will offering will be taken.

The Center for Spiritual Development is at 434 S. Batavia St. Information: (714) 744-3175.

Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo was established in 1985 and formerly met at Dana Hills High School before moving to the new site in Aliso Viejo. Sunday services are at 8:30 and 10:15 a.m.

The church is at 5 Pursuit. Information: (714) 362-0079.

The Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach has been responsible for answering calls to the Laguna Fire Relief Hot Line this month, providing information about food, shelter, insurance and coordination of volunteers.

On Sunday, the Rev. Tari Lennon’s sermon will be “Coping With the Unexpected.” The service is at 10 a.m. at 340 St. Ann’s Drive. Information: (714) 494-8061.

Orange Coast Community Church will sponsor a seminar called “Your Christmas: Glad, Mad or Sad?” on Dec. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Cost is $10 per person or $15 per couple. The seminar will be at 204 S. Prospect St., Orange. Information: (714) 997-1160.

The theme of a four-session Bible study beginning Sunday to be offered at Community Congregational United Church of Christ in Los Alamitos is “Preparing and Celebrating.” The Bible study meets after the 10 a.m. worship service and will be led by the Rev. Charles G. Schepel, pastor of the church.

The church is at 4111 Katella Ave. Information: (714) 527-2343.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is looking for the couple in the United States who have been married the longest. If you know of a couple married at least 60 years, you may submit the information to Tom and Jasmine Schultz, P.O. Box 7068, Reston, Va. 22091, (703) 715-1052. Entries are required by Wednesday.

Marriage Encounter weekends are led by three team couples and a priest or minister. For more information about the weekends or to find out what information is necessary for the contest submission, call (800) 795-LOVE.

The Rev. Don Northcutt’s sermon on Sunday at All Souls Unitarian Church will be “When Things Hurt.”

The service is at 10 a.m. at Harold Ambuehl Elementary School, 28001 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. Information: (714) 489-0610.