Christian Group to Play at Bren Center

Christian recording artists de Talk will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bren Events Center. The group’s newest release, Jesus Freak, has sold more than 500,000 copies and was nominated as one of Billboard’s Top 10 favorite videos of 1995. Tickets are $23 and $19. There is a $2 discount for groups of 15 or more. The center is on the UC Irvine campus. (714) 824-5000.

The Newport Harbor Lutheran Church will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a traditional pancake supper from 6 to 7 p.m. Following the supper, a panel of community leaders will discuss issues effecting Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The church is at 798 Dover Drive, in Newport Beach. (714) 548-3631.

A Classic Surfboard Night will be held at 6 tonight at Surfer’s Chapel. Everyone is encouraged to bring their pre-1976 surfboards and join in the good fellowship. The church is at 715 Lake St., Huntington Beach. (714) 751-5514.

Vineyard Christian Fellowship will host a divorce recovery workshop, “Healing Broken Hearts,” from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through March 26. Child care is offered with preregistration. The fellowship center is at 102 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa. (714) 556-8463.

Aglow of Mission Viejo will present the dramatic musical “Heart in a Box” at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn of Laguna Hills. The musical, which was written and is performed by Michael Sewell, explores life problems such as death, disease and depression. A coffee and dessert buffet will be offered. Tickets are $10 and must be reserved by tonight. The Holiday Inn is at 25205 La Paz Road. (714) 552-3734.

Inactive Catholics are invited to a discussion of scripture, morality, faith communities and more at 6:15 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish Center. Those who have been away from the church, feel spiritually empty or just have questions are encouraged to attend. The center is at 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. (714) 548-3844.

Janet Walker will speak on “Julia Ward Howe, Visionary Woman” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of South County. Sunday school will take place during the service, as well as religious education activities for children. The church is at 25801 Obrero Drive, Suite 8, Mission Viejo. (714) 581-0245.

The Rev. Frank Giudici will be guest speaker for the 9:30 and 11 a.m. worship services Sunday at Unity Community Church. Rev. Giudici is a Unity Bible scholar and former chairman of the biblical studies and skills department for the Unity School for Religious Studies. Sunday school will take place, and meditation will be at 9 a.m. The church is at 22911 Mill Creek Road, Laguna Hills. (714) 472-9230.

St. Mark Presbyterian Church will have weekly foreign-policy discussion sessions from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays through March. The sessions will follow the “Great Decisions” study guide that is available for $11. This week’s topic will be “Mexico: Embattled Neighbor.” The church is at 2100 Mar Vista, Newport Beach. (714) 644-1341.

Richard Sneed will speak on “The Dead Sea Scrolls Today” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach. A religious education program for children ages 5 to 12 will be held during the service. The third annual course on effective parenting will begin with the topic “Feeling Closer to Those You Care About” from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The session costs $8, or $24 for the entire series. The church is at 429 Cypress Drive. (714) 497-4563.

The United Methodist Church of Garden Grove will sponsor a Boy Scout-hosted Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. The suggested donation is $4, and there will be a drawing for prizes. The church is at 12741 Main St. (714) 534-1070.

The Rev. Ken Macklin will speak on “The Other Jesus” at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. Macklin will lead the Lenten meditation, “Spiritual Discipline,” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Nursery care will be provided. The church is at 8152 McFadden Ave., Westminster. (714) 897-0100.

The Rev. Diana Heath will give the message “Now That We No Longer Believe in Sin, Why Won’t Evil Go Away?” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. The adult religious education class will present the play “Love Letters” after the service as part of the “Month of Sundays” program. Heath will begin her series “The Use and Misuse of the Bible” at 9:15 a.m. The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (714) 646-4652.

St. Andrew Church will have a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper at 5 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Ash Wednesday services will be offered at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., led by the Rev. Rober E. Halliwell II. Soup and sandwich suppers at 6 p.m., followed by litany and Lenten studies at 7 p.m., are planned for each succeeding Wednesday through March 17. The church is at 4050 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos. (310) 594-8706.

The First Presbyterian Church of Westminster will offer a “Focus on Mission Sunday” at 9 a.m. Sunday. Don and Edie Tender will share information about their work training pastors throughout Europe. The church is at 7702 Westminster Blvd. (714) 893-1393.

St. Norbert Catholic Church will offer a Lenten poetry series at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in Room 8. Poems will be conducted by Kathleen Gunton Deal. The church is at 300 E. Taft Ave., Orange. (714) 538-8117.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church will continue its popular weekly discussion series “Serendipity” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Therapist Denise McPhee will speak on “Gifts of Life--Wrapped and Unwrapped Packages.” A $3 donation is requested. Divorce recovery workshops will be offered from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays through March 28, led by the Rev. Bill Flanagan. The church is at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. (714) 631-2880.

Bill Baker, founder and president of Christians and Muslims for Peace, will join the Rev. Robert H. Schuller at the pulpit at the 9:30 and 11 a.m. worship services at the Crystal Cathedral. Child care and Sunday school will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for children 2 and older. The church is at 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. (714) 971-4150.

The Christian Science Activity Center will offer the service “Soul” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Sunday school will also take place. A testimony meeting with readings on “Healing AIDS Through Prayer” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The center is at 31591-C Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. (714) 443-2537.

The Rev. Harold Kurtz will be guest speaker at the 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services at Trinity United Presbyterian Church. A grief recovery seminar will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through March 14 at a cost of $20, which includes the book “Good Grief.” The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

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