Churches Set Services for Advent

Christmastime is here, and Christian churches around Orange County are preparing to mark the fourth Sunday of Advent this weekend, with the anniversary of Christ’s birth to follow next Saturday.

Planned events range from special services to pageants to concerts. They include:

* Placentia United Methodist Church will present “The Christmas Lamb” children’s program during the 10 a.m. Sunday services. Pastor Glenn Miller will lead a Family Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. and a Candlelight Communion service at 11 p.m. The church is at 2050 N. Valencia Ave., Placentia. (714) 528-1483.

* The St. Irenaeus Church Youth Ministry will present “St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra,” a dramaturgy, at 10:15 a.m. Sunday in the Parish Hall and at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve in the Church. This one-act play features the junior and senior high school ministries. The church is at 5201 Evergreen Ave., Cypress. (714) 821-5531.

* Actress Jennifer O’Neill will join the Rev. Robert Schuller during services at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the Crystal Cathedral. On Christmas Eve, the church will welcome performer Michael Crawford, best known for his role in the “Phantom of the Opera,” during services at 3 p.m. and every 90 minutes thereafter through midnight. Schuller will conduct these services from the Shepherd’s Fields of Bethlehem via satellite. The church is at 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. (714) 971-4000.

* The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach will present performer Peter Dobson in a holiday program at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Chris Schriner will lead a “Carols by Candlelight” celebration at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. A potluck will begin at 5:30 p.m. The center is at 429 Cypress Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 497-4568.

* Neighborhood Congregational Church will offer a blessing of the animals service at 4 p.m. this afternoon on the church patio. The “Something’s Coming” Advent series will continue with part 4, “How Will It Act?,” at 10 a.m. Sunday. The final service “Tonight, Tonight, Won’t Be Just Any Night” will take place at 10:45 p.m. Christmas Eve. The church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-8061.

* Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church will present the third annual “Voices of the Season” concert at 8 p.m. this evening. The concert will feature the Chamber Orchestra, 80-voice Parish Choir, Children’s Choir, the Parish Handbell Choir and Children’s Handbell Choir. Tickets are $10 ($5 for children). The church is at 20444 Magnolia St., Huntington Beach. (714) 962-3333.

* “A Festival of Christmas Music” will be presented at 5 and 7:30 p.m. this evening at Trinity United Presbyterian Church. A freewill offering will be taken. Christmas Eve candlelight services will take place at 5, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. Child care will be provided at the 5 and 7 p.m. services. Communion will be offered during the 7, 9 and 11 p.m. services. The church is at 13922 Prospect Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 544-7850.

* A Children’s Pageant and Intergenerational service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of South County. A Christmas Eve service with carols, poetry and readings is at 7 p.m. Guests are asked to bring dessert to share. The church is at 25801 Obrero Drive, No. 7, Mission Viejo. (949) 581-0245.

* A “Longest Night Service” will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Church of Garden Grove. Christmas Eve services will be offered at 7 and 10 p.m. (Infant care available at 7 p.m. only.) The church is at 12741 Main St., Garden Grove. (714) 534-1070.

* Candlelight services will be offered at 5, 7 and 11 p.m. Christmas Eve at Laguna Presbyterian Church. Child care will be available at the first two services. The church is at 415 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. (949) 494-7555.

* Yorba Linda United Methodist Church will present a Living Nativity from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today and Sunday. The Holy Family, angels, live animals, soldiers and shepherds will be part of the scene. The church is at 19002 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. (714) 777-2885.

* The St. Mark Presbyterian Church Choir will present Vivaldi’s “Gloria” at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The church will host a Christmas Eve service of candlelight and carols at 7 p.m. There will also be a shorter service for families with young children at 4 p.m. The church is at 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. (949) 644-1341.

* St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church will offer Christmas Eve services featuring a message by John A. Huffman Jr. at 5, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. Performers include the sanctuary choir, brass ensemble, percussionists, handbell choir, organist and harpist. The “Living for Others” Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will take place from 7 to 8 a.m. in Dierenfield Hall. Cost is $2.50. The church is at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach. (949) 631-2880.

* Mount Calvary Lutheran Church will celebrate Christmas Eve with services at 5 and 11 p.m. The Carillon Choir and Youth Choir accompanied by organist Ezel “C.C.” Medel performs at 5 p.m. The Carillon Choir will also perform at 11 p.m. Holy Communion will take place at both services. The church is at 5895 Ball Road, Cypress. (714) 527-6311.

* The Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church Choir will present “Sounds of the Season!” at 5 p.m. today. The program will include Christmas carols and C-Sharps. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 7 through 17. Proceeds will go toward repairing the church piano. The 10 a.m. Sunday service will feature a “ ‘Tis the Season” concert. The church is at 1259 Victoria St., Costa Mesa. (949) 646-4652.

* Bethlehem Lutheran Church will present a family Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m., followed by traditional candlelight services with Holy Communion at 7 and 11 p.m. The adult choir will perform “A Festival of Lessons and Carols.” The church is at 3352 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos. (562) 430-3444.

* The Rev. Margaret Mohit will present the message “A Lesson From Scrooge” at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Unity Community Church. Sunday school and nursery care will be provided. The church is at 22911 Mill Creek Road, Laguna Hills. (949) 472-9230.

* Laguna Beach United Methodist Church will present a family candlelight service featuring the chancel choir, drums, piano, organ and handbells at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. An additional service with Communion will take place at 11 p.m. The church is at 21632 S. Wesley Drive, Laguna Beach. (949) 499-3088.

* Golden Circle Church will host its Christmas Family Festival Service at 9:45 p.m. Sunday. Don Henderson will speak on “The Christ Within You.” A gala Christmas concert will take place at 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, there will be a candlelight celebration at 7:30 p.m. A freewill offering will be taken. The church is at 600 Golden Circle Drive, Santa Ana. (714) 541-3365.

* The music ministry of Mesa Verde United Methodist Church will lead worship services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday. Tracy Soloist will direct the children’s choirs in a performance of “The Grumpy Sheep.” Child care will be provided. The church is at 1701 W. Baker St., Costa Mesa. (714) 979-8234.

* Emmanuel Episcopal Church will offer a family Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. Candlelight services, with a choral Eucharist, will be at 9 and 11 p.m. The church is at 1145 W. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton. (714) 879-8070.

* Christmas Eve worship services, with choral and handbell music, will take place at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. An additional Christmas Eve service will be at 11 p.m. The church is at 2311 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. (714) 871-1711.

* The Rev. V. “Kass” Kassouni will speak on “Singing Mary’s Song” at 5 p.m. today at Geneva Presbyterian Church of Laguna Hills. Christmas Eve services will be at 5 and 11 p.m. The 5 p.m. service will include carols, the children’s choirs, a drama presentation and a candlelight reading of the Christmas story. The 11 p.m. service will include the chancel choir, Communion, candlelight readings and meditation. The church is at 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills. (949) 837-2323.

* Calvary Baptist Church will present a Christmas Celebration and Kwanzaa Extravaganza at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. The theme will be “Peace, Great Joy and Good Tidings on Earth to All People!” The church is at 1524 W. First St., Santa Ana. (714) 543-5956.

* The First United Methodist Church of Fullerton will offer three Christmas Eve services this year. There will be a family service at 6 p.m., a candlelight service with lessons and carols at 7:30 p.m. and a traditional Communion service at 11 p.m. The church is at 114 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton. (714) 871-4115.

* Woodbridge Church and the Filipino-American Church of Irvine will present a family Christmas Eve service at 5 and 6:30 p.m. at Woodbridge Church. The service will include carols, choirs, a drama presentation and a Christmas message. The church is at 5000 Barranca Parkway, Irvine. (949) 552-1101.

* Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Orange Coast Adventist Church will join for a Christmas service at 10:30 a.m. at the Lutheran Church. Pastor Jim Hale will present a Christmas message. The service will also include music and Holy Communion. The church is at 4800 Irvine Center Drive. (949) 552-1918.