Interfaith members return from China

Some 160 Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council members, their families and friends returned Friday from a seven-day trip in China, visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Many participants are from local congregations in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine. Others are from Huntington Beach, Tustin, Orange and Fullerton, and friends and family came from far away as Georgia, Florida and Montana.

The group was divided into six tour buses, each with an English-speaking tour guide who led us to the typical sites: Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Ming Tomb, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Tiger Hill, West Lake, the Bund and China Town Shanghai.

We stayed at some wonderful four- and five-star hotels and enjoyed American and Chinese breakfasts, Chinese lunches and dinners and one night free in Shanghai where we descended on the International Zone for our choice of American, Mexican, Spanish, Cuban, German, French or Italian meals on our own.

Not a part of the usual tour of China, but a part of the interfaith tour, is lunch in a Chinese family home as part of a two-plus hour visit to better understand the Chinese family.

In addition, in Beijing the group visited a Christian church, meeting with staff members, and in Shanghai, we visited a 1920s Catholic cathedral, meeting with a priest to learn more about the 100-plus Catholic churches in Shanghai. Sunday, before leaving the hotel, we held an Interfaith Worship Service with all faiths in attendance contributing.

WE ARE GOING TO MISS HER

For nine years, Jan McKibbon has been the piano player for the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa at its weekly, Wednesday-evening meetings at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. McKibbon retired at the end of October, wanting to spend more time with her husband.

At the start of each meeting, she would accompany a Rotarian who would lead us in “God Bless America” or “Smile” or whatever was appropriate for the season. It is a great way to start a meeting, with everyone standing and singing.

Jan is a talented pianist who played a variety of music while the Rotarians dined: Broadway show tunes, music from the ‘30s to ‘90s. At times members would sing along with her piano playing.

When she retired Oct. 26, she received several gifts from the club and a standing ovation. But the best gifts are the memories Jan and Newport-Balboa Rotarians share.

Club President Terry Rousselot is looking for a piano player for Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7:45 p.m. There is a small stipend, a buffet dinner, stimulating programs and a group of men and women who love to sing and appreciate the music.

If you are interested, call Rousselot at (949) 644-0910.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council:

Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.

-- ANONYMOUS

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

How are you giving back to your community? Help your community and the world through a service club. For many, service club membership is an extension of our religious beliefs and congregation affiliation.

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunity for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at the Five Crowns restaurant for a program by John Bouyer on Hurricane Katrina relief update (www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org).

Noon: The newly formed Rotary Club of Costa Mesa will be meeting at The Clubhouse at South Coast Plaza.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at a new location, Denny’s Restaurant at Redhill and Bristol.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6:15 p.m. The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor discussing joint Costa Mesa and Newport Beach issues (www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa)

Noon: The 50-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach/Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club; the 85 member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum to hear Tom Thorkelson on “Climbing Mt. Everest”; the 90-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel to hear Tom Daly, Orange County recorder (www.nirotary.org)