BRIEFLY IN RELIGION

Church marks Thanksgiving

A special Thanksgiving service will be held Thursday, Nov. 23, from 10 to 11 a.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Laguna Beach.

The church is located at 635 High Dr., off Pacific Coast Highway above Boat Canyon Shopping Center, and ample free parking is available in church parking lots.

Everyone is welcome to attend the service, which will include organ music by Randy Woltz, an Associate of the American Guild of Organists; singing of hymns of thanksgiving; readings from the Bible and “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder and discoverer of Christian Science. Call the Christian Science Reading Room, (949) 494-4503.

Holiday festivities at Christ Chapel

Christ Chapel of Laguna, an open and affirming church to the gay and lesbian community, will be celebrating the holiday season with its traditional Advent observation, Christmas Party and Potluck, and Annual Christmas Eve Service.

Christ Chapel meets at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings at 286 St. Ann’s Drive in Laguna Beach. Pastor, Rev. Lillian Lobb will be preaching an Advent series.

Christ Chapel of Laguna begins its month-long celebration of Christmas on Nov. 26.

The Christmas Party and Potluck will be held after the service on Sun., Dec. 17. Participants should bring a dish and a gift valued up to $10 (it may be a white elephant gift) for the gift exchange. After the potluck, everyone is invited to the annual “Christian Cutthroat Gift Exchange Game.”

On Christmas Eve., Sunday, Dec. 24, at 10 a.m., Christ Chapel of Laguna will be having a Christmas Program. Everyone is welcome — gay or straight. For more information, call (949) 376-2099.

Giving to help others

Neighborhood Congregational Church will hold an Alternative Holiday Market from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 3, in Bridge Hall, 340 St. Ann’s Dr.

A variety of opportunities for gift-giving will be available — from providing lunch and transportation for the children of Bang Bang Nieng School in tsunami-ravaged Thailand to helping fund literacy and business training for women in developing countries, to providing educational opportunities for girls in Afghanistan and Africa, and more. Fair Trade coffees, teas and chocolates will also be available.

Gifts are tax-deductible.

For more information, call (949) 497-2343.