COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Blue Christmas service

While most of us are enjoying holiday parties at home, work and family gatherings over the coming weeks, some of us will be suffering the holiday blues due to the death of a loved one, a health problem or a financial setback, according to the Rev. Julie Elkins, pastor at First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa. For those in the latter group, the First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa will hold a Blue Christmas service at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The service is open to people of all faiths, Elkins said. Participating with Elkins in the service will be the Rev. Don Oliver, chaplain at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, the Rev. George Crisp of Christ Church by the Sea United Methodist Church, and Associate Pastor David Stoner of First Methodist.

The church is at 420 W. 19th St., between Harbor and Newport boulevards, in Costa Mesa.

SNOWBALL EXPRESS

As you read today’s column, more than 600 children of armed service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and their parents will be treated to a holiday party at Oakley corporate offices in Irvine as part of the “Snowball Express” project, according to Costa Mesa Rotarian Michael Kerr, the Snowball Express founder.

At the party, they will meet Oakley X Games athletes and Santa Claus and receive a gift-filled backpack and a duffle bag stuffed with items from Oakley. At 4 p.m. they will be taken to the Irvine Spectrum for the evening. While here, they are staying in hotels in Newport Beach and Anaheim.

On Sunday, the children and their parents will spend the day as guests of Disneyland. Rotary Club members planned to treat the 900-plus attendees to dinner Friday at the Crystal Cathedral before attending “The Glory of Christmas.” On Monday, some will return to their homes across the U.S., and in Germany, Fiji and Australia, while others will stay for an additional night to watch the Western Conference-leading Anaheim Ducks hockey game at the Honda Center.

The event is made possible in large part by the Rotary Clubs of Orange County and southern Los Angeles County, dozens of corporate sponsors, and people from around the country and Newport-Mesa who have sent in contributions. Six hundred volunteers, mostly Rotarians, will work as airport greeters, drivers, hotel liaisons and organizers of various events over the weekend.

“Those who protect us deserve our thanks, our support and our help. Those in the Armed Forces who have laid down their lives in service to our way of life deserve our gratitude and our commitment to helping the family members they left behind,” Kerr said.

For more information on how you can participate in the Snowball Express next year, go to www.snowballexpress.org.

Contributions can be made payable to Rotary Snowball Express and mailed to District 5320 Charitable Foundation, 2245 N. Glassell St., Orange CA, 92865-2701.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS

Bill Foster, sponsored by Dean Bottorf, joined the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor.

WORTH REPEATING

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

“Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.”

— MARK TWAIN

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

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

7:30 a.m.: The 45-member Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise meets at Five Crowns for a program by Bill Passo on “1031 Exchange.” For information, www.new portbeachsunriserotary.org.

Noon: The 20-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant at Redhill Avenue and Bristol Street.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian yacht Club to hear Brian Smith on “Fair Tax.”

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 meets at the Holiday Inn. For information, www.kiwanis.org/club/ costamesa. The 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson for a holiday music program. For information, www.nirotary.org.