BRIEFLY IN RELIGION

Congregation holds New Year tree planting

Congregation Kolot (formerly Congregation Kol Simcha and Congregation Kol HaNeshamah) is planning a tree planting in honor of Tu B’Sh’vat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees.

Volunteers are needed to help plant California native plants at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. No experience necessary. Adults and children are welcome. The planting will be followed by a potluck picnic.

The planting is set for Sunday at 9 a.m. Promptness is required because the area to be planted will only be open from 9 a.m. to noon.

A potluck picnic will follow.

The park is located on Laguna Canyon Road at Little Sycamore Canyon.

For more information, call (714) 965-3366.

St. Mary’s sends second team to Katrina relief

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is seeking community assistance to provide relief to communities still devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

In response to the slow progress of reconstruction, the church will send their second team of volunteers to a relief center, Camp Coast Care, in Mississippi from Feb. 16-20, which coincides with Laguna Beach’s “ski week” winter break for schools.

St. Mary’s is seeking broader community participation in a larger, nondenominational relief effort led by its parishioners.

“Hurricane Katrina was completely indiscriminate and ecumenical in destroying the Gulf Coast,” said Elizabeth Rechter, rector of St. Mary’s Church.

“After our first visit, many of our friends in Laguna Beach expressed concern about the persistent problems in that region and a sincere desire to help.

“Having worked at Camp Coast Care, we think we’re in an ideal position to help channel the goodwill in this community — whether it’s in the form of awareness, financial support or personal participation — into direct action to assist people still struggling to rebuild their lives in coastal Mississippi.”

Camp Coast Care in Long Beach, a few miles from Gulfport, was opened by the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi in collaboration with the Lutheran Church immediately after hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005.

The camp shelters and feeds volunteers who have come from all parts of the United States and serves as a collection center for donations, including tools, medical supplies, water and canned food.

In preparation for the team’s departure, The Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray, bishop of Mississippi, will give the homily on Feb. 11 at St. Mary’s at both the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. worship services. Bishop Gray is traveling to California to raise awareness and much-needed funds for the ongoing recovery effort in his diocese.

“We cordially invite anyone interested in helping to join us on February 11 to learn firsthand from Bishop Gray about the current conditions and continued need,” Rev. Rechter said.

After the hurricane, St. Mary’s raised $19,000 to send 17 volunteers and a large truck of supplies to Camp Coast Care. The St. Mary’s Team spent a week there in March 2005, doing everything from rebuilding homes and schools to distributing food and medical supplies and providing administrative support.

More information about participating in the reconstruction trip to Mississippi or making a financial donation is available by contacting St. Mary’s at (949) 494-3542.

Islam film to be screened at Jewish center

“Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West,” a film about radical Islam, will be shown on large screen at Chabad of Laguna Beach at 7 p.m. Feb. 15.

The film features interviews with Sir Martin Gilbert, Alan Dershowitz, Daniel Pipes, Steve Emerson, a former PLO terrorist, a former Hitler Youth Commander and many others.

“Obsession” was recently named best feature film at the Liberty Film Festival. It is an official selection in the Newport Beach Film Festival and the Houston World Festival. It was produced by HonestReporting.com, a website that scrutinizes the media for anti-Israel bias. HonestReporting has more than 60,000 members worldwide.

Chabad Jewish Center of Laguna Beach is located at 30804 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. To reserve a seat, call (949) 499-0770. Admission is $10.

For more information, visit www.ObsessionTheMovie.com.