Religion briefs

Bands, Hula Hoop contests, dunk tanks and the Tilt-A-Whirl will provide

some of the entertainment at the St. John the Baptist Church and School

Carnival, which begins Friday.

The community is invited to the three-day event, which will also include

food, raffles, games and other carnival rides such as a ferris wheel, the

Zipper and bumper cars.

The fair will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, from noon to 10 p.m. June 10

and from noon to 9 p.m. June 11.

Admission is free. The church is at 1015 W. Baker St., Costa Mesa. For

more information, call (714) 540-2214.

Harbor-area graduates will be honored at service

St. Andrews’s Presbyterian Church will host a celebration and worship

service for harbor-area graduating seniors, their parents and family at 7

p.m. June 13 at 600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach.

Brian Lucas of Grace Fellowship Church will be the speaker and music will

be provided by the Mariners Church Praise Band. The service is meant to

be a time to thank God for this turning point in the students’ lives and

pray for them as they embark on college careers or new jobs.

The service is free. For more information, call (949) 455-3779.

Biblical scholar to speak on ‘Jesus in Galilee’

Father Jerome Murphy-O’Connor of the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem will

visit Our Lady Queen of Angels to give a lecture, “Jesus in Galilee,” at

7:30 p.m. June 15.

Murphy-O’Connor has written books on St. Paul’s life and an archeological

guidebook, “The Holy Land.” He has lived there for more than 30 years and

has led private historical tours for various dignitaries.

The lecture will discuss why Jesus went to Galilee on a mission despite

opposition from the prophets, the role of the fishermen who passed on

Jesus’ words and deeds, and Christ’s relationship with sinners.

The parish is at 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. The lecture is

free. For more information, call (949) 644-0200.

St. Mark to unveil new chancel furniture Sunday

A new baptismal font, a communion table and a pulpit will be dedicated

Sunday at St. Mark Presbyterian Church.

The furniture has been about two years in the making, said Bill Cox,

chairman of the church’s art committee. Previously, the church used a

piece that was a combination of all three items and dated back about 30

years to St. Mark’s original sanctuary, he said.

But about three years ago, the Jewish temple St. Mark shared space with

for 15 years moved to Irvine and the church was remodeled, Cox said. The

idea for the new chancel furniture started brewing.

After meeting with two design firms, the church decided to contact local

craftspeople, Cox said. St. Mark ended up working with Larry Miller of

Miller-Pidskalny in Santa Ana.

The new pieces offer “more flexibility,” Cox said, adding that the

committee members were looking for classic, timeless shapes that would

also have a contemporary look.

The design of each piece suggests its function--the pulpit evokes an open

book, because that’s where God’s word comes from the pastor; the base of

the communion table is shaped like a cup; and the baptismal font is like

a fountain where water flows up and out, with a crystal bowl that will

hold water every Sunday.

“We’re excited about this,” Cox said. “It’s taken a long time to come to

this point.”

The Sunday service will be at 9:30 a.m. The church, whose pastor is the

Rev. Gary Collins, is at 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach.