Briefly In Religion

Alternative Christmas shopping

Laguna Beach Neighborhood Congregational Church will hold its sixth annual Alternative Christmas Market from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and 12 at the church, 340 St. Ann's Drive.

The members of JOY Ministry (Justice, Outreach and You) are providing opportunities to purchase gifts that provide support and sustenance for people in need: tuition to send two girls to school for a year in Afghanistan, flocks of 50 chicks, solar cookers for Darfur refugees, dolls for refugee children in Burma, gardens for Rwandans living with HIV/AIDS, insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria, clean childbirth kits for Third World mothers, soccer balls to build peace through play, a day's care and feeding for a rescued marine mammal, a weekly one-on-one reading session for an at-risk child with a Sit Stay Read dog team and more.

In addition, crafts made by Third World artisans will be offered, as will olive oil from the Holy Land, fair trade coffees, teas and chocolates, jewelry, reusable shopping bags and special gifts made by the congregation's children. Also, on Sunday, a gold buyer will be present to purchase unwanted gold jewelry, with 10% of proceeds going to the church. For more information, contact Sally Barron at (949) 497-2343.

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Children's choir to perform

Laguna Presbyterian Church's Children's Choir will present the true meaning of Christmas performed in story and song at the 8:30 and 10 a.m. services on Sunday. Children 4 years old and older are invited to attend worship services with their parents. They will be dismissed to Sunday school after the Children's Choir presentation.