Time to reflect, renew

This week marks a time of reflection and worship for many Lagunans, with the celebration of both Passover and Easter.

Yesterday’s Maundy Thursday celebration, which commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum (three-day period) that honors Christ’s death and resurrection, the central events of Christianity. It culminates in Easter Sunday.

There is debate over whether the Last Supper was a Passover Seder; Passover roughly coincides with the time Easter is celebrated.

The Seder, a ritual-filled annual meal, is the centerpiece of Passover, the most important but second-most-observed Jewish holiday after Hanukkah, according to the North American Jewish Data Bank.

Passover commemorates the deliverance and exodus of the Jews from slavery under Pharaoh in Egypt around 1450 BC. The Order of the Seder is sung and lays out the meal, which includes four cups of wine, lamb, bitter herbs, unleavened bread and haroset (a blend of fruit and nuts). Many foods of the Seder are only eaten on this holiday.

This year, Passover began Monday evening and Tuesday morning with a Seder at Chabad Jewish Center of Laguna Beach, and will be celebrated through April 10.

Other Lagunans will be celebrating spring and Easter with a variety of religious and secular services around town.

Attendees should come early, between noon and 12:30 p.m., as the Easter Bunny will make a personal appearance and will be available for photo opportunities.

For more information, call (949) 376-6340.

The Laguna Beach Parents Club held their inaugural Easter Egg Hunt on April 1 at Moulton Meadows with about 50 children and their families in attendance.

The club’s goal is to provide playgroups, events and topical speakers for all families in Laguna; for more information about the club, visit www.LagunaBeachParents.com.

The brunch is $35 for adults and $15 for children. All proceeds support RUFF.

Reservations can be made by calling (949) 494-6044; price includes food, champagne, live entertainment and a silent auction.

The fellowship will explore the ways in which different traditions express their yearning for renewal and what those expressions say about their value systems. Attendees are asked to bring a cut flower to represent the beauty of their yearning. For more information, call (949) 497-4568.

For more information, call (949) 494-7555 or visit www.lagunapreschurch.org.

At 8 a.m., the Joyful Noise Praise Group will perform, with Rev. Ginny Wheeler preaching. At 10 a.m., the Chancel Choir will perform with trumpets and bells. Wheeler will preach at that service as well, which will be followed by an Easter egg hunt.

For more information, call (949) 499-3088.

On Holy Saturday, the church will hold morning prayer at 8:30 a.m. An Easter vigil will be held at 8 p.m.

On Easter Sunday, the church will have services at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.; a 1:30 p.m. Spanish Mass will also be held.

The Parish Hall at St. Catherine School will also host a 9 a.m. family Mass.

For more information, call (949) 494-9701.