BRIEFLY IN RELIGION

Unitarians appoint co-minister

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laguna Beach has chosen Rev. Stefanie Etzbach-Dale as its congregational life minister and co-minister with Sarah Moldenhauer-Salazaar, orship leadership minister.

Rev. Etzbach-Dale will offer noncrisis pastoral care as well as work with the pastoral care team to assess congregational needs and resources.

The fellowship is located at 429 Cypress Drive.

Saving your holiday sanity

Open Gatherings, a lecture followed by free-form intellectual discussion, returns at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 429 Cypress Drive.

The topic is “Protecting Your Relationships During the Season of Good Will.” The discussion will include a five-point plan for keeping a balance between light conversation and heated debate in holiday situations with relatives and friends.

The informal evening is designed to give participants a pre-holiday “spiritual fix” as a way to stay calm and centered during this busy season.

“Society promotes the idea of families being close together at holiday time, but in reality it can be quite challenging,” said the Rev. Dr. Tari Lennon, discussion leader.

“Some of us long to have meaningful discussions with our loved ones in order to have a deeper kinship but are afraid of stepping on conversational landmines. And many of us already know the dangers of raising certain social, cultural or political topics. But with the midterm elections over and a new hand having been dealt, there is much to discuss,” Lennon said.

Admission is free; donations are welcome. Free childcare is provided for ages 4 and older. For more information about any Open Gatherings event, call (949) 370-7040 or visit www.opengatherings.com.

Advent music and meditation

Laguna Presbyterian Church is offering Music and Meditation from noon to 1 p.m. on three Thursdays: Dec. 7, 14 and 21 in the Sanctuary of the church at the corner of Forest and Second avenues.

The community is invited to set aside some time to enter into deep stillness in the sanctuary and be immersed in the timeless story of God’s love for his people.

For more information, contact Ceil Sharman at (949) 494-7657.