Religion Notes for Dec. 12: News, events from the Valley’s faith community

Mañanitas and posadas observances

“Mañanitas” singing to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at St. John’s Cathedral, 2814 Mariposa St., Fresno, with mariachi music and folk songs continuing between several masses: 8 p.m., midnight, and 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, celebrated by Bishop Armando Ochoa of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno. Posadas, remembering the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus, will be observed beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the cathedral on the nights of Monday, Dec. 14, through Wednesday, Dec. 15. A procession to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe made its way from the cathedral to the Fresno Convention Center on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Celebrating Jesus and Muhammad

A special evening at the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno, 2111 E. Nees Ave., will celebrate the births of the prophets Jesus Christ and Muhammad, “two men who changed the world,” with talks from Pastor Chris Breedlove and Imam Seyed Ali Ghazvini at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, with a musical performance by “Stolen Thunder” of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno. More information is available by calling 559-297-9535.

Celebrate ‘The Spirit of Love’ in Fresno

Experiences reflecting “the spirit of love” will be shared by people of many faiths, including Catholic, Islam, Sikh and Brahma Kumaris, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at a Fresno satellite meditation center of the Brahma Kumaris Spiritual Organization, 7319 N. Fourth St. There will also be time for silent reflection, discussion and meditation for world peace and harmony. Organizers say this is “the time of the year when people of various faiths and cultures come together to invoke peace, love and happiness in the world.” The event is free and includes light refreshments.

OTHER EVENTS

Church at the Southgate, 7249 E. Kings Canyon Road, Fresno, 559-251-7734, www.graceweb.tv/bethlehemjourney, free. 6-8 p.m.

St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 120 N. Hall St., Visalia, 559-392-1425, free. 3 p.m.

University Presbyterian Church, 1776 E. Roberts Ave., Fresno, 559-392-1425, free. 7 p.m.

Three Rivers Memorial Building on Highway 198, 43490 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers, 559-561-4549, $10 for adults, free for children 12 and younger. 1 p.m. potluck, 2 p.m. concert

Memorial United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Ave., Clovis, 559-299-4615, www.mem-umc.org, free. 6-8 p.m.

First Congregational Church of Fresno, 2131 N. Van Ness Blvd., Fresno, 559-227-8489. 5 p.m.

Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church, 39696 Highway 41, Oakhurst, free. 4 p.m., 6 p.m.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1080 E. Yosemite Ave., Merced, 209-595-8573, free. 7 p.m.

Church at the Southgate, 7249 E. Kings Canyon Road, Fresno, 559-251-7734, www.graceweb.tv/bethlehemjourney, free. 6-8 p.m.

Holy Family Catholic Church, 1301 Smith St., Kingsburg, 559-392-1425, free. 3 p.m.

First Mennonite Church, 1208 L St., Reedley, 559-392-1425, free. 7 p.m.

Memorial United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Ave., Clovis, 559-299-4615, www.mem-umc.org, Free. 6-8 p.m.

Kerman Covenant Church, 15495 W. Whitesbridge Ave., Kerman, 559-846-5307, free. 7 p.m.

Clovis Evangelical Free Church, 2377 Armstrong Ave., Clovis, 559-292-3344, www.clovisevfree.org, free. 6:30 p.m.

The Bridge Church, 3438 E. Ashlan Ave., Fresno, 559-226-4100. 10 a.m.

Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church, 9161 N. Maple Ave., Fresno, 559-434-2500. 6-8:30 p.m.

Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church, 9161 N. Maple Ave., Fresno, 559-434-2500. 6-8:30 p.m.

Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church, 9161 N. Maple Ave., Fresno, 559-434-2500. 6-8:30 p.m.

Fresno Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2980 E. Yale Ave., Fresno, 559-233-1172. 11 a.m., 4 p.m.

Bethany Mennonite Brethren Church, 9161 N. Maple Ave., Fresno, 559-434-2500. 6-8:30 p.m.

Gateway Church of Visalia, 1100 S. Sowell St., Visalia, 559-732-4787. 5:30 p.m.

NorthPointe Church, 4625 W. Palo Alto Ave., Fresno, 559-276-2300, Free. 4-6 p.m., 7-9 p.m.

Gateway Church of Visalia, 1100 S. Sowell St., Visalia, 559-732-4787. 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 11 p.m.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Religion Notes for Dec. 12: News, events from the Valley’s faith community."