Zen Temple to Spin Off Mountain Center

The pioneering Zen Center of Los Angeles, which has trained thousands of students in Zen Buddhist meditation since its 1967 founding, will spin off its Zen Mountain Center near Idyllwild as an independent entity after Jan. 1.

After the death of the center’s longtime teacher, Maezumi Roshi, on May 14, 1995, the Zen Center was left to 12 successors, most of whom had temples elsewhere in the United States and overseas, said Ed Levin, chief administrator of the Los Angeles center.

The Zen Center, located in the heart of Koreatown, is the mother temple of a worldwide association embracing the dozen successors and their temple members. The association was incorporated as the White Plum Sangha (“community”) with headquarters in Salt Lake City.

Levin said spinning off the mountain center in Southern California was a pragmatic decision. “No one was willing or able to lead both the Los Angeles and the mountain center, both of which serve roughly 100 practitioners,” Levin said.

William Nyogen Yeo Sensei and Charles Tenshin Fletcher Sensei have been named acting abbots to head the Los Angeles and mountain centers, respectively. “They will be inducted as abbots sometime during 1997,” Levin said.

After Maezumi Roshi died, Bernard Tetsugen Glassman Roshi of Yonkers, N.Y., who was designated as the “first successor,” served as temporary abbot of the Los Angeles center in addition to his other duties.

The Zen Center, which has ties to the Soto Zen Buddhist sect in Japan, has been at 923 S. Normandie Ave. since 1969. Every Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., the center conducts Zen meditation instruction that is open to the public.

CONVENTION

More than 600 people are expected to attend the six-day West Coast convention of the Orthodox Union, which will start Friday night with a public talk on conversion by Rabbi Maurice Lamm at his former synagogue--Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills. Joining Lamm in the 8 p.m. forum Friday will be Rabbis Sholom Tendler and David Algaze.

Lamm, now of Englewood, N.J., will propose a broader approach to conversion of non-Jews within the framework of Jewish law, according to attorney David Gardner, program chairman for the convention at Holiday Inn of Beverly Hills.

On Dec. 22 at 1:15 p.m., religious pluralism and other issues facing Orthodox Judaism will be addressed by Rabbi Rafael Grossman of Memphis, Tenn., national president of the Rabbinical Council of America, and Mandel Ganchrow, president of the New York-based Orthodox Union. Registration is $18. (310) 777-0225.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

A Christmas musical set in pre-Pearl Harbor days and starring film and television professionals will be presented Sunday and Monday nights at Reseda Baptist Church. Gary Graham (“Alien Nation”), Blake Ewing (“Full House,” “Little Rascals”), Kathryn Zaremba (“Jeff Foxworthy Show”) and Mandie Pinto (a soloist in the Crystal Cathedral’s “The Glory of Christmas”) will perform in “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” starting at 7:30 both nights. Donation $6. (818) 881-3651.

* Bass soloist Matt Oberholzter will sing religious music by Schubert, Handel and Bach as well as traditional Christmas carols at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, at 3 p.m. Sunday. Donations. (818) 794-7141.

* Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 6657 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, will present “Christmas Around the World” at 3 p.m. Sunday, featuring director-pianist Christoph Bull, baritone John Schaefer and reader Michel Corban. Freewill offering. (213) 462-6311.

* Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed as part of the Christmas concert at the First Evangelical Free Church, 2801 N. Brea Blvd., Fullerton, at 7:30 p.m. today and 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Free. (714) 529-5544.

* Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd., will present its 51st annual Candlelight and Carols Concert at 7:30 p.m. today, featuring choirs of all ages, a brass quintet, a hand bell choir and audience carols. Freewill offering. (818) 793-2191.

* Bach’s “Magnificat” and Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Christus” will be performed Sunday at 2:30 p.m. by choirs and full orchestra at St. Therese Catholic Church, 510 N. El Molino Ave., Alhambra. Traditional carols will also be sung. Free. (818) 441-5401.

* Harpist Amanda Newmark and violinist Darryl Sim are among guest musicians taking part in the annual Christmas concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at Brookins Community African Methodist Episcopal Church, 4831 S. Gramercy Place, Los Angeles. (213) 296-5610.

* The Ruth St. Denis Liturgical Dancers will give a guest performance Sunday at University Christian Church, 5831 W. Centinela Ave., Westchester, in the church’s 7:30 p.m. Christmas concert, which includes a live Nativity scene. Free. (310) 358-3687.

* The ninth-annual Living Nativity musical concert outside Green Hills Baptist Church in La Habra will be presented today and Sunday at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, in the church parking lot at 2200 W. Imperial Highway. The holiday production, which includes live animals, will be repeated Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 22 at 8 p.m., weather permitting. Free. (310) 943-7291.

DATES

Rabbi Susan Laemmle, the new dean of religious life at USC, will talk about “religious commitments and pluralism” as the pulpit guest Sunday for the 11 a.m. service at First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, 2936 W. 8th St. (213) 385-6761.

CLARIFICATION

The headline for Southern California File on Dec. 7 incorrectly said that Reform rabbis this weekend would be reconsidering their policy on interfaith weddings. As the story indicated, only the lay Union of American Hebrew Congregations’ Board of Trustees--which represents the lay leadership of Reform synagogues in North America--will be discussing the issue at its Los Angeles meetings today and Sunday. That panel then can recommend changes to Reform Judaism’s rabbinical body. The UAHC’s 225-member board will hold most of its meetings at the Century Plaza Hotel except for a religious service and discussions today at the Skirball Cultural Center and Museum.

FINALLY

While many enjoy the “happy holidays” in December, others endure the anguish of broken relationships, family losses and unrealized hopes.

With that in mind, a “Blue Christmas Service” is being offered by the United Methodist Church of Garden Grove, 12741 Main St., at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

“We need a space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know that we are not alone,” said a church spokesman. The service will consist of prayers, sharing stories, Scripture reading and music with refreshments following. (714) 534-1070.

Notices may be mailed to Southern California File, c/o John Dart, L.A. Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311, or faxed to Religion desk (818) 772-3385. Items should arrive about three weeks before the event, except for spot news, and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.

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PEOPLE

Nydia Rojas, 16, a rising singer in Los Angeles’ Latino community who has been invited to perform during President Clinton’s second Inaugural in Washington next month, will be part of a benefit concert Sunday for East Los Angeles’ San Francisco Catholic Church.

The 2 p.m. concert at Eastmont Intermediate School, 400 N. Bradshaw Ave., Montebello, will also serve as a farewell for Father Juan Romero, who is soon to take over as pastor at St. Clement’s Parish in Santa Monica.

Rojas, under contract with the Arista/Latin record company, performs traditional Mexican songs and contemporary pop music. Proceeds will benefit the Montessori preschool started at the parish four years ago. Tickets will be $10 at the door.