Crystal Cathedral Plans Tree-Lighting

The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove will light up one of the nation’s tallest Christmas trees Nov. 22.

The Rev. Robert H. Schuller will preside over a ceremony that also will honor six people for overcoming difficult circumstances.

The event will begin with lighting of a 70-foot tree and 250,000 lights on more than 100 smaller trees on the cathedral grounds. The big tree, a white pine, will be aglitter with 50,000 lights, church officials said.

The church’s Scars Into Stars award recipients include June Scobee Rodgers, who lost her astronaut husband to the Challenger disaster but later founded 25 Challenger Centers around the nation, dedicated to encouraging students to appreciate science.

Also honored will be Linda Biehl, who works to improve the lives of South African people living in the area where her daughter was killed during a riot.

Steve and Mary Turville, who are trying to bring faith to others after their son was slain by a man he was helping, also will receive an award.

Also honored will be Wally Amos, who launched a nationally known cookie business and, after suffering reverses, came back with another successful cookie business.

The final recipient will be Max Cleland, elected to the U.S. Senate from Georgia after losing both legs and an arm to a grenade in Vietnam.

For more information on the event, which begins at 6 p.m., call (714) 971-4069.