Cathedral Church of St. Andrew will have its Candlemas service at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2.

The Festival of Candlemas, one of the oldest holidays in the Christian calendar, is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, or the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. It commemorates when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to Jerusalem to be presented, according to Jewish law. Prophet Simeon, who had been promised by an angel that he would not die before being able to see the Messiah, fell down in prayer upon seeing him and said, "Now let thy servant depart in peace," which became the "Nunc Dimittis" the great Canticle of Evensong, or Vespers.

As part of the candlelight service, the Cathedral Choirs will sing.

Information: 524-2822.

UNITED CHURCH OFFERING BIBLES

The Hawai'i Conference of the United Church of Christ, working with United Bible Societies, recently reprinted Pohnpeian Bibles, which had long been out of print.

UCC has 1,100 copies available. Only 1,200 copies of the 1999 Hawaiian Hymnal, "Na Himeni O Ka 'Ekalesia," were published and these will be available as well.

Individual purchases of the Pohnpeian Bible and Hawaiian Hymnal can be made at the UCC office, 1848 Nu'uanu Ave., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Cost: Bibles, $15; hymn books, $20 (church rates available).

Information: Trudie China, 537-9516, tchina@hcucc.org or www.hcucc.org.

PASTOR TO ADDRESS INTERFAITH GROUP

The Rev. Ron Williams, the new senior pastor of Community Church of Honolulu in Nu'uanu, will address the Interfaith Open Table at 7 a.m. Feb. 6 at the First Unitarian Church, 2500 Pali Highway.

Williams had served as associate minister of children and families at Central Union.

Information: Sam Cox, 779-3606.

SPIRITUAL LECTURE AT CHAMINADE

Sister Joan Chittister will give a free lecture on "Spirituality and Culture" at 4 p.m. April 6 at the Mystical Rose Oratory on the Chaminade University campus.

Chittister has written more than 35 books and received seven Catholic Press Awards for her work, including "Welcome to the Wisdom of the World." She's also been seen on "Meet the Press" and Bill Moyer's show, as well as served as commentator for the BBC during Pope John Paul II's funeral.

The lecture and a preceding workshop are part of the Mackey Lecture series. The workshop will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5; cost is $15 ($20 at the door, free for students, faculty and staff), includes light refreshments. Registration by March 31 guarantees a box lunch.

Information: Brother Dennis Schmitz, 735-4801 or www.marianisthawaii.org.

BUDDHIST CENTER TEACHER TO TALK

The Kailua Shambhala Meditation Center is offering two programs next month with Acharya Allyn Lyon.

Lyon, of Mexico and California, is a senior Shambhala Buddhist teacher appointed by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. She has served as director of the Shambhala Mountain Center and has taught at Vajradhatu Seminary.

She'll be giving a free lecture, "Introduction to Five Buddha Families," at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the center, 25 Kane'ohe Bay Drive, Suite 205.

There also will be a four-day "Maitri Space Awareness" retreat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 23 to 26; $300 (includes lunches and teas).

Information/registration: 342-6298; info@ksbcenter.org or www.ksbcenter.org.