Waiokeola Congregational Church's Christmas pageant will be a special affair called "The Wonders of Christmas in Art and Song."

Church members create four tableaux representing Christmas art, starting with the Renaissance up to modern times. They will be presented in a life-size picture frame with people who physically resemble the characters posed and costumed to duplicate such paintings as Fra Angelico's "The Annunciation."

Augmenting the art will be dance, narrations and music by violinist Amanda Schubert, a symphony musician, and a combined choir.

The free program will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 9 in the sanctuary at the church, 4507 Kilauea Ave.

Information: 734-0846 or wrightd033@hawaii.rr.com.

QUESTIONING GOD'S EXISTENCE

Astrophysicist Victor Stenger, author of "God: The Failed Hypothesis — How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist," will speak at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Campus Center Ballroom.

Stenger is an emeritus professor of physics and astronomy at UH and is an adjunct professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder. A panel of UH faculty members will respond.

The free discussion is sponsored by the Waterhouse Lecture Series; Youth for Christ is organizing it.

Information: 946-1300.

FILM EXAMINES DENIAL IN BURMA

"Total Denial," a documentary about Burma, will be shown in a free screening at 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Unitarian Church, 2500 Pali Highway.

"Total Denial" is about the relationship between multinational corporations and the military regime in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

After the screening there will be a discussion with a Burmese guest speaker and light refreshments.

The event is sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship-O'ahu.

Information: Karla Kral, 371-6080.

FREE LECTURES ON SHIN BUDDHISM

The Rev. Dr. Mark T. Unno will give two free lectures on Shin Buddhist spirituality at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Honpa Hongwanji temple annex, 1727 Pali Highway.

Unno, a professor of Japanese Buddhism at the University of Oregon, is author of "Shingon Refractions: Myoe and the Mantra of Light" and editor of "Buddhism and Psychotherapy Across Cultures."

Information: 536-7044.

EPISCOPAL BISHOP WILL GIVE THANKS

The Right Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i, will deliver the thanksgiving message at the annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Day service, 9 a.m. Thursday at Central Union Church.

Contributions of canned goods and money will be received to distribute to agencies who serve the needy.

Information: 941-0957.

HOLIDAY EVENT AT ST. ANTHONY

The Windward Coalition of Churches' annual celebration of Thanksgiving will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 148 Makawao St. in Kailua.

The event includes Windward Seventh-day Adventist School Bell Choir, a homily by Ken Anderson of Family Promise, Hawaii, and a hula halau.

Information: The Rev. Darren Galindo, 254-3802 or wind warducc@hawaii.rr.com.