A "Rays of Hope for Gaza" fundraiser, featuring music, songs, poetry and theater, will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today at the Harris United Methodist Church. Mahmoud Darwish's poetry will be read and a video that includes peace activist Ann Wright's recent trip to Gaza will be shown.

The event features master percussionist Souhail Kaspar of Los Angeles, oud player and singer Rachid Halihal of New York, qanoon player Anas Nasr and Hawai'i musicians.

Kaspar, born in Lebanon, trained at Nadi al-Fonun al-Arabia (Conservatory of Traditional Arabic Music) in Aleppo, Syria, in both classical and ethnic Arabic techniques. His body of recorded work includes soundtrack credits for the movies "The Prince of Egypt" and "Sinbad," and for the documentaries "The Region of the Nile," "Darfur Now" and "The Great Bazaars." Kaspar was featured as guest percussionist on the CD "Caravan" with the Kronos Quartet, and "When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq" for the Smithsonian Institution, nominated for the 2008 Grammy for traditional world music.

Tickets are $20 adults, $10 students, free for youth 12 and under. Proceeds support nonprofit organizations working in Gaza, including Islamic Relief USA, Middle East Children's Alliance, and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. Middle Eastern homemade meze (snacks) will be available, and a silent auction featuring fair-trade Palestinian items begins at 5 p.m.

Call 947-5828 for details. The church is at 20 S. Vineyard Blvd.

LOCAL FAVORITES AT SPRING BAZAAR

"It's a Matter of Taste," Honpa Hongwanji, Hawai'i Betsuin's 2009 Taste of Hongwanji Spring Bazaar, will be held from 8 a.m. to noon tomorrow.

Featured will be local favorites such as fried noodles and beef stew, Waffle Dogs and Peanut Butter Shakes reminiscent of the old KC Drive Inn, shave ice, sushi and boiled peanuts; also meats, including huli huli chicken, smoked turkey, kalua pig, smoked chicken — and sausage specially prepared and shipped from Papa'aloa Hongwanji Mission on the Big Island.

The temple's signature cookbooks (six editions) will highlight a shoppers' bazaar also offering used clothing, small appliances, cookware, dishes, jewelry, antiques, plants, cut flowers and imported quilts.

Entertainment will be by the Dharma School Taiko Group, a jazz combo and other local performers.

For information on scrip, or donation drop off (plants, baked goods, closet treasures), call 536-7044.

O'AHU ANGLICANS MAY ORGANIZE

Monday, Anglican Christians on O'ahu will gather to consider the formation of an Anglican congregation here.

Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith that either has historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures.

The meeting will be led by the Rev. Christopher "King" Cole, of North Carolina, who has been instrumental in the formation of Orthodox Biblical Anglican congregations elsewhere. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Kailua High School, Music Room.

Another informational meeting, followed by communion, will be at 7 p.m. March 22, also at the school.

Cole will officiate at Anglican services at 7:45 a.m., March 15, 22 and 29 at Kailua Assembly of God Church.

Information: Jim Tilton, 236-2276.

SERVICE HONORS PEACE ACTIVIST

A candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Church of the Crossroads to mark the sixth anniversary of the death of Rachel Corrie.

Corrie, 23, was an American peace activist crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003, while nonviolently trying to prevent demolition of a Palestinian family's home.

Offerings collected at the vigil will be donated to Gazan relief efforts.

Information: 949-2220.

O-HIGAN PERIOD TO BE OBSERVED

O-higan, a weeklong period twice a year during spring and fall equinoxes, will be observed next week at Honpa Hongwanji, Hawaii Betsuin.

O-higan, a time families also visit and honor the graves of the departed, will be observed with guest speakers, the Rev. Gene Sekiya, of the Nishi Hongwanji International Center in Kyoto, Japan, and Taishin Kawazoe, professor of Shin Buddhism at Ryukoku University.

Services are 7 p.m. March 21 (English service, Rev. Sekiya); 7:30 a.m. March 22 (Japanese service, Kawazoe); 9 a.m. March 22 (Dharma School service, Rev. Sekiya); 10 a.m. March 22 (adult English service, Rev. Sekiya), and 1 p.m. March 22 (Japanese service by the Rev. Yukiko Motoyoshi, temple associate chief minister).

Information: 536-7044.