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'Tis the season for holiday concerts

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas at churches around the island. Free concerts planned this month include the following:

» Tomorrow -- Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church, 5339 Kalanianaole Highway. The 4 p.m. "Eine Kleine Keiki Musik" is a sing-along concert for families, giving small children a close encounter with orchestra and chorus. At 7 p.m. the eighth annual "Community Christmas Singalong" will feature musicians from the University of Hawaii-Manoa MusEd Ensemble, as well as the young actors from Performing Arts at Calvary, Movement Center Keiki and Calvary Choir, and soloists. UH music education professor Arthur Harvey is the conductor.

» Tomorrow -- 6 p.m., Christ Church Uniting, 1300 Kailua Road, Kailua. The audience is encouraged to sing along with combined choirs in a presentation of Handel's "Messiah."

» Tomorrow -- 7:30 p.m., "Advent Lessons and Carols" will be presented at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Queen Emma Square. Organist and music director Arlan Sunnarborg and the Cathedral Choir will perform.

» Dec. 11 -- 7 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 45-435 Aumoku St., Kaneohe. The "Musical Christmas Gift" concert will feature the Hawaii String Orchestra, directed by Frederick Lau; St. Andrew's Priory choirs, directed by Dian Hermes; and Christmas Angel Harp Ensemble, of students of Sherene Boulos.

» Dec. 15 -- 7:30 p.m., St. Andrew's Cathedral, Queen Emma Square. The annual "Messiah Community Sing" gives the audience a chance to perform as the chorus. Arlan Sunnarborg will conduct.

» Dec. 18 -- 7 p.m., Nuuanu Congregational Church, 2651 Pali Highway. The Honolulu Chorale will present its annual Christmas concert.

Seminar focuses on dealing with death

Grief counselor George Osakoda will lead a discussion about "Dealing with Grief and Dying" next week in the continuing Dharma Dialogue program at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway.

The meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday is the latest in a series exploring issues of life in the light of human experience and Buddhist teaching. It is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to join in the dialogue.

For information, call 536-7044.