Central Union Church is beginning its next session of the Alpha Course, which explores the meaning of life and asks questions about the Christian faith.

The free, three-hour, 10-week Saturday sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. March 29 at Central Union's Makai Room in the Parish Hall.

Alpha books have been translated into Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

Information: The Rev. Ron Ching, 440-3007 or ron-ching@centralunionchurch.org.

COUNCIL'S FLOWER FESTIVAL MARKS BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY

The Hawaii Buddhist Council is sponsoring the Buddha's Birthday Celebration at 9 a.m. April 13 at Ala Moana Park's McCoy Pavilion.

The program will include song, prayer, offerings of flowers and incense, and entertainment by the children of the various Buddhist temples on O'ahu.

The Hawaii Buddhist Council consists of seven major Buddhist sects: Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, Jodo Mission of Hawaii, Koyasan Shingon Mission of Hawaii, Nichiren Mission of Hawaii, Soto Mission of Hawaii and Tendai Mission of Hawaii. Buddha's Birthday is the day when Prince Siddhartha, who later became Shakyamuni Buddha, was born; it's also called Hana-matsuri, or Flower Festival.

Information: the Rev. Irene Matsumoto, 737-5177.

SWAMI'S YOGA PROGRAM TO HELP OVERCOME STRESS

Swami Bhaskarananda, a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order and the spiritual guide for the Vedanta Society of Hawaii, will give a series of four talks beginning at 11 a.m. April 6 at 1040 Richards St., Room No. 309. "Overcoming Stress Through Yoga" is the first talk. Bhaskarananda wrote "Meditation Mind and Patanjali's Yoga."

Information: 734-1760.