Notes on Religion

Notes on religion

E-mail DuPageFaith@dailyherald.com or fax items to (630) 955-0895.

The Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett was presented with an award declaring it one of 150 great places in Illinois. The award, presented by the American Institute of Architects, commemorated its 150 years of service to the profession and nation. More than 70 architects visited the Bartlett Hindu community and honored the members and architecture practices used to build the modern facility.

Today

First Presbyterian Church will hold a Back to School worship service from 5 to 6 p.m. today at the church, 550 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. At this service, school supplies for refugee children in local communities will be collected. For details, visit www.firstpresge.org or call (630) 469-2007.

Central Baptist Village will hold its annual open house from 1 to 4 p.m. today at 4747 N. Canfield Ave., Norridge. The event features tours and entertainment with Milt Trenier. For details, call (708) 583-8500.

Pro-Life Parish Committees will hold a public rally from 9 to 11 a.m. today at the Planned Parenthood Clinic, 3051 E. New York St., Aurora. For details, call (773) 251-8792.

Sunday

Congregation Etz Chaim will hold a prospective member open house from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the congregation, 1710 S. Highland Ave., Lombard. For details, visit www.congetzchaim.org or call (630) 627-3912.

Harvest Bible Chapel will continue its sermon series, Leave It at the High School, at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the church, Glenbard South High School, 23W200 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn. The series is a countdown through Sept. 30, prior to the move Oct. 7 to its new permanent home at 1805 High Point Drive, Naperville. For details, call (630) 281-4800.

Lombard Assembly of God will resume the children's puppet show Bible study Sunday at the church, 447 W. North Ave., Lombard. For details, call (630) 629-3388.

Lamplighter Bible Church will hold a Grand Opening Celebration Service and reception at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, 359 W. Irving Park Road, Roselle. The pastors are Paul and Laura Giersz. For details, call (630) 295-8585.

Tuesday

St. Luke Lutheran Church in Itasca will hold a support group for people who have been diagnosed with cancer at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 410 S. Rush St., Itasca. The group meets the first and third Tuesday of each month. For details, call the Rev. Alex Duff at (630) 773-0396.

Wednesday

The DuPage Center of Religious Science meets at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays at Royal Glen Office Complex, 1200 Roosevelt Road, Suite 140, Glen Ellyn.

The center offers Camp Consciousness, a summer Wednesday night series, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The next topic is Compassionate Communications.

For details, visit www.dupagechurch.org or call (630) 495-6626.

Thursday

Knox Presbyterian Church will present a free 12-week education course with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Family to Family, beginning Thursday at the church, 1105 Catalpa Lane, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-8181. The course also will be offered beginning Sept. 12 at the NAMI office, 1403 N. Main St., Suite 301, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 752-0066.

Friday

A new Christian social group for single, divorced and widowed members in the Addison area will begin meeting at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at a local restaurant. The group will plan activities. For details, call (630) 202-0333.

Sept. 2

Christ the King Parish Center will feature the Ortorio "Song of Songs," directed by Joel Everett, at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at the church, 1501 S. Main St., Lombard. For details, e-mail musicformovies@aol.com or call (630) 915-4449.�

Lombard Assembly of God will feature guest speakers at services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, 447 W. North Ave., Lombard. Speakers include David Redmond Sept. 2, Barry Shepherd Sept. 9, Bill Anagnos Sept. 16 and 30, and Dan Biegler Sept. 23. For details, call� (630) 629-3388.

Sept. 7

The Cenacle Retreat will feature a retreat with Sister Mary Meegan and "Female Ancestors of Jesus" Sept. 21-23 at the center, 29W012 Batavia Road, Warrenville. The fee prior to Sept. 7 is $175 for a single, $160 for a double. After Sept. 7 add $20.

The interactive retreat for adults ages 21 to 39 is "Sacred Fun: Hanging with God in Movies, Music and Sports" Sept. 21-23. The fee prior to Sept. 14 is $175 for a single, $160 for a double. After Sept. 14, add $20.

A $40 deposit secures the reservation. For details, call (630) 393-1231.

Sept. 8

Wheaton College will present "Songs for Sacred Spaces" by 1978 alumna Sylvia McNair at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 in Pierce Memorial Chapel, Washington and Franklin streets, Wheaton. Tickets are $30; $20 for seniors older than 60. Tickets can be ordered online at www.artistseries.org or by calling (630) 752-5010.

The Theosophical Society in America will hold its annual TheosoFest 2007 at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 8 at the society, 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton. The event will feature speakers, meditation, a labyrinth and drumming. Admission is free; however, parking is $3. For details, visit www.theosophical.org or call (630) 668-1571.

Immanuel, Peace and St. John's, the United UCC churches of Bensenville, will hold a craft show and flea market from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at St. John's Church, 601 N. Route 83, Bensenville. The rain date is Sept. 15. For details, call (630) 766-3848.

The Evangelical Covenant Church of Villa Park will celebrate its 50th anniversary beginning with a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Diplomat West in Elmhurst.

The celebration will continue with services at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 9, followed by a luncheon, at the church, Summit Avenue and Riordan Street, Villa Park.

For details or tickets to the Saturday luncheon, call (630) 279-5249,�

St. Matthew Church will hold Super Saturday for families beginning� with a 5K run and walk at 8 a.m. Sept. 8 at the church, 1555 Glen Ellyn Road, Glendale Heights. The event includes a carnival and games and rides from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., as well as authentic Mexican and Filipino food. Evening entertainment features Retro Rockets and juggler Andy Head. Admission is free. For details, call (630) 469-6300.

Sept. 9

First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton will offer its new member class "Believing, Belonging, Becoming: Preparing to Join the Church," at 9:55 a.m. Sept. 9-30 at the church, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton.

Regular worship resumes at 7:30, 8:40 and 11 a.m. Sept. 9, with a Catch the Spirit picnic at 3 p.m. Sept. 9. Those attending should sign up before the event.

A new session of classes will be at 9:55 a.m. Sundays, Sept. 9 to Oct. 14, and include parenting classes, the Jewish Holy Days and The Theological Path.

For details, visit www.firstpreswheaton.org or call (630) 668-5147.��

Calvary United Pentecostal Church will host its second annual Party in the Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 9 at Highview Park, Addison Road and Lincoln Avenue, Addison. The event will include music, food, beverages, games, a petting zoo, face painting, a clown, and prize raffle. For details, call (630) 628-6866.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church will begin a five-week series, "Meeting Jesus in Pop Culture," by author Rodney Clapp from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Sept. 9 at the church, 22W415 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn.

The class "Simply Christian" will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays beginning Sept. 13 at the church.

A Seminar on Christian Hospitality will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 14 and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 15. The seminar will be taught by Elizabeth Newman, author of "Untamed Hospitality: Welcoming God and Other Strangers. "

For details, visit www.stbarnabas-episcopal.com or call (630) 469-1394.

St. John's Lutheran School and Church will hold a dedication weekend for its new school at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 at the church, Maple and Lincoln avenues, Lombard. The event includes tours of the facility at 2 p.m. For details, call (630) 627-2515.

Lutheran Church of the Master will offer Boundaries, an eight-week session of hour- long classes Sundays, Oct. 7 to Nov. 25, at the church, 580 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream. Deadline for registration and payment of workbook fee is Sept. 9. For details, call (630) 665-3384.

Loretto Fest, an open house, is planned from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Loretto Convent, 1600 Somerset Lane, Wheaton. The event includes games, tours and a jazz band. For details, call (630) 682-9097.

Grace Lutheran Church will hold regular services and a Blessing of the Backpacks at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 at the church, 493 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. The service is part of Rally Day for students and adults to begin their classes of Bible study for the church year. For details, call (630) 469-1555.

Calvary Episcopal Church will hold its annual picnic at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 9 at Johnson's Mound on Hughes Road in Elburn. The event is open to the community, with those attending asked to bring a dish to pass. In case of rain the picnic will be at the church, 222 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. For details, call (630) 879-3378.

Sept. 10

First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton will offer its ongoing grief recovery program, Beginning Again, at 9:30 a.m. beginning Sept. 10 in the church's living room, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton. For details or to register, call the Rev. Caryle Wilkie at (630) 668-5147, ext. 13.

Wheaton Bible Church will offer its support group for children and parents struggling with changes in their families including death and divorce from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, beginning Sept. 10, at the church, Main and Franklin streets, Wheaton.

Treasured Promises is offered for children in kindergarten through eighth grade and includes dinner each week.

DivorceCare, for adults, will meet at the same time.

The program is free; however, there is a $15 charge for the DivorceCare workbook. For details, call Ben Merrill at (630) 588-7175.

Addison Aglow International hold a praise and worship titled "One Hour with Jesus" from 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 10 at Addison Presbyterian Church, 233 N. Mill Road, Addison. The service is open to women, men and teens. Baby-sitting is not available. For details, visit www.aglow.org or call Nancy at (630) 543-3016.