Religion notes

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Family

The Creation and the Creator, an Evening of Astronomy, will be presented from 6-9 p.m. Sunday at St. Peter Community Church. Professor Dan Tomandl will give a presentation of some basic astronomy suitable for a general audience. The presentation will be interspersed with demonstrations and audience participation activities. Outdoors (weather permitting) telescopes will be on hand to reveal Jupiter and its clouds and moons, our moon and more. You are encouraged to bring any binoculars and telescopes you may have. Children ages 8 and up are welcome. St. Peter Community church is at 2700 Will Road, Northbrook. (847) 272-2246.

Fundraisers

Shoe Drive for Soles4Souls, Inc., a nonprofit organization that gives away shoes worldwide, will be sponsored by Women's Fellowship of St. Peter Community Church, Northbrook. Men's, women's and children's new and lightly worn shoes and boots can be dropped off at the church at 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook. Please rubber-band pairs together. The shoes may be dropped off from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 31. For more information, call the church at (847) 272-2246.

When you are out and about shopping, keep in mind the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes that St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, will again be collecting. The drop-off dates for 2007 are Nov. 12-18. These boxes are delivered to children in desperate circumstances around the world. Call St. Peter Community Church office (847) 272-2246 for more information.

The Women's Guild of Christ Church UCC, located at 1492 Henry Ave. at Cora Street in Des Plaines, is having its fall rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and from 8-11 a.m. Wednesday. This fundraiser includes everything from knickknacks to clothing. Donations will be accepted at the church from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday. The proceeds will benefit the Church and Missions.

Queen of the Rosary Men's Club, 690 W. Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village, will host a Texas Hold'em No Limit Poker Tournament fundraiser Oct. 19. Participants must be at least 21/ID required. Doors open at 6 p.m. No entry after 7 p.m. Advance ticket sales preferred. Tickets will be sold at the door but limited to the first 100 paid entries. Entry costs $100, or $90 if purchased before Oct. 15. Make checks payable to: Queen of the Rosary. For more information, call John at (847) 370-4356 or Butch at (847) 980-3080

The Christ Church Council is sponsoring a Used Book Sale and Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 13. There will be a $5 early admission charge for entry from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Christ Church, 1492 Henry Ave., Des Plaines at the corner of Cora and Henry.

St. John's Episcopal Church, 200 N. Main St., Mount Prospect, will host an Oktoberfest celebration and fundraiser. Funds will go to help the Mount Prospect Historical Society relocate Central School -- one of the last one-room schoolhouses in Illinois.

All are welcome from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 13 for a celebration featuring beer, brats and other German favorites, as well as authentic German music and raffles.

For more information, call (847)392-1700.

The Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village will host a fundraiser today to benefit the Public Action to Deliver Shelter program.

PADS is a not-for-profit organization which serves the homeless from Oct. 1 through April 30. Christus Victor Lutheran Church has been a Tuesday evening PADS site for 14 years.

The 13th annual PADS 5K Walk for the homeless is set to take place at the Elk Grove Village Park District Pavilion. The entire community is urged to come out and walk for the homeless. Registration for walkers will begin at 8 a.m. today at the gazebo. Each walker can enjoy refreshments prior to the walk and will also receive a T-shirt for participation. The walk will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. as walkers wind through the residential streets of Elk Grove Village.

Pledges should be collected prior to the walk and turned in at time of registration. Pledges collected after the walk should be returned to PADS at Christus Victor, 1045 S. Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. Make checks payable to PADS at Christus Victor.

For more information, call (847) 437-2666.

Space reservations are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for the Pumpkinfest Craft Fair at Prince of Peace United Methodist Church in Elk Grove Village. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 at the church at the intersection of Arlington Heights Road and Devon Avenue.

People can reserve a 10-foot x 10-foot space for a cost of $35. For more information, call the church office at (847) 439-0668 or e-mail princepeaceumc@sbcglobal.net. Proceeds from the event benefit the church ministries and ministries throughout the world.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, 411 N. Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights, will host a Fall Fest and Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20. Crafters are needed for the craft fair. The fee is $35 for an 8-by-8-foot space and includes one table and one chair, or $60 for two spaces with two tables and two chairs. Electrical outlets are available upon request. Crafters will be allowed access as early at 7:30 a.m. for set up in the gymnasium. Crafters will be accepted on a first-come/first-served basis. For more information, call Denise Martin at (847) 828-2111.

Community Presbyterian Church, located in Mount Prospect at Elmhurst Road/Route 83 and Gregory Street, is looking for crafters to participate in its upcoming fall arts and crafts festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29. It will include indoor locations ($35 for one 8-foot table/$60 for two tables) or outdoor locations ($45 for 15-foot by 15-foot space) for crafters to display their handmade goods. The festival will also include a bake sale and brat fest. If interested, call the church office at (847) 392-3111 to get more information and receive a registration form.

Lectures, seminars

Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road., Des Plaines, hosts the workshop "Super Foods -- Fast Track to a Better You" at 7 p.m. Oct. 3. Julie Graber, founder and nurturing force behind Delightful Health, brings you a workshop that will provide you with the knowledge on how to eat "Super Foods."

For more information or to register, call (847) 297-0997.

Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines will host a Mysticism Workshop led by Caterina Pelligrino at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12. This course will bring new knowledge of spiritual truth and of the connection between the spiritual and physical realms. Participants will be taught about psychic skills and psychic healing through experiencing the higher self wherein the ego is demolished and one transcends into a high awareness with a deep understanding of existence.

The suggested love offering is $75, registration is required. For more information or to register, call (847) 297-0997.

The lecture series Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Woman Who Changed the Hemisphere, is coming to Des Plaines Sunday. Organized by the Knights of Columbus, the talk and accompanying slide show will be led by the Rev. Eduardo Chavez, postulator of St. Juan Diego's cause for sainthood, and a renowned expert on the Guadalupe apparitions.

The talk will be presented in Spanish at 2 p.m. Sunday at Maryville's Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, 1150 N. River Road, Des Plaines. For more information on the lecture series, go to www.kofc.org/guadalupe.

"Conscious Prosperity: The Secret to Simple & Lasting Personal Wealth" will be presented from 1:30-5 p.m. Oct. 7 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines. The workshop will be presented by John Moore, the "Debtfree Guru."

Each family receives a comprehensive 18-page Conscious Prosperity Program workbook. There is an optional 312-page textbook available for $49.95 and software for $59.95. A complete class description is available at www.debtfreeguru.com.

The workshop is offered on a voluntary, freewill-based tuition where the fee is payable at the completion and will be decided by you, based upon the value you feel you received from the content.

Register in advance at (847) 297-0997 to ensure adequate materials. Walk-ins are welcome.

Miscellaneous

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue will hold its first salon for prospective members. In the tradition of the historic salons, that aimed to enlighten and entertain through spirited dialogue, guests will engage in conversation about ways to lead a meaningful Jewish life that is exciting and even fun.

Shir Hadash's Rabbi Eitan Wiener-Kaplow will moderate the salon. Hosted by Shir Hadash members Gerry and Richard Freibrun, the Shir Hadash Salon will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11, at the Freibrun home in Riverwoods.

This event is free and open to the public. For directions and to R.S.V.P., contact the Shir Hadash office (847) 498-8218.

September is "National Recovery Month" and St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 1072 Ridge Ave., Elk Grove Village, which hosts 11 12-step meetings each week, is honoring all who seek to recover from addictions with a special program Sept. 30.

Recovery Sunday at the church begins with an Episcopal Mass at 9 am., followed by workshops on AA and Al-Anon at 10 a.m., ecumenical worship at 11 a.m., and a thank-you picnic at noon. All are welcome to participate in any or all of these activities.

The sermon at both liturgies will be preached by Cyndi B., a recovering alcoholic and member of St. Nicholas. Cyndi and her husband Bill, also a recovering alcoholic, will sing the offertory anthem at both liturgies that day.

More information is available on the Web site at onebreadonebody.org.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, will hold its annual Blessing of Pets at 2 p.m. Oct. 7. All pet lovers and their pets and members of the community, neighbors and friends are invited to join in this festive service to honor pets. Each pet will receive an individual blessing and a Certificate of Blessing. For more information, call (847) 827-6656.

Unity Northwest Church will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 6. LifeSource will be facilitating a blood drive at the church located at 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines. Even if you are not able to give blood, the UNW Outreach Ministry is looking for "Uniteers" to help out. Call Barb at (847) 271-1901 or Pam at (708) 867-3349 for more details.

A Blessing of Animals will be held at 9:45 a.m. Oct. 7 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights. You are invited to bring your pet to receive a blessing in observance of the day of St. Francis of Assisi. Bring adequate protection or restraint for your pet in the gathering in the back yard at church. In case of bad weather, the blessing will take place in All Saints Fellowship Hall. Contact the church office for more information, (847) 537-4353.

Grace Lutheran Church, 1624 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect, will have a pet blessing service at 4 p.m. Oct. 6 on the lawn in front of the church. The community is invited. Bring your pet and invite a neighbor or friend. (847) 824-7408.

Performances

Barrel of Monkeys will perform "That's Weird, Grandma," critically acclaimed assortments of scenes and songs adapted from at-risk Chicago Public School students, at 6:30 p.m. today at Park Ridge Community Church. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 children. Order tickets in advance. Contact Sasha Gerritson through the church office at (847) 823-3164 or via e-mail at sashagerritson@yahoo.com. Group rates available for 10 or more.

Trinity United Methodist Church, 605 W. Golf Road, Mount Prospect, begins this year's Fine Art's Series with the Chicago Trombone Authority. This concert will feature two of Chicago's most active trombonists, Russ Phillips and Tim Coffman. The 15-member CTA will be joined with a rhythm section to present this all-jazz concert at 4 p.m. Sept. 30. For more information, call (847) 439-0950.

Seniors

Life after fifty-five, the senior group of Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates, welcomes the Mystery Shop to present a mystery party. Join us at 6 p.m. Sept. 29 for dinner. The cost is $12 per person to cover dinner and entertainment. Call Leora at (847) 359-0439 for more information.

Special services

Northbrook Congregation Ezra-Habonim, 2095 Landwehr Road, Northbrook, will hold High Holy Day Services at the synagogue and at Glenbrook North High School's auditorium, 2300 Shermer Road in Northbrook. Synagogue memberships, which include High Holy Day tickets, are available for families, singles, and senior citizens. Reasonably priced individual High Holy Day tickets are also available. For more information, call (847) 480-1690. The schedule of services is as follows: today at 8 a.m. Yom Kippur at Glenbrook North High School Auditorium, and at 7:30 p.m. Yom Kippur -- Ne'ilah Concluding Service at Glenbrook North High School Auditorium.

Don't have a place for the High Holidays? There is a seat for you at Lubavitch Chabad, 755 Huehl Road, Northbrook. Yom Kippur services: today, 9 a.m. Shacharit, children's program 10:30 a.m., Yizkor 11:30 p.m., closing service 6:00 p.m. Membership and tickets not required. (847) 564-8770 or ChabadNorthbrook.com.

Olive Tree Congregation, a Messianic Jewish congregation of Jews and Gentiles following Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, invites all to worship for the High Holy Days.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today for Yom Kippur services. A Neilah service begins at 5 p.m. today, followed by a delicious break-fast meal.

All are also invited to join under the stars and the Sukkah, to celebrate erev Sukkot at 7 p.m. Wednesday, and to continue to rejoice together in God's faithfulness under the Sukkah on Shabbat, at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 29.

Children's classes and nursery care is available, and admission to services is free. For more information about the Olive Tree Congregation High Holy Day services, call (847) 222-1230 or visit the Web site at www.olive-tree.org. The congregation is at 203 E. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights.

Mount Prospect Bible Church, 505 W. Golf Road, will celebrate 50 years of ministry this Sunday, with a full day of anniversary activities.

A coffee hour will be held at 9:30 a.m. with an anniversary worship service beginning at 10:30 a.m. Former pastor the Rev. Charles Kiloski will speak at the morning worship service which will also include music and musicians from several years as well as a presentation of the continuing ministry of the church.

A catered luncheon by reservation will follow the morning service and a 3 p.m. anniversary celebration will follow the reunion choir rehearsal. The afternoon program will cover the five decades with music and images and will recognize former staff members in attendance. Former pastor the Rev. C. Sumner Wemp will conclude the afternoon.

The public is invited to share in this special day.

The Rev. Paul Flesner will return to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights, at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday as guest preacher in the 50th Anniversary Jubilee series honoring former senior pastors of the congregation. Flesner served Good Shepherd from 1985-2005. The church is a congregation of the ELCA. Contact the church office for more information, (847) 537-4353.

St. Emily Parish in Mount Prospect is holding a parish revival this week, Monday-Wednesday, in the parish church. The Rev. Brian Walker, OP is the revivalist, and parish choirs will be providing the inspirational music. The theme of the revival is WISH--a Wild Infusion of the Spirit Here. It begins each evening at 7 p.m. The church is at 1400 E. Central Road. (847) 824-5049.

Des Plaines Bible Church, 946 Thacker in Des Plaines, now offers two Sunday morning services. The first service is at 8:30 a.m. with fellowship/coffee time from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m. The second service begins at 10:30 a.m. Child care is provided at both services.

A special Healing Service will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines It will be facilitated by Caterina Pelligrino, renowned healer from Brazil, and the Rev. Patty Pipia.

A suggested freewill offering of $30 will be accepted. For more information, call the Unity Northwest Church office at (847) 297-0997.

Christ Church will celebrate Homecoming Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. All present and past members and friends of Christ Church are invited to join in, as we enjoy our 115th Year of Ministry. Christ Church is at 1492 Henry Ave. in Des Plaines at the corner of Cora Street and Henry Avenue.

Women's programs

St. Cecilia Parish in Mount Prospect is hosting a Women's Retreat with Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, OFM. The retreat, "Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace: Reflections on the Peace Prayer of St. Francis," will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 6

All are welcome. The cost for the retreat is $15, which includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks. For more information or to register, call the parish office at (847) 437-6208 by Friday.

St. John Brebeuf Parish, 8307 N. Harlem Ave., Niles, will hold its annual luncheon Oct. 20 at the Park Ridge Country Club. The luncheon sponsored by the St. John Brebeuf Catholic Women's Club and will feature lunch followed by an outerwear fashion show and entertainment by Frank Pisani, singer/impressionist. Tickets cost $35 per person and are available by calling (847) 966-8145.