Your faith

Adult education

A Marriage Encounter Retreat Weekend will be held today-Sunday at Holy Family Parish, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness. The Saturday time is 7:30-9:30 a.m.; Sunday time is 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (includes Mass.) All are welcome. For registration or more information, call the parish office at (847) 359-0042 or (847) 907-3441.

Fundraisers

Woodfield Women's Connection presents "The Little Black Dress" from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Poplar Creek Country Club, 1400 Popular Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates. Hear Dorothy Smith share tips on how to use your own wardrobe to enhance your appearance. Dorothy had dreams of a glamorous, beautiful and perfect life. An ordinary girl growing up, she will share how her reality fulfilled those dreams. Dinner and program cost $16. R.S.V.P. by Wednesday by e-mail at wwconnection@msn.com or by calling Mickey at (847) 490-9881. A $1 discount will be given to everyone who responds before cutoff date and an additional $1 discount if you bring one or more donation items for a food drive.

A rummage sale and bake sale will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. today at the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, 800 E. Palatine Road. All proceeds from the sale go toward mission projects, many of which are local.

St. Theresa Women's Club will host a flower show, "Holiday Blooms" at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Dolan Center, 455 N. Benton St., Palatine. Floral demonstrations will be presented by Patti's Pretties Flower Shoppe of Palatine, Jewel-Osco, Dundee Road, Sylvia's Flowers of Arlington Heights and B. J. Florist of Roselle. Daniel Stober, horticulturist and floral designer of 2006, will narrate the show. Your ticket will give you the chance to win one of the dozens of beautiful flower arrangements and free refreshments. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. For tickets and information, call (847) 776-5176

The annual Lobster Fest will take place today at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington. Lobsters cost $16 alive) or $18 for cooked when paying by check or cash. If using a credit card they cost $17 alive) or $19 cooked.

All proceeds will go to FISH Barrington providing transportation to those who can't afford it as well as helping pay for supplies to help rebuild homes for those still affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Lobsters can be picked up at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, 6 Brinker Road, Barrington Hills, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To place your order, call (847) 381-0975.

The annual CROP Hunger Walk will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 14, stepping off from Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church, 1025 N. Smith Road, Palatine. Walkers should be at Countryside Church no later than 1:30 p.m. to register and are encouraged to bring good walking shoes and water. The journey will take participants through nearby neighborhoods and forest preserve trails.

Organizations interested in sponsoring this event may contact Janet Young at the Church World Service at (888) 297-2767 or by e-mail at jyoung@churchworldservice.org.

For more information, including directions to the church, call (847) 359-8440 or visit www.ccuu.org.

The Barrington Area will hold its 25th anniversary CROP Hunger Walk Oct. 14. Churches, schools, civic organizations, and people of all ages are invited to walk the 10K route and get pledges in an effort to fight hunger in the community and around the world. The walk and all of its festivities will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Barrington Middle School Station Campus and end there with chili and refreshments. There are many ways to be involved: be a walker, be a sponsor, provide chili or provide cookies. To learn more, call Dennis Rossow at (847) 726-9171 or any participating church or school representative.

Living Faith Cathedral Worship Center Church will have its Seventh Anniversary Fashion Show and Benefit Banquet at 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at Hyatt Regency Woodfield, 1800 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. The banquet theme is "Seeking his kingdom -- receiving his riches!" (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). This year's proceeds will benefit the Capital Building Fund of LFCWC. Anniversary banquet/fashion show tickets cost $75 for adults and $37.50 for those under 13. Call (847) 382-1830 for reservations or ticket information and make all checks payable to Living Faith CWC Church. Contributions are tax-exempt to the extent allowable by law. Make reservations by Oct. 12. The executive offices for Living Faith CWC Church are at 1250 S. Grove Ave, Suite 200, Barrington.

The Barrington United Methodist Women will host its annual rummage sale Oct. 12-13 at the Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road. The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 12 and 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 13. There will also be a half-price sale from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 12 in selected departments. Saturday shoppers can take advantage of the bargain Bag Sale, with all of the goodies you can fit into a $5 bag in selected departments.

Donations of goods will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7; from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9; and from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 10. Tax donation receipts will be available.

For information, call (847) 836-5540 or visit www.BarringtonUMC.com.

Lectures, seminars

Holy Family Church, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness, will show the award-winning film "Deliver Us From Evil," at 7 p.m. Friday in Common Ground. This film gives insight into the problem of child sexual abuse, from the experience and eyes of a pedophile who spoke openly about his lifestyle. Oliver O'Grady presents a transparent profile of an individual who "grooms" his victims and their families in an effort to build trust. This film will prepare families to recognize warning signs.

Holy Family Parish, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, will host special guest speaker Robert Ludwig, Ph.D., who will present "Reconstructing Catholicism: Our Way into the Future" at 7 p.m. Oct. 10. All are welcome. For information, call the parish office at (847) 359-0042 or (847) 907-3441.

Miscellaneous

St Paul United Church of Christ in Barrington will host a Blessing of the Animals at 2 p.m. Oct. 28. After the pet blessing, stay for food, face painting, vet and pet adoption information and lots of fun. You and your pet might even want to come dressed for Halloween. St Paul is at 401E. Main St. For information, call (847) 381-0460, or check the Web site at www.stpaulUCCbarrington.org.

Lutheran Church of the Atonement, along with Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, is offering health screening from 7-11 a.m. Oct. 27 at the church, 909 E. Main St. (Lake-Cook Road) in Barrington.

The screening includes testing to pinpoint potential risk factors: Finger Stick Cholesterol Panel (HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose) as well as blood pressure, body fat analysis and osteoporosis screening. The cost per person is $25, payable at the time of registration. A limited number of appointments are available.

A 12-hour fast is required prior to the cholesterol test. For information and to schedule an appointment, call HealthAdvisor 1-800-323-8622 and mention Code 3-C56.

Performances

French Creole Fiddler Dennis Stroughmatt will perform at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road, Palatine.

Considered an authority on French Creole music, he'll perform fiddle music as well as spin a few tall tales. There is no charge for this presentation.

Call the church for information, (847) 358-4600.

Special services

The Community Church of Barrington, 407 Grove Ave., Barrington, will celebrate its 160th anniversary Sunday. Sunday School, for all ages, at 9:30 a.m. followed by the morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. There will be a luncheon following the service. For more information, call (847) 381-1294.

St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 1201 E. Anderson Drive, Palatine, will present The Living Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17.

Participants will gather in semi-darkness to recite the Luminous Mysteries. As each bead is lead, a candle will be lit, until the formation of the rosary is illuminated, surrounding the congregation. Single persons, couples or families will lead each bead. Other languages beside English will be represented. Worship aids and "How to Pray the Rosary" pamphlets will be handed out. Cord mission rosaries blessed with Holy Water from Lourdes will be available to all. Hospitality will follow in the Gathering Area. For information, call Elayne Maruska, (847) 358-0089.

A prayer service for peace in the Middle East will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 Main St. in Barrington. The service includes reading from the Bible, music and prayers for peace in the Middle East.

Following the service there will be a presentation "What is daily life like for the ordinary Palestinian?" by Ed and Marilyn Thompson. The Thompsons traveled with a group from Chicago to the Holy Land in April 2007 and since have become advocates for the plight of Palestinian people.

The service will continue to be held on the 15th of each month until a just and lasting peace is achieved. For more information, call (847) 381-0243 or visit the Web site at www.elca.org/middleeast.

Women's programs

Join the Women's Book Group of St Paul United Church of Christ Oct. 9 for a lively discussion of Elain Pagel's best-selling book "The Gnostic Gospels. The group meets at 10 a.m. in the church library. There is no fee, but please read the book in order to fully participate. The next meeting will be Nov. 13 with "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. St Paul is at 401 E. Main St. in Barrington. (847) 381-0460.

To submit items, e-mail faith@dailyherald.com, or send fax to (847) 427-1301.