Your faith

Adult education

The Buffalo Grove Writers Group will meet from 7-9 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month beginning Tuesday at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 401 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. Questions? Call Cindy Miller at (847) 459-6337.

A small group is exploring how the "seven deadly sins" and "holy virtues" are revealed in the classic situation comedy, "Gilligan's Island."

The popular television show, which ran from 1964 to 1967, concerned the adventures of seven castaways on a tropical island. The seven deadly sins include sloth, anger, lust, pride, greed, gluttony and envy.

The group, which is using a Bible video series as the basis of its discussion, meets every other Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at North Northfield United Methodist Church at Sanders and Dundee roads in Northbrook. The next meeting will be today.

The public is invited to participate. For information, call (847) 272-2250 or visit the church's Web site at www.northnorthfield.org.

Children, teens

Shalom Memorial Park and Shalom Memorial Funeral Home sponsored an art contest, inviting students from area Jewish schools and day schools to submit original artwork depicting something associated with Jewish life, holidays, symbols, rituals or Israel.

The winners and finalists in this year's competition from Congregation Beth Judea are: Courtney Shub (first place), Sophia Podber, Kylie Rose Repsold and Jacob Cohen.

The calendars are available in the Beth Judea office, Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. (847) 634-0777.

Troop 92 of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hawthorn Woods, will sponsor a Boy Scout Day of Fun from 2 to 5 p.m. today. Any fifth- through eighth-grade boy is welcome to attend the free event.

The troop will show boys what Boy Scouting is all about with camping demonstrations; first-aid activities; fire building; model rocket launching (they have some available or you can bring your own); as well as other outdoor games. The Scouts will prepare Dutch oven treats by the campfire.

Parents are welcome to attend. Prizes will be awarded. The event will be held rain or shine at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, on Old McHenry Road between Quentin and Midlothian roads. For information, call Scoutmaster Mark Freshour at (847) 275-7099 or charter representative Ron Behrens at (847) 526-9383.

JCC's got Shabbat? will present CircEsteem! from 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Congregation Beth Am, 225 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Enjoy crafts, snacks, Havdallah and CircEsteem! Check out their juggling and amazing tricks. Then get into the act and spin plates or balance a feather. This program is open to the community free. Projects designed for families with children ages 4-8, but all are welcome. (847) 412-4225.

Fundraisers

A Mah Jongg Tournament will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Michael's Red Hots, Route 22 and Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. Dairy lunch is included. There will be awards and raffles. Table of four is $30 per person. Payment is due Oct. 7. For a registration form, e-mail dianeruss@juno.com. The event is a fund-raiser for the Hadassah -- Henrietta Szold Group, a part of Hadassah North Shore. For more information, call (847) 433-6350.

St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will have a Church Auction Fundraiser. Auctions will be held Sunday, with proceeds used to further the ministry of St. Philip to the community at large. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. A Silent Auction will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and a Live Auction from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Donated items for auction would be appreciated. For more information, visit the church Web site at staff@stphilip.info.

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.

St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, will have its annual Turkey Dinner Oct. 17. Seating begins at 5 p.m. The dinner includes turkey roasted by Sunset Food, potatoes, dressing, vegetable, slaw, cranberries, rolls, dessert and beverage. You can purchase tickets after church on Sundays at 11 a.m. or you can purchase tickets from the church office, (847) 272-2246. Adult tickets are $15 and Children, 3-12, $5.

Lectures, seminars

Congregation Beth Judea will welcome U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk at 10 a.m. Oct. 14 at Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. His talk will be "Israel in the Balance."

Admission is free and the community is welcome. For information, call (847) 634-0777.

North Shore Unitarian, 2100 Half Day Road (Route 22) in Deerfield, will show the documentary "What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire" at 7 p.m. Friday. This documentary is a disturbing, compassionate, sometimes humorous personal film about coming to grips with resource crises, environmental meltdown, and the demise of the American lifestyle. Producer Sally Erickson will be on hand. For more information, call (847) 234-2460.

A weekly class studying Jewish Law will meet from 8-9 a.m. Sunday mornings at Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. Class meets from October through May.

The group, led by Rabbi Robert Gamer, will study the beginning of the Mishnah Torah. It is advised for participants to purchase a copy of Volume 1 of the Mishnah Torah in Hebrew/English. The edition that is recommended and will be used in class is by Moznaim Publishing Corp., translated by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger. The book is available at Rosenbloom's or online at Amazon.com and sells for $20. For information, call (847) 634-0777.

Steve Cohen, Founder of "The Apple of His Eye" Messianic Jewish Ministry will make a presentation at 5:30 p.m. today and at the 8, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. services Sunday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods. He will speak about Old Testament festivals and their influence on Christian customs.

For more information, call (847) 438-7709 or visit www.stmatts.net.

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois in conjunction with Congregation Or Torah will host Stephen Morse, Ph.D., who will discuss how to use his one-step search forms to help you find your ancestors at the Ellis Island online database which contains arrival records for more than 24 million immigrants who came to America between 1892 and 1924. He will also talk about "Demystifying the Jewish Calendar" at Congregation Or Torah, 3800 W. Dempster Street, Skokie, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

This program is free to members of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois and Congregation Or Torah, and costs $10 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.jewishgen.org/jgsi or call (312) 666-0100.

Miscellaneous

Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the location for its new temple and high school at Pine Street and Lake-Cook Road in Deerfield. At noon, the Chicagoland Jewish High School will be dedicating its new building with the highlight "walking" the Torah from Morton Grove to the new site (adjacent to the temple).

The first meeting of the "North Suburban Prayer Connection" will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 20 in Fellowship Hall at St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview. The NSPC brings together the Prayer Ministry leaders of local congregations and parishes so that ideas can be shared and a common bond can be formed.

St. Peter Community Church, (affiliated with the United Church of Christ) 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, will offer a flu clinic. ISR Consulting, the same company that gave the shots last year will be conducting the clinic. It will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Fellowship Hall of St. Peter Community Church. The cost is $22 per injection. They will also offer pneumonia shots for $45 per injection. Call St. Peter Community Church office (847) 272-2246 for information.

North Northfield United Methodist Church will host a Blessing of the Animals outdoor interfaith service at 10 a.m. Oct. 6. All animals are welcome, but participants are asked to keep their pets on a leash, or in a cage, bowl or carrier. Water dishes will be available.

In addition, Northbrook's Heartland Animal Shelter will bring a few of their well-behaved pets that are in need of adoption to the event.

Also at noon Oct. 6, the church's monthly book group will start out the fall season with a discussion of Jon Katz's book, "The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure With Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me."

The public is invited and the service will be held rain or shine at the church, at Dundee and Sanders in Northbrook. For information, call (847) 272-2250 or visit the church's Web site at www.northnorthfield.org. For information about the shelter, visit www.heartlandanimalshelter.net.

Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 at Hilltop Road in Long Grove, will hold its Annual Simchat Torah Flag Procession and Taffy Apple Party at 7 p.m. Thursday in the synagogue's main sanctuary, directly after a 6:30 p.m. Minyan Prayer Service.

Those present will then be able to participate in the "Hakafot" (processions) with the Torah scrolls and join in the singing and dancing. And, of course, eating the Taffy Apples.

Traditional Simchat Torah Services will be held in the main sanctuary of the synagogue at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Nonmembers are always welcome at Beth Judea's services. Call the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777 for more information.

St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will offer a time to knit or crochet hats for newborns at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Fellowship Hall. Supplies and refreshments provided.

The annual meeting of the "Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs" will be held at 3 p.m., Oct. 14 in Fellowship Hall, St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview. The purpose of the meeting is to inform and motivate the public about how to deal with the housing justice issues that exist in the Northern suburbs.

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.

Performances

St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will offer a Fall Harvest Concert fundraiser at 4 p.m. Oct. 6 in the sanctuary. A variety of performers will provide entertainment and donations will go toward Elijah's Pantry in Chicago, and will be matched by Thrivent Financial Services. Refreshments and appetizers will be available.

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. today for dinner. The cost is $12 per person to cover dinner and entertainment. Call Leora at (847) 359-0439 for more information.

Special services

Beth Tikvah Congregation, located in Hoffman Estates, will celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This holiday traditionally celebrates the completion of reading the Torah (over the course of a year), but then immediately starts to read it at the beginning again. To help in the celebration, the music of the Jon Novi Group will be presented. Everyone is invited to dance and rejoice as the congregation dedicates a new Sefer Torah. For information, call (847) 885-4545 or go to www.beth-tikvah.org.

Shabbat worship services are offered at 7:30 p.m. Fridays (Kabbalat Shabbat) and at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. Birthdays and anniversaries will be recognized at the first Friday night service of the month. Daily minyan services are: Mondays at 6:15 a.m.; Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 9 a.m.

Tot Shabbat services are held in the main sanctuary of the synagogue at 6:30 p.m. on the second Friday of every month. Gan Shabbat services are held every Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Beit HaMidrash on the Religious School level.

Nonmembers of Beth Judea are invited to attend services. For information, call the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777.

Olive Tree Congregation, a Messianic Jewish congregation of Jews and Gentiles following Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, invites all to the Sukkah on Shabbat, at 10:30 a.m. today.

Children's classes and nursery care is available, and admission to services is free. For information, 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.

Women's programs

Rabbi Howard Lifshitz, senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Judea, will be the center of attention at Sisterhood's October meeting on at 8 p.m. Oct. 18. Lifshitz will discuss: "What Judaism has to say about human sexuality." For information, call (847) 634-0777. Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove.

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