Church offers weekend of healing

The community is invited to special healing services this weekend at Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. Third St. in Geneva. Services will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

According to faith community parish nurse Barb Christenson, the church is welcoming anyone with a physical illness, as well as those who are suffering from anxiety or a spiritual crisis.

"We've been wanting to do this for some time," Christenson said. "About five years ago, we held healing services with other churches.

"My hope is that it will give others hope," Christenson added. "My role is to nurse the body, mind and spirit. The spirit is very important and a healing spirit helps the body. Healing doesn't necessarily mean the absence of disease. It can mean bringing hope."

Services will include worship, prayer, laying on of hands and anointing with oil, traditions that were practiced by the early church. Private prayer stations will also be available for individuals who would like to pray for specific needs.

The services will be held in conjunction with the Feast of St. Luke, who was a physician.

"I work for the church through a contract with Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora," Christenson said. "The mission is to extend the healing mission of Jesus Christ into the community."

The services will be led by the church's new senior pastor, the Rev. Doug Opp, on his first weekend leading worship at the church.

A nursery is available during Sunday services.

For information, call the church at (630) 232-7037.

Documentary on Iraq

"The Ground Truth," a documentary that was shown at the 2006 Sundance Film festival, will be presented at 7 p.m. today by the social justice committee of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva. The church is on the southwest corner of Second and James streets, one block south of Route 38 (State Street) in Geneva.

There will audience discussion after the film.

The documentary follows several young Americans who have served in the military in Iraq, from recruitment and training through combat and homecoming. A major focus is their struggles to reintegrate with families and communities while dealing with post-traumatic stress and physical injuries.

Information about the film is available online at www.thegroundtruth.net.

For information about the film series, contact Jean Pierce through the church office at (630) 232-2350 or at uusg_office@sbcglobal.net.

Join the celebration

Valleybrook Community Church is celebrating its fifth anniversary at noon Sunday at Blackberry Creek Elementary School, 1122 S. Anderson Road in Elburn, where the church meets for worship at 10 a.m. Sundays.

The fall festival will include a barbecue lunch, hay rides, a dunk tank, crafts for the kids, kick-punt-pass competition, and illusions by the Rev. Brian Smith, church pastor.

Valleybrook is a sister church of the First Baptist Church of Geneva. Visit www.valleybrookchurch.com for information.

ngier@dailyherald.com