Religion -- special events

Special service at Huntley church: First Congregational Church of Huntley will hold a contemporary service at 5 p.m. today. The service will feature praise and worship music led by a music team, drama, prayer, and a message from the Rev. Walter Thyng from Luke 20:27-40, with the theme, "We never truly comprehend God's gifts until we live them." Members of the community are invited to attend. Parents are encouraged to bring children and teenagers to the service, which is being planned to be of interest to them as well as adults. Nursery care will be provided for those too young to participate. The church is at 11628 E. Main St. in downtown Huntley. For details, call (847) 669-3691.

Spirit of Life Chorus: The Spirit of Life Chorus and Des Plaines Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2992 have joined together to fulfill "A Soldier's Wish List." The theme for this year's free concert series in the Chicago area is "Joy." The chorus has partnered with the Des Plaines VFW Post 2992 in collecting "A Soldier's Wish List." Some of the daily necessities that the young men and women who are serving in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan don't have. When attending a concert, bring a couple of the personal items from "A Soldier's Wish List" located on the Web site at spiritoflifechorus.org. VFW volunteers will ship your gifts to troops overseas. The schedule continues with a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley.

Holiday Harvest Market: Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin will host its Holiday Harvest Market from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 39W830 Highland Ave., three miles west of Randall Road. The market provides the community with locally produced foods and handiwork to purchase for yourself and for gift giving. Browse and select from hand crafted gifts and collectibles and locally grown produce from area artisans and farmers. At the Farmers Harvest Market, enjoy foods and items grown and produced in the Midwest and support the farm families who provide them. Some of the featured products will be: natural meats including chicken, ham, beef and pork from Arnold's Farm; honey, candles and soap from Dennanne Farms; honey, local flours, flax crackers, dried veggies, and more from Erehwon Farm; milk soap and cheese from Scotch Hill Farm; dried fruit, chocolate covered fruits, apple and pear butters from Seedling Fruit; and salsas, fruit preserves, Bloody Mary mix, soups, and pasta sauces from Tomato Mountain; as well as Fair Trade organic coffees, teas, and chocolate, organic flours and popcorn, honey, maple syrup, sorghum syrup, eggs, yogurt, apple cider and cream cheese. The artisan vendors will be: Susan Goldberg offering handcrafted jewelry items in silver, silk, crystal, gemstones, and art glass beads in metaphysical, spiritual, and peace themes; Ruth Gnuechtel of Wish Upon a Bead offering glass, crystal and semi-precious stone beaded jewelry with sterling silver and gold filled accessories; hand-woven necklaces, bracelets, and earrings; Sandy and Gordon James offering botanically themed jewelry and sculpture (leaves covered in copper); Henny DuBois offering photography and ceramics; Claire Dassy offering photo note cards, bookmarks and magnets; Janice Sollenberger offering rug-hooked Santas, paper-mache Santas, homespun hand-dyed yarns; Juli McCarthy of Mockingbird Studio offering handmade beaded and polymer clay jewelry, ornaments, and small gifts; Liz Woods offering fall leaf candles; Frieda Anderson offering hand-dyed fabrics, fused quilts, and quilt kits; and Kim Cecil offering beaded earrings, necklaces, and napkin rings. The church will offer the opportunity to make a gift donation to one of several charities in someone's name, and will provide a handmade card explaining the gift. The sponsored charities include FINCA International, Heifer International, Community Crisis Center, The Larkin Center, and Churches' Center for Land and People. The farmers market is a Harvest of Hope benefit. Ten percent of sales of affiliated farmers donated to a farm crisis fund for farm families in emergency financial situations. For details, call the church at (847) 888-0668 or visit www.uuce.org.

Ablaze in Asia: Former pastor, the Rev. E.H.H. Gade is remembered as a sturdy man of God and leader to the flock of East Dundee residents who were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church from 1930 until his retirement in 1956. His legacy lives beyond memories and East Dundee. What he taught his children and grandchildren survives and thrives in his grandson, Rev. Carl M. Hanson and is being spread throughout East Asia today. Hanson will return to his grandfather's church and share his experiences as Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod World Mission Area Facilitator for East Asia. His talk titled, "Ablaze in Asia -- Asia to Asian Ministry and the Exciting Things God is Doing in Asia" will be held 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Immanuel's Christian Life Center. Chenhsi serves as the Children's Ministry Coordinator for Church of All Nations in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong and is an avid quilter. Beginning in 2005, he was appointed the Area Facilitator for East Asia. The area he works includes China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. During his speech, he will touch on the issues and outcomes after the 2005 Asia Ablaze summit in Hong Kong and offer highlights on the church in China. He will include information on the opportunities and challenges for the church as they continue to bring Christianity to the lives of North Koreans. The community is invited and all are welcome to attend Rev. Hanson's discussion. Immanuel Lutheran is at 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee. For details, call (847) 428-4477.

Special Veterans Day tribute: On Sunday, Veterans Day, 46 boxes with about 3,700 homemade bar cookies, will be blessed by the Rev. Kendall Koenig at Light of Christ Lutheran Church. The boxes will be sent to military personnel throughout the world. The homemade goodies will be enjoyed in Afghanistan, Alaska, Italy, Maryland, South Carolina, South Korea, California, Arkansas, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Washington, Kuwait, Hawaii, and Japan. Eighteen boxes will be delivered to individuals now stationed in Iraq. The homemade cookies will include personalized notes and pictures from the children of the church. The idea came from Pat Fiorese of Algonquin, whose nephew, Chris Gerdes, is stationed in Iraq. The family began sending cookies to him shortly after his arrival overseas. The response from not only Gerdes, but his fellow soldiers was overwhelming. When a box arrived, the men would gather around and ask if the box contained cookies from grandma. Fiorese thought maybe the church members also would like to spread cheer and love to soldiers by sending them homemade cookies. "We need to show them our support and caring spirit" Fiorese said. The members of the Carillons of Light Bell Choir of Light of Christ gathered on Tuesday evening and joyfully packed boxes of homemade bar cookies for shipment throughout the world. Included in each box are letters and pictures from the Faithland children from preschool to fifth grade and also letters from the SWAP youth which is comprised of high school students. The church members would like to thank the Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231 for assisting with the mailing charges. Rich Jung noted that money was donated from the Legion post, Legion Women's Auxiliary and also the Sons of the American Legions. Join a special service to recognize and celebrate veterans and also those now serving in the military. The church invites all past and current servicemen to wear their uniforms. Members of the local Boy Scout Troop will be presenting the flag at the services which will be held at 5 p.m. today and at 7:45, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. For details, call Steve Fiorentino at (847) 226-5237.

Operation Christmas Child: Fox Valley Church in West Dundee is now a designated drop-off center for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child collects and hand-delivers shoe box-sized gifts to children around the world who are suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism disease, poverty and famine. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand-delivered more than 54 million shoe box gifts to hurting kids in some 120 countries. Fox Valley Church invites you join its effort to fill over 500 boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items and a hand written note of encouragement. To pack and send a shoe box or to volunteer during National Collection Week Nov. 12-18, call (847) 844-1010.

Israel's Consul General to speak in Huntley: On Tuesday, Congregation Tikkun Olam, along with McHenry County Jewish Congregation and Sun City's Shalom Group, will welcome the Honorable Barukh Binah, Israel's Consul General for the Midwest, who will speak about the current situation in Israel. The event will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Huntley Park District building cafeteria, 12015 Mill St. This free event is free and is open to the public, but RSVPs are requested to (815) 334-7110, (815) 455-8110, or (847) 669-7144. Congregation Tikkun Olam is McHenry County's only Reform Jewish congregation and is affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism. The congregation offers monthly Shabbat services, bi-monthly religious school, and numerous adult programs. Unaffiliated Jews and interfaith families are welcome to participate fully. For information on the congregation, its religious school or adult programs, visit www.tikkun-olam.org or call (815) 334-7110.

Prayer service for peace: On Thursday, a prayer service for peace in the Middle East will be held at 7:30 p.m. 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. After the service, there will be a presentation "May we grow beyond our differences," by Emily L. Hauser. Hauser is an American-Israeli Jew and a freelance writer who is often published in the Chicago Tribune and the Dallas Morning News. For details, call (847) 381-0243 and www.elca.org/middleeast.

Fair Trade Gift Fair: The third annual Fair Trade Gift Fair will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean St., Woodstock. The fair features fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate as well has hand crafted toys, home decor items, clothing and more. The fair is sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Committee, the congregation's environmental service, education, and advocacy organization and supports its work in making the church and community more ecologically friendly. Items also will be on sale from noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday after worship. For information, call the church at (815) 338-0731 or e-mail office@cucw.org.

Sister's Christmas Catechism: See "Sister's Christmas Catechism -- The Mystery of the Magi's Gold" the new holiday comedy from Maripat Donovan, the creator of "Late Night Catechism," at 7 p.m. Nov. 17. Sister tackles the question, "Whatever happened to the Magi's gold?" It's "CSI: Bethlehem" when Sister invites her audience to be onstage characters in a living nativity/crime scene. The production will be held at the St. Margaret Mary Education Center, 110 Hubbard St, Algonquin. Tickets are $30 for adults or $20 for youth, age 10 to 15. Premium reserved seating is available for $40 per ticket. A pre-show dinner is also available. Proceeds to benefit the St. Margaret Mary youth who will be attending World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia in July. For information, call the youth ministry office at (847) 658-7881.

Healthy living lecture: Struggling with depression or anxiety? Wrestling with sleepless nights? Have you suffered a deep loss? Are you taking medications and feel hopeless? Hear the inspirational true story of guest speaker Alesandra Rain, who will be discussing these issues and more, at 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Stage Left Cafe at Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock. Rain is the author of "Deeds of Trust," her true story of addiction to prescription medications. Alesandra has had a life of extreme adversity including 34 surgeries from a terrible accident that led to hospitalizations for debilitating depression. She spent 10 years on a cocktail of medications and finally wanted more from her life. Her trials and journey back to health is shared through heartfelt honesty and humor. An alternative to rehab centers, also addressed are natural alternatives to treating depression, anxiety and insomnia. For details, call Morning Star Church at (847) 669-9800 or visit www.morningstarwoc.org/events.htm.

Red Bird Mission Crafts: Epworth United Methodist Church hosts Red Bird Mission Crafts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 and 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 18 at the church, 37W040 Highland Ave., Elgin. For details, call Kara Berg at (847) 931-5400.

Hymn festival: On Nov. 18, Westminster Presbyterian Church are co-sponsoring a special Hymn Festival along with the American Guild of Organists at 3 p.m. at the church, 2700 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. Timothy Albrecht, university organist and professor of church music from Emory University in Atlanta will lead the congregation in singing some of the great hymns of the faith, along with Westminster's Chancel Choir. Afterwards there will be an extended reception with homemade desserts. Admission is free. The community is invited to attend. For information, contact the church office at (847) 695-0311 or mstevenson@wpchurch.com.

Bells brunch: The annual Bells Brunch will be served this year from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the First Congregational Church, Main and Church streets in Huntley. Use the Church Street entrance. This popular event is hosted by members of the church's four handbell choirs. It includes a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes. Everyone is invited; bring the whole family. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3.50 for children, age 12 and younger. Tickets may be purchased from bell choir members, the church office, or at the door. Income from the event helps pay for a trip to the next bell festival. For information call (847) 669-3691.

Donations needed for Thanksgiving baskets: This Thanksgiving many will be giving thanks for the bountiful blessings they enjoy. However, there are those who aren't as fortunate and won't be able to have a traditional turkey dinner. Morning Star Church, 41W350 Powers Road in Huntley, has seen this need in the community and, as in many years past, will be distributing Thanksgiving baskets overflowing with everything needed for a Thanksgiving feast. Food item donations to fill these "baskets of blessings" are greatly appreciated. Non-refrigerated items that are needed for each basket include: two boxes of stuffing, canned vegetables (two each of corn, string beans and yams), one 5 pound bag of potatoes, one bag of apples, one package of brown-and-serve rolls, two packages of turkey gravy, canned cranberry sauce, 1 pound of mixed nuts, one large can of pumpkin pie filling, two cans of apple pie filling, evaporated milk and 1 pound of assorted chocolates. Refrigerated items needed for each basket are: a 12- to 14-pound frozen turkey, frozen Cool Whip, 1 quart of eggnog, 1 pound of butter or margarine, a dozen eggs and two packages of frozen pie crust. Financial donations of any amount are also welcome. A gift of $50 will prepare a basket for one family. Morning Star Church wants to ensure that no one in our community is left out this Thanksgiving, so call (847) 669-9800, ext. 155 or e-mail outreach@morningstarwoc.org if you wish to donate or know someone who might be in need of one of these baskets.

Alumni reunion: St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School will have an alumni reunion from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 24 in the school cafeteria, 274 Division St., Elgin. The potluck get-together is for all St. Joseph Elementary School alumni. Bring a dish to share if you can. For details, call Zhennie P. Graf at (224) 805-6317.