Your faith

Children, teens

Gan Israel Camps of Chicago is opening a new winter camp program in Northbrook. The program will run Dec. 24-28, and will include daily trips and activities. The Northbrook winter program is open to girls ages 5-11 and boys ages 5-8. Transportation and extended care options available. Camp will be held at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook 755 Huehl Road (corner Dundee Road), Northbrook.

For more information, call the camp office at (773) 262-2770, ext. 105, or visit www.ganisraelchicago.com/winter. Register by Nov. 20 to receive 5 percent off.

Notre Dame High School, 7655 W. Dempster St., Niles, will have an open house for prospective students from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For details, call (847) 779-8616.

JCC's got Shabbat? program is filled with fun, food, Havdallah and entertainment featuring ventriloquist Chuck Field. This program is open to the community free of charge and will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at Adas Yehuda V'Shoshana, 2548 Jasper Court, Northbrook. It is designed for families with children 4 to 8, but all are welcome.

Souled Out Youth Experience happens every Saturday at 8 p.m. at 550 Business Center Drive Mount. Prospect. Featuring hot worship, teen testimonies, challenging messages, and fun. Ages 14 to 21. www.souledout.net

Family

St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church and Preschool has scheduled a Fall Thanksgiving Festival for 4 p.m. Sunday. The festivities will include a turkey dinner with all the trimmings plus many ethnic dishes. Come and celebrate with us. The preschool will be open for those interested in enrolling their children in a program that provides a wholesome environment in a Christian setting.

St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church and Preschool is located at 9081 N. Maryland St. in Niles (just south of Golf Mill Shopping Center). Sunday worship begins at 9:30 a.m. Contact the church at (847) 827-4360 or e-mail KnowJesusBetter@StMatthews.ws.

All are welcome to Awana dinners on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. at Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village. Per person cost is $1.50 including beverage. Grandparents, parents, next-door neighbors, and, of course, all children are welcome to these friendly get-togethers, and you need not be involved in Awana to attend the dinner. Call the church at (847) 593-8337 for more information or to find out this week's dinner menu.

The Friendship Circle of Illinois invites children with special needs and their families to a special Hanukkah Extravaganza from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Chabad of Northbrook, 755 Huehl Road (corner Dundee Road), Northbrook. It will offer fun for the whole family: including candle dipping, creating your own menorah with "K'nex," Hanukkah sand art, decorating holiday cookies, moon bounce, hot dog dinner, hot latkes, live music, and much more.

To volunteer for this event, or to ensure we have a teen volunteer for your child call (847) 833-6843 or e-mail: rsvp@thefriendshipcircle.net

Fundraisers

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 Monday-Nov. 18. These boxes are delivered to children in desperate circumstances around the world. For more information, call St. Peter Community Church office at (847) 272-2246.

The Spirit of Christmas Bazaar will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Park Ridge Community Church, 100 S. Courtland Ave., Park Ridge.

The bazaar will feature an assortment of unique handmade crafts, antiques, and Christmas items, along with various direct sale vendors offering jewelry, home decor items, cooking and kitchen wares, handmade soaps, beauty products, and more.

Edible goodies will also be available for sale including freshly baked breads, cookies, cakes, and pies. The Holy Cow Cafe will be open to serve homemade soup, sandwiches and desserts.

Proceeds will be used to support local community outreach programs such as Rainbow Hospice, Avenues to Independence, and the Salvation Army.

For more information on church services and programs, call the church office at (847) 823-3164 or visit www.parkridgecommunitychurch.org.

Queen of the Rosary Parish Health Ministry will hold a wine tasting/social hour from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Parish Hall. Tickets cost $20. The events includes food and a raffle. The church is at 750 W. Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village. For more information, call Diane Tieman at (847) 437-3905

St. John Brebeuf Parish, 8307 N. Harlem Ave., Niles, will hold a Holiday Craft Fair from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in the parish ministry center. The craft fair is sponsored by The Guild of the Nativity of St. John Brebeuf's Catholic Women's Club. Crafters will be able to display handcrafted items for Thanksgiving and Christmas. To receive an application to sell items at the craft fair, call Judi Stephens at (847) 296-6421.

Lectures, seminars

A "Courageous Souls" Workshop will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road in Des Plaines. It will be facilitated by Robert Schwartz, author of the book "Courageous Souls," and by Deborah De Bari, one of the psychic contributors to that same book.

Understand how you as a soul create your life blueprint. Consciously use your challenges to foster spiritual growth. Understand that the people in your life, including your parents and children, are there at your request, motivated by their love for you to play roles that you scripted. Replace anger, guilt, and blame with forgiveness, acceptance, and peace. Deepen your appreciation of and gratitude for life as a soul-expanding, evolutionary process.

A freewill offering will be accepted. To register, call (847) 297-0997.

"Spiritual Preparation for Christmas" will be presented by the Rev. Diane Venzera & Bradford Newquist from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 28 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines.

Advent represents the inward preparation as we invite the Christ Spirit to be renewed in our hearts. The gathering will prepare a place within ourselves for the re-birth of our Christ nature.

A "Touchstones of Grief" class series will be on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning Nov. 20 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines.

Laurie Geschrey, a hospice chaplain, and certified grief/bereavement counselor, will facilitate an interactive five-week class titled "The Ten Touchstones of Grief." This class will offer tools to assist you with working through the process of grieving, as well as providing you with support on your healing journey.

The last night of class ,there will be service of remembrance to honor the loss of loved ones. A freewill offering will be accepted.

For more information or to register, call the church office at (847) 297-0997.

Men's fellowship

A Men's Breakfast in honor of all veterans will be held today at Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory Mount Prospect. Veterans, firefighters and police officers eat free, all other men $5. Breakfast is at 8 a.m. Program is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. A blood drive sponsored by LifeSource will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, call (847) 259-3090 or visit the Web site at www.christianlifechurch.org.

St. Cecilia Parish, 700 S. Meier Road, Mount Prospect, will hold a Saturday Morning Men's Retreat from 8 a.m. to noon today. Greg Pierce will speak on "How to Connect What Happens at Mass with Your Daily Life -- Your Job, Your Family, Your Community." Greg is a nationally known, dynamic, entertaining, speaker and an author. For tickets, call the Parish Office, (847) 437-6208. Cost is $10 and includes continental breakfast and pizza lunch. All men 18 and over are welcome.

Miscellaneous

Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim holds monthly movie nights. On Thursday nights, Congregation Ezra Habonim shows films of interest to the Jewish community. The films, which are in Hebrew with English subtitles, are shown at the synagogue at 2095 Landwehr Road in Northbrook.

Admission to each film is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Some of the films will highlight subjects that may be geared for adult audiences.

Upcoming films are: "Aviva My Love" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; "Someone to Run With" at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17; "Mortgage" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2; and "Forgiveness" at 7:30 p.m. May 15.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.nceh.org or call the synagogue office at (847) 480-1690.

Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village will host its fourth Annual Bountiful Traditional Thanksgiving Feast Nov. 17. All area senior citizens, those who will be alone for the holiday and those unable to prepare a traditional meal are invited to join church member volunteers for a free Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, musical entertainment, crafts and fellowship. Children's activities will be provided as well.

A local Boy Scout troop will open the noon seating with a flag ceremony and the church's piano & string musicians will provide entertainment. At the 2 p.m. seating, a local Girl Scout troop will help serve guests.

Anyone interested in attending may call the church office at (847) 437-2666 to reserve a seating time at noon or 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome after 3 p.m.

With a larger turnout expected this year, Mueller said she still hopes to receive additional donations from individuals and local businesses. Checks can be made out to Christus Victor Lutheran Church/Thanksgiving Dinner.

Christus Victor Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation, is located at 1045 S. Arlington Heights Road. For current worship times and other information, call (847) 437-2666 or visit the Web site ChristusVictorEGV.org.

Life Community Church, 1500 E. Central Road, Mount Prospect, will offer a Karaoke Coffee House for the community the last Friday of each month through June 27. Hours for the Friday night karaoke are 7:30 to 10 p.m. with a 15-minute break. There is a library of 2,500 songs available including pop, classic rock, country, oldies and more. Coffee and dessert are available at no cost (tipping is acceptable). For information, call (847) 296-3242.

Every Monday morning, several members from Life Community Church stand out in the parking lot with pots of hot coffee ready to serve anyone who wants a free cup of coffee.

Coffee is served to commuters from 6 to 8 a.m. All you have to do is drive up to the coffee bar and a hot cup of coffee will be served to you in your car. The cup of coffee is free. It is just their way of helping out in the neighborhood in a time when everything from gas prices to food prices is going up.

Life Community Church is at 1500 E. Central Ave., in Mount Prospect, along Central Avenue, between Rand Road and Wolf Road. The members plan to serve coffee all through fall and into spring.

Worship services start at 9:30 am on Sunday, followed by adult and children Sunday school. For information, call (847) 296-3242.

Performances

The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band opens the holiday season at St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, with a concert at 4 p.m. Nov. 25.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church is holding its 18th annual benefit concert at 3 p.m. Nov. 18 and features Marimba Ixchel, a Guatemalan children's marimba band, and organist John MacKey.

Marimba Ixchel promotes the Guatemalan culture through the marimba and folkloric dances. It is a non-profit organization geared to helping communities in need in Guatamala.

The concert is free with a freewill offering. Handicap access. St. Martin's is located at 1095 W. Thacker, Des Plaines. For more information, call (847) 824-2043.

Community Presbyterian Church in Mount Prospect will present a holiday program called the Living Christmas Tree. The program will run for three evenings--Dec. 7-9 -- at 7 p.m. each night. The admission for this program is free, with a freewill offering that benefits local philanthropies and missions abroad in Romania and the Dominican Republic.

Community Presbyterian Church is at 407 N. Main St. (corner of Route 83/Main and Gregory) in Mount Prospect. www.cpchurch.org.

Seniors

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, invites all seniors to its senior luncheons, the third Friday of every other month at 11:30 a.m. Bring a dish to share or just bring yourself and enjoy some good conversation and fellowship.

ROMEO Breakfast (Retired Old Men Eating Out), hosted by senior men of the Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church, will resume at 9 .m. Monday at the Buffalo Restaurant 1180 W. Lake-Cook-Road. For details, call Ross Martin at (847) 223-2405.

Special services

Second Sunday Live night of worship will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the new Heart & Soul, 550 Business Center Drive, Mount Prospect. Second Sunday is an exciting new monthly worship event for young adults 18 to 25. This month featuring H&S Records worship leader Ray Stumbaugh. Don't miss this night of encouragement and refreshing. For information, call (847) 525-0167.

First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 766 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines, will dedicate the church's new carillon bells in the church sanctuary, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The Music Board will host the event which will also honor United States veterans. Coffee and cake will be served in the church's fellowship hall following the service. The carillon was purchased through a fundraising drive supported by many church members and friends. For information, call (847) 299-5561.

The Rev. Matthew Weber of First Baptist Church in Park Ridge will be preaching at the community Thanksgiving Eve service, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at First United Methodist Church, 418 W. Touhy Ave. in Park Ridge. Weber's topic will be, "Only a Few Things are Necessary."

Thanksgiving Eve and Day Worship Celebrations at Saint Paul Lutheran Church and School, 100 S. School St., Mount Prospect, will be offered at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 10 a.m. Nov. 22.

A special Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road in Des Plaines. It will be facilitated by the Rev. Patty Pipia.

Light a candle, worship in song and in prayer, in meditation and community.

Unity Northwest Church welcomes people from all walks of life. Unity is nondenominational and teaches "positive, practical Christianity."

Nine Lessons & Carols, including benediction and exposition will be offered at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at St. Julian Eymard Church, 601 E. Biesterfield, Elk Grove Village. Bishop Francis Kane will preside and music will feature the St. Cecilia Choir and St. Julian Eymard adult and children choirs. Tickets on sale for suggested donation of $10. Advertising opportunity available in event program book. Call Paul at (847) 985-8212 for information.

Women's programs

All women are invited to participate in a Bible study called "Encouraging One Another" on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 100 S. School St., Mount Prospect. Learn how God encourages his people though the Bible, through your own life and through other people. Copies of the book "Women of Faith Study Guide Series: Encouraging One Another" will be available to purchase Tuesday night for $7. You do not need a book to participate. For more information, contact Shane at (847) 392-9060, Schwich@comcast.net or visit saint-paul-women.blogspot.com.

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, wants to invite all women, college age and up, to its Ladies' Bible Study at 9:30-11 a.m. or 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the church. This fall's theme is "Discovering Contentment in Stressful Times." Child care is available at the 9:30 class for preschoolers and infants. Bring your Bible, your Starbucks, and yourself (and a friend). For more information, call (847) 593-8337.

Women's Wednesday Night Bible Study, Drawing Near To God by John Bevere, is held at 7 p.m. at Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory St., Mount Prospect. For more information, call (847) 259-3090, ext. 10.

Caryn Bark, entertainer and author of the novel "Mittelschmerz" will speak about her book at Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim's Sisterhood Book Club meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10. The book club will review this "laugh-out-loud comic romance."

Copies of the book are available in the NCEH gift shop. Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim is at 2095 Landwehr Road in Northbrook. For information, call (847) 480-1690.

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, introduces "Fourth Fridays." This ministry for single moms and their children meets on the fourth Friday of each month from October through April. Moms will dine with their children at 6 p.m. and then enjoy dessert and tea as they hear the Good News of Jesus Christ while their children have their own supervised activity/craft time. Come and be pampered. Contact the church at (847) 593-8337 and leave a message for Laurel Hult or Kaylene Contri for more information or to make a (suggested) reservation.

The Ninth Christmas Candlelight, Tea, hosted by the Women's Ministry of Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory St., Mount Prospect, will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 29. Tickets are $10 and need to be purchased by Nov. 18. Call Jeri for tickets at (847) 259-3090, ext. 10, or e-mail joleksy1963@aolcom.