Notes on Religion

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Advent programs

Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, will offer midweek Advent services at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Following the 11 a.m. worship service, a soup lunch will be served. The evening service will be preceded by dinner at 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend these services.

The annual WELCA Christmas Smorgasborg will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, followed by entertainment at 8 p.m. The evening will be hosted by the Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELCA). Cat Catalani will perform a holiday concert following dinner. Guests have the option of bringing a dish or paying $10. Reservations must be made by calling the church office at (847) 827-6656.

For information, call the church office at (847) 827-6656.

Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 150 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village, will present a Live Nativity at 4, 5, and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. It will feature a drama, choral and live animals with warm refreshments afterward. (847) 437-5897

Northwest Covenant Church of Mount Prospect invites all to a Santa Lucia Festival on Dec. 1.

Two seatings for "Fika" (a Swedish tradition of "taking coffee" with light snacks and good conversation) will be held in the church's Fellowship Hall to be followed by a musical Lucia program in the sanctuary.

First seating: 9 a.m. Fika and 10 a.m. Lucia program. Second seating: 10:30 a.m. Fika and 11:30 a.m. Lucia program

A mini-boutique, bread and bakery sale will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tickets are now on sale: adults: $10; children (5 and under): $6. Call the church office at (847) 255-4671. You may pick up and pay for pre-ordered tickets day of event in the boutique.

Dignity Memorial Provider, Ridgewood Memorial Park in Des Plaines, will hold a Celebration of Light Memorial Service for members of the surrounding communities at 6 p.m. Dec. 1. This holiday Memorial Service will be held in the chapel, Swan Lake Mausoleum, 9900 N Milwaukee Ave., Des Plaines.

There will be a food drive along with the service. The food drive is being held through Maine Township Emergency Food Pantry.

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.

Children, teens

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.

Children of all ages are invited to a Hanukkah Fun Day from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook, 755 Huehl Road. Join in building a huge "Clics" menorah. There also will be moon bounce, face painting, dreidel decorating, refreshments and lots more. Fun for the entire family. Cost is $7 per child. $72 family sponsor. R.S.V.P. to (847) 564-8770.

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

St. Viator High School, 1213 E. Oakton St., Arlington Heights, will have an open house for prospective students from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday; and 7-9 p.m. April 9. For details, call (847) 392-4050, ext. 256.

Family

The community is invited to join local dignitaries for a grand menorah lighting ceremony at Northbrook's largest menorah from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the corner of Dundee and Huehl roads. Enjoy latkes, jelly doughnuts, chocolate Hanukkah 'gelt', dreidels, song and joy. Free admission.

A Lights & Miracles Hanukkah Service and Songfest will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 30 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire.

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue will celebrate the story of Hanukkah through music and drama at the annual family-friendly Lights & Miracles Hannukah Service and Songfest. Shir Hadash's adult, teen and children's choirs will perform and lead a sing-along of seasonal songs and fun.

The highlight of the evening will be Shir Hadash's traditional glowstick dance. A homemade latke cook-off will be featured at the conclusion of the service.

The event is free and open to the public. Children of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Bethlehem Walk will be held at 4 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Mount Prospect, in the school gym, 18 S. School St.

Join us as we walk through the streets of Bethlehem with the shepherds, the live animals and the angels in search of the newborn Baby Jesus. This is great for children, but also is a great way for adults to get ready for the coming of our Savior.

A freewill door offering will be taken to help cover costs of the event.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007, and Sonshine Preschool will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2008. To celebrate, the church and preschool are hosting an All Ages Sock Hop and Pizza Party from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at 304 W. Palatine Road, Prospect Heights. There is an admission donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children. Pizza and pop will be available to purchase at 1957 prices.

Music from 1950-1960 will be provided by a local DJ and there will be contests and prizes during the event. The community is invited to come and join in for this night of fun for all ages. Tickets can be ordered by calling the church office at (847) 537-4430, before Tuesday.

Proceeds from the celebration will go to support Sonshine Preschool and the new cafe that is planned to be open to the community in 2008. Thrivent Financial will be supporting the event with matching funds. Vitello Pizza of Downers Grove has graciously donated the pizza.

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

St. John's Episcopal Church will host its second annual Cookie Walk, featuring Christmas cookies, poinsettias and other holiday items for sale, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at the church, 200 N. Main St., Mount Prospect.

The members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Des Plaines, invite the Des Plaines community to a benefit chili supper for medical and continuing therapy expenses of church member Bob Lumpp. The supper will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 on the lower level of the church at 855 Lee St. Lumpp sustained multiple injuries in an auto-pedestrian accident Oct. 29 as he was walking to his car after participating in a home Bible study meeting. After undergoing surgical and medical treatment at Lutheran General Hospital, he has begun extensive therapy treatments at Ballard Care Center.

The chili for the supper will be from Pastor Richard Mau's not-so-secret recipe, which he says can be adapted to serve six or 60 or 600, although the latter has never been tried. The menu will also feature homemade desserts. For information, tickets, reservations and monetary donations, call the church office at (847) 824-3652. Matching funds for the event have been applied for from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Lectures, seminars

A discussion and book signing with Maggie Anton, author of "Rashi's Daughters" will be at 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at Beth Tikvah Congregation, 300 Hillcrest Blvd., Hoffman Estates.

For information, contact Ilene Lanin-Kettering at randyk2500@aol.com or (847) 372-6427.

The Home Educators Loving Parents (H.E.L.P.) homeschool support group announces that Kristi Boss, director of the Christian Leaders Educational Center, will present a talk about homeschooling children from high school through college.

The presentation will be Tuesday at the Elk Grove Village Library, 1001 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village. The doors open for the presentation at 7 p.m. The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. This presentation is intended for adults and child care is not provided (children may sit next to their parents at the meeting).

"Spiritual Preparation for Christmas" will be presented by the Rev. Diane Venzera & Bradford Newquist from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday 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.

Miscellaneous

Catholic talk radio, as broadcast on Relevant Radio, can now be heard throughout Chicago and the suburbs on WNTD 950 AM, Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. This programming includes the hour-long Catholic Community of Faith, which airs Monday through Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. The program is produced by the Archdiocese of Chicago's Radio and TV office in their downtown Chicago studios. Listeners are encouraged to call in during the live broadcasts of the Catholic Community of Faith at (312) 751-1979 with their comments and questions.

The Web site www.ChabadNorthbrook.com/chanukah is a local gateway to the world's premier Hanukkah site, chock full of streaming video, games, how-to guides, and much more. Popular highlights include: information about hundreds of Hanukkah events around the globe, extensive video and stills of menorah lightings around the world and great holiday recipes.

Also available from the site is historical and religious information about the holiday. The site is designed for all ages and educational levels, from young children to scholars, and offers a day-by-day guide to celebrating the eight-day holiday.

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

The Rev. Matthew K. Weber will be installed at 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at First Baptist Church of Park Ridge, 1266 N. Northwest Highway. Dr. Jerry Cain, president of Judson University, will preach. (847) 692-6101.

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.

Performances

The Spirit of Life Chorus announces the following concerts as part of its Fall Concert Series:

• Sunday, 4:30 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Master, 580 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream, (630) 665-3384.

• Dec. 2, 4:30 p.m., St. Walter Catholic Church, 201 W. Maple Ave., Roselle, (630) 894-2461.

For more information, visit www.spiritoflifechorus.org.

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. Sunday. For more information, call the church office at (847) 272-2246.

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights, will host a special holiday concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 2. "Sounds of the Season" will be presented by the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band, conducted by music director Howard M. Green and associate conductor Allison Rikickas. The 70 members of the band are from nearly every walk and stage of life. The concert is free and the public is invited. A freewill offering will be taken to help defray the band's costs. Following the concert, hors d'oeuvres will be served in Fellowship Hall. For information, call (847) 537-4353.

The Mount Prospect Community Band presents its annual holiday concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 2 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 605 W. Golf Road, Mount Prospect. This concert, titled "Christmas Spirit," will feature a variety of familiar holiday melodies and favorite carols performed in sparkling arrangements that feature the concert band. The concert finale will be Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, and the audience is invited to sing-along. There is also a rumor that Santa Claus will make an appearance with a treat for the children. This program is sponsored by the Trinity Fine Arts Committee as well as the band's permanent sponsor, the Mount Prospect Park District.

In conjunction, the Trinity United Methodist Women are holding a "Christmas Cookie Walk" starting at 3 p.m. in the narthex. Choose your own assortment from a variety of homemade Christmas cookies which will be for sale by the pound. For further information, contact Trinity United Methodist Church at (847) 439-0950 or see www.trinitymp.org.

First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 766 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines, will hold a special concert at 4 p.m. Sunday featuring the Chicago Guitar Duo, Jim Konsbruck and Wes Hixson. Admission is free. For information, call (847) 299-5561.

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. Admission 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.

Bring your voice, an instrument, and/or your friends to a Christmas Sing-A-Long at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines, at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 16.

You are invited to share your musical talent in solo, ensemble, or instrumental performance, or just come as a listener. Enjoy carols from around the world, performed in many different ways. Plan on brown-bagging lunch.

If you would like to perform or have other suggestions, call Ellen Zethmayr-Lolakos at (847) 427-1727 or (708) 579-0787. Freewill offering.

The Innkeepers Tale, a Christmas Musical, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 and at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory St., Mount Prospect. A freewill offering will be taken. Call (847) 259-3090 for information.

Seniors

LAFF (Life After Fifty-Five), the senior group of Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates, is having its annual Hanukkah party at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the temple. Bring a new $5 gift for the Holiday Auction. There is a charge of $5 per member and $8 for guests for the dinner. A wonderful treat will be Cantorial Soloist Ilana Axel leading in Hanukkah songs. For additional information, call Leora at (847) 359-0439.

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, invites all seniors to its senior luncheons on 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.

Special services

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, offers a signed worship service Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. All are welcome. Call (847) 593-8337 for more information.

Women's programs

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.