Notes on Religion

Notes on religion To include your church in the free listings, e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com, fax to (847) 608-0849, or mail to 385 Airport Road, Suite A, Elgin IL 60123.

Kneseth Israel: Congregation Kneseth Israel provides a full range of religious and community programs. A youth program is available for sixth grade to high school. In addition, interest groups meet regularly for men, women, seniors, and others. Visit www.ckielgin.org. This week's Torah portion is "Vayishlah." The service is led by Rabbi Jonathan Kohn in prayer and study. Shabbat services are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the synagogue, 330 Division St. in Elgin. Guests are welcome. CKI believes that each person can participate in the observance of Shabbat through the use of English, Hebrew, and age-appropriate activities. For details, call (847) 741-5656.

Shirat Shalom: Congregation Shirat Shalom, 30W509 Shoe Factory Road in Elgin, offers participatory Shabbat services, led by Cantor Sarah Alexander, at 9:45 a.m. Saturdays and followed by a community kiddush luncheon. Services include a spirited Torah discussion, focusing on the "parsha of the week."

The first Chanukah candle is lit on Dec. 4. The Family Hanukkah program will be held at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Reservations are due by Dec. 3. This week's Torah portion is "Miketz." In this portion, it is Pharaoh who dreams, and Joseph who is able to interpret the dreams. The congregation will read the special Torah portion for Shabbat Chanukah. Guests are welcome. For details, call (847) 695-6246, e-mail hazzansarah@gmail.com, or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org

Immanuel Lutheran: This weekend, the Rev. William Yonker will be preaching on Luke 23, with the sermon titled "A Hope to Hang On To" at 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee. Holy Communion this weekend will be celebrated at the 10:45 service. "Faith Factory" for children and Acts 2 Bible Fellowship for adults are offered at 9:20 a.m.

On Wednesdays in December, starting Dec. 5, Immanuel will have midweek Advent services at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. These services, held in the sanctuary, will be a non-liturgical worship style with a music blend of meditative and Advent hymns. The Rev. Phillip Baerwolf is preaching for the Advent services, delivering a series of messages on "The Stars … Advent Worship Under God's Stars." Faith Factory and Acts 2 Bible time and fellowship are also offered after the midweek services. To warm the heart while providing nourishment for the body, an Advent luncheon is provided after the morning service and a soup supper before the evening service. For details, call (847) 428-4477, or visit immanuel-ed.org.

Calvary Lutheran: Calvary Lutheran Church, 535 N. McLean Blvd. in Elgin, invites the community to join them for Advent services in December. Advent services will be held at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Dec. 5-19. The Rev. Mark C. Bestul will lead the worship based on Isaiah -- The Advent Prophet. Calvary is a family-friendly, Gospel-oriented congregation, associated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It is handicapped accessible. The congregation invites the community to attend at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday for Divine worship. Sunday school and Bible study is at 9:15 a.m. For information, call (847) 741-5433 or visit www.clce.org. For details, call (874) 741-5433 or visit www. calvarylutheranelgin.org.

First UMC-West Dundee: On Sunday, the Rev. Steven Mindrup presents the sermon, "The One Who Keeps it All Together," at the 10 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. The Scripture lessons are Jeremiah 23:1-6; Luke 1:68-79; Colossians 1:11-20 and Luke 23:33-43. Sunday school is held for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at 10 a.m. A nursery is also provided.

Dickens in Dundee is coming! Make a Gingerbread house from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 1. Cost is $5. The Hanging of the Greens service will be held Dec. 2. Brass Christmas ornaments are being sold for $10 after church each Sunday until Christmas. The ornaments are brass replicas of the church. For details, call (847) 426-2113 or visit www.firstumcdundee.net.

First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, the Rev. Mona Walker will give the sermon, "It All Started With the Cross," at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave. in downtown Elgin. Walker is minister of Christian education. Special music will be provided by the Cathedral Choir, under the direction of John Slawson.

Christian education for children, youth and adults begins at 8:50 a.m. with the youth group meeting at 11:15 a.m. Hand-knitted hats and mittens will be collected for the Mitten Tree during November and the first part of December. The collection is to give to those in need of warm winter outerwear. Patterns for hats and mittens are available on the knitting table in the church narthex. Hats and mittens are needed for children, youth, and adults. They ask items be knitted for warmth instead of with novelty yarns. The items will be given to agencies such as PADS and the Community Crisis Center. Items may be returned to the knitting table in the narthex prior to the tree being available. Another event at the church is the fifth annual Cookie Walk and Mission Market. The event, featuring cookies and other items made by people of the church, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8. For details, call (847) 741-0038 or visit www.fumcelgin.org.

St. John: On Christ the King Sunday, the Rev. Howard Gleason will preach the sermon "The Great Equalizer," based on Colossians 1:13-20 (22), at 8 and 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 13N535 French Road in Burlington. Fellowship will be at 9 a.m. and Sunday school and Bible study at 9:15 a.m. The Ladies "Christmas Delights" Bazaar will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 1. The Advent midweek suppers and services begin Dec. 5 with dinner at 5 p.m. and worship at 7 p.m. TOPS meets at 6 p.m. Mondays. Weight Watchers meet at 7 p.m. each Wednesday. The pinochle club meets the last Friday of each month at 7 p.m. For details, call (847) 683-2338 or visit the Web site www.stjohnburlington.com.

First Congregational: On the last Sunday of Pentecost, the Rev. Paris Donehoo presents the sermon, "A Tuba in a Bluegrass Band" at the 8:15 and 10:15 a.m. services at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. The church is known throughout the Fox Valley for its beautiful organ and music program. This Sunday, the chancel choir will offer "Sing Praises to God" by Lloyd Pfautsch.

Adult education is available at 9:15 a.m. This week's offerings include Rev. Donehoo's continuing study of the Gospel of Mark and "Controversial Conversations with Carl," where the topic will be health care. Sunday school for children and youth is at 10:15 a.m. The church will offer a serene start to the busy Christmas season with an Advent Vespers service at 6 p.m. Dec. 2. For details, call (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.

Church of the Brethren: On Sunday, the Rev. Joel Kline's sermon will be "A New Assignment" at the 9:30 a.m. worship at the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin.

The church school hour will feature an electives class called "Spiritual Readers Theater." Participants are asked to bring a piece of spiritual literature to share.

The Intergenerational Women's Group, re-named the Spirited Sisters, are gathering from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9. They will view a video segment from "Bird by Bird with Annie: A Film Portrait of Writer Anne Lamott;" make prayer stones out of clay with Gail Azinger, and enjoy each other's company. For details, call (847) 741-5124 or visit www.hacob.org.

First Congregational: On Sunday, the Rev. Richard Nye, transitional pastor, presents the message at the 8 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. Sunday services are at 8 and 10:15 a.m. During the 10:15 a.m. praise service, the message will be by the Rev. Jeffrey Bates, acting adult and youth ministries pastor. The service incorporates music, drama and a timely message in an informal setting. Bates graduated from Eden Seminary in 1987 and has served churches in Ohio and Missouri for 10 years and currently is supplying preaching while awaiting a position.

The Local Mission Ministry is sponsoring collections of Christmas gifts for the Elgin Mental Health Center patients through Dec. 11. Contact the church office for a complete list of items to be collected. Sunday's Ministry of Music at the 8 and 10:15 a.m. service will be "The Blessing" by Kamron Kissamis. The 10:15 a.m. service also will feature music by Ben Calhoun, director of church development at Judson University, and his band, The Least of These. Education for all ages takes place 9 to 10 a.m. Programs offered include Sunday school for children age 3 through eighth grade and adult teaching.

Children are invited to go to the Sunday 10:15 a.m. service with their parents. After the KidsOwn Worship message, children age 3 through sixth grade may attend KidsOwn Worship, a special children's church designed especially for them. The theme will be "Jehoshaphat Trusts God for Victory," based on the Bible story in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30: God helps us in our troubles. For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.dundeefcc.org.

First Congregational: On Sunday, celebrate Christ the King Sunday with special guest minister Larry Rossi at the 10 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 30 N. Washington St. in Carpentersville. His message will be an inspiring one of word and song. All are invited. It is an open and affirming congregation, welcoming all to their services. Sunday school is designed for children age 3 through seventh grade and begins at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Nursery care is available during the service. For details, call (847) 428-1712.

King of Glory: This week, King of Glory Lutheran Church in Elgin will observe the last Sunday in the church year as they look at the topic of "The One True Story," based on Luke 23. The blended service is at 6 p.m. Saturday, traditional style worship at 8:15 a.m. Sunday with a contemporary worship at 10:45 a.m. led by the praise team singers and band.

Adult Bible classes are held every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. along with a special educational program for children called Kingdom Kids. The church also offers various mid-week educational opportunities as well as a preschool education for 3- and 4-year-olds during the school year, and youth programs for various age groups. The church is at Hopps and Randall roads, Elgin. For details, call (847) 931-1520 or visit www.kogonline.org.

First Congregational: This Sunday, guest minister Rev. Dan Hinckley will preach at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at the First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main St. in Huntley. The sermon is titled "Jesus, Image of the Invisible God." For details, call the church at (847) 669-3691.

St. John Lutheran: This weekend, the Rev. William Stroup will deliver the message, "Save Yourself and Us," based on Luke 23:27-43, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at St. John Lutheran Church, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Call (847) 658-9300 or visit the Web site www.stjohnsalgonquin.org.