The briefs

Join in holiday music with Kiwanis

The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis will meet at 9 a.m. today at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. The program will be folk artist Peg Lehman and her Christmas music. Visitors are welcome. For information, call (847) 741-7176.

Church hosts Blue Christmas service

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will host a special Blue Christmas Service at 7 p.m. today at the church, 357 Division St. in Elgin.

The Christmas season reminds many people of what they have lost or never had. A recent or anticipated death of a family member or friend, the end of a marriage, a broken relationship, the insecurity of employment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation -- all of these can make you feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. You need the space and time to acknowledge your sadness and concern; you need to realize that you are not alone.

Everyone, regardless of church background or lack of it, is welcome. The service will be followed by a time for refreshments and fellowship. For details, call (847) 742-2025 or visit www.holytrinityelgin.org.

ECC graduation ceremony today

Elgin Community College will hold commencement exercises for summer and fall 2007 candidates for graduation at 7:30 p.m. today in the Spartan Events Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. A total of 595 students are candidates for graduation.

The ceremony opens with a welcome to graduates, their families and friends from ECC President David Sam. ECC student Nicole Gibbs will perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," a piece written by Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen for the movie "The Wizard of Oz." Accompanying Gibbs will be John G. Slawson, ECC professor of music.

Phyllis Folarin, chair of the ECC District 509 Board of Trustees, will give the message from the board. Juan Hernandez, a member of the 2007 graduating class, will give the commencement address. For information, contact Ann Kalas, assistant registrar, at akalas@elgin.edu or (847) 214-7228.