Fox Valley religion special events

Donations needed for mission trip: Members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee need help gathering much needed items for their Gulf Coast mission trip to New Orleans. On Jan. 11, 20 members and friends of Immanuel are traveling to New Orleans to help rebuild homes located in New Orleans Ninth Ward. The disastrous flooding after Hurricane Katrina, followed by damaging winds during Hurricane Rita destroyed much of the City of New Orleans. The Rev. Phillip Baerwolf, Immanuel's associate pastor, said, "The magnitude of the destruction and the response for reconstruction needs our attention as brothers and sisters of Christ. We will be contributing our time, labor, and resources along with members of other area Lutheran churches to rebuild homes in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. We are asking for the community to assist us by donating food, hygiene products and cleaning supplies that will be donated to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank." The population of Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capitol and nearest city to New Orleans, doubled during the crisis time and continues to offer services to those in need. The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is serving as many as 7,500 each day and are in need of the following items: dry cereal and breakfast food, canned meats, canned fruit and canned vegetables, hearty canned soups, dry beans/pasta, personal hygiene products, and cleaning supplies. Drop off donated items today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 5 to 6 p.m. at the church. Drive-through drop-off points will be marked so that contributors need not exit their cars. On Sunday, drop-offs will be located on the east side of Immanuel's School building from 9 to 10 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Volunteers will be available to take the food donations from your car. In addition to food items, Immanuel is accepting cash donations to support the mission trip. During their week in New Orleans, the mission team will live at Camp Restore. After their return, Immanuel will host an information sharing gathering for those interested. The church is at 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee. For information, call (847) 428-4477. For details on the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, visit www.brfoodbank.org.

Healing service: The McHenry County Church of Religious Science will offer a monthly healing service today at Golden Harvest Health Foods & Holistic Center, 330 N. Eighth St. in West Dundee. Healing services at the church are popular for their uplifting effect with concentrated high vibrational energies revealing spiritual perfection in all areas of our life. The Rev. Anne Muelleman will deliver a short message leaving ample time for prayer, meditation and spiritual mind treatment by the pastor and the church's professional practitioners in response to your healing requests. For details, call (815) 444-0942 or www.rscgc.org/McHenry.

Epiphany program: On Sunday, the Bethany Lutheran Church Sunday school will present its Christmas/Epiphany program, "On the 13th Day of Christmas," at 3 p.m. at the church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake. The program will use the taking down of the Christmas tree to explore the meaning of the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. Students, playing both the family taking down their tree and the biblical figures depicted in the ornaments, will talk about the biblical meaning of the ornaments being removed to see that the story of Jesus doesn't end with Christmas, but rather continues in our hearts throughout the year. Sunday school students will serve as actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage crew. All are welcome. For details, call (815) 459-2690 or visit www.bethanylc.com.

Studying grace: Starting Sunday, the adult fellowship and Bible study will focus on "What's So Amazing About Grace?" from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Sundays at Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road in Barrington. Award-winning author Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. What is grace? If grace is God's love for the undeserving, then what does it look like in action? No preparation is needed; workbooks are $12. All are welcome. For details, call (847) 836-5540.

Coping with Grief: Community United Methodist Church offers a program on "Coping with Grief" from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 12 at the church, 400 W. Spring St., South Elgin. It will include a question-and-answer period. Admission is free and all are welcome. For details, call (847) 931-0563.

Seminar with Josh Young: Morning Star Church welcomes Josh Young for a special worship seminar at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 and 10 a.m. Jan. 20. Young leads worship at the North Shore Bridge Christian Fellowship and travels throughout the U.S. leading worship at conferences and worship events. In April 2005, he released his debut album, "Under Your Shadow," and in August 2006. He released his second album, "Closer." For details, visit www.joshyoungonline.com. There is no charge for these meetings. Morning Star Church is at 41W350 Powers Road, Huntley. For details, call Maria at (847) 669-9800, ext. 111 or visit www.morningstarwoc.org/events.

Science of the Mind: Beginning Jan. 23, the McHenry County Church of Religious Science is offering a special four-week "Introduction class to Science of Mind," the philosophy of Religious Science. This class will be held at the Rev. Anne Muelleman's home in Cary on a love offering basis. The course takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on four consecutive Wednesdays, Jan. 23 to Feb. 13 plus a six-hour Saturday workshop on Feb. 17. This basic class will cover the paradigm, philosophy and practical application of Religious Science in your daily life. A "SOM 300 Practitioner" class also begins in January. This class is being offered from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays beginning Jan. 14. To register for this class, students must have completed SOM 1 and SOM 2 plus interview with the pastor. This "300" class is 32 weeks followed by a 7-month Practicum. For details, call (815) 444-0942 or www.rscgc.org/McHenry.

Shaun Groves performs in Elgin: Continuing its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Elgin will welcome host Dove Award nominee Shaun Groves in concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the church. Groves defies simple labels. An insightful songwriter, his musical peers nominated him for Songwriter of the Year solely on the strength of his 2001 debut, "Invitation to Eavesdrop." The lanky Texas native followed the critically acclaimed debut with the easy-alternative "Twilight" in 2003. It was followed in 2005 by "White Flag," which reflected his recent study of the Sermon of the Mount and the Beatitudes. In 2007, he released "One Night in Knoxville," a live CD recorded at two back-to-back performances on one night in Knoxville. The concert is free. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit Grove's ministry. The church is at 2700 W. Highland Ave., west of Randall road. For details, call (847) 695-0311.

Order your Super Bowl hoagie: The Chancel Choir of First Congregational Church of Dundee is offering Super Bowl Sunday hoagie sandwiches for sale as a fundraiser. The cost of each hoagie is $5. Sandwiches, made according to the Dundee Scots "secret" recipe, will be available for pickup on Feb. 2 after 10:30 a.m. Order deadline is Jan. 27. The church is at 900 S. Eighth St. (Route 31 and Angle Tarn) in West Dundee. For details or to place a sandwich order, call the church office at (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit the Web site at www.dundeefcc.org.