Lake Co. Notes on Religion

To have your information included, e-mail it each week by noon Tuesday to faith@dailyherald.com, fax it to (847) 680-0189 or mail to Religion listings, 1795 N. Butterfield Road, Suite 100, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Anshe Tikvah: A Shabbat Family Service will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the "Life Care Center," 103 Shelter Road, Lincolnshire. Call (847) 917-7726 for information or visit www.anshetikvah.org.

Congregation Or Shalom: A dinner club, open to all synagogue members over 21 years old, continues starting Jan. 12. The theme is soups and salads. Any member who wants to share good food and good company, favorite dishes and recipes is welcome to participate. For more information, contact miah@psc-usa.com. Located at 21 Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills, Or Shalom is a Reform Jewish congregation. For additional information on Congregation Or Shalom and upcoming events, call (847) 362-1948 or visit the Web site, www.orshalomlc.org.

• January worship services will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, and 25; a young children's service will be held starting at 6:45 p.m. Friday. Saturday morning services will be held on Jan. 12, 19 and 26.

• A book club will be reviewing two books -- one in January and one in April, at Hawthorn Lakes. At 7 p.m. Jan. 20, the group will review "Marc Chagall" by author Jonathan Wilson, who portrays the life and career of this remarkable artist, showing how his work reflects both a nostalgia for a vanished past as well as life in the early 20th century.

On April 6, from 9 to 10:15 a.m., the group will review "Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky. This is a book that was published more than 60 years after the author's death at Auschwitz. The book illustrates life under Nazi occupation.

• A family retreat is a special event scheduled for Feb. 1-3. In addition to singing marathons, food, games and other activities will be an adult study session.

• Starting in February, a special Thursday morning series called "Cooking with the Rabbi," continues, Feb. 14 and 28, March 13, and on April 3 and 17, from 10 to 11:15 a.m. The only pre-requisites for this course are an $18 fee and a desire to have fun cooking.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church: At 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 13, members of Holy Cross and their guests will present a child-friendly musical titled "Amahl and the Night Visitors."

Written by Gian-Carlo Menotti, an Italian composer who died in 2007, the work was written and will be sung in English. It is the most performed musical work of its kind in the world because it is so simple.

The church is at 29700 N. St. Mary's Road in Libertyville. For details, visit www.holycrosschurch.org.

• Celebration! Childcare Center will be collecting canned food for Cool Food Pantry during the month of January.

During the month, the students of Celebration! Childcare Center will build a Can Castle with the donations. The center invites the community to leave any canned items at the door. The castle's progress may be viewed through the window of the center. For details, call Kathy at (847) 367-6208.

• Holy Cross invites women to join them from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 26 in "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha's World," a one-day women's retreat. This retreat will meet in the gathering space of the church to make slipper socks. Bring two balls of Wool Ease Thick & Quick or bulky weight yarn and size 10½ double-pointed knitting needles or N-13 gauge crochet hook. The cost is $10 to cover lunch. For details or to register, call Nancy Davis at (847) 680-6802.

• The 2008-2009 registration for Mom's Morning Out begins in February. Mom's Morning Out is a special preschool program designed for 2-year-olds. Registration forms may be obtained in mid-January in the church office. For details, call Lisa Valentine at (847) 367-4060.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod): A Bible Study for women titled "Daniel: Lives of Integrity/Words of Prophecy" will meet Wednesdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. in Krueger Hall Jan. 9- Feb. 20. Classes are open to all women from St. Matthew and the community. Child care will be available. The church is at 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods. For information, call Scarlett Mankowsky (847) 540-5501.

The evening program will include time for quiet reflection and preparation; quiet, contemporary music; a short period of liturgical prayer; a homily centered on biblical healing; laying-on of hands and prayer by the healing team; the sacrament of healing, if desired; and a time for questions or further counsel.

The healing liturgies will continue each second Thursday of the month. For details, visit www.wordsofblessing.com or call (847) 543-7371.

Today: 9 a.m. Torah study with Rabbi Harari, 10 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service.

Friday: 7:30 p.m. "Let's Talk" Shabbat Service: a "sermon free" service with a group discussion in an informal atmosphere.

Jan. 12: 9 a.m. study session with Rabbi Harari, 10 a.m. Shabbat morning service.

For details, call (847) 265-1818 or e-mail amechod@amechod.org

Congregation Or Tikvah: Make Saturday afternoon a time to reconnect with your family. JCC's got Shabbat? will be offered from 4-5:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Or Tikvah, 330 Barron Blvd., Grayslake. It is filled with fun, food, Havdallah and wacky juggler Andy Head. This program is open to the community free. Projects are designed for families with children ages 4-8, but all are welcome. Additional parking is available at the Grayslake Middle School.

PCUUC meets each Sunday in the Byron Colby Barn, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake. For details, call (847) 604-1908 or visit http://www.prairiecircleuuc.org

Elijah's Mantle is a community service project whose goal is to help families with children in need by supplying gently-used children's clothing. The store is open to everyone from 9 to 11 a.m. the second Saturday of every month at St. Andrew Episcopal Church, Lake and Park streets. There is no cost. Gently-used clothing is available for boys and girls in sizes ranging from infant to size 16. The next store date is Jan. 12.

Since they rely completely on donated clothing (infant to size 16), they welcome current season contributions from individuals and organizations. You can drop off items at the church on the Saturdays when the store is in operation or arrange other dates by calling the church at (847) 223-2310.

They also welcome anyone from the community who might like to join the staff of volunteers to help sort and distribute the children's clothing. Call the church for details.

St. Martin de Porres: The school at 515 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan, will have an open house for prospective students from 6 to 8 p.m. April 27. For information, call (847) 244-6895, ext. 225.

Barrington United Methodist Church: The church will offer adult fellowship and Bible study from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Sunday mornings beginning this week. In "What's So Amazing About Grace?" 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? Join in for compelling, true portraits of grace's life-changing power. No preparation needed, workbooks are $12. The church is at 98 Algonquin Road (at Route 59) in Barrington. Call (847) 836-5540 for information.

• A spectacular celebration of sacred music by eight Barrington churches is coming to Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road (at Route 59) at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.).

Participating churches include: Atonement Lutheran Church -- Helen Ailabouni, director; Barrington United Methodist Church -- Karen Maxwell; Presbyterian Church of Barrington -- Kirsten Hedegaard; St. Anne Catholic Community -- Rory Cooney; St. Mark Episcopal -- Cory Thompson; St. Matthew Lutheran )-- Cathy Gathman; St. Michael Episcopal Church -- Robert Lind; Salem UMC -- David Hartley.

Featured soloists for the concert are: Kimberly Albrecht, soprano -- BUMC; Colleen Bolthouse, soprano, Atonement; David Hartley, baritone -- SUMC; and Prelude music by Jeffrey Neufeld, organ, BUMC.

Beth Judea: Congregation Beth Judea's Shabbat on Jan. 18 will be a chance to think warm while it is still cold outside. The (Jewish) luau will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a 7:30 p.m. Shabbat Service. Cost is dinner: $18 per adult, $8 for children (ages 2-12). Vegetarian meals available. Reservations need to be made by Friday. Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. (847) 634-0777.

• The Beth Judea Sisterhood will present fun for the whole family with the showing of the 2006 movie "Night at the Museum" at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20. The community is welcome to attend the showing.

The cost is $3 per person with a maximum cost per family of $10; children 2 and under are free. Bring pillows and blankets and friends. Candy, soda and snacks are available at a nominal cost.

For information, call the Beth Judea office at (847) 634-0777 and leave a message for Sandra and she will call you back. Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove.

• Congregation Beth Judea will host its second annual Viva Las Long Grove, an evening of gaming tables, live auction, silent auction and fun Feb. 9. There will be appetizers, noshes, beer and wine and dessert at 7 p.m. The gaming tables will open at 7:45 p.m. This is also the time that the poker tournament starts.

Gaming will consist of blackjack, roulette, poker and bingo. There will be blackjack, Texas Hold'em and bingo tournaments for cash prizes. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. There will be an additional entry fee required for the tournaments.

Cost is $45 in advance or $60 at the door. Advance tickets must be purchased by Feb. 2. Admission includes chips for roulette and blackjack and a bingo card. Please call or R.S.V.P. to Beth Judea at (847) 634-0777 or e-mail lneiman@bethjudea.org.

Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove.

• The course "Kabbalah -- Exploring Jewish Mysticism" will be taught by Rabbi Robert Gamer at Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. All classes meet at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Jan. 15, 22 and 29 and Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Call the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777 for information.

• The Men's Club of Congregation Beth Judea will be offering a class at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 20, titled "Understanding Prayer." The classes will be led by Norm Kurtz of the BJ Men's Club and are open to all.

Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. For information, contact the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777 and leave a message for Norm.

• The Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Judea will lead Shabbat services at its annual Sisterhood Shabbat at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 12.

Sisterhood members will lead the service -- from opening the Ark to reading the Haftorah and Torah portion and everything else in-between.

After the service, there will be a kiddush luncheon sponsored by the Sisterhood. For information, contact the synagogue office which is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. Call (847) 634-0777 or check Sisterhood's Web page at www.BethJudea.org or e-mail cbjsisterhood@hotmail.com.

Holy Family Catholic Community: The church is sponsoring a day-long Small Christian Community Institute Jan. 26. Three speakers will be presented, and 10 breakout sessions conducted.

The keynote speaker will be Bill Wise, chief compliance and business ethics officer of Analog Devices, Inc. An adjunct faculty member at Boston University and holder of a law degree from Suffolk University, Wise will speak on "The New Evangelization and You: Our role in taking the 'Gospel … to the heart of society.' "

For information, contact Wilma Growney at (847) 428-7468 or wilmagrow@aol.com. Advance registration is encouraged as there is limited seating for each breakout session. Everyone is welcome. Holy Family Church is at 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness.

• Holy Family Parish, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, will host An Evening With Our Blessed Mother at 6 p.m. Jan. 22. Since June of 1981, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, has been appearing daily to a group of young people in a remote village in Yugoslavia called Medjugorje. One of them, Ivan Dragicevic, has accepted an invitation to visit Holy Family Catholic Community Jan. 22.

Our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Peace, is scheduled to appear and speak with Ivan on Jan. 22 while he is at Holy Family Catholic Community. All are welcome to come and be present at this apparition. Schedule of events are: 6 p.m., the recitation of five decades of the rosary; 6:40 p.m., at about this time, Ivan will speak with Our Blessed Mother. After this apparition, the recitation of the rosary will continue; 7 p.m., Holy Mass begins; 8 p.m., Ivan Dragicevic will give his testimony of Our Lady's message. Call (847) 304-4846 or (847) 359-7533 for information.

Moriah Congregation: The congregation at 200 Taub Drive in Deerfield will present the best work of over 50 internationally acclaimed artists from North America and Israel at its 2008 All Judaic Art & Jewelry Fair from 8-11:30 p.m. Feb. 16; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 17; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 18. Adult admission is $10 and covers all three days. For more information, contact Karen P. Walanka, executive director, at (847) 948-5340 or kwalanka@moriahcong.org

St. Matthew Lutheran Church: The church at 720 Dundee Ave., Barrington, will offer two new Bible study classes beginning at 9:15 a.m. Sunday and continuing for five weeks.

Nancy Klaman, the congregation's parish nurse, and Pat Marks will be teaching a "Health and Wellness" class. The class will address the question, "How can we improve our lifestyle, begin or be consistent with exercise, and put into practice the Christian disciplines of prayer and Bible study?"

The second class, "The Burden of Habakkuk" will be taught by the Rev. Gerald Schalk. The study classes are open to anyone who is interested. For information, call (847) 382-7002.

St. Paul United Church of Christ, Barrington: The Women's Book Group meets at 10 a.m., the second Tuesday of the month. All women in the community are welcome to come and share in these lively and insightful discussions.

This Tuesday, the discussion book will be "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh.

There is no fee, but please read the book before the meeting in order to fully participate. St Paul is at 401 E. Main in Barrington. For information, call Pastor Jeanne or Pastor Jana at (847) 381-0460.