Notes on Religion

To submit items, e-mail faith@dailyherald.com, or send fax to (847) 427-1301.

Adult education

Immanuel United Church of Christ will host a new weekly Parents Group Mondays in the west classroom. The group will meet during the same time as the Lifeboat High School Community Youth Group, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The church is looking for additional leadership and has selected the ProActive Parenting curriculum from the Faith Home for Parents series. The church is at 1500 Old Church Road Streamwood. For details, call (630) 837-0190 or visit www.streamwoodiucc.org.

New Beginnings will have a Valentine's Dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Hughes Center at St. Matthew's Church, 1001 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Bring a snack for six to eight people. Coffee, tea and soft drinks will be provided. Tickets cost $8 in advance or $10 at the door. For details, call Joan Neville at (847) 397-9643.

The following classes are being offered at Our Saviour's United Methodist Church, 701 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg:

• They Like Jesus but Not the Church: This is an 8-week book study held at the church from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Sundays, Feb. 10, 17, 24; March 2, 9, 30; April 6 and 13. There is a cost of $17 for the book. For details, call contact Eric Walker or Tim Alexander at (847) 352-8181 or www.osumc.org.

• Mere Christianity: Class begins Sunday and continues until March 23 on consecutive Sundays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For details, contact Mike Sukow at msukow@yahoo, or the church at (847) 352-8181 or www.osumc.org.

• Weekly Bible Study: This four-week adult Bible study focuses on reading small amounts of Scripture and discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday. For details, contact Linda Abbott or Beth Collier at (847) 362-8181 or www.osumc.org.

Holy Family Catholic Community, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, will host Community on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Feb. 20, with guest speaker Scott Haltzman, M.D. The topic is "The Secrets of Happily Married Men: Eight Ways to Win Your Wife's Heart."

In most households, women take on the role of relationship manager as they gauge and measure the quality of the relationship. It seems that men, on the other hand, just don't pay that much attention. While they are often wonderfully romantic during the dating phase, men get labeled as "dysfunctional" in relationships once they take their vows. But nothing can be further from the truth. Men care deeply about marriage and making their wives happy. When a man knows how to take a leadership role in the relationship, he can literally save the marriage. He just may not go about it the same way a woman does.

"The Secrets of Happily Married Men" is a step-by-step approach to saving your marriage. It is designed for men by men, but its message is also important for wives to hear.

Join us for this evening of prayer, learning and conversation. For information, call (847) 907-3441.

Holy Family Catholic Community, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, will host an evening Scripture Study at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 21, 28, March 13, 27.

Pauline A. Viviano, Ph.D., will discuss "The Devil Made Me Do It … The Concept of Satan and the Demonic, and its Evolution Through the Scriptures." The cost is $40.

Viviano is an associate professor of theology at Loyola University of Chicago.

For details or to register, call (847) 907-3441.

Children, teens

Prince of Peace Preschool and Kindergarten, 930 W. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, has begun registration for the 2008-2009 school year. It offers many different options for preschool and kindergarten classes and an extended day through a Parents' Day Out program. For details, call (847) 885-7036.

Registration is under way at St. Hubert Catholic School's preschool, 255 Flagstaff, Hoffman Estates.

New to the 2008-2009 school year preschool program will be a full-day combined 3- and 4-year-old preschool class, along with the current half-day 3- and 4-year-old preschool classes and half-day and full-day kindergarten program.

New Student Open Registration for the 2008-2009 school year for preschool through eighth grade continues and applications are being accepted.

For registration materials and additional information, call the school office between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at (847) 885-7702 or e-mail office@sthubertschool.com.

Tours can be arranged to learn more about St. Hubert Catholic School. For details, visit www.sainthubert.org

Our Redeemer's United Methodist Church, 1600 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, at 6:33 p.m. Sunday will have a unique gathering focusing on issues of world hunger.

It will be youth-led, with music and testimony to what they have accomplished. The sanctuary will be covered with 29,000 orange paper worlds symbolizing the number of people starving in one day.

Over that weekend, junior and senior high youth will be fasting for 30 hours to raise awareness and learn about world hunger issues.

For details, call (847) 882-6116 or visit www.orumc.org.

Big Barn Preschool has openings for winter registration for ages 3 to 6 at 888 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. (847) 895-3257.

Family

The Neighborhood Ministry of Holy Family Catholic Community in Inverness hosts fish fry evenings that are open to all denominations.

Dates include Feb. 15, 22, 29 and March 7. Dinners are served between 6 and 7 p.m. in the Social Center, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness. There is no fee; however, a freewill offering of $5-10 is suggested.

Entertainers such as Jim Papandrea, Phil DeVet, Jeff Poindexter and Suburban Noize will perform. After dinner, all are invited to process to the church to attend the Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m., the traditional Lenten devotion.

For details, call Holy Family Catholic Community at (847) 907-3439.

Lectures, seminars

Author and nationally known motivational speaker Julie-Allyson Ieron is going to visit St. Peter Damian Catholic Church in Bartlett at 1 p.m. Feb. 24 to present her seminar "Conquering the Time Factor."

Drawn from the pages of Julie's book, "Conquering the Time Factor," this interactive session offers a reasoned response to the "Myths that Steal Life's Precious Moments."

Julie's Web site is www.joymediaservices.com.

Our Saviour's United Methodist Church 701 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, will offer free live seminars that will help answer the questions most people face today regarding money and finances. These seminars will be presented by Joel A. Leece and William (Bill) Orchard-Hays III.

The following will be offered:

Today: Getting Started 101 -- Budgeting/Getting Out of Debt/Creating Emergency Savings from 9 to 9:45 a.m.: and Mortgage Basics 101 -- Concepts/Different Types of Loans from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

Feb. 16: Insurance 101 -- Life Insurance/Health Insurance/Property & Casualty from 9 to 9:45 a.m.; and Investing 101 -- Principles of Investing/Tax Saving Strategies/Mutual Funds vs. Stocks from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

Feb. 23: Insurance 102 -- Long Term Care Protection/Disability Income Protection from 9 to 9:45 a.m.; and Investing 102 -- College Saving Plans/Retirement Plans/Estate Planning from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

All workshops will take place at Our Saviour's United Methodist Church. To register for any of these workshops, call Peggy Burtt at (847) 352-8181 or visit www.osumc.org.

Men's fellowship

Rinkey Dinks Christian Men will meet Tuesday at the Palm Court Restaurant, 1912 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights.

The speaker will be the Rev. Bill Cate, associate pastor at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 202 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg.

Cate is married with two adult children and spent 20 years in the Air Force before being called to the ministry.

Miscellaneous

In an effort to seek common ground and greater understanding between neighbors of different faiths, a series of interfaith dialogues have been planned at three distinct houses of worship.

Patterned after "Abraham Salons" suggested by author Bruce Feiler in his book, "Abraham," each community will jointly stage three different discussions focusing on each of the faiths.

The presentations will emphasize the common heritage that began with Abraham, whose story inspires all three of the faiths.

Rabbi Max Weiss of Beth Tikvah Congregation, the Rev. Don Myrom of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and Dr. Khalid Sami of the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs have announced their congregations will each participate in the events. Each leader will speak on their own faith at another's house of worship.

The series will kick off at 7 p.m. March 8 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 930 W. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, with a presentation by Rabbi Max Weiss. The second event will be at 7 p.m. March 27 at Beth Tikvah Congregation, 300 Hillcrest Blvd., Hoffman Estates, with a presentation by Dr. Khalid Sami on Islam. The third event will take place at 5 p.m. April 12 at the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs Mosque, 3950 Industrial Drive, Rolling Meadows, with a presentation by the Rev. Don Myrom.

Each meeting will start with a 20-minute presentation by the featured speaker on their faith, followed by comments from the two other faith leaders. There will also be time for questions from the audience. A short dessert fellowship will conclude each evening.

The following events are at Victory Centre of Bartlett, 1101 W. Bartlett Road, Bartlett. They are free and open to the public, but reservations are encouraged. For details, contact (630) 213-0100.

• Thursday, 2 p.m.: In honor of National Weddings Month and Valentine's Day, a special wedding service will be held for couples wishing to renew their marriage vows. The Rev. LeRoy Kennel will officiate the ceremony, which includes messages, special music and wedding cake following the wedding. Residents Dan and Effie Polos, married 65 years, and Dudley and Helen Olsen, married 61 years, will renew their vows for the first time.

• Feb. 16, 3:30 p.m.: In honor of Black History Month, the Rev. Pearley Champion will bring the Peace, Mercy and Charity Chorus of Forest Park to perform, and the Rev. Daniel Lee will share a message.

• Feb. 22, 2 p.m.: A Quarterly Memorial Service will be held honoring all those who have passed away. Chaplain Jason Stromstad of Vitas Hospice will lead the service, and candlelighting, special music and a time for sharing memories.

• Feb. 23, 2 p.m.: The Village Church of Bartlett sponsors a Ladies Tea, "Getting to Know You."

Faith World Outreach, 6N100 Route 59, Bartlett, is partnering with Angel Food Ministries to provide groceries to those in need. For $25, a family in need receives a box of quality groceries, both fresh and frozen items. For information, call Faith World Outreach at (630) 830-0193 or go to www.angelfoodministries.com.

Lenten Mission: "No Greater Love -- Reflections on the Seven Last Words of Jesus" will be at St. Marcelline Catholic Church, 822 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. The church is sponsoring this Parish Lenten Mission featuring Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, OFM, at 7 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday in church or at 9:30 a.m. Monday-Wednesday in the Family Room. See the Web site at www.stmarcelline.com for details. All are welcome.

The annual Valentine's Dinner for adults will be at 6 p.m. today at Christ Community Mennonite Church, 888 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Dinner will be followed with guest speakers Jan and Don Rheinheimer discussing "It's Relationships That Matter."

Holy Family Catholic Community, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, invites everyone to join the annual Evening of Romance Feb. 16. The Rev. Pat Brennan will preside at Mass at 6 p.m. where you will have an opportunity to renew your marriage vows.

Afterward, enjoy a catered dinner, music and dancing with a D.J. The theme for the evening is "The Song Remembers When." Every couple that registers will be asked to request a song for the dance portion of the evening.

The cost is $50 a couple and reservations are needed. Nursery is available. For details, call (847) 907-3441.

Special services

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, 1116 E. Devon, Bartlett, will hold Lenten services starting at 7 p.m. every Wednesday through March 12. The theme for the services is "Living Lent -- the Animals Tell the Story." Preceding the services will be a Soup and Sandwich supper at 5:45 p.m. All are welcome. For details, call (630) 837-1166.

Living Lord Lutheran Church will offer Soup Supper at 6 p.m., followed by Lenten Worship at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through March 12 at the church, 1044 Congress Drive in Bartlett. Bring soup or bread to share, enjoy fellowship time, and make a "40-Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life." For details, call (630) 830-3630, or visit www.livinglordlutheran.org.

Congregation Kneseth Israel holds Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at the synagogue, 330 Division St., 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.

Religious school for pre-kindergarten to high school is offered. For details, call (847) 741-5656 or visit www.ckielgin.org.

Celebrate the Joys of Conservative Judaism at Congregation Shirat Shalom in Elgin. Friendly, participatory Shabbat services are held every Saturday at 9:45 a.m., and are followed by a community kiddush luncheon. Services include a spirited Torah discussion, focusing on the "parsha of the week". Tot Shabbat services, perfect for children of all ages, are on the third Friday of the month.

Adult education classes are held on Thursdays and Saturdays.

For information, call (847) 695-6246, e-mail hazzansarah@gmail.com, or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org.

Immanuel United Church of Christ has new hours. The church at 1500 Old Church Road, Streamwood, will offer the following times of worship on Sundays:

9 a.m.: Worship (traditional with a bit of contemporary), fellowship and coffee following the service.

10:15 a.m.: Adult and children's education in the west classroom

11:30 a.m.: Worship (Contemporary service)

Fourth Sunday of the month only: 6 p.m.-- No sanctuary required. This time is set aside to work on mission projects.

Call (630) 837-0190 for information. www.streamwoodiucc.org

The Book of Revelation, with encouragement and guidance for nuclear age living, will be taught for four weeks Sundays at 9:15 a.m. by the Rev. LeRoy Kennel at Christ Communuity Mennonite Church, 888 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg.

Guest presenter Dr. Nelson Kraybill, president of Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind., will continue the study with the focus of "Revelation and the Politics of Worship" March 1 and 2.

The four lecture titles are "In Bed with a Beast" 3:30 p.m. and "The Lion and the Lamb" 7 p.m. March 1, and "The Economics of Worship" at 9:15 and "On Earth as in Heaven" at 10:30 a.m. March 2.

For details, call (847) 895-3654.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA) will host five weeks of Lenten services starting this Wednesday at 6 p.m., and continuing for the next four Wednesdays. The theme this year will be "Re-Painting Your Faith -- A Work in Progress."

Each evening will begin with a meal, followed by activities and a worship service from 7:40-8 p.m. The church is located at 930 W. Higgins Road, Schaumburg. All are welcome. Freewill donations will be accepted to help cover meal costs and craft supplies. For information, call the church at (847) 885-7010, or visit the church Web site at www.princeofpeace.net.

A dramatic Lenten sermon with the devil confronting Jesus in the wilderness, played by LeRoy Kennel and Jon Mihevc, will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Christ Community Mennonite Church, 888 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. For details, call (847) 895-3654

Covenant Church of Schaumburg, 301 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, will offer Lenten services at 7 p.m. Feb 20 and March 5, with soup and bread starting at 6:30 p.m. For details, call (847) 605-8334.

St. Marcelline Catholic Church announces the resumption of weekly exposition and adoration of the blessed sacrament. These are held each Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Family Room Chapel. 822 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. (847) 524-4429.

A prayer service for peace in the Middle East will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 Main St. in Barrington. The service includes reading from the Bible, music, and prayers for peace in the Middle East.

After the service, Bob Anderson of Barrington will show his video presentation of a recent trip to the Holy Land with members from Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Barrington and Grace Lutheran Church in LaGrange.

The service will continue to be held on the 15th of each month until a just and lasting peace is achieved.

For details, call (847) 381-0243 or visit www.elca.org/middleeast.

Women's programs

Resurrection Catholic Community, Route 59 and Army Trail Road, Wayne, will hold a Retreat for Women at 9 a.m., Feb. 16. "All This and Heaven, Too!" begins with a continental breakfast in Marvin Hall at 9 a.m. The presentation begins at 9:30 a.m. The cost for the event is $15. For details or to register, call (630) 289-5400, ext. 208.

Joliet Diocese Bishop J. Peter Sartain will present "Believing is Seeing … a Reflection for everyone on the Lenten Gospel Story of the Man Born Blind" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the church worship space. All are welcome.

Woodfield Women's Connection will hold a baby shower for CARIS, a pregnancy crisis center at Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Items most needed are disposable diapers sizes 0-2, wipes, baby formula and bottles. R.S.V.P. by Friday to wwconnection@msn.com or call Micky at (847) 490-9881.

This year's worship service was written by the women of Guyana. The theme, "God's Wisdom Provides New Understanding," is especially meaningful to the women of Guyana.

The guest speaker for this service is the Rev. Digna Campanano, staff chaplain for Cardiac Care at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and an ordained clergy in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. Campanano, who hails from the Philippines, has a degree in political science from the University of Pangasinan, Philippines.

All are welcome to attend the service. Free child care will be provided. For details, call Linda Osikowicz at (847) 540-5634.

The Women's Book Group of St Paul United Church of Christ, Barrington, invites all women in the community to join them at their next meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The book we will be discussing is "Searching for God Knows What," by Donald Miller. Written with wit reminiscent of Anne Lamott, the book is about how the Gospel of Jesus explains the human personality. There is no fee to join the group, but please read the book before hand to fully participate. We meet in the library at St Paul, which is located at 401 E. Main St. For information, call (847) 381-0460.