Notes on Religion

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Adult education

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.

Are you looking for ways to grow in your faith and deeply connect it to your life? Adult Ministries at Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road (at Route 59) in Barrington is offering the following learning opportunities:

Sunday Morning Offerings, 9-10:15 a.m., Bible Study of Romans -- Room 108. This is a 10-week study for all, with no prior Bible study knowledge required. Also, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" will be in the Dining Room. Explore grace at "street level" through the writings of award-winning author Philip Yancey. No preparation needed, workbooks are $12.

On Wednesday evenings, a Women's Evening Study is offered from 6-8:30 p.m. in Parlor or Room 111. Delve into "Women of Worship" by Dee Brestin in this dynamic 10-week study on the Psalms. No prior Bible study knowledge required, and books are $11.

On Thursday mornings, Women of the Word is from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Parlor. This is a study of "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place" by Beth Moore.

On Friday morning, "Breathing Spaces" is offered from 10-10:30 a.m. at Starbuck's inside Dominick's, Lake Zurich. Take time out to reflect and enjoy fellowship.

For more information, contact the church at (847) 836-5540. Visit the church's Web site at: www.BarringtonUMC.com.

Saint Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will have a Co-Ed Prayer Retreat from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 16 titled "Finding a Rhythm of Rest." For details, call (847) 998-1946.

Children, teens

The Youth Department of Congregation Beth Judea will hold its annual Purim Carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 16 in the synagogue's Social Hall. There will be games, prizes and food. Game tickets are 25 cents each.

The Purim Carnival is open to all children in the community. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. For details, call (847) 634-0777.

JCC Maccabi Chicago, a JCC of Chicago program that provides athletic, social and cultural experiences to Jewish teens ages 13 to 16, announces plans for the 2008 JCC Maccabi Games.

All interested athletes and families are invited to attend an information night to learn more about this summer's Games in Akron, Ohio, Aug 10-15, and Detroit, Mich., Aug. 17-22. An information night will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bernard Weinger JCC, 300 Revere Drive, Northbrook.

JCC Maccabi Chicago plans to send a delegation of 25 athletes and five coaches to Akron, Ohio, to compete in boys and girls soccer and bowling. Representing JCC Maccabi Chicago in Detroit, Mich., will be 115 athletes and 25 coaches competing in boys baseball, girls softball, boys and girls basketball, in-line hockey, swimming, tennis, track & field, dance, table tennis, bowling and golf.

Tryouts for the 2008 JCC Maccabi Chicago teams will take place in February and March. For details, call Allan Bogan at (847) 412.4253 or visit www.gomaccabi.org.

Registration has begun for the summer session at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove. This program is for children ages 2 and 3.

The summer session of Parent's Day Out will start June 16 and will run for seven weeks. Parents will have the option of Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday class from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Children must be 2 or 3 years of age by June 1, 2008, to enroll.

All children are required to have a complete physical and provide a complete Illinois Department of Public Health Certificate of Child Health Examination prior to the start of the program.

A 50 percent deposit of session fees is required with the complete registration form. A $25 nonrefundable registration fee is also due at the time of registration. The balance is due by May 13. Refunds will not be given after June 1. The summer tuition is as follows: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday: $185.

Kingswood United Methodist Church is at 401 W. Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove. For details on programs, missions and worship, visit www.kingswoodumc.com.

The 2008 Summer Program registration is under way at Jacob Duman JCC Early Childhood Services at Woodland Commons, 370 Half Day Road in Buffalo Grove.

Offered are a variety of options for parent/child, 2-year-olds and 3-year olds. Programs run June 16 to Aug. 8. For details or to register, call Ione Miralgio, Linda Newman or Lois Agran at (847) 955-0005.

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.

St. Joseph the Worker Church, 181 W Dundee Road in Wheeling, will be conducting Lenten Fish Frys from 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays through March 14. All-you-can-eat fish fry includes choice of potato, coleslaw and rye bread. Shrimp dinners, salad bar and soup are also available, as well as bar and soft drinks. Call (847) 537-2740 for details.

Congregation Beth Judea's Family Education Weekend will take place Feb. 22-24, featuring Anita Silvert from Theatre Judaica as its Artist in Residence. Silvert will use the Art of Living Midrash to create opportunities for families to experience interactive Torah study. All participants will dive into the biblical texts, bringing their own experiences and insights to the story and characters.

The activities for the weekend are as follows:

Feb. 22: "The Ten Commandmnets Revisited." All families are invited to attend this special Shabbat dinner featuring Anita Silvert. Dinner is at 6 p.m. followed by Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 23: "Moses, Aaron and the Israelites" at 9 a.m. Through the use of Living Midrash, Anita Silvert will work with Gimel families on ideas relating to Moses, Aaron, the 10 Commandments and other topics in Parshat Ki Tissa.

Feb. 23: "What Did Moses Do" at 10:30 a.m. Through the use of Living Midrash, Silvert will work with Bet families on ideas relation to Moses, Aaron, the 10 Commandments and other topics in Parshat Ki Tissa.

Then, at 7 p.m. Feb. 23, "To Forgive or Not Forgive, That is the Question." Through the use of Living Midrash, Silvert will present an adult workshop focusing on the 10 Commandments and other topics in Parshat Ki Tissa.

Feb. 24: "What Did Moses Do" at 9 a.m. After reviewing the story of the Golden Calf, families will explore the story in more detail using various techniques of Living Midrash.

At 9:45 a.m., there will be a session for Aleph parents, who, through the use of bibliodrama, will understand the relationship between Aaron and Moses in a new light.

The 10:30 a.m. session is a program for Dalet families who will work on ideas relating to Moses, Aaron, the 10 Commandments and other topics in Parshat Ki Tissa.

The 11:30 a.m. session will be for second-grade Families. Using story-based Living Midrash, Silvert will engage second-graders and their families in Parshat Ki Tissa.

Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. For further information call (847) 634-0777 or visit the Web at www.bethjudea.org.

Congregation Beth Judea, located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove, invites the community to join them for its 2008 Purim Celebration March 20.

The evening of events, in which everyone is asked to come in costume, is as follows:

• 6 p.m.: Havdalah and Pizzathon ($7/adult; $5/children 12 and younger).

• 7 p.m.: Family abbreviated Megillah Reading (Book of Esther).

8 p.m.: Ma'ariv and Traditional Megillah Reading.

The Jewish holiday of Purim marks the Jewish victory over the Persians, who, led by wicked Haman, sought to destroy the Jewish population in their empire.

Groggers will be handed out to resonate throughout the evening, and hamentaschen will be served to sweeten life. As a Mitzvah project, participants are asked to bring boxes of dry pasta, rice or vitamins to be used as groggers, which will then be donated to a food shelter.

For details, call (847) 634-0777.

Fundraisers

The Sisterhood of Temple Chai will be sponsoring its fourth Annual Party-Planning Fair ("Simcha Showcase") from 3-7 p.m. Feb. 24. Participants of the Simcha Showcase can meet with nearly 70 vendors including photographers, videographers and DJ's, while obtaining creative ideas for invitations, centerpieces, entertainment and more. Caterers will provide food samples of their menus, from main courses to desserts and candies. Several DJ's and other entertainers will have live performances throughout the day!

The Showcase is free to the public. Temple Chai is located at 1670 Checker Road, one-half block west of Arlington Heights Road, in Long Grove. For more information, e-mail simchashowcase@aol.com, or call (847) 913-6869.

Feb. 17 is Beth Judea Day at "Pitching Penguins," the new comedy written by Beth Judea congregant Michael Rosenbaum and David Brimm. Beth Judea will receive a significant donation for every ticket purchased by members and, if congregants buy more than 40 tickets, Michael will figure out a way to work Beth Judea into the script.

"Pitching Penguins" opens Thursday and runs through March 16 at Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater, 2257 North Lincoln. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays.

To obtain proper credit for Beth Judea, call the ticket office at (773) 871-3000 to order tickets for the Feb. 17 show and use the promotion code BETH.

Beth Judea is a Conservative Jewish congregation on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove.

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

Lectures, seminars

Temple Chai in Long Grove will be sponsoring members of the Chicago chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen at 11:15 a.m. March 30. They will be speaking about the obstacles they encountered while becoming the only black fighter pilots in WW II. Free admission, a light brunch follows the presentation. RSVP to (847) 537-1771

Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois (JGSI) presents "Family Tree Maker 2008 -- The Latest Version" by Franklin Mills at 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at Temple Beth Israel, 3601 W. Dempster St., Skokie. Mills will review Family Tree Maker genealogical software's new interface and dozens of new features.

The JGSI meeting facilities at Temple Beth Israel will open at 12:30 p.m. to accommodate members/guests who want to use library materials, get help regarding genealogical Web sites on the Internet or ask genealogical-related questions before the main program begins at 2 p.m.

Visit http://www.jewishgen.org/jgsi or phone (312) 666-0100 for more information.

Touchstones is sponsoring a workshop, "Taize and the Power of Meditative Music," from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm St. in Glenview. For details, visit www.mytouchstones.org or call (866) 568-7152.

Touchstones is sponsoring a workshop "God in the Jewish Tradition" from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Schram Memorial Museum, 1799 Patriot Blvd. in Glenview.

Discuss the Jewish idea of God with presenter Gail Ginsburg, adjunct faculty member at Oakton College.

For details, visit www.mytouchstones.org or call (866) 568-7152.

Men's fellowship

The Midwest Region of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs will hold its annual Man of the Year Dinner on Feb. 27 at Beth Hillel Congregation B'nai Emunah, 3220 Big Tree Lane in Wilmette. This year, Beth Judea's Men's Club proudly honors its Man of the Year, Jim MacCrindle.

For further information on making reservations for this gala event, call Beth Judea's office at (847) 634-0777 and leave a message for Man of the Year Dinner Chairman Steve Limer. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. Visit the Web site at www.bethjudea.org.

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.

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.

St. Peter Community Church will be participating in a health screening Thursday at St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook. There will be screening for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurisms, arterial disease and osteoporosis. There is a minimal charge for these screenings and an appointment is required. For an appointment, call (800) 324-1851.

The screenings are completely painless, non-invasive and require 10 minutes or less each to complete. The complete Wellness Package is $129.

For details, call: (847) 272-2246.

Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim holds monthly movie nights. On Thursday nights, Congregation Ezra Habonim shows films of interest to the Jewish community. The films, which are in Hebrew with English subtitles, are shown at the synagogue at 2095 Landwehr Road in Northbrook.

Admission to each film is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Some of the films will highlight subjects that may be geared for adult audiences.

Upcoming films are: "Forgiveness" at 7:30 p.m. May 15.

For information, visit the Web site at www.nceh.org or call the synagogue office at (847) 480-1690.

Saint Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will host a scrapbooking event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 16. Scrapbooking enthusiasts are invited to come and enjoy scrapbooking while sharing some trade secrets. For details, call (847) 998-1946.

Saint Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will have a blood drive from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday sponsored by Life Source Blood Supplies. For details, call (847) 998-1946.

Special services

Shabbat worship services are offered at 7:30 p.m. Fridays (Kabbalat Shabbat) and at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. Birthdays and anniversaries will be recognized at the first Friday night service of the month. Daily minyan services are: Mondays at 6:15 a.m.; Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 9 a.m.

Tot Shabbat services are held in the main sanctuary of the synagogue at 6:30 p.m. on the second Friday of every month. Gan Shabbat services are held every Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Beit HaMidrash on the Religious School level.

Nonmembers of Beth Judea are invited to attend services. For information, call the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777.

Kol Chaverim, a one-year-old post-denominational, participatory, egalitarian congregation serving all North Shore and Northwest suburbs invites prospective members to regular Shabbat morning services and kiddush lunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS) Northwest, 1700 Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove.

Among the goals of the congregation is outreach to former members of other groups. In accord with congregational policy, all Holocaust survivors are invited to be honorary members at no charge.

So that they may be prepared to welcome you, respond by calling (847) 398-2019 by Friday. For further information, go to: www.kolchaverim.org

Wednesday services in observance of Lent will be held at North Northfield United Methodist Church.

Services will be from noon to 12:30 p.m. and 7 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent. All services will be at the church, 797 Sanders Road, Northbrook. For details, call (847) 272-2250 or visit www.northnorthfield.org.

Saint Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, offers Lenten suppers and services every Wednesday during Lent. The suppers begin at 6:30 p.m. and services begin at 7:30 p.m. For details, call (847) 998-1946.

Saint Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will offer a 40th Anniversary Celebration Sunday. There will be one service at 10 a.m. with former pastor the Rev. Jack Finney preaching. A special meal will be served at 1 p.m. at the Glenview Park Golf Club, 800 Shermer Road. For details, call (847) 998-1946.

Women's programs

The Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Judea will present an entertaining and educational event at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 21 in the synagogue social hall. Sue Lewis, the education vice president of the Central Great Lakes Region of Women's League will discuss "Bubbemeises: Jewish Customs and Superstitions."

Sue Lewis is a Jewish educator, a Para Chaplain and a much sought-after community speaker. Her lecture will discuss those Jewish behaviors that we do without really knowing the reason behind them, primarily focusing on superstitions that cover the Jewish life cycle (i.e. why Jews don't believe in baby showers).

Sisterhood events are open to all members of the Beth Judea congregation. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. For further information, contact the synagogue office at (847) 634-0777 or visit www.BethJudea.org.