Organ recital series in West Dundee

Is white getting to be your least favorite color?

Do you feel a little like the captain of the Titanic as you maneuver your car by some of the giant mounds of snow in local parking lots?

Are gray skies and even grayer roadside slush beginning to erode your optimism that spring will ever come?

If you answered "Yes, and amen to that," you need something to lift your spirits and lighten your heart.

Happily, a remedy is on hand and that remedy is music.

Last week as Ash Wednesday began the liturgical season of Lent, the 13th annual Organ Recital Series began at the First United Methodist Church in West Dundee.

What started in 1994 with a single organist at a single church has blossomed into a yearly tradition of ecumenical organ recitals.

Event founder Phyllis Connelly said "One of the most rewarding aspects of this series is that local churches and organists are providing an opportunity for friends of different faiths to visit each other's churches, sit next to each other to pray and sing together -- whether in the choir or in the assembly."

Initially the concerts were only held on Thursdays with a culminating concert on Palm Sunday, but this year there will be additional Sunday concerts. The Thursday recitals are from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. so that people who are working can attend during their lunch break.

On Thursday, Vernon Studt will be the organist at Zion United Church of Christ, 138 N. Washington St. in Carpentersville.

Michael Surrat will perform at the First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. (Route 31) in West Dundee on Feb. 21.

On Feb. 28, Vernon Studt will play at the First Congregational Church, 11628 Main St. in Huntley.

Maurice Martin will be play at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 845 W. Main St. in West Dundee on March 6.

The final Thursday concert will be March 13, with both the Rev. Dr. Richard Gilbert and Phyllis Connelly as organists.

The Sunday concerts begin at 3 p.m.; all of the programs are followed by a time of fellowship and a chance to meet the musicians.

On Sunday, Jon Warfel will be the organist at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2700 W. Highland Ave. in Elgin.

Phyllis Connelly will play at the First Presbyterian Church, 240 Standish St., Elgin, on Feb. 24.

On March 2, Connelly and Steve Smith will be organists at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 215 Thomas More Drive in Elgin.

Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road in Barrington, will host the concert with Jeff Neufeld as organist on March 9.

At 4 p.m. March 16, the Festival Palm Sunday Concert will be at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. The choirs, bell choirs and instrumentalists of the churches that participate in the recital series come together and present a joint concert to help prepare for Holy Week.

In 2007 close to 700 people came to this final concert, Connelly said.

Relay For Life

The date and location for the Relay For Life of Northern Kane County Kickoff Party has been changed from Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee to 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Dundee-Crown High School Library Annex in Carpentersville. Attendees will have a chance to win two roundtrip airline tickets to any place in the United States. There will be also be ice cream and treats.

During the Relay Kickoff, you will be able to register for the Relay, ask questions and meet the committee and American Cancer Society staff. There will be lots of helpful information for team captains who are already busy assembling their own groups of family, friends and co-workers, and also for new volunteers who want to create their own teams or to work with others.

The Relay For Life of Northern Kane County will be at the Dundee-Crown High School Field House on May 2, with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. the next morning.

It is a wonderful event. You don't have to worry about the weather because it is an indoor track. There will be games, music, food and lots of good people all taking part to raise dollars to defeat cancer in all of its forms.

For more information, call Liz at (630) 879-9009 or Jenny at (847) 428-6213.