Notes on Religion

Faith and worship in DuPage County

• To submit your listings, e-mail M.J. Porter at mporter@dailyherald.com or fax items to (630) 955-0895. Mail should be sent to Daily Herald, 4300 W. Commerce Court, Lisle, IL 60532.

Today

• River Valley Community Church's Singles FOCUS, Fellowship of Christians United in Spirit, will hold a game night at 6:30 p.m. today at River Valley Community Church, 1655 Bowman Drive, Aurora. The group meets at 7 p.m. Thursday with a light meal at 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming events include a movie night featuring "Amazing Grace" beginning with a light dinner at 5:30 p.m. March 1. Reservations are requested by calling (630) 907-2992.

Church services are at 10 a.m. Sundays. For details, visit the Web site at www.rivervalleycommunity.org or call (630) 907-2992.

Sunday

• The deadline for the Couples Conference 2008 is Sunday. The event is for all couples whether married or dating and features marriage educators David and Claudia Arp, authors of "10 Great Dates." Christ Church of Oak Brook will sponsor the event from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and 8:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 23 at the Westin Hotel in Lombard. The fee of $90 per couple includes material for the weekend; a special overnight room rate of $99 is available. For details, visit the Web site at www.cc-ob.org or call (630) 654-1882.

• Faith United Methodist Church will feature the Rev. Rich Rubietta and his music ministry at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, 5395 Westiview Lane, Lisle. For details, visit the Web site at www.faithcurchlisle.org or call (6300 969-6404.

Tuesday

• Wheaton College's Center for Applied Christian Ethics will feature author Jim Wallis discussing his new book,"The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post-religious Right America," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Kresge Room of Edman Memorial chapel, Washington and Franklin streets, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 752-5886.

• New Beginnings, a non-denominational self-help group for those experiencing separation, divorce, death of a spouse or loss of a significant relationship, meets at 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1215 Modaff Road, Naperville. For details, visit the Web site at www.newbeginningsil.com or send an e-mail to cml525@gmail.com.

Wednesday

• First Church of Lombard will hold its second annual Women's Wellness Workshop with a registration deadline of Wednesday. The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1 at the church, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. Participants have an opportunity to choose three of 12 information sessions. Featured speaker Faith Roberts will present "From Wedding Rings to Nose Rings…Generational Differences in the Pews." The fee is $45 and includes breakfast, workshops and lunch. For details or to register, call Debra Haugen at (630) 629-2630, ext. 12.

• Word of Life Lutheran Church will hold services at 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Lent at the church, 879 Tudor Drive, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-9655.

Thursday

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish Job Ministry will present Age vs. attitude in mature job seekers at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. For details, call Jim Breen at (630) 355-8980.

• Wheatland Salem United Methodist Church will present Making Room for Life with Randy Frazee and Ed Bahler from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the church, 95th Street and Book Road, Naperville. The $20 fee includes lunch. For details or to register, call Pat Masek at (630) 388-5101.

• Author Mike Sandrolini will discuss his new book, "All the Good in Sports: True Stories that Go Beyond the Headlines," from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, 325 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Those attending may bring a lunch or pre-order a sandwich for $2.25. For details, visit www.firstpresaurora.org or call (630) 844-0050.

Friday

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish will hold Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m. Fridays through March 14 at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-8980.

• Holy Spirit Catholic Community will hold Lenten reflections at 7:30 p.m. Fridays through March 14 at the church, 2003 Hassert Blvd., Naperville. For details, call (630) 922-0081.

Feb. 23

• Christ Church of Oak Brook will host a Famine Rally from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 23 and at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 24 at the church, 31st Street and York Road, Oak Brook. The event for 55 middle school students includes their working at the Westmont Food Pantry and fasting except for liquids for 30 hours to experience what the poorest children face by going hungry. The program is part of World Vision's 17th annual 30-Hour Famine to raise awareness and money to fight hunger in the U.S. and overseas. For details, visit www.30hourfamine.org or call (800) 7-FAMINE or Christ Church at (630) 654-1882.

Feb. 24

• Evangelical Free Church of Naperville will present a Making Sense of Life Seminar from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the church, 1551 E. Hobson Road, Naperville. The featured speaker is Dr. Jerry Root of Wheaton College and Can Christianity hold up to the attacks of today's world based on the writings of C.S. Lewis. Admission is free. For details, visit the Web site at www.efcn.org or call (630) 983-3232.

• Temple B'nai Israel will feature a lecture by by Roddy Frankel, "The New Anti-Semitism" at 10:45 a.m. Feb. 24 at the temple, 400 N. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora. A brunch is at 10 a.m. with a suggested donation of $6. For details, call (630) 892-2450.

• First United Methodist Church will feature Dan LeMonnier and an Easter Eggstravaganza from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 24 at the church, 1032 Maple Ave., Downers Grove. The program is for children ages 3-12 and includes an Easter craft and pizza dinner. For details or to register, call (630) 968-7120.

• Word of Life Lutheran Church will present "Parenting: The Early Years" beginning at 9:45 a.m. Feb. 24 at the church, 879 Tudor Drive, Naperville. The video course will continue for six weeks through March. For details, call (630) 355-9655.

Feb. 25

• Resurrection Catholic Community will welcome Joliet Diocese Bishop J. Peter Sartain from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the church, Route 59 and Army Trail Road, Wayne. His topic is Believing is Seeing…a Reflection for everyone on the Lenten Gospel Story of the Man Born Blind. For details, call (630) 289-5400.

Feb. 27-28

• The Warrenville Cenacle will offer a two-day retreat, "Finding Work without Losing Heart: A Retreat for Women and Men in Job Transition," beginning with registration at 8 a.m. Feb. 27 at the center, 29W012 Batavia Road, Warrenville. The retreat ends with dinner Thursday. The actual cost of $95 includes materials, meals and overnight in a private room. For those who cannot afford the fee, a minimum of $15 is acceptable or more. For details or to register, visit www.ctcchicago.org or call (312) 906-9908.

March 1

• Big Woods Church will hold its 36th annual Pork and Kraut dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 1 at Courtyard Banquets Restaurant, 3S200 Route 59, Warrenville. Carry out will be available. The event includes a raffle and bake sale of home made items. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children under 12 years. For tickets, call (630) 898-0451.

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish Job Ministry will offer free resume reviews for job seekers from 9 to 11:30 a.m. March 1 at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. For details, call Jim Breen at (630) 355-8980.

March 3

• Wheaton College's Center for Applied Christian Ethics' spring conference is March 3-5 at the college. The theme is "Thy Kingdom Come: Christian Moral Engagement in the World." A panel discussion will be from 7 to 9 p.m. March 4 in Coray Auditorium, 421 N. Chase St., Wheaton. All conference sessions are free and open to the public. For details, call (630) 752-5886 or visit www.wheaton.edu/CACE.