Notes on Religion

To include your church in the free listings, e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com, fax to (847) 608-0849, or mail to 385 Airport Road, Suite A, Elgin IL 60123.

First Congregational: This month's contemporary worship will be held at 5 p.m. today at the First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main St. in Huntley.

At 6 p.m., the first production of this year's "Hobo Show," which includes a dinner, will be held in the fellowship hall. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children. Call the church for reservations.

On Sunday, the Rev. Dan Hinckley will preach at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services. The Sunday AMs, the seventh- through 12th-grade handbell choir, will play in both services. The Sunday school children will continue learning about the story and meaning of Palm Sunday. The Outreach Committee will make their final collection of donations for Easter baskets for the Grafton Township Food Pantry. The second production of the "Hobo Show" will be held at noon Sunday.

The Knit/Crochet Group will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church. For details, call (847) 669-3691.

St. John Lutheran: This weekend, the Rev. William Stroup will deliver the message, "Can These Bones Live?," based on Ezekiel 37:1-14, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at St. John Lutheran Church, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Sunday school at 10:30 a.m.

Adult Bible class is at 9:15 a.m. Sunday. A supervised nursery is offered at the 10:30 a.m. service. Coffee and fellowship follows the Sunday services on the second Sunday of each month.

On Wednesday, the Lenten season continues with a Lenten dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the Lenten service at 7 p.m. The Lenten theme this year is "Tears Tell the Story" and the message this week will be taken from Luke 22:54-62, "Guilty Tears: Peter's Denial."

St. John's Lutheran School offers a day school program for first to eighth grade; all-day kindergarten and morning and afternoon preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Church membership is not required. To register or schedule a school tour, call Principal John Kirchhoff at (847) 658-9311.

Immanuel Lutheran: This weekend, the Rev. William Yonker will be sharing the message, "Truer Words Were Never Spoken," based on John 11:49-53, at the 8 and 10:45 a.m. services at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee.

The Saturday evening and Sunday 8 a.m. services are traditional with organ, hymns and liturgy. The Sunday 10:45 a.m. service is a contemporary service of worship and praise featuring worship leaders and a worship ensemble. Holy Communion this weekend will be celebrated at the 10:45 a.m. service. "Faith Factory" for children and Acts 2 Bible Fellowship for adults are offered at 9:20 a.m.

Immanuel will hold its Lenten midweek worship at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. For the midweek services throughout Lent, the Rev. William Yonker is sharing the messages with a sermon series, "Deep Breaths," leading you in a quieter worship where you listen for God's voice and breathe in His promises. Fellowship lunches will be offered after each morning service in Lent and soup and sandwich suppers, sponsored by the youth ministry at Immanuel, will be served before the evening worship.

March 15-16 marks the beginning of Holy Week and Immanuel will be celebrating Palm Sunday worship. March 15 will be Immanuel's "Witnessing Service" for the eighth-grade confirmation class, and both Palm Sunday services on March 16 will include Holy Communion and special music from ensembles in the music department. For details, call (847) 428-4477.

Shepherd of the Prairie: On Sunday, the Rev. Mark Boster will preach at both services at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church. The 9 and 10:30 a.m. services are held at the Cosman Cultural Center, 12051 Mill St., Huntley. Holy Communion will be celebrated at each service. Sunday school and nursery care are available at both services.

Music rehearsals are at the Citizens Bank in Huntley: Shepherd's Voices at 7 p.m. Monday; First Service team at 5 p.m. Tuesday; Rejoice (second service team) at 6 p.m. Tuesday; Chimes choir at 7 p.m. Thursday; and children's choir at 5 p.m. Sunday.

On Wednesdays, through Lent, a light soup/bread supper will be served at 6 p.m. followed by a short worship service at the Cosman Center.

The women's retreat will be held March 15 at Cosman Center. The theme will be "Pray Without Ceasing." The leaders will be Diane Tieman and Barb Fey from Parish Support Services of Alexian Brothers Hospital Network. The day's program will be from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

Committees continue to form in preparation for the start of construction of the worship center at Manhattan and Main in Huntley.

The church office is in Citizens First National Bank, 12101 Regency Square, Huntley. Call (847) 515-3711 or visit www.sotp.org.

Faith Community: On Sunday, the Rev. Bruce Cole will lead worship with "The Mystery of Christ," based on John 12:23-26, at Faith Community Church, 10547 Faiths Way in Huntley. Worship services are at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion will be celebrated at both services. Nursery for children up to age 3 is available at both services as well as Sunday school for children from age 4 through second grade.

On Tuesday, TOPS meets at 11:30 a.m. The "Friends" Bible study meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Century 21 office on Route 31 in Algonquin. Adult Bible studies are offered Wednesdays. At 9 a.m., study the text for the upcoming Sunday. At 7:30 p.m., they will study the book of Mark. On Wednesday, they will begin the evening with a family dinner at 6 p.m. featuring "Corn Beef and Cabbage." Worship will begin at 7 p.m. with the topic being "God in Action: The Basics." Nursery will be open as well as children's church for children age 4 through second grade. Call (224) 569-6501 or visit www.fccwired.tv.

Unitarian church: On Sunday, the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean St. in Woodstock, continues its discussion on spiritual practices for Unitarian Universalists at the 10:45 a.m. service. The Adult Choir, led by musical director Tom Steffens, will perform.

The topic for this Sunday is "Who Will Be Your Coach For Life?" This is the fourth in a series of talks on Unitarian Universalist spiritualist practices by the Rev. Dan Larsen, with a class to follow at 7 p.m. Monday. Church school students will remain at worship until after Sue McCowin's Children's Story and then go to religious education class. For details, call (815) 338-0731, e-mail office@cucw.org or visit www.cucw.org.

First Congregational: On Sunday, the Sunday Lenten schedule continues with a half-hour Holy Communion service at 7:30 a.m. in the chapel. Morning services will be at the 9 and 10:45 a.m. services at the First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St. in Crystal Lake.

The annual children's spring cantata will be performed in the sanctuary at both services. There will be no sermon. Children from the Carol and Chancel choirs, fourth through eighth grades, will present "Once Upon a Parable." The choirs are directed by Ann Tucker. The public is welcome to attend.

All children will attend church with their parents. There will be no Sunday school classes, but nursery care will be available at each service. Everyone is invited to fellowship hall for coffee after each service.

On Sunday, the Junior Fellowship middle school youth group will meet at 4 p.m. in the Youth Room. The Pilgrim Fellowship high school youth will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room.

On Tuesday, the Great Decisions discussion group will meet at 7 p.m. in the library. On Wednesday, Seasons of the Spirit Bible study group will meet at 10 a.m. in the library. On Wednesday, the Lenten Soup Suppers begin, with the Social Ministry serving soups, chili, bread, and all the fixings at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. The supper will be followed by a devotional time, Lenten Encounter, at 7:15 p.m. in the chapel where participants will engage at least one of the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. Led by the pastoral staff, these sessions will involve exercises that are both imaginative and devotional as we seek to understand their implications for our lives today. On Thursday, the "Living the Questions" study will meet at 9 a.m. in the library. The topic for the study is: "Evil, Suffering and a God of Love." For details, call (815) 459-6010 or visit fcc-cl.org.

Light of Christ: This weekend, the Rev. Kendall Koenig continues the sermon series, "The Lights Go Out, the World Catches a Glimpse," with "Jesus' Humanity, Jesus' Power," at 5 p.m. Saturday and 7:45, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Light of Christ Lutheran Church, 100 Hanson Road, Algonquin. The Scripture reading for his sermon is taken from John 11:1-45. The Sacrament of First Communion will be celebrated this weekend for all students who have completed instruction.

On Wednesday, the Lenten Service/Study covers "Mercy." Join them for dinner from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the service/study at 6:45 p.m.

The Light of Christ Egg Hunt will take place at 1 p.m. March 15 on the new property at Sleepy Hollow Road and Longmeadow Parkway. Donations of canned goods are requested for the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry and the Fish Food Pantry in Carpentersville. The community is invited to join them as they celebrate the Risen Lord with the children.

Holy Thursday worship is at 7 p.m. March 20. Good Friday worship services will be at 5 and 7 p.m. March 21. For details, call (847) 658-9250.

Bethany Lutheran: On Sunday, the Rev. Erik Zingelman will share the message at 7:45, 9 and 10:45 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake. Holy Communion will be celebrated at 7:45 a.m.

A legacy gift to the endowment fund will be lifted up during worship. This will kick off the new year-long stewardship focus, "Stories to Tell and Gifts to Share." Faith Quest Sunday school meets at 9 a.m. Child care is available at the 9 and 10:45 a.m. Session 3 of "Building Bridges, Tearing Down Walls" will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday Senior High Youth Pizza Night will be from 4 to 6 p.m.

Midweek Lenten Suppers and Drama culminates Wednesday with soup and salad supper at 6:15 p.m. and Holden Evening Prayer and Drama, "The Last Supper" at 7 p.m. The Spring Work Day will be from 9 a.m. to noon March 15.

The eighth grade Community Service Project is March 16. The youth and their families will be coordinating a dinner and party for the PADS guests that evening.

The Senior Ministry Group has several March activities planned. The musical presentation and dinner for seniors is Wednesday at Central High School, Senior Breakfast at Colonial Cafe on March 17, and the Maundy Thursday Senior Luncheon on March 20.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on March 16, with worship at 7:45, 9 and 10:45 a.m. Easter Sunday is March 23 with special worship times at 7, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. For details, call (815) 459-2690 or visit www.bethanylc.com.

McHenry County Church of Religious Science: On Sunday, the Rev. Joette Waters, founder of the Empowerment Center Chicago, will present a workshop on "Working with the Law of Attraction" at the McHenry County Church of Religious Science in Crystal Lake. Her topic at the 10 a.m. service that day is "From a Chicken to an Eagle." Everyone is welcome to attend the 10 a.m. Sunday Celebration Service, and children's program and toddler care.

The children's curriculum is "Spiritual Practices for Kids." March lessons relate to the realization step of treatment. Your kids will uncover wholeness and eliminate thoughts of lack and limitation. This week's topic for kindergarten through fifth grade is " No Confusion." Music will be by Amy Beth.

Those who arrive early will enjoy the meditation at 9:45 a.m. Service location is at the Country Inn and Suites, 600 Tracy Trail in Crystal Lake. Suggested donation for the workshop is $20. For details, call (815) 444-0942 or visit www.newthoughtmchenry.org. The workshop from noon to 2:30 p.m. is designed to stimulate a curiosity about life, awaken an understanding of life's purpose, enhance your understanding of spiritual principles, and show how to apply these principles in your life in practical ways. The afternoon program consists of exploring key ideas to work the Law of Attraction, followed by small-group discussions, and experiential exercises that will help you really "get it" at a deep level, the level where real change happens.

St. Paul's Anglican Church: At St. Paul's Anglican Church, a traditional Episcopal Church, the Rev. Michael DuCette, deacon in charge, will use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the former First Presbyterian Church, 225 W. Calhoun St., Woodstock. His sermon will be based on the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John. This is the Passion Sunday of Lent.

The Bible Study group will meet from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. They are studying the book of John, eighth chapter.

St. Paul's Parish is part of the Diocese of the Missouri Valley Anglican Church of America. For details, visit www.acahome.org or call (815) 338-0205.

Congregational Church of Algonquin: On Girl Scout Sunday, the Rev. Brian Cope, guest minister, will preach at 10 a.m. service at the Congregational Church of Algonquin, 109 Washington St. Sunday school will be 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.

On Sundays, the Adult Enrichment Class will be from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Sunday school will be from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. there is a Bible study with the pastor.

The God and Me program will have a "Pizza Party" at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Maundy Thursday on March 20 will start at 6 p.m. with the Seder Meal followed at 7:30 p.m. by worship. On Good Friday, March 21, there is a noon service. Easter Sunday services are 8 and 10 a.m.

For information, call the church office (847) 658-5308.

Shop at the Heavenly Attic Resale Shop, 307 S. Main St. in Algonquin. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The church is handicap accessible at the rear entrance. For details, call (847) 658-5308.