Notes on Religion

Faith and worship in DuPage County

To submit your listings, including Holy Week services, 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 Glen Presbyterian Church will present a free conference, "Communicating with your Teen," from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the church, 1140 Raymond Drive, Naperville. For details, call (630) 357-5104.

• Calvary Church will present a three-part sermon series, "Real Love," beginning at 5 p.m. today at the church, 9S200 Route 59, Naperville. The series will continue at 5 p.m. Saturday, and 8:45 and 10:45 a.m. Sundays through March 23. The weekly focus will be relationship, redemption and resurrection. For details, call (630) 585-3272.

• St. Barnabas Episcopal Church will present "An Evening of Hope and Music" as a Sudan benefit concert beginning with a reception at 7 p.m. and the concert at 7:30 p.m. today at Wheaton College's Pierce Chapel, southeast corner of Washington and Union streets, Wheaton. The concert features professional artists and composers from the Chicago area. A suggested donation of $20 per person will be used to purchase medicine and fund a medical clinic in southern Sudan. For details, call (630) 469-1394.

• Life Singers Ministries will present "The Witness" in DuPage County at these churches. Performances are free but a goodwill offering will be taken: 4 p.m. today at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1310 Shepherd Drive, Naperville (630) 961-9220; 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Plano Christian Church, 9 Schomer Road, Plano (630) 552-7640; 7:30 p.m. March 15 at Living Christ Lutheran Church, 1402 Arlington Drive, Hanover Park (630) 837-2100; and 7:30 p.m. March 16 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 4501 Main St., Downers Grove (630) 968-6231.

Sunday

• Naperville Covenant Church will feature Andrew Marin, president and founder of the Marin Foundation, from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church, 1150 Hobson Road, Naperville. His topic is "Building Bridges with the Gay/Lesbian Community." For details, call (630) 369-2741.

• St. John United Church of Christ will present the Lenten movie "Babette's Feast" at 3 p.m. Sunday at the church, 1190 Olesen Drive, Naperville. Admission is free and transportation is available for senior citizens. For details, call (630) 961-9942.

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

Monday

• The Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold a Morning of Reflection at 9 a.m. March 15 at the St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville. Deadline for registration is Monday. The fee is $5. For details, call Kathy at (630) 985-3197.

Tuesday

• Wheaton Franciscan Collaborative Ministries will present Meditation through Sacred Sounding Retreat from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 15 in the auditorium, 26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton. Offerings will be taken. For details, call (630) 462-4936.

• River Valley Community Church's Singles FOCUS, Fellowship of Christians United in Spirit, meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays beginning with a light meal at 6:30 p.m. at River Valley Community Church, 1655 Bowman Drive, Aurora. Upcoming events include a Not Live Comedy Night at 5:30 p.m. April 5; and the retreat May 2-4 in Wisconsin. Reservations are requested by calling (630) 907-2992.

A Divorce Recovery Workshop is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, March 11 to April 29, at Westminster Church in Aurora. The fee is $39 in advance, $49 at the door. Church services are at 10 a.m. Sundays. For details, visit www.rivervalleycommunity.org or call (630) 907-2992.

• 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 www.newbeginningsil.com or e-mail cml525@gmail.com.

Wednesday

• St. Raphael Parish will present an interfaith discussion, "Stewardship of Creation, The Air We Breathe," from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the parish, 1215 Modaff Road, Naperville. The panel includes Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran, Muslim and Unitarian traditions and environmental stewardship. For details, call Kate Schrank at (630) 363-1133.

• The Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at DuPage Unitarian Universalist church, 4S535 Old Naperville Road, Naperville. Maggie Ardiente will present "Fresh Faces: Attracting Youth to Humanism." For details, call Jack Sechrest at (630) 554-8058.

• 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

• Ss. Peter and Paul Church will hold an Irish Mass in honor of St. Patrick beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, 26 N. Ellsworth, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-1081.

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.

March 16

• St. John United Church of Christ will hold Palm Sunday services at 10 a.m. at the church, 1190 Olesen Drive, Naperville. For details, call (630) 961-9942.

• Bethany Lutheran Church will present the St. Matthew Passion at 11:15 a.m. March 16 at the church, 1550 Modaff Road, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-2198.

March 18

• First Presbyterian Church will feature speaker Justin Kron, Midwest director of Chosen People Ministries, at 6:30 and 9 a.m. March 18-21 at the church, 325 E. Downer Place, Aurora. For details, call (630) 844-0050.

March 19

• St. John United Church of Christ will hold a Senior Lunch Bunch at noon March 19 at the church, 1190 Olesen Drive, Naperville. The fee is $2. For details, call (630) 961-9942.

March 20

• The Theosophical Society will hold a Spring equinox ceremony at 7 p.m. March 20 at 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton. Cost is $7 for members, $9 for others. For details, call (6300 668-1571, ext. 300.

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish will feature musician John Angotti at Masses at 7:30 p.m. Holy Thursday, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Good Friday, at 7:30 p.m. Holy Saturday and 9 and 10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Easter at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. Baskets of food will be blessed at noon March 22. For details, call (630) 355-8980, ext. 111.

• Author Ed Gilbreath will discuss his book "Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity" at noon March 20 at First Presbyterian Church, 325 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Books will be for sale. For details, call (630) 844-0050.

March 21

• Calvary Church will hold Good Friday services from noon to 1 p.m. March 21 at the church, 9S200 Route 59, Naperville. The Real Love series will continue at 5 p.m. Saturday, and 8:45 and 10:45 a.m. Sundays through March 23. For details, call (630) 585-3272.

• Grace Church of DuPage will hold Good Friday services at 7 p.m. at the church, 27W344 Galusha Ave., Warrenville. Easter service is at 10:30 a.m. For details, call (630) 393-7344.

• Trinity Lutheran Church will hold its annual prayer vigil for Easter beginning Good Friday and continuing until daylight Easter morning at the church, Curtis Avenue and Warrenville Road, Warrenville. Local government and safety officials will be named during the prayers. Requests for prayers may be written on the church's clipboard on the lawn. For details, call (630) 393-9104.

March 27

• The Theosophical Society will hold a discussion of Near Death Experiences at 7 p.m. March 27 at 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton. Cost is $7 for members, $9 for others. For details, call (630) 668-1571, ext. 300.

March 29

• St. Scholastica Parish's Council of Catholic Women will hold its annual Garage Sale of Hidden Treasures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 29 at the school, 7720 Janes Ave., Woodridge. Tables are available for $15 per table, two tables for $25. To reserve a spot, call Natalie Meyers at (630) 985-9289.

• The Theosophical Society will present "Achieving Your Purpose" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 29 at 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton. Cost is $50 for members, $65 for others. For details, call (630) 668-1571, ext. 300.