Notes on Religion: Lake County

To have your information included, e-mail it each week by noon Tuesday to faith@dailyherald.com, fax it to (847) 680-0189 or mail it to Religion listings, 1795 N. Butterfield Road, Suite 100, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Community Christian Church: A Special Advance Directives Seminar by the Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care Center's Cindra Macciomei will be from 4-5:15 p.m. May 4 at Community Christian Church, Lincolnshire.

By completing an advance directive, you create a legal document which expresses your health care preferences, particularly surrounding end-of-life care. This program will help you understand the commonalities and differences among the various types of advance directives.

Interested persons should sign up for this free seminar by calling the church office at (847) 945-8824. Community Christian Church is at 1970 Riverwoods Road in Lincolnshire. (847) 945-8824, www.ccclincolnshire.org.

Congregation Or Shalom: Congregation Or Shalom announces it's breaking ground for its new home at 10:30 a.m. April 27. Honored guests include Congressman Mark Kirk and village officials, while activities are being planned for after the actual groundbreaking. The project is called the Generations of Light.

Congregation Or Shalom is at 21 Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills. For information on Congregation Or Shalom and upcoming events, call (847) 362-1948 or visit www.orshalomlc.org.

• To commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, Philip Freund will speak at the synagogue May 2. Born in Munich, Germany, in 1931, Freund left Germany shortly after Krystallnacht and was a passenger on the SS St. Louis bound for Cuba. He will share his memories of Nazi Germany and of the opportunities afforded him once in the United States.

For additional information regarding any of these programs or other upcoming events, call Congregation Or Shalom at (847) 362-1948 or visit the synagogue's Web site, www.orshalomlc.org.

The Federated Church of Wauconda: The church at 200 S. Barrington Road (Route 176 and Barrington Road) will have its Spring Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. All You Can Get Into A Bag Sale will be held. (847) 526-8471.

Grace Lutheran Church: "Playing for Patrick" Family Game Day Fundraiser will be from 1-4 p.m. April 26 at Grace Lutheran Church. Join in for an afternoon of fun, games and food (hot dogs, pizza, snacks and drinks) as a fundraiser for Patrick Abraham (a Grace Lutheran Church member and freshman at Libertyville High School) and his fight against cancer. There will be games for all ages: bingo, board games, and outdoor games (depending on the weather). Come and try your hand at Wii Sports -- reservations needed for Wii game brackets, so call today.

Donations for admission will go to the Patrick Abraham Medical Fund, c/o Libertyville Bank and Trust, 507 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville. For more information about this event or to sign up for games, contact Jeff McClurg at (847) 367-7050 or e-mail at jeffamcclurg@earthlink.net.

Grace Lutheran Church is located at 501 Valley Park Drive, Libertyville. www.aboutgracelutheran.org.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church: Celebration! Child care is now offering a Spanish class for children 3 to 5 years of age. The immersion program class is every Thursday through May 29, from 3 to 3:30 p.m. The eight-week session is $75. Children can enroll at anytime at a pro-rated rate. All classes are open to the public. Call the director, Kathy Pfister, at (847) 367-6208.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church is at 29700 N. St. Mary's Road in Libertyville. www.holycrosschurch.org.

• Holy Cross Lutheran Church and In This Place Ministry, sponsored in part by grants from the Lake-Cook and Northwest Lake County Chapters of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, presents a Day for Speaking, Teaching and Praying about Sexual Violence from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. The keynote speaker for this year's event is the Rev. Dr. Monica Coleman, professor of theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and author of "The Dinah Project: A Handbook for Congregational Response to Sexual Violence."

For information on this program, visit the Web site at www.holycrosschurch.org/inthisplace.pdf. (847) 367-4060.

• Celebration! Child care will offer a summer camp program. Monday through Friday programs are available, as well as partial week programs. For more details or to register, call (847) 367-6208.

• Holy Cross Lutheran invites the community to Care of Creation "Eco Fair" from 2-5 p.m. Sunday. The "Eco Fair" will celebrate and challenge what it means for all people of faith to care for the creation that God has asked us to be stewards of. There will be activities that will encourage us to reduce, recycle and reuse many different materials that are part of our everyday lives. The fair will present two showings (at 2:15 and 3:30 p.m.) of Chicago resident Bill Kirkos' film "Trashed," an investigation into one of the fastest-growing American industries: the garbage business. Discussion sessions will take place after each showing.

Questions may be directed to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 29700 N. St. Mary's Road, Libertyville, at (847) 367-4060 or www.holycrosschurch.org

JCYS Northwest Family Center: JCYS is holding a family camping overnighter from 1 p.m. May 10 to 10 a.m. May 11. at its outdoor facility, Camp Henry Horner, located in Ingleside. For the all-inclusive family fee of $50, families will learn basic outdoor skills including how to build a fire, make a candle and navigate their way in the woods. Families have the option of sleeping in either a tent or in a cabin, and all meals are included.

The overnighter will also include campfire stories, outdoor games, cooking over an open fire, the high-ropes course, and weather permitting, swimming in the pool or lake on the camp property. For more information or to register, call Isaac Brubaker or Joel Goodman at the JCYS at (847) 279-0900. Space is limited.

Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church: The new "Kirk Photo Club," based in Mundelein, brings local amateur photographers together who have an interest in digital photography and post-processing techniques.

Photographers of all skill levels are invited to participate in the club as mentors and students in their fields of interest. Over time, topics such as wildlife, landscape, macro, indoor and outdoor sports photography will be discussed and practiced. The club will also be involved with photo contests and community service projects.

The Kirk Photo Club meets the first and third Monday of each month from 7-8 p.m. at the Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church, 1500 W. Hawley St. (just behind Mundelein High School). There is a $5 monthly fee. For more information, contact Derek Hampson at (847) 347-6778.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church: The church has begun a study on Paul's Letter to the Romans. The Rev. Mark Selbo is leading the group, which meets on Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend. The church is located at 10 S. Lake St., Mundelein.

• On Mother's Day, May 11, all hand-made Lutheran World Relief quilts will be displayed in the sanctuary for viewing. More than 100 quilts will be placed on pew chairs, railings and roping.

• St. Andrew Quilters continue to meet each Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The quilts are made for Lutheran World Relief and sent to all parts of the world where their warmth and love are needed. Helping hands and/or material is welcomed.

St. John Lutheran School: Open registration is under way. St. John offers half-day and full-day preschool (starting as young as 2½ years old) and kindergarten, as well as education for first through eighth grade. The school's full day preschool and kindergarten offers an alternative care option. The school offers extended before- and after-school care, holiday care and a summer program. A reduced registration fee is offered to parents registering now through Tuesday. St. John also offers reduced tuition rates to active military families.

St. John is hosting open house days. Families will have an opportunity to tour St. John's school from noon-3 p.m. Sunday and from 4-7 p.m. Thursday.

Registration packets can be picked up at the school, 501 W. Park Ave., Libertyville. (847) 367-1441. www.stjohnslib.com.

• St. John is offering summer child care to children entering preschool (must be potty trained) through second grade. Care dates run from June 2 to Aug. 12. There will be no child care on July 4, August 13, 14 and 15. For more information call Mrs. Smith at (847) 367-1411 or come to the office for a registration form.

St. Lawrence Episcopal Church: A Quintets Wind Performance to benefit St. Lawrence Episcopal Church, which is celebrating its 100th year in downtown Libertyville, will be held at the church at 3 p.m. Sunday. The concert will feature the Chelesti Winds Quintet & the CinqueVenti Quintet -- both are sponsored by the Lake County Chamber Players. This is the first time the LCCP has gotten together to perform as a double woodwind quintet. Tickets for the performance are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

St. Lawrence is at 125 W. Church St. (847) 362-2110 or www.stlawrencechurch.org.

Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church: The Women's group, Sojouners in the Spirit, will discuss Pope Joan at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Bible study is offered at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A writer's group meets April 26. Call the church office for more information. The church is at 5725 Stearns School Road (corner of Stearns School and Dilleys roads), Gurnee. (847) 336-3730.

Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church: The church at 43 W. Grass Lake Road, Lake Villa, will hold Education Sunday at both the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services May 18. Featured speaker for the day will be Dr. Walt Kaiser, the Colman M. Mockler distinguished professor of Old Testament and president emeritus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. For information, contact Sarah Abbey at (847) 838-0103.

Church of Christ: The church at 1132 Hainesville Road, Round Lake Beach, will offer a series of public Bible studies May 4-9. The studies are open to the public and will be offered free of charge. Instruction will be provided each evening by Ron Roberts, a gospel preacher from Knoxville, Tenn. Topics to be studied include "Murmuring," "What Does the Lord Mean When He Says Nothing?", "The Destruction of Divorce," and "Parenting is Not for Cowards." Meetings will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday and at 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For information or transportation, call David Pratte (847) 395-8937 or visit www.gospelway.com/rlbchurch/.

Congregation Am Echod (Reform): The congregation, 2945 Falling Waters Blvd., Lindenhurst, offers the following Shabbat Service Schedule.

Today: 9 a.m. study session with Rabbi Harari, 10 a.m. Shabbat morning service.

Sunday: 10 a.m. Passover Service.

Friday: 7:30 p.m. Shabbat service, Shir HaShirim, The Song of Songs, one of the five Megilot will be included.

For information, call (847) 265-1818 or e-mail amechod@amechod.org.

Hope Evangelical Presbyterian Church has moved to its permanent home in Grayslake after renting in Libertyville its first seven years. The church now has 10 acres at 32475 Allegheny Road, Grayslake, just south of Belvidere/Route 120 and the train tracks, on the east side.

Sunday worship is at 10 a.m. and is led by Senior Pastor Mark Jumper, a third-generation Presbyterian minister and retired Navy chaplain. At 9 a.m. Assistant Pastor Rick Gardiner teaches a Sunday class. (847) 543-1659, www.hopeepc.net.

Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Congregation: The children of PCUUC will present a special Earth Day Pageant at 9:15 a.m. Sunday. The pageant theme will be "Re-think." PCUUC meets each Sunday in the Byron Colby Barn, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake, in the Prairie Crossing community. www.prairiecircleuuc.org, or (847) 604-1908.

Prince of Peace Parish: The parish at 135 S. Milwaukee Ave., Lake Villa, is seeking donations for its annual Rummage Sale Extravaganza. Sale dates are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 12-13; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 14. Now accepting donations of vehicles, electronics, computers, furniture and appliances. Tax forms available. For donation pickups, call (847) 356-6111 or e-mail poprummagesale@yahoo.com. The church is at the corner of Routes 83 and 132.

St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church: The church is currently scheduling times for the pickup and delivery of items for its annual rummage sale. This year's sale will be held, June 19-21. If you have items that you would like to donate, contact the church office at (847) 395-0652 to make arrangements.

St. Joseph Parish: The first session of a "Great Books" seminar on the topic of the Resurrection will be presented at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the rectory, 114 N. Lincoln Ave., Round Lake. The text for the first session will be Plato's "Phaedo," in which Socrates and his dialogue partners discuss the nature of the soul and what happens to it after death.

As a "Great Books" seminar, the sessions will involve discussing the questions and comments raised by the readers and will be moderated by a non-expert (in this case, the resident seminarian, Shawn Gould). It is not necessary to have studied Plato or philosophy in general. The seminar assumes that most readers will have only read the text for the first time. Future sessions will contrast Plato's classical view of life after death with a Christian understanding.

The text of the "Phaedo" can be found in local bookstores and also online at Project Gutenburg: www.gutenberg.org/etext/1658. A limited number of copies of this online text may be obtained at the rectory.

The Church Women United of the Barrington Area: A celebration of May Friendship Day will be at 11 a.m. May 2 at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, 6 Brinker Road, Barrington Hills. The 2008 theme is "God's Wisdom Inspires Hospitality." Readings, music, group participation and devotional presentations will emphasize making new friends by reaching out to others.

Young women named by various churches in Barrington, Cary, Fox River Grove, Island Lake, Prairie Grove, Lake Zurich and Wauconda who live up to the motto of "Agreed to differ, resolved to love, united to serve," will be honored.

A collection of the Fellowship of the Least Coin will be a part of the celebration. The many coins collected in countries around the globe benefit projects for women and children around the world. For its prison ministry, attendees are invited to bring a gift/donation of regular size toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, lotion) and jumbo sized "baggies."

There will also be a salad potluck luncheon after the service; attendees are asked to bring a salad to share. (847) 540-5634.

Infinity Foundation: The Chicago-area's premier educational center for a holistic life celebrates its 11th Annual Birthday Benefit from 5:30-10:30 p.m. May 3 at the Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Ave., West Highland Park. Neale Donald Walsch, author of the "Conversations with God" series, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. Walsch will be honored as the 2008 Infinity Foundation Spirit Award Recipient.

The celebration includes a sit-down dinner, an after-dinner program with awards presentations and keynote speech, a free practitioners fair, and silent auction.

On May 4, Walsch will present a workshop, "God and Me: A Journey to Holy Ground," sponsored by the Infinity Foundation, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., lunch included, at the Highland Park Country Club.

Tickets for the May 3 birthday benefit are $65 each. Cost for the May 4 workshop is $120/$100 payment 21 days in advance. To register by phone, call (847) 831-8828. Further information can be found at: www.infinityfoundation.org

Infinity Foundation is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian educational organization dedicated to assisting in the evolvement of human expression through its offerings of classes.

North Shore Congregation Israel: The annual North Shore Fellowship of Rabbis Commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) will take place at 7 p.m. May 1 at North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Road, Glencoe.

Rabbis representing congregations in the North Shore area will conduct a memorial ritual that will include the kindling of six memorial candles by Holocaust survivors, their children, and grandchildren. Sam Harris, a child survivor of the Holocaust, will offer personal testimony.

Richard Hirschhaut, project and executive director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, will discuss appropriate ways to memorialize the Holocaust to teach about it in our time.

The community is invited to join in this opportunity to remember and to rededicate itself to the pursuit of education and understanding and peace.

For more information, contact Rabbi Steven S. Mason at (847) 835-0724 or rabbimason@nsci.org

St. Martin de Porres: The school at 515 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan, will have an open house for prospective students from 6 to 8 p.m. April 27. For more information, call (847) 244-6895, ext. 225.