Fox Valley religion notes events

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Rummage sale: Trinity United Methodist Church, 1647 Ravine Lane in Carpentersville, will wrap up its "Huge Rummage Sale and Bake Sale" today. Things for the house, things to eat, things for the yard, things for everyone in the family. Come on down, shop, enjoy and save. There will be a silent auction and a $3 bag sale today. Sale hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon. Money raised by the auction goes to global and local missions. For details, call Trinity UMC at (847) 428-1627.

Summer kick-off: Calvary Lutheran Church, 535 N. McLean Blvd. in Elgin, will hold two special events this weekend. There will be a "Summer Kick-Off" potluck dinner and game night at 5:30 p.m. today. Members and guests are asked to bring a dish to share, as well as your favorite game. Beverages will be provided. On Sunday at 9 a.m., Calvary's Sunday school will serve its annual "Sunday School Breakfast." Everyone is invited to come and enjoy breakfast and singing with the children, as they close another year of Sunday school. Calvary is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. For details, call (847) 741-5433 or visit www.clce.org.

Learn about church history: The Rev. Richard Simon, a Catholic scripture scholar, will give a presentation today at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. His topic will be "Where Did the Bible Come from Anyway?" He is heard regularly on Relevant Radio's "Searching for the Word." Simon is currently pastor of St. Lambert's in Skokie. All are welcome to attend. For details, call Joe Marmion at (847) 658-0504 or e-mail at marmion@aol.com.

Kids Fun Fair: The Highland Kids Club will sponsor a Kids Fun Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Highland Fellowship Church, 2250 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. The event will feature free carnival games, clowns, puppet shows, crafts, demonstrations by the Elgin Police Department and Elgin Fire Department, food and more. The event is free and open to the public. In case of rain, the event will be held indoors. For details, call the church office (847) 741-6629.

Plant sale at church: The Burlington United Methodist Church will hold its third annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, rain or shine. Bedding plants of all sorts, hanging baskets and vegetables will be available at this church sale. Get everything you need for your garden and flowerbeds. All the plants will be supplied by Klein's Farm and Garden Market of Burlington, Udina and Elgin. It's the season for planting, so fill all your gardening needs at this plant sale. The ASP Mission Team of Burlington UMC will also be holding a fundraiser at the church. Have a hot dog lunch while the teens are washing your car. Delicious homemade baked goods will be sold as well a raffle for a study picnic table. Proceeds will help fund the ASP Mission Team's trip to help needy people in Appalachia. The church is at 195 Center St., across from the fire station in Burlington. For details, call (847) 683-3535.

Ordination celebration: On Sunday, the pastor and members of New Hope Baptist Church will celebrate the ordination of minister Terry L. Andrews at 4 p.m. at the church, 1405 Wing St., Elgin. Andrews was licensed to preach the gospel in March 1997. He graduated from Judson University in May 1999 and has been employed by the Larkin Center for children and adolescents for 15 years. Celebrate this joyous occasion with the pastor and the New Hope members. For details, call the church at (847) 931-4141.

Bethany Art Series: The Bethany Arts Series presents the Chicago Brass Band in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake. The group is a 30-piece brass and percussion ensemble formed in the British brass band tradition. Under the direction of six-time North American Champion Director, Colin Holman, the band strives to reflect the American culture of which it is part. Each member is an accomplished musician selected by individual audition. The concert will involve traditional brass band music along with jazz, modern and American literature. A special feature will utilize Bethany's Gober pipe organ in the finale of Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3, also known as the Organ Symphony and popularized in the sound track to the Academy Award-winning film, "Babe." There is no admission, but a free-will offering will be taken. For details, call the church office at (815) 459-2690.

Spring salad luncheon: Epworth United Methodist Church will host its annual spring salad luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church, Highland Avenue and Randall Road in Elgin. Your plate will be mounded high with a variety of wonderful salads, breads and desserts. Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door. Limited time on your lunch hour? Call the church office at (847) 931-5400 and make a reservation for you or your group to attend.

Highland Summer Adventures: Beginning Thursday, a new summer day camp program, "Highland Summer Adventures," will be offered at Highland Christian Academy in Elgin. The program, open to children from preschool• (age 3) through sixth grade, will offer both full-time and part-time child care options (6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) through Aug. 15. Creative weekly themes have been chosen to provide a summer adventure of art, music, creative learning and exploration with separate tracks for younger and older children. Each week will include age appropriate activities and fun as well as flexible extended childcare options. For information, call Pam Backey, preschool and administrative director, at (847) 741-5530, ext. 17 or download a registration form at www.highlandsummer.com. Highland Christian Academy, a private Christian school and a ministry of Highland Fellowship Church, is 2250 W. Highland Ave., half-mile east of Randall Road in Elgin. It offers classes for children in preschool (age 3) through eighth grade. Its mission is to partner with parents to provide a nurturing, Christ-centered education, developing the whole child in areas of character, values, academic excellence and physical soundness.

Flag retirement Join Boy Scout Troop 128 at 9:30 a.m. May 25 for the 11th annual flag retirement at Epworth United Methodist Church, 37W040 Highland Ave. in Elgin. The goal is to respectfully dispose of flags that are no longer serviceable. Anyone is welcome to bring in their worn flags for a proper retirement. Call Scout Master Keith Paskiewicz at (847) 420-1730 for details on many other scouting events.

Fun Fair: On May 25, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in West Dundee will host a Fun Fair from noon to 2 p.m. in the church parking lot, 401 W. Main St. They will have free food, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn from the church youth and free food and activities from area vendors such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Jamba Juice, Olive Garden, Masi's Restaurant, Chili's Restaurant, Opulence Salon and other area vendors. Soda and water will also be for sale. Music will be provided by the Messengers Band during the fun fair. There will be fun activities before the Dundee Township Memorial Day Parade at 2 p.m. For details, call (847) 426-7311.

Rummage sale: The annual rummage sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 30 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 31. at Epworth United Methodist Church, Randall Road and Highland Avenue in Elgin. More than 50 families participate, and items include furniture, home accessories, clothing, toys, perennials and plants. Proceeds from the annual yard sale help fund Epworth UMC in the many community-based service projects and plans for the upcoming year. Rain or shine, all are welcome! Hot dogs and snacks will be available too. For information, call Epworth UMC at (847) 931-5400.

Blessing of Motorcycles: On May 31, First Congregational Church will host its first "Blessing of the Motorcycles" at 2 p.m. in its parking lot at 461 Pierson St. in Crystal Lake. Individual motorcycles along with their riders and passengers will be included in prayers of thanksgiving and safety to be offered by the church's senior minister, Rev. Budd Friend-Jones. This is a free event, open to all. Bottles of water will be given to re-hydrate attendants as they ride off into what everyone hopes will be a safe and blessed riding season. For information, call Amy Barry at (815) 459-6010 or e-mail amy@fcc-cl.org.

Family kite fly: First Congregational Church of Dundee invites the community, kids and adults to come out to a family kite fly. The kites will fill the sky on June 8 at 10:30 a.m. on the west lawn of the church. Basic kites will be provided or bring your own. Prizes will be awarded. There will be plenty of family fun on the ground while the kites are airborne. Hot dogs, chips, pop and ice cream will be served free of charge. Come for some high flying fun at "The Church on the Hill." The church is at 900 S. Eighth St., West Dundee. For details, call the church at (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.

Camps at Good Shepherd: Good Shepherd is offering two-week camps throughout the summer. The camps will run June 9-20, July 7-18 and July 21-Aug. 1 and are for all ages preschool through sixth grade. A variety of topics are available to choose from including arts and music, soccer, volleyball, and Exploring our World. Before- and after-school care also will be available. For details, visit www.goodshepherd-elgin.org, or call the preschool office at (847) 697-4745. Good Shepherd Lutheran School is accepting applications for the 2008-09 school year for preschool through eighth grade. Preschool and kindergarten both offer full-day options, and both locations offer after-school care. Good Shepherd strives to meet the individual needs of children in the classroom and provides a wide variety of learning experiences. The Van Street location houses kindergarten and first through eighth grade. The preschool is at the Nesler Road Christian Life Center. For details, visit the Web site at www.goodshepherd-elgin.org, or call the school at (847) 741-7795.

Church to host flea market, craft fair: King of Glory Lutheran Church will host the second annual Flea Market, Craft, and Collectibles Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 14, rain or shine. Admission is free, and refreshments will be available, so come shop at one of more than 40 vendors to find unusual items and hidden treasures. The church is at 36W720 Hopps Road, off Randall Road in Elgin. For details, call Donna Peddy at (847) 742-8699.

Rain Forest VBS: Vacation Bible school has been announced at First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake. This year's theme is "Rain Forest Adventure," focusing on participants' time, talents, treasure and commitment to preserving God's beautiful Earth. To introduce the program this year, the church displayed an 8-foot by 12-foot camel during the children's message. It will run from 9 a.m. to noon June 16-19, with a family program June 19. The cost is $25 per child with a maximum of $75 per family. Register online through the CE page of the Web site at www.fcc-cl.org, or call the church office at (815) 459-6010.

Power Lab VBS: First Congregational Church in West Dundee invites children to "Power Lab: Discover Jesus' Miraculous Power!" The research and testing will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon June 23-27. Get ready for an adventure, following Jesus as he heals, helps and gives power to people who need him. Power Lab is fizzing with fun for kids, teenagers and adults. They will explore God's Word. Each day your children will be a part of Bible adventures that they can see, hear, touch and even taste. Wacky Works Crafts, Daily Challenges that apply Bible truths to everyday life, team building Hyperspeed Games, lively Bible songs and tasty Test Tube treats are just a few of the Power Lab activities that help faith grow into real life. The vacation Bible school is for children age 3 through fifth grade. School age kids should sign up for the grade they are currently completing. Register online at www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/fccdundee. Registration is limited. The deadline is June 13 or when space is filled. The cost is $30 per student or $70 for families of three or more and includes a collection of five adorable Bible Buddies, a T-shirt and a Sing and Play Music CD for each family when you register. As a thank you for parents who volunteer, nursery care is available for any other children, age 2 and younger. To be a part of the fun, go to the Web site and visit the volunteer box on your child(ren)'s Participant Registration form and complete a Volunteer Registration form as well. The church is at 900 S. Eighth St. (Route 31 and Angle Tarn), West Dundee. For details, call the church at (847) 426-2161 ext. 204 or visit www.fccdundee.com.

Power Lab VBS: Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee invites the community to mark their calendars the fourth week in June for vacation Bible school. Normally, Immanuel hosts VBS on the third week in June but changed their schedule to accommodate the later release of Community Unit District 300 schools. It will take place June 23-27. This year, Immanuel will be using Group Publishing's "Power Lab, Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power" material to teach children biblical truths. Each day children will take part in fun Bible learning they can see, hear, touch, and even taste. Bible Point crafts, team-building games, and lively Bible songs are just a few of the Power Lab activities that help children apply what they learn into real life. The children also will participate in a hands-on mission project called Operation Kid-to-Kid that involves nearly a million other children across North America. Older children will be out in the community serving others for the week of June 23-27. The program begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at noon. Registration opened in mid-April. Immanuel accepts children from the ages of 3 to 12, and welcomes all in the community to join in this fun week. There is no registration fee. A donation of $25 per child for the entire week is encouraged. The church is at 310 E. Main St. For details, call the church office at (847) 428-4477.••