Fox Valley religion events
Rummage, craft and bake sale: St. Paul United Church of Christ, 220 Division St. in Elgin, will wrap up its all-church rummage, craft and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Look for the large tents in the parking lot. This sale also will offer a free coffee (donation), homemade baked treats and raffle prizes from local merchants and services. In the Neighborhood Deli & Cafe, they also will offer lunch and snacks. The proceeds from all sales will go to the UCC Coffee Project, supporting fair trade coffee and products, and to Holy Joe's Cafe, a coffeehouse ministry of more than 60 chaplains providing coffee and support to the U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. For information, call the church office at (847) 742-2854.
Rummage sale: The annual rummage sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today 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: First Congregational Church will host its first "Blessing of the Motorcycles" at 2 p.m. today 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.
Trash to Treasures sale: St. Peter Lutheran Church will hold its annual Trash to Treasures sale from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 7. It will be held rain or shine. On June 7, it will be $3 per bag. Items include furniture, household items, plants and perennials, toys, yard collectibles, etc. Proceeds go to the Concordia Seminary Adopt-a-Student program that provides tuition for future pastors. Barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, desserts, beverages will be available. There will be a bake sale on Thursday and Friday. The church is at 43W301 Plank Road, a quarter-mile east of Route 47 in Hampshire. For details, call the church at (847) 464-5721.
St. Mary kicks off gala: To kick off the "Gala on Gifford" church fun fair, a bingo night will be held Friday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 397 Fulton St., Elgin. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with games beginning at 7 p.m. There will be two $250 jackpots. Participants must be 18 years and older.
Green garage sale: In keeping with the congregation's focus of working toward becoming a "green" congregation, Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave. will hold a garage sale on Friday and June 7. A garage sale is a great opportunity to recycle and reuse. The sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon June 7. Saturday morning will feature discounts of $1 per bag. For information, call the church office at (815) 459-2690.
Women's retreat: Bethlehem Lutheran Church will host a women's retreat "FootPrints of Faith" from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7 at the church, , 401 W. Main St. in West Dundee. There will be a continental breakfast and lunch provided. The cost is $40 per person. There will be a speaker to help women grow in Christ. This event is open to all Christian women in the area. Invite your friends and come to be refreshed and renewed in Christ. Tickets may be purchased by calling the office (847) 426-7311. Bethlehem Lutheran Church offers services at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Bible classes for all ages on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. All persons interested in bi-weekly, in-home Bible studies should call the church office for details. Bethlehem is an exciting, growing, changing church and would open our doors to all persons who are interested in learning of the saving love of Christ Jesus.
Your spiritual identity: On June 7, First Church of Christ, Scientist invites you to an inspirational talk titled "How Understanding Your Spiritual Identity Heals," given by David Stevens at 11 a.m. at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. Call (847) 420-8009 for details.
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. (Route 31 and Angle Tarn), West Dundee. For details, call First Congregational Church of Dundee at (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit the Web site at www.fccdundee.com.
Prophetic meeting: On June 8, join Morning Star Church in Huntley for a special prophetic meeting featuring Jeremy Lopez at 10 a.m. Lopez is founder and president of Identity Network International, an apostolic and prophetic resource Web site, and has prophesied to thousands of people from all walks of life. He releases the prophetic word of God everywhere he goes. He ministers with a revelational, prophetic teaching gift that brings a freshness of the word of the Lord to the body of Christ. He teaches the principle that we are positioned in heavenly places and are called to minister out of that realm. He holds a doctorate of divinity degree. He is the author of the book, "The Power of the Prophetic Spirit" and has more than 28 teaching CDs. Morning Star Church is at 41W350 Powers Road just north of the I-90 Route 47 exit in Huntley. For details about this event or the church, call (847) 669-9800 or visit www.morningstarwoc.org.
Mitzvah Day: What do people do when they don't have blankets and are cold? This is a question which concerns Isaac Marshall of South Elgin. Soon to become a bar mitzvah -- an adult in the Jewish community -- Isaac chose to do a mitzvah project to help keep others warm. Easy to craft fleece blankets will be made by Isaac and a cadre of volunteers and will be donated to a local organization which serves families in need. Everyone is invited to participate in this Mitzvah Day. No special skill is needed; no sewing is involved! Volunteers only need bring fabric, sharp scissors and rulers. Sponsored by Isaac Marshall, this project will be hosted by Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors, at this group's annual Mitzvah Day, at 1 p.m. June 8 at 121 S. Third St. in Geneva. A mitzvah (pronounced MITZ-vah) is a Hebrew word which means "commandment" and "connection." It is often used when referring to doing a good dead, especially when volunteering to help others. Snacks and beverages will be provided for all participants. To RSVP, contact Archbroch@sbcglobal.net or (847) 622-8855.
New worship at Barrington UMC: Starting June 8 through Labor Day, Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road in Barrington, will have Sunday worship at 8 and 9:30 a.m. There will be children's church after the children's message at the 9:30 a.m. service for all preschoolers (age 3 and up) through fourth-graders. Professional nursery care for infants and toddlers is available at both services. All are welcome. For details, call (847) 836-5540 or visit the church's Web site at www.BarringtonUMC.com.
The Refuge starts in June: On June 9, King of Glory Lutheran Church in Elgin will start a new alternative worship called "The Refuge," at 7 p.m. every Monday. This new format and theme each week will be quite different from the usual Sunday format, very informal. It will use video clips, audio and other non-traditional ways to convey the Gospel message in a practical way each week. There will also be a time of fellowship starting at 6:30 p.m. every Monday prior to worship, with drinks and snacks. So, if you are looking for an entirely different way to worship, and/or desire an alternative to weekend worship, then come and join them at 7 p.m. each Monday starting June 9 for "The Refuge." The church is at Randall and Hopps roads in Elgin. For details, call (847) 931-1520, or e-mail kogpastor@foxvalley.net.
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.
VBS at Barrington UMC: Discover Jesus' miraculous power this year at Barrington United Methodist Church's "Power Lab" vacation Bible school. "Power Lab, Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power" will provide fun, memorable Bible-learning activities for kids of all ages from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 16-20. The church is at 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington. To register, call (847) 836-5540 or e-mail dideygirl@aol.com. Visit www.BarringtonUMC.com.
Concert at First UMC: On June 22, Holly McNeill will perform in concert at 4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the church. The audience is invited to a reception in the church fellowship hall after the performance. The program will feature songs from her new CD, "Hope," which will be available for sale at the concert. A portion of the CD sales will benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Tickets are $15 for adults or $5 for children under age 12. To purchase tickets, or for details, call (847) 426-3761.
Vacation Bible school: St. John's Lutheran Church and School in downtown Algonquin will offer "God's Big Backyard" vacation Bible school. The adventure starts each day at the Backyard Bash as the backyard buddies (Stan, Cooper, Alex and Nick) discover how much fun service can be. Each day, activities include crafts, stories, snacks, games and lots of fun. The Backyard Bash will be from 9 a.m. to noon each day June 23-27. The program will kick off each morning in the church, 300 Jefferson St. in downtown Algonquin (just one block west of Route 31). The program is open to children of all faiths and ages 3 through completion of fifth grade. Registration is strongly encouraged. To register or simply receive details, call the church office at (847) 658-9300.
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. Power Lab doesn't rely on traditional teaching methods; rather kids will experience Bible stories in powerful, life-changing ways. 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. 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 is open. 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.