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.
Country Covenant Church: On Sunday, the Rev. Mark Harder will present a message, "Becoming Slaves to Righteousness," based on Roman 6: 15-23, at the 10:30 a.m. service at Country Covenant Church, Route 47 and McDonald Road in Elgin. Adult Sunday school is held at 9:30 a.m. Bring your Bibles and enjoy good, Scripture-related conversation, study, and prayer. Vacation Bibles school is scheduled for the first week of August. Every Wednesday for the month of July will be VBS planning night. Call the church office for information about signing your child or children up. For information, call (847) 464-5381 or visit the Web site at www.countrycov.org.
Kneseth Israel: Congregation Kneseth Israel provides a full range of religious and community programs. A youth program is available for sixth grade to high school. This week's Torah portion is "Hukkat." The service is led by Rabbi Jonathan Kohn in prayer and study. Shabbat services are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the synagogue, 330 Division St. in Elgin. Guests are welcome. CKI believes that each person can participate in the observance of Shabbat through the use of English, Hebrew, and age-appropriate activities. For details, call (847) 741-5656 or visit www.ckielgin.org.
Shirt Shalom: Congregation Shirat Shalom, 30W509 Shoe Factory Road in Elgin, offers friendly, participatory Shabbat services, led by Cantor Sarah Alexander, at 9:45 a.m. Saturdays and followed by a community kiddush luncheon. Services include a spirited Torah discussion, focusing on the "parsha of the week." On July 12, after services and lunch, they will have a class at 12:30 p.m. on "Prayer and Song."
This week's Torah portion is "Chukat," in which Miriam and Aaron, Moses' siblings, die. Guests are welcome. For details, call (847) 695-6246, e-mail hazzansarah@gmail.com, or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org
First UMC-West Dundee: On Sunday, the Rev. Steven Mindrup presents the sermon, "Does the Devil Make Us Do It?" at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. The Scripture lessons are Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17; Romans 7:15-25a and Matthew 11:16-19, 25-39.
The nursery is open for children age 3 and younger. Children who are 4 and older are invited to attend the multi-grade Sunday school class held in the church youth room. Summer vacation Bible school will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. July 21-25. Registration forms are available at church on the special VBS bulletin board. Questions may be directed at vbsdundee@yahoo.com or www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/fumcdundee. For details, call (847) 426-2113 or visit www.firstumcdundee.net.
St. John: On Sunday, the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, the Rev. Howard Gleason will preach the sermon, "Working Up An Appetite," based on Matthew 10:24-33, at St. John Lutheran Church, 13N535 French Road in Burlington. The summer worship schedule includes a 9 a.m. Sunday worship service and a repeat service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Pinochle will be offered at 1 p.m. Thursday. Come and play with them. On July 12, the church will kick off a new "walk-r-run club" with a short devotion and prayer. The location will be announced soon. They plan to meet and cover a 5K course for fun, fellowship, and good exercise twice a month. Details can be found on the church Web site or by calling the church office at (847) 683-9108. For details, call (847) 683-2338 or visit www.stjohnburlington.com.
Second Baptist: On Sunday, the Rev. Clem McCollough, associate minister, will deliver the message for the 8 a.m. service and the Rev. Larry Henderson will deliver the message for the 10:30 a.m. service at Second Baptist Church, 1280 Summit St. in Elgin. The Male Chorus will render the music for the 8 a.m. service while the Choral Ensemble will render the music for the 10:30 a.m. service. Holy Communion will be observed during both services and baptisms will take place during the 8 a.m. service. Register for Vacation Bible School. VBS will run July 28 through Aug. 1 starting at 6 p.m. nightly. Volunteers are needed. On Wednesday, the Bible study will begin at noon followed by evening Bible study starting at 7 p.m. For details, call (847) 695-7757 or visit www.SBCElginIl.org.
First Congregational: On Sunday, the Rev. Donald Longbottom, interim intentional pastor, will present the sermon, "Celebrate Freedom," based on Jeremiah 34:8-9 and Luke 4:16-19, at 9 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. The first Sunday of each month is set aside for donations of nonperishable food items for FISH Food Pantry and/or size 5 & 6 diapers for the Community Crisis Center. These gifts will help those less fortunate in the area.
"Zawadi ni Zawadi" (a gift is a gift) Africa Mission Trip participants are in Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa July 1-18. The trip's focus will be to assist the children who attend St. Margaret's Academy in Arusha and build a library. David and Kim Olson, founders and organizers of the nonprofit organization, have arrived to meet the shipment of 27,000 pounds of books and supplies in Tanzania. Donna Bolz, Karen Gundersen, Don and Brett Schmidt, Deb and Jason Clark, and Jim and Pam Pendexter will be arriving July 2 to help. The group will unpack the books, teach classes, build a library and spend time with the children and families of St. Margaret's. Everyone can follow along with this mission by going to www.zawadinizawadi.com and clicking on recent updates.
Children are invited to go to the 9 a.m. service with their parents. After "Our Children's Time," youth, age 3 through fifth grade, may attend "FaithExplorers in God's Big Backyard" with scripture, crafts and movement. The curriculum is "Raising Children to Love Their Neighbors." It offers many opportunities for mission projects for preschoolers as well as older kids. Kids will study and share Holy Communion.
Adult Teaching will be at 10:15 a.m. Sundays. The Global Mission Ministry in conjunction with Cumberland Mountain Outreach will be building a home for a deserving family in Kentucky. Volunteers will build wall panels at the church which will be trucked down and assembled on the home site in Beattyville, Ky. Aug. 16-23. Home Build sessions will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 12. Check out more information about Cumberland Mountain Outreach Ministries Incorporated at http://my.att.net/p/s/communitydll?ep=16&groupid=136554&ck.
Summer Parent's Day Out Program continues from 9 to 11:30 a.m. through Aug. 6. Your 2- to 4-year-old children can join us on Mondays or Wednesdays for structured time that is fun and developmentally appropriate. They will enjoy circle time, calendar and weather activity, a math/language lesson, snack, Bible story, craft, music time and a trip to our indoor recess room. Cost is $80 per child for the six-week program.
Summer camps at FCC, a pairing for "Kids" age 3 through eighth grade, begins on Fridays, July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. VeggieTales Day Camp is for children age 3 through kindergarten. The kids will finally find out what Bob and Larry have been up to this summer. Children will love joining their VeggieTales friends for stories, crafts, games and more. Fine Arts Camp is for youth in first through eighth grades. They will explore art, drama, choir and handbells as part of their experience. Youth will be grouped according to age and will experience three different areas of interest during each day of camp. Join us for one morning or for all four. The cost for all materials and snack is $5 per youth per session. Visit the Website in July for registration details.
FROG (Families Relying On God) Friday will meet at 6:30 p.m. July 11. Bring a friend and join a "Christmas in July" party including pizza, hot dogs, games, fun crafts and a special devotional. Kids of all ages are welcome. For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.
King of Glory: This week, King of Glory Lutheran Church will observe the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost as they look at the theme of "Rest For Your Souls," based on Matthew 11. The regular weekly worship schedule includes a more traditional style worship at 8:15 a.m. Sundays, as well as a contemporary style worship at 10:45 a.m. led by the praise team singers and band. Adult Bible classes are held every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. along with a special educational program for children called Kingdom Kids.
Join a new worship opportunity called "The Refuge." Connect with God in a different, informal way every Monday at 7 p.m. Come for fellowship starting at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy some coffee and snacks before worship. The July 7 theme is "Transformations," as they are reminded that God is able to change anyone and any situation. The church is at Hopps and Randall roads, Elgin. For details, call (847) 931-1520 or visit www.kogonline.org.
Bethlehem Lutheran: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 401 W. Main St., West Dundee 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.
Bi-weekly in home Bible studies - all persons interested are invited. 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.
On Wednesdays during July, a book discussion of the Philip Yancy book "The Jesus I Never Knew" will be led by Interim Pastor Stave and Miriam Woita from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. Registration is not necessary and drop-ins are welcome.
On Fridays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a new group called The Northwest Suburbs Single Parents Group meets. A dinner is served then baby-sitting is provided from 7 to 8:30 p.m. while the parents have a group discussion. In order to plan for the group's dinner needs call the church office (847) 426-7311 or e-mail at thenwssingleparentsgroup@yahoo.com with your call information.
Vacation Bible school will be from 9 a.m. to noon July 7-11. This year's theme is "Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power Come." Bring your children to have a great time, refreshments are served. Call the church office for details (847) 426-7311 or visit www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/mysite/default.aspx?
All-you-can-eat rib and fish boil will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 20. Have you ever had "Poor Man's Lobster?" You will not want to miss this directly from Fitzgerald's Genoa Junction Restaurant in Genoa City, Wis. A first run Christian Movie "The Wager" with Randy Travis will be shown before or after the dinner. Tickets for dinner and a movie are $20 for adults and $12 for children under 12. Call the church office to purchase your tickets now. (847) 426-7311. A special showing of "The Wager" for youth will be at 8 p.m. July 26. Come be with local youth in the area. Call for tickets at (847) 426-7311.
First Congregational: On Sunday, the Rev. Jim Benzing will focus on Scripture on Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 at the 10 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 30 N. Washington St. in Carpentersville. Jesus promises his disciples that following him is not easy. There's a heavy cross to bear. Yet, Jesus also promises that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Come see how these mutually exclusive ideas play out in our faith. For details, call (847) 428-1712.