DuPage Co. religion notes

• To submit your listings, 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.

Oct. 4

• St. Margaret Mary Parish Center will hold its Cream of the Crop Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Oct. 4, at the church, 1450 Green Trails Drive, Naperville. The event includes a Chinese raffle. Lunch is available. Admission is free. For details, call (630) 961-2169.

• The United Methodist and Congregational Men will hold an Oktoberfest dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today, Oct. 4, at the First United Methodist and Congregational Church, 643 E. Washington St., West Chicago. Dinner includes German fare and homemade root beer, German art, photographs and music. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $6 for children 3-10 years and $30 for a family. Proceeds will benefit the church's missions. For details, call (630) 231-3344.

• DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church's Interweave committee will have a table at the Take Back the Night rally from 4 to 8:15 p.m. today, Oct. 4, in Naperville's Central Park, Benton and Washington avenues. The event is to raise community awareness about sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. For details, visit dupageuuchurch.org or call (630) 505-9408.

• River Valley Community Church's Singles FOCUS, Fellowship of Christians United in Spirit, will feature the film "The Bucket List" beginning with dinner at 6 p.m. today, Oct. 4, at River Valley Community Church, 1655 Bowman Drive, Aurora. Those attending movie night may bring a dish to share that starts with either the first letter of their first or last name. The group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays beginning with a light meal at 6:30 p.m. Church services are at 10 a.m. Sundays. Upcoming events include a Hesed House service day at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Hesed House in Aurora; call Pat at (630) 963-3090. A Sunday lunch and walk is planned at 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Jimmy's Grill in Naperville; call Lois at (630) 836-1684. A houseboat retreat is planned Oct. 17-19 at Starved Rock; call Joy at (630) 761-2964. For details, visit rivervalleycommunity.org, call (630) 907-2992 or e-mail focussingles@comcast.net.

• Trinity Lutheran Church will hold Oktoberfest from 6:30 to 10 p.m. today, Oct. 4, at the church, 331 George St., West Chicago. A German meal is served from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and the German band, Jerry's Happy Wanderers, will entertain. Tickets are $15 for adults, $20 at the door; $5 for children ages 5-10 and free for those 5 and younger. For details, call (630) 231-9554.

• The Council of Catholic Women of St. Scholastica Parish will hold its annual fall and holiday craft show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, Oct. 4, in the school gym, 7720 Janes Ave., Woodridge. Tables are available for crafters for $20 per table, two for $35. For details or to reserve a table, call Kathy Nartnick at (630) 985-3197.

• Holy Spirit Catholic Community will offer a weekly interpreted Mass at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays for those who are deaf or hard of hearing at the church, 2003 Hassert Blvd., Naperville. For details, visit HolySpiritNaperville.org or call (630) 922-0081.

Oct. 5

• The African Children's Choir will perform at 9 and 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Alleluia! Lutheran Church, 4055 S. Book Road, Naperville. The choir provides support for more than 7,000 children in Africa. Admission is free. For details, visit africanchildrenschoir.com or call (630) 904-3311, ext. 230.

• Holy Ghost Church will hold its Oktoberfest beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the church, 254 Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale. Dinner is at 4 p.m. Donation is $25 for adults, $15 for children 10 an d younger. Proceeds benefit the Council of Catholic Women and PADS. For details, call Mary at (630) 350-1932.

• St. John United Church of Christ will hold its German language service at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, and the first Sunday of the month at the church, 1190 Olesen Drive, Naperville. The Rev. Leroy Huizenga will lead the service. Childcare is provided. For details, call (630) 355-5208.

• St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold Quilt Sunday with a display of quilts during services Sunday at the church, 515 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. The quilters meet from 9 a.m. to noon the first, third and fifth Tuesdays. The adult forum meets at 9:45 a.m. Sundays. Upcoming topics include Earth Ministry Oct. 5, Outdoor Ministries Oct. 12, Environmental Issues Oct. 19, Garbage and Global Change Oct. 26. For details, visit stpaulwheaton.org or call (630) 668-5953.

• St. Isidore Catholic Church will install the Rev. Gerald J. Simonelli as pastor at a Mass at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the church, 427 W. Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale. For details, visit stisidoreparish.org or call (630) 529-3045.

• Christian Tabernacle Church holds services at 8 and 11 a.m. Sundays at 100 S. Park St., Roselle. For details, visit ctcchurch.org or call (630) 529-1282.

• Aldersgate United Methodist Church will hold its Alpha course at 6:30 p.m. Sundays at the church, 1735 S. Blanchard Road, Wheaton. The free introductory dinner will begin the 10-week course through mid-November on the Christian faith. Each session begins with dinner and discussion. For details, call Jodie Cleveland at (630) 452-3145.

• First Presbyterian Church will begin its Pathways adult education from 9:55 to 10:50 a.m. Sundays to Oct. 19, at the church, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton. Topics include the Kingdom of God in a Fraternity World, When Majoring in the Minor is a Good Thing, Glorifying God through Work, and Rock Solid Parenting for Teens to Sept. 28. For details, call (630) 668-5147.

• Career Ministries will offer a six-week course focusing on Managing Job Stress and Life Balance with Dan Tomai from 10 to 11 a.m. Sundays to Oct. 19, at First Presbyterian Church, 615 W. Jefferson Ave., Wheaton. For details, call Jim Carr at (630) 668-3500, ext. 748.

• Unity in Naperville will present a series on "Spiritual Economics" based on the book by Eric Butterworth at 10 a.m. Sundays to Oct. 12, at Gregory Middle School, 2621 Springdale Circle, Naperville. For details, visit unityinnaperville.org or call (630) 718-1318.

• Christ Church of Oak Brook will offer a yearlong journey through the Bible with The Storyline - God's Story and how it relates to your story at services at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Sundays at the church, 31st St. and York Road, Oak Brook. Upcoming topics are Joseph, Deliverance, New Commands and a New Covenant, Wandering, the Battle Begins, a Few Good Men and Women through Nov. 2. For details, visit cc-ob.org or call (630) 654-1882.

Oct. 6

• Grace Lutheran Church is the site of a nondenominational prayer ministry of the West Suburban Healing Rooms of Chicago from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at the church, 950 S. York Road, Bensenville. For details, call Carolyn Aiello at (630) 860-0566 or (630) 766-3030.

• Reservation deadline is Monday, Oct. 6, for Holy Spirit Catholic Community's diversity workshop, "Live It! Change It!" from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the church, 2003 Hassert Blvd., Naperville. Continental breakfast and lunch included. For details or reservations, call (630) 922-0081.

• The Ministry of New Beginnings St. Hubert Church meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at St. Matthew's Church, 1001 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Donation is $3. For details, call (847) 891-1220.

• St. Joseph Catholic Church has added a 5:30 p.m. Mass weekdays at the church, 4801 Main St., Downers Grove. Confession is 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. For details, call (630) 964-0216.

Oct. 7

• Family Life Christian Center offers a Biblical Healing Class from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at Christ Community Church, 602 Geneva Road, Wheaton. For details, call Roger Flanagan at (630) 873-0737.

• New Beginnings, a nondenominational 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 newbeginningsil.com or e-mail cml525@gmail.com.

• St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church is selling copies of its 50th anniversary cookbook at the church, 547 N. Main St., Lombard. The cost is $12.50. For details, call the church from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays at (630) 627-2435.

Oct. 8

• Chabad of Naperville will hold its High Holidays at its center, 1807 S. Washington, Naperville. Services for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, are Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 8-9. For a complete list of services or reservations, visit JewishNaperville.com or call (630) 689-1387.

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish will offer a Wednesday Morning Scripture Study at the parish center, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. The group will focus on Solomon's proverbs and Jesus' parables from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The series will continue through May 2009. Child care will be available. A nominal fee covers the materials. For details, call Chari Rosales at (630) 355-8980, ext. 138.

• Trinity Parish's Prayer Shawl Meeting, the Knit Witties, will meet at noon Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the church, 130 N. West St., Wheaton. The church's chapel will be part of Wheaton's 29th annual house walk from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. A Healing service and Eucharist celebrating St. Luke's Day is planned at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. For details, call (630) 665-1101.

• Word of Life Lutheran Church will offer "A New Song... Planted by Streams of Water," a women's Bible study of the Psalms from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the church, 879 Tudor Drive, Naperville. The books are $13. The men's Bible study will meet at 6 a.m. Thursdays at Wilma's Restaurant. The group is using Mark Batterson's book, "In a Pit on a Snowy Day with a Lion." For details, call (630) 355-9655.

Oct. 9

• Gary United Methodist Church is offering monthly Thursday sessions about Christianity with author Gil Bailie, president of The Cornerstone Forum, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the church, 224 N. Main St., Wheaton. Part I, "Adam, Where Are You?" meets Oct. 9 and Nov. 6. For details or to register, call Tony Asta at (630) 621-0055.

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish and Ss. Peter and Paul will sponsor a Bible study program, "The Church of the 1st and 21st Centuries: A Study of Paul's Letters to the Corinthians." Sessions will meet from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. and be repeated from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at Ss. Peter and Paul, 36 N. Ellsworth, Naperville. The program continues through May 28 and has a fee of $6. For details, call Chari Rosales at (630) 355-8980, ext. 138 or Christine Kancewick at (630) 718-2154.

• Grace Lutheran Church is open as a Praying Place at noon and 7:20 p.m. Thursdays at the church, 493 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. For details, call (630) 469-1555.

• Lombard Christian Reformed Church will hold a Depression Support Group from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at the church, 22nd Street and Meyers Road, Lombard. For details, call (630) 495-3080.

• Community Presbyterian Church will present the Alpha Course with a free dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday and continue for 11 weeks through Nov. 20 at the church, 1111 E. Madison St., Lombard. The program is free and a discussion of the meaning of life. For details or to register, call (630) 627-0306.

• Congregation Etz Chaim will hold Yom Kippur services at 10 a.m., 1:15 for children and 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 at 1710 S. Highland Ave., Lombard. Sukkot services will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 13. Each child should bring a basket of fruit for the needy. For details, call (630) 627-3912.

Oct. 10

• St. Pius X will hold its fall children's clothing and toy presale from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and the public sale from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the social center, 601 S. Westmore Ave., Lombard. Children are not welcome Friday. They are welcome at the sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11. For details, call (630) 627-2353.

• Gloria Dei Lutheran Church fill offer a Mom's Morning Out from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays during the school year at the church, 4501 Main St., Downers Grove. The program is for children 12 months and walking to kindergarten age for a morning with craft, snack and lunch. The program will be a baby-sitting coop with parents expected to participate one Friday a month. For details or to register, call (630) 968-6231.

• "Our Father's World" seminar will be presented beginning from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11, at the First Baptist Church of Wheaton, 1310 N. Main St., Wheaton. The seminar is based on the book by the same name by the Rev. Ed Brown. Advance tickets are $40 for general admission, $25 for students. Registration is available online at careofcreation.org or by calling Care of Creation at (608) 233-7048.

• First Pure Style Ministry will hold a fashion show about dressing modestly and modern on Friday, Oct. 10, at First Baptist Church, Maple Avenue and Washington Street, Downers Grove. The event is for girls in grades 6-8 and features a concert by Lindsey Kane. For details, visit the Web site at purestyleministry.com. Tickets are $10. For details or to register e-mail amy@purestyleministry.com or call the church at (630) 852-0800.

• Reservation deadline is Friday, Oct. 10, for the National Council of Jewish Women and Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered free screening of "In the Family" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1710 S. Highland Ave., Lombard. The film chronicles the stories of families undergoing genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and after a doctors' panel discussion. For details, visit facingourrisk.org or RSVP to ncjwwestsuburban@yahoo.com. • Calvary Church's Women's Ministry Girlfriends' Night is at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at the church, 9S200 Route 59, Naperville. The event includes a buffet, door prizes and comedians Kerri Pomarolli and Ron McGehee. Tickets are $25 and available at calvarynaperville.org or call (630) 851-7000.

• The Green Sanctuary committee with Just Views will feature the film, "A Crude Awakening," about the current oil crisis at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 4S535 Old Naperville Road, Naperville. For details, call Jean McCollum at (630) 420-7022.

Oct. 11

• The Wheaton Franciscans will hold an Earth Summit from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the campus, 26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton. People of all ages and background are invited to experience the healing sanctuary and presentations, discussions, food and music as well as a blessing of the animals. This is one of 50 sites worldwide and the only in Illinois. Numerous local agencies are participating. Admission is $5 per person, $20 maximum per family. For details, visit wheatonfranciscan-jpic.org or call (630) 909-6635.

• Bloomingdale Church will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11, at the church, 260 Glen Ellyn Road, Bloomingdale. For details or to register, call (630) 894-0090.

• Soul Searchers, a monthly forum focusing on Christian mystics, will meet at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. The group will meet in the lower level of the rectory, west of the church. The group will discuss "The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism" edited by Bernard McGinn. The group will continue to meet at 9:15 a.m. the second Saturday of the month. For details, call Will Wordern at (630) 355-8980.

• St. Mark's Episcopal Church will hold its second annual Pumpkin Patch from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 11-31 at the church, 393 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. The sale features pumpkins from Native American farmers in New Mexico. Proceeds benefit the farmers and DuPage Public Action to Deliver Shelter, PADS, offering shelter and counseling to homeless in DuPage County. The sale raised $5,000 for PADS last year. For details, call (630) 858-1020.

• St. Paul Lutheran Church's men's breakfast group will offer a series beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the church, 515 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. Topics include Stewardship Oct. 11, Wealth Oct. 25 and Nov. 22, an Esse pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 8. For details, call (630) 668-5953. The women's Bible study will explore the Gospel of John from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, and continue meeting monthly to May. For details, call (630) 668-8710.

• Grace United Methodist Church will hold a community wide prayer shawl gathering from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11, at the church, 300 E. Gartner Road, Naperville. The event is open to all. Registration is requested by calling (630) 355-1748. The church will debut a concert series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, featuring the Advent Chamber Orchestra. For tickets, visit the Web at peopleofgrace.org or call (630) 355-1748, ext. 232.

• St. John the Baptist Council of Catholic Women will hold the annual Holiday Fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the church, 0S323 Church St., Winfield. The event features home baked good, crafts, jewelry, religious items and a raffle. For details, call (630) 668-0918.

• New Beginnings, a single group of St. Hubert Church, will hold a hayride, picnic and bonfire from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 11, at Randall Oaks Park, 17N350 Randall Road, West Dundee. The cost is $10 per person. For tickets, call (847) 922-8007. The Sweetest Day Dance is from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at St. Matthews Church, 1001 E. Schaumbrug Road, Schaumburg. Guests should bring a snack for six to eight people. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. For details, call (847) 397-9643.