Lake Co. religion notes

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Beth Judea: The Consecration of the 2008-2009 kindergarten class at Congregation Beth Judea took place at the synagogue on Tuesday, Oct. 21. This ceremony is the confirmation that a child is now officially enrolled in Jewish education - the beginning of what will be a lifetime of Jewish education and learning.

The kindergarten students are: Mitchell Berg, son of Alison and Michael Berg of Arlington Heights; Miriam Besser, daughter of Anna and Michael Besser of Vernon Hills; Hannah Ernsteen, daughter of Jayme and Gary Emsteen of Buffalo Grove; Jonathan Fine, son of Melinda and Jeff Fine of Arlington Heights; Rayna Finn, daughter of Lori and Herbert Finn of Vernon Hills; Joey Gluck, son of Amy and Ross Gluck of Buffalo Grove; Alexander Goldwasser, son of Susan Weitzman Goldwasser and Richard Goldwasser of Long Grove; Stone Gomberg, son of Robyn and Michael Gomberg of Long Grove; Ashleigh Gottlieb, daughter of Robyn and Louis Gottlieb of Vernon Hills; Zoe Greenberg, daughter of Susan and Scott Greenberg of Lake Zurich; Rebecca Karpel, daughter of Galina and Vlad Karpel of Prairie View; Eli Levsky, son of Cheryl and David Levsky of Palatine; Ryan Miller, son of Nicole and Joshua Miller of Buffalo Grove; and Zachary Zeidman, son of Rebecca and Marc Zeidman of Buffalo Grove.

Also, Robert Besser, son of Anna and Michael Besser of Vernon Hills; Noah Brody, son of Tammy and David Brody of Buffalo Grove; Talia Brody, daughter of Tammy and David Brody of Buffalo Grove; Jared Elkins, son of Ivy and Benjamin Elkins of Buffalo Grove; Aiden Ernsteen, son of Jayme and Gary Ernsteen of Buffalo Grove; Blake Finkel, son of Rachael and Brad Finkel of Buffalo Grove; Matthew Greenberg, son of Michele and Jeffrey Greenberg of Arlington Heights; Shara Karlin, daughter of Rebecca and Sean Karlin of South Hawthorn Woods; Josh Lerner, son of Ellen and Adam Lerner of Long Grove; Rebecca Muise, daughter of Wendi and Robert Muise of Buffalo Grove; Julia Neimark, daughter of Leslie and Michael Neimark of Buffalo Grove; Melissa Nusinow, daughter of Elise and Edward Nusinow of Buffalo Grove; and Joseph Standish, son of Miriam and Ted Standish of Vernon Hills.

Following the Hakafot, the students, with their teachers, were invited up for an Aliyah. All the students stood under a large Tallit and the parents joined in saying Shehchiyanu. Then the students sang their three songs for consecration. Then, Rabbi Howard Lifshitz and Education Director Anna Besser spoke and handed out Sisterhood's presents - a mezuzah necklace for each child.

Beth Judea is on Route 83 and Hilltop Road in Long Grove. (847) 634-0777.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago invites those who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide to participate in its Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide Program from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Holy Family Church Counseling Center, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness, and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at Carmel High School, 1 Carmel Parkway, Mundelein.

Community Christian Church: On Sunday, Dec. 14, enjoy a "Festival of Joy." The 10 a.m. worship service will feature a choir cantata and will be followed by a fellowship luncheon. A children's pageant will follow at 1 p.m., and an old-fashioned carol sing will conclude the celebration. Community Christian Church is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), at 1970 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire. (847) 945-8824, www.ccclincolnshire.org

Community Protestant Church: On Sunday, Dec. 7, the Dorcas Circle of Community Protestant Church offers an opportunity to shop for products from Ten Thousand Villages, produced by artisans in developing countries, or to give a gift in a loved one's name to buy a chick, rabbit, education or other improvements to someone truly in need through Church World Service. These items will be available for sale in the Fellowship Hall from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The church is at 418 N. Prairie Ave., Mundelein. For details, call (847) 566-4000.

Congregation Or Shalom: A special program focusing on the "sandwich generation" will be held Sunday, Dec. 7. Focusing on today's changing demographics and the dilemmas of midlife adults, the speaker, Joan Ente, will address issues involving "Caring for Our Aging Loved Ones." Ente, a licensed clinical social worker and geriatric care manager at CJE SeniorLife, will also discuss how to plan ahead for the care of aging parents. For information or to register, call (847) 362-1948 or e-mail the program director at ekaufman@orshalomlc.org. The synagogue is at 21 Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills.

Federated Church of Wauconda: A Christmas Bazaar will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the church, 200 S. Barrington Road, (Route 176 and Barrington Road) Wauconda. Crafts, ornaments, handmade Christmas cards, home-baked goods, egg art, quilts, designer scarves and Grandma's attic (gently used treasures). Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Luncheon tickets cost $8 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for kids younger than 3. For details, call (847) 526-8471. Same day as Wauconda's Main Street Christmas Walk.

Grace Lutheran Church: The 5th Annual Grace Cookie Walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the church, 501 Valley Park Drive in Libertyville. Cookies are home baked by church volunteers and sold by the container. www.aboutgracelutheran.org or (847) 367-7050.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church: Holy Cross Lutheran Church is coordinating an effort of more than 1,100 community members of all ages to package 300,000 lifesaving meals for starving children around the world during an event Dec. 6-7 at Maine Plastics, Inc. in Zion.

Through a partnership among Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Maine Plastics and the Minnesota-based Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), volunteers will prepare specially designed meals that provide the key nutrients a starving child needs to survive and thrive.

Packing sessions will take place at the following times: Saturday, Dec. 6: 8-10 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-3 p.m., 3:30-5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 7: 1-3 p.m., 3:30-5:30 p.m.

JUF Book Buddies: Learn about Hanukkah through art projects, storytime and songs with other young area families. This event, for families with children up to age 5, takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at the following Barnes & Noble locations: 720 Hawthorne Center, Vernon Hills and 590 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. To RSVP, contact Abby Halper at (312) 444-2844 or e-mail bookbuddies@juf.org. This free event is sponsored by Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Messiah Lutheran Church: A living Nativity walk will be presented at 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at 25225 W. Ivanhoe Road, Wauconda. The walk will be narrated and start outside and then proceed indoors for the duration of the story. Afterward, there will be cookies and hot chocolate. There is no cost to attend.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church: The Beginnings Drama Team of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 10 S. Lake St., Mundelein, debuts its first show, "A Christmas Carol," Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12 and 13, transforming the church's sanctuary into a theater for the production. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children and seniors. Proceeds will benefit church programming. Please bring canned goods for a food drive to benefit COOL Food Pantry and Transitional Housing, Waukegan, during all performances. Call (847) 548-2760 for advance tickets and additional information, or visit www.standrewmundelein.org.

St Joseph: Men are invited to join a pilgrimage to Italy. Eight places are open for a pilgrimage to Italy Feb. 2-11, 2009. The cost is $3,108 per person, based on double occupancy, and includes travel in Rome, Assisi, Siena and Florence. This package includes nine nights of accommodations, round-trip airfare, daily Mass, breakfast and seven dinners, all entrance fees to the sights and shrines, plus all taxes, surcharges and transfers. There is a $250 deposit required and the deadline for joining this pilgrimage is Saturday, Nov. 1. For details, contact Catherine Sims at (847) 990-1238 or csims@stjoseph-libertyville.org.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church: The Sunday school service will be presented at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the sanctuary, 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods. An "Old English Christmas" will be presented by St. Matthew Sunday school students. The public is welcome to join families and friends as an "Old English Christmas and carols" tell the Christmas story.

• Advent services will be Saturday, Dec. 6; Sunday, Dec. 7; Thursday, Dec. 11 (St. Matthew Day School Christmas program); Saturday, Dec. 13; Sunday, Dec. 14 (Choral Advent/Christmas Cantata 8 and 10:45 a.m. - Sunday school program 9:30 a.m.); Saturday, Dec. 20; Sunday, Dec. 21. Service times: Thursday at 7 p.m.; Saturday, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m., Dec. 14, 9:20 a.m. in Main Church. No worship service Thursday, Dec. 18. St. Matthew Day School Christmas program will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.

St. Philip Lutheran Mission: Advent services will be offered at 7 p.m. by St. Philip Lutheran Mission at the Libertyville Civic Center, 135 W. Church St., Libertyville, Wednesdays in December. www.lakecountylutheran.com

Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church: Book club will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Panera Bread in Gurnee. The church is at 5725 Stearns School Road, Gurnee. For details, visit www.annunciationgurnee.org or call (847) 336-3730.

• St. Nicholas Night, 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

Bethel Lutheran Church: Three Advent dramas using a narrated children's theater style will be presented at each of the Wednesday evening Advent services at 7 p.m. Bethel is at 5110 Grand Ave., Gurnee. (847) 244-9647.

Faith Lutheran Church: The fourth annual German Christmas service will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. This service is conducted entirely in German. A hospitality hour will follow the service. Faith Lutheran Church is at 24300 Grass Lake Road (at Route 59) in Antioch. For details, call (847) 293-6101 or visit www.faithantioch.org.

• Faith Lutheran Church invites all kindergarten through fourth-grade children to participate in Christmas 4 Kids at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Children learn about Christmas through crafts, games and lessons at this free event. Lunch is included. Registration is from 9:30 to 10 a.m. The session lasts until 2 p.m., but parents are invited back at 1:45 for a special finale. Faith Lutheran Church is at 24300 Grass Lake Road in Antioch. For details, call (847) 293-6101 or visit www.faithantioch.org.

Grayslake United Protestant Church: The public is invited to pick out delicious holiday treats for gift-giving and holiday parties from among thousands of cookies at the seventh annual Cookie Walk on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the United Protestant Church, 54 S. Whitney St., Grayslake. It features beautifully decorated and delicious cookies, candies and holiday treats for sale at $7 per pound. The cookie walk will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. and is sponsored by the UPC Women's Christian Fellowship. The festive event will be held in the lower level of the church in Fellowship Hall. Call (847) 223-8131.

Holy Cross Chapel: The Anglican Chapel of the Holy Cross and the Words of Blessing Ministry will host an Advent Quiet Day from 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. This is a wonderful time to step away from the commercialism of the season and spend some time in reflection about the birth of Jesus. The Chapel is at 500 Park Ave., Unit 102, Lake Villa. There is no charge for the event.

• A healing service, focused on the Advent theme of preparation, will be offered by The Anglican Chapel of the Holy Cross at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at 500 Park Ave., Unit 102, Lake Villa.

In addition, the members of Holy Cross Chapel gather each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for the celebration of The Holy Eucharist (Episcopal tradition), fellowship and Bible study. For details, visit www.holycross-anglican.org or call (847) 543-7371.

Millburn Congregational United Church of Christ: A Cookie Walk will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Millburn Congregational United Church of Christ, 19073 W. Grass Lake Road, Lake Villa. Cookies and candy will be $6 per pound. For more information, call the church office at (847) 356-5237.

St. Andrew Episcopal Church: The church at 31 Park Ave., Grayslake, presents its community service project, "Elijah's Mantle for Children in Need." The church's goal is to help families with children in need by supplying free, gently-used clothing for boys and girls in sizes ranging from infant to size 16. The store is open to everyone from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at no cost. The next store dates are: Saturday, Dec. 13; and Saturday, Jan. 10. The church welcomes fall and winter clothing donations, especially winter coats. For details, visit standrewsgrayslake.org or call (847) 223-2310.

• The third annual "Blue Christmas" Celebration will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Listen to prayer and Scripture that acknowledges God's presence is for those who mourn, for those who are experiencing struggles, for those who feel alone. For details, call (847) 223-2310 or visit www.standrewsgrayslake.org.

St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church: For the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Monday, Dec. 8, the parish will offer three Masses at the church at 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church is on Route 173 in Antioch, a half-mile east of Route 45.

• The parish also will offer two Advent Penance Services with confessions, one Tuesday, Dec. 9, and the other Wednesday, Dec. 10. Both services will begin at 7 p.m. at the church. The service on Tuesday is for adults, while the service Wednesday will be for students in the parish's religious education program and their families.

United Methodist Church of Antioch: The church at 848 Main St. houses two preschools. Tomorrow's Future Preschool and Childcare, Inc. offers full-time care to children ages 6 weeks old to elementary school, with an after-school program. Parents Day Out offers part-time care to children ages 2 to 5. For details, call Torie Johnson at (847) 395-1362.

Touchstones: Join Touchstones, an interfaith collaboration, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, as a new monthlong focus begins: "Celebration - From the Jewish experience." Lynn Sanders, a member of Congregation Hakafa, who has taught Jewish music at Lakeside Congregation in Highland Park, will be speaking and performing at the Schram Chapel, 1799 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. Call (847) 446-0997 or visit MYTOUCHSTONES.org for details. The conversation continues from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays throughout December at Caribou Coffee, 939 Waukegan Road in Glenview.