Battle of Praise Bands to aid mission trip Benefits

Methodist

• Burlington United Methodist Church, 195 W. Center St., will host four groups in a Battle of the Praise Bands fundraiser benefiting the church's mission trip to help repair homes. The concert for all ages will start at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22. The Saving Grace singers from Burlington United Methodist Church will be followed by Beacon of Epworth United Methodist Church in Elgin, Joyful Noise from Kaneville United Methodist Church and then the old-time gospel acoustic sounds of The Good Ol' Boys from Country Covenant Church in Plato Center. Tickets are $10 at the door. All proceeds will go toward a mission trip with the Appalachia Service Project to Kentucky to repair people's houses. Visit ASPHome.org. For more information, call (847) 683-3535 or visit Burlington-UMC.org.

• The Sugar Grove United Methodist Church and Sugar Grove dentist Donald Fee are partnering to bring dental supplies to the homeless at Hesed House in Aurora. During February, dental care items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss may be brought to the church at 176 Main St., Sugar Grove and placed in the "tooth fairy bucket." Also, Fee will use monetary donations to purchase dental supplies at cost. The project seeks to offset the effects of neglect of dental care among homeless residents. For details, call (630) 466-4501.

Catholic

Deja Vu Thrift Shop, S. Fourth St., Geneva is having a winter clothing bag sale during February. Customers can stock up on clothes, shoes and accessories by filling a bag for only $5. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Deja Vu sales benefit the Southeastern District of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, a Catholic lay organization that serves the poor of all faiths and backgrounds. The resale and consignment store features jewelry, books, furniture, clothes, antiques and art in 12 themed rooms. For more information, contact store manager Bernie Schlameuss at (630) 232-6621 or bschlameuss@comcast.net.

Episcopal

St. Charles Episcopal Church, 994 N. Fifth Ave., St. Charles, invites adult members of the community to a wine tasting and auction from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Top Shelf Wine Shop, 240 Randall Road, South Elgin. Every four years, the senior high group goes on a pilgrimage and the adult members of the parish are raising some of the funds for the group's June trip to the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. The senior high youth have also raised funds with a November poinsettia sale and a sub sandwich sale. Tickets are $25. Call (630) 584-2596 or visit stcharlesepiscopal.org for details.

Lutheran

The 44-voice Valparaiso University Chorale will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln St. in Batavia. Under the direction of Christopher M. Cock, the chorale's spring tour will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of Handel by performing works by the composer. The chorale will also perform love songs, including Eric Whitacre's, "A Boy and a Girl," and "Loch Lomond," as well as traditional hymns and spirituals. There is a $10 per person suggested donation. Call (630) 879-3444 or visit bethanybatavia.org.