McHenry County notes on religion
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McHenry County Jewish Congregation: The McHenry County Jewish Congregation will celebrate the festive holiday of Purim with a carnival from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 8, and a re-enactment of the Story of Esther put to the melodies of "The Wizard of Oz," at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9. Purim celebrates Queen Esther's ability to save the Jewish people by thwarting the devious plans of the wicked Haman, adviser to the King. Members and guests are invited to dress in costume for both the carnival and the Book of Esther (Megillah) reading. Both events are free and open to all.
As part of its "Bread and Torah" adult education series on Tuesday, March 31, MCJC will host a Passover Workshop. The series pairs the preparation of food with learning, and at this workshop, speakers will offer tips on making tasty Passover desserts along with ideas for livening up Passover seders. The session is free and open to all.
The Passover holiday observance begins Wednesday, April 8. MCJC will hold a Festival Service at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 9, and a Community Seder at 6:30 p.m. that night. Reservations are required for the Seder, and details can be obtained by calling MCJC at (815) 455-1810 or visiting mcjc-online.org.
MCJC Religious School meets each Wednesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon. Twice-a-week instruction is offered to second- to seventh-grade students, and Sunday-only instruction is offered for the parent-tot, pre-K and kindergarten to first grade classes, and those in eighth grade through high school.
Adult education is also offered at noon Sundays and Wednesdays.
Shabbat services are at 6:30 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. Saturdays at the synagogue, 8617 Ridgefield Road in Crystal Lake. Shabbat services are led by Rabbi Maralee Gordon and are free and open to everyone. This is the only Conservative Jewish congregation in McHenry County. Interfaith families are welcome. It also operates a gift shop offering a range of Judaica items. It is located on Ridgefield Road in unincorporated Crystal Lake, accessible from Route 14. For information, call (815) 455-1810 or visit mcjc-online.org.
First Congregational: On Sunday, March 8, the Rev. Michelle McNamara's sermon will be "Your Choice" based on Mark 1:27-38, at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at the First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main St. in Huntley. The Children's Choir will sing in the 9 a.m. service and the Sunday AMs Handbell Choir will play in both. Brooklyn Marie Lueth, daughter of Tyler and Nicole Lueth, will be baptized in the 10:30 a.m. service.
The Sunday school children will continue their journey called "Following the Footsteps of Jesus" by "traveling" to Jericho, where Jesus welcomes a tax collector. The performers for this year's Hobo Show will practice at 10:30 a.m.
On Saturday, March 7, the now-weekly contemporary worship will begin a First-Saturday Small Group Bible Study at 5 p.m.
The Mission of the Month for March will be the Grafton Township Food Pantry, concentrating on Easter basket dinners for needy families. Items needed are canned vegetables, boxed macaroni and cheese, boxed potatoes and monetary donations. The Women's Circle will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, March 9.
On Wednesday, Clickin Sticks, the knit/crochet group, will meet at 1 p.m. and the Chancel Choir will practice at 7 p.m. On Thursday, the Thursday Study Group will meet at 10:15 a.m. There will be a Lenten Organ Recital in the sanctuary at 12:10 p.m. given by Vernon Studt, organist of the church. The Genesis Bells will practice at 6 p.m. and the Whitechapel Bells will practice at 7 p.m. For details, call the church at (847) 669-3691 or visit www.firsthuntley.org.
St. John Lutheran: This weekend, the Rev. William Stroup will deliver the message, "Can You Bear the Loss?" based upon Mark 8:27-38, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at St. John Lutheran Church, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Sunday school children meet at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, and are excused to go to their classes after the pastor's children's message. Adult Bible class Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and Sunday school at 10:30 a.m. A supervised nursery is offered at the 10:30 a.m. service. Coffee and Fellowship follows the Sunday services.
The Lenten Season continues with a Lenten supper at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays followed by the Lenten service at 7 p.m. The theme this year is "King of Kings" and the message this evening will be "Solomon: The King Who Had Everything," based on 1 Kings 3:1-15.
The Mission Resale Shop, located on Washington Street, is open on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gifts and good quality used clothing, and small household items can be purchased at reasonable prices. Donations are gratefully appreciated, and proceeds benefit mission work locally and afar. Call (847) 658-9300 or visit www.stjohnsalgonquin.org. St. John's Lutheran School offers a day school program for first to eighth grade; all-day kindergarten and morning and afternoon preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Church membership is not required. To register or schedule a school tour, call Principal Ralph Peterson at (847) 658-9311.
Shepherd of the Prairie: On Sundays, the Rev. Mark Boster will preach at both services at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church. The 9 a.m. traditional and 10:30 a.m. contemporary services are held at the Cosman Cultural Center, 12051 Mill St., Huntley. Holy Communion will be celebrated at each service. Nursery care is available at both services. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. On Mondays, Shepherd's Voices Choir meets at 7 p.m. at Citizens Bank. On Tuesdays at Citizens Bank, the first music team will meet at 5 p.m. with the second music team at 6 p.m. Lenten services continue each Wednesday with a soup supper at 6 p.m. and worship at 7 p.m. in the Cosman Center Cafeteria. The theme will be relationships with God, Christ and each other. The Easter and Spring Craft and Bake Sales will be March 22 and 29, before and after worship services at the Cosman Center. On March 22, the Rev. Nancy Amacher, ELCA Stewardship Key Leader, will be the guest preacher. The church office is in Citizens First National Bank, 12101 Regency Square, Huntley. Call (847) 515-3711 or visit www.sotp.org.
Faith Community: On Sunday, March 8, the Rev. Bruce Cole will lead worship at 9 and 10:30 a.m. at Faith Community Church, 10547 Faiths Way in Huntley. Holy Communion will be celebrated. Nursery for children up to age 3 is available at both services as well as Sunday school for children from age 4 through middle school. Holy Communion will be celebrated at both services. Awana meets every Monday with a family dinner at 5:30 p.m. and Kids Club from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Children from preschool through fifth grade are invited to attend. Everyone is welcome. On March 9, the theme is "Footsteps Night." The church will host "Family Night" each Wednesday during Lent starting with a family dinner at 6 p.m. and worship at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The Men of Faith will hold their monthly breakfast, fellowship and study at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 14 at the Old Country Buffet in Crystal Lake. All men of faith and their sons are welcome. Open enrollment for preschool has begun. To schedule an appointment call Director Michelle Sullivan at (224) 569-6512.
Call (224) 569-6501 or visit www.fccwired.tv.
Unitarian church: On Sunday, March 8, the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean St. in Woodstock, explores the relevance of the divine at the 10:45 a.m. service. In Does God Make Any Difference?" the Rev. Dan Larsen will speak about whether or not God makes a difference. Sue McCowin will have the "Story for All Ages" before the kids go to their religious education classes. For information, call the church at (815) 338-0731, e-mail office@cucw.org, or visit www.cucw.org.
First Congregational: On Sunday, March 8, First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake, continues its Sunday Lenten schedule with a half-hour Holy Communion service at 7:45 a.m. in the chapel. Services will follow at 9 and 10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary. The annual Children's Spring Cantata will be performed in the sanctuary at both services. There will be no sermon. Children from the Carol and Chancel Choirs, fourth through eighth grades, will present "The Technicolor Promise." The choirs are directed by Ann Tucker. The public is welcome to attend. On Sunday, March 8, UCC Coffee Project Sale in fellowship hall after each morning service. JF Meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. PF Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. On Monday, March 9, FCC's day to work at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Church Council Meeting at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room. On Wednesday, March 11, Seasons of the Spirit Bible study is held at 10:15 a.m. in the Banner Library. The Lenten Soup Supper will be at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall; Lenten Study at 7:15 p.m. in the chapel. The Living the Questions group meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12 and 9 a.m. Saturday, March 14 in the Youth Room. The topic is "Creative Transformation." For details, call (815) 459-6010 or visit fcc-cl.org.
Bethany Lutheran: Midweek Lenten Wednesday worship has begun at Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake and continues weekly through April 1. This year there are two opportunities for worship and reflection - 11:15 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Child care is available. The theme of the 11:15 a.m. worship will focus on "The Lord's Prayer: A Way of Life." On March 11, the theme will be "Your kingdom come, your will be done. " On March 18, it will be "Give us this day our daily bread." On March 25, it will be "Forgive us our sins as we forgive." On April 1, it will be "Save us from the time of trail and deliver us." The Liturgy for Worship at the 7 p.m. services is the Holden Evening Prayer service. There will a drama "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" The Drama Team will re-enact the sacred events of the Passion in a way that deepens the understanding and awe of the death and resurrection. On March 11, it will be "The churchman - Caiaphas"; March 18, "The Politician - Pilate"; March 25, "The Mother - Mary"; and April 1, "The Friend - Magdalene." All are welcome. For details, call the church office at (815) 459-2690 or visit bethanylc.com.
McHenry County Church of Religious Science: On Sunday, March 8, the Rev. Anne S. Muelleman's topic, "Adding Light," will show how today you spring forward by adding more light to your days at the Center for Spiritual Evolution, a Religious Science community. Special music will be by Tricia Alexander. Everyone is welcome to attend the 10 a.m. Sunday Celebration Service at 204 Spring St., lower level in Cary. There is a children's program and toddler care. If you arrive early, there is a meditation at 9:45 a.m. The children's Science of Mind curriculum is "Castles of Creation." There is a Tuesday morning mediation with Bhanta Sujatha at 10 a.m. for a $10 donation. As a trans-denominational church, all services and activities are open to everyone without obligation. For details, call (847) 516-1950 or visit www.newthoughtmchenry.org. The Spiritual Entrepreneur Networking Group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 13 at the church.
Congregational Church of Algonquin: On Girl Scout Sunday, March 8, Girl Scouts will help lead the service and the Rev. Brian Cope will preach at the 10 a.m. service at the Congregational Church of Algonquin, 109 Washington St. The message is based on Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16. The monthly men's breakfast will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 21.
On Tuesdays at 7 p.m., there is a Bible Study with the pastor. The Men's Fellowship will host another St. Patrick's Day corned beef dinner at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, March 15. Shepherd University children's Sunday school preschool through sixth grade meets at 8:45 a.m. Sundays. During March, the children will spend three weeks learning about refugees and will end March with a study in Palm Sunday and building up to Easter. It is a rotation model Sunday school program where they use "Multiple Intelligences" approach to Christian education. They use music, games, art, cooking, stories, drama, science, and video to teach about God's wonderful plan for our lives.
The Mission Ministry is supporting a series of seminars on immigration, religious faith and society at 11:15 a.m. Sundays, through April 5. The seminars will include the biblical imperatives of welcoming strangers and the present social, economical and faith values, and include how you can participate in healing and renewing your societal brokenness. They will engage in their own backgrounds and how they have shaped their lives. They will study scriptures, watch DVDs, study the effects of federal laws and NAFTA. They will hear from Olgha Sandman who has participated as a representative of Illinois Conference and the National Church in immigration work. Soup and bread will be served for a light lunch following worship, in the fellowship hall.
Did you know that the creator of "Gilligan's Island" said he based the seven castaways on the Seven Deadly Sins? Did you know there are also Seven Holy Virtues? To find out the answers join them from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Sundays for an interesting study and great discussion. Everyone is welcome. Come for any or all of the sessions. The new membership orientation classes are now being formed. There will be an orientation class at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11. If you are interested in joining and cannot make this meeting, call the church office at (847) 658-5308 and they can schedule another class. Members will be received in the service at 10 a.m. March 15.