Fox Valley religion events

Corned beef and cabbage dinner: The family of St. James Episcopal Church, 516 W. Washington St. in West Dundee, invites you to its annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14. There will be live entertainment featuring bagpiper Jeff Beatty and a traditional Irish dance exhibition. Call the church office at (847) 426-5612 from 7:45 to 11:30 a.m. weekdays for discounted advance ticket prices of $10 for adults or $6 children, ages 5-12. Ticket prices at the door are $12 for adults or $7 children, ages 5 to12, and children under 5 are free.

Hobo Show: The First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main St. in Huntley will present its 45th Hobo Show at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, and noon Sunday, March 15. This year, the popular event features 20 "hobo" entertainers from the church and community singing and telling jokes in the style of bygone Hobo Shows. The tickets, which are $8, include the show, a beef stew dinner served by the hobos, and many door prizes. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the church at (847) 669-3691.

Spaghetti dinner: Trinity United Methodist Church, 1647 Ravine Lane, Carpentersville, will host a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, March 14. The doors of the church open approximately 4:45 to 5 p.m., and the spaghetti will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. The dinner benefits local and global missions of the church. Tickets are $6, or $3 for children, age 3 to 12. Proceeds will go to local and worldwide missions. For details, call Kim Simms at (847) 812-3358.

St. Patrick's Day Family Potluck: Don something green, bring a green dish to share, and come to the St. Patrick's Day Family Potluck on Saturday, March 14, at Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road (at Route 59) in Barrington. Enjoy corned beef and cabbage, games and a movie starting at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome. For details, call Elaine at (847) 921-5356.

Kindergarten roundup, open house: Good Shepherd Lutheran School will host a kindergarten round-up and open house for first through fifth grade from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at 1111 Van St., Elgin. Information and registration for the school will be held, along with the meeting of teachers and tours of the school. Learn about their quality Lutheran education and all-day kindergarten program. Good Shepherd will offer grades kindergarten through fifth grades for the 2009-10 school year at 1111 Van St. Preschool is at its Nesler Road and Route 20 location and offers programs for both 3- and 4-year-olds. Before-school care is available for preschool and after-school care is available at both sites. Church membership is not required. To schedule a tour at a different time or for details, call the school office at (847) 741-7795 or the preschool office at (847) 697-4745.

Spring concert: On Sunday, March 15, the First Congregational Church's annual spring concert, "Americana At Its Best," is at 4 p.m. at the church, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake. It features the 55-member adult Vestry Choir and the Dang-Its, a Madison, Wis.-based band. The quintet, which includes vocals and guitars, banjos, drums, bass, synthesizer and steel guitar, plays honey tonk standards, country classics and atmospheric renditions of Americana music ranging from 150-year old Appalachian hymns to contemporary spiritual music. The "Americana At Its Best" concert celebrates American musical heritage, folklore and fun. Ann Tucker, director of music, will direct the performance. Barb Thorsen will be the accompanist. For details, call the church office at (815) 459-6010 or visit FCCCrystalLake.org. The public is invited to attend this holiday program. First Congregational Church is handicapped accessible.

Lenten Mission: Join renowned preacher the Rev. Charlie Becker as he gives the St. Mary's Lenten Mission Monday to Wednesday, March 16-18. The mission will begin at 7 p.m. each evening at St. Mary Catholic Church, 400 Fulton St., Elgin. It will conclude with a Eucharistic prayer service and benediction. Becker will lead the following reflections: Monday, March 16: Devotion and Consecration to the Blessed Mother; Tuesday, March 17: Unity with the Pope, the Mass, and the Eucharist; Wednesday, March 18: The Blessed Mother and the Family. For details, call the parish office at (847) 888-2828 or visit www.stmaryelgin.com.

St. Joseph's Table: St. Laurence Parish, 226 Orchard St. in Elgin, will sponsor a St. Joseph's Table from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 22. A freewill donation will be accepted, which will be used to support the poor and homeless in the Elgin Community. This is a gift for the people in honor of St. Joseph. All are invited to enjoy this tradition. In the Middle Ages when a famine hit Sicily, the farmers prayed to St. Joseph to help end the famine. Their prayers were answered and they thanked St. Joseph by sharing food with all. For details, call (847) 468-6900.

Easter weekend in Huntley: Join Morning Star Church and The River Church for a special worship conference featuring Sean Feucht, Easter Weekend, on Thursday, April 9 through Easter Sunday, April 12. Feucht will be accompanied by Will Reagan of United Pursuit Band. Meeting times of this worship celebration weekend are as follows: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9; 7:14 p.m. Friday, April 10; 6 p.m. Saturday, April 11; 10 a.m. Sunday, April 12. There is no charge for these meetings. Morning Star Church and The River Church are at 41W350 Powers Road, just north of the I-90-Route 47 exit in Huntley. For details, call (847) 669-9800 or visit www.morningstarwoc.org and www.theriver-church.com.

Easter egg hunt: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will hold an Easter egg hunt at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 4, sharp, rain or shine, to benefit a local family. The Easter egg hunt will be held in the field outside Good Shepherd's Christian Life Center at Nesler Road and Route 20. Groups will consist of 2- to 4-year-olds, 5-7 year olds, and 8-year-olds and up. A freewill donation for the Easter egg hunt of $2 per child is appreciated, and all proceeds will benefit families with unemployment issues. Juice and muffins will be available at 8:30 a.m. to raise more funds for families. Come enjoy breakfast and join Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in helping people and celebrating Easter. Good Shepherd Lutheran School is accepting enrollment for the 2009-10 school year. It houses an all-day kindergarten and first through eighth grades at 1111 Van St., and preschool at its Nesler Road location. Before-school care is available for preschool and after-school care is available at both sites. For details, call the preschool office at (847) 697-4745, or visit the Web site at goodshepherd-elgin.org.

Taize prayer service: The Church of Holy Apostles, 5211 W. Bull Valley Road in McHenry, is offering its first Taize prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18. All are welcome to join this meditative prayer service. Taizé prayer is a quiet, simple way of prayer designed for people of all Christian traditions. These candlelit services include songs sung repeatedly and meditatively to help you contemplate the presence of God. For details, call The Church of Holy Apostles at (815) 385-5673.

Flea market: Vendors are wanted for the outdoor flea market to be held Saturday, June 13, at King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin. For details, call Cindy Meseke at (847) 468-8160.