Fox Valley notes on religion
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St. Peter: On Sunday, March 29, the Rev. Gerhard Mau will preach on "Jesus, Our High Priest" at 9 a.m. at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Road (one mile east of Route 47) in Hampshire. Sunday school and adult Bible class follows at 10:20 a.m. The Wednesday Lenten worship at 7:30 p.m. will feature guest preacher the Rev. Timothy Frick from Trinity Lutheran Church of Genoa. For information, contact St. Peter's Lutheran Church at (847) 464-5721. Registration is open for Little Saints Preschool, including the Intro to Preschool class. Call Kristina at (847) 464-5134 for a tour or for details. Members of the community are encouraged to apply.
Kneseth Israel: Congregation Kneseth Israel has been serving the Fox River Valley for over 116 years. As a member of United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, it offers a full range of services: Torah school for prekindergarten to high school, adult education classes, a youth program for age 6 to 12, Sisterhood and Men's Club, and age-based interest groups.
This week's Torah portion is "Vayikra." The service is led by Rabbi Jonathan Kohn in prayer and study. Shabbat services are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the synagogue, 330 Division St. in Elgin. Guests are welcome. CKI believes that each person can participate in the observance of Shabbat through the use of English, Hebrew, and age-appropriate activities. For details, call (847) 741-5656 or visit www.ckielgin.org.
Shirat Shalom: Congregation Shirat Shalom, 30W509 Shoe Factory Road in Elgin, offers friendly, participatory Shabbat services, led by Cantor Sarah Alexander, at 9:45 a.m. Saturdays and followed by a community kiddush luncheon. Services include a spirited Torah discussion, focusing on the "parsha of the week." This week's Torah portion is "Vayikra," which teaches you that justice is the foundation of society. For details, call (847) 695-6246, e-mail hazzansarah@gmail.com, or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org
First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, March 29, the children's choirs, under the direction of Laura Johnson and Linda Fox, will provide special music at 9 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave. in Elgin. The sermon, "Now Is the Judgment," will be given by the Rev. Jonathan Hutchison. The 11:30 a.m. service will include a message, "Refresh My Heart," given by the Rev. Mona Walker. There are Christian education classes for all ages from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The youth group meets at 12:45 p.m.
The church is conducting a community, downtown Lenten worship session at noon each Thursday continuing through April 9 (Maundy Thursday). The worship begins at noon and lasts about 30 minutes. You are invited to bring a sack lunch and facilities will be made available for eating it following the worship time.
On Good Friday, April 10, a short drama titled, "Peter , Do You Love Me?", will be a part of the evening's worship at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at 216 E. Highland in Elgin. This drama takes you through the events of the very first Good Friday; the very day Jesus was crucified, revealing perhaps what the disciples Peter and John were feeling the evening after the crucifixion of Jesus. For details, call (847) 741-0038 or visit www.fumcelgin.org.
St. John: On Sunday, March 29, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, the Rev. Howard Gleason will preach the sermon, "To Tell the Truth" based on Mark 10:35-45, at 8 and 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 13N535 French Road in Burlington. Fellowship is at 9 a.m. and family education hour from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. The Quilters meet at 9 a.m. Mondays.
Lenten midweek services begin at 7 p.m. Wednesdays with a Lent dinner at 5:30 p.m. There will be a rotating pulpit again this year. The guest preacher this Lent midweek is the Rev. Robert Weinhold, senior pastor from St. John's Sycamore. Call the office for more details. The liturgical color is purple in observance of Lent. It is a color that encourages solemn reflection as you follow the Savior to the cross.
For Holy Week services, the Maundy Thursday worship will be at 7 p.m. with Holy Communion and the stripping of the altar. Good Friday will include 3 and 7 p.m. services. The 7 p.m. service is a Tenebrae service. Resurrection Sunday includes a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. followed by an Easter breakfast hosted by the youth group. A second worship of celebration is scheduled for 9 a.m. followed by an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. For details, call (847) 683-2338 or visit www.stjohnburlington.com.
First Congregational: On Sunday, March 29, Fifth Sunday in Lent, the Rev. Paris Donehoo will preach on "Where Is Your Antioch?" at the 8:15 and 10:15 a.m. services at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. The Open Door service starts at 8:15 a.m. in the chapel and the 10:15 a.m. service is in the sanctuary. The chancel choir will assist in the leading of worship at the second service as they sing Norman Coke-Jephcott's anthem, "Surely the Lord is in This Place."
Sunday school starts at 10:15 a.m. in the sanctuary and after the children's message, students are dismissed to their individual classes. Adult Christian Formation starts with breakfast at 9:15 a.m. and continues with an in-depth Bible study of the book of 1 Corinthians in the fellowship hall or Controversial Conversations with Carl in the church library talking about possible directions for the community and the municipal election in April.
"Thursdays with Jesus," a Lenten study of the book of Acts, continues at 7:15 p.m. Thursdays.
On Friday, April 3, the third in the series of free Lenten organ concerts will be held at 7 p.m. with the popular John Linker at the organ. Linker is the organist/choirmaster at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, Ky. The public is most cordially invited to attend. There are parking lots close to the church as well as the municipal parking garage. For details, call the church at (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.
Second Baptist: On Sunday, March 29, the Rev. Johnny Jackson, associate minister, will deliver the message at the 8 a.m. message and Rev. Phillip Hodge, associate minister, will deliver at 10:30 a.m. services at Second Baptist Church, 1280 Summit St. in Elgin. The Combined Choir will render the music for both services. On April 12, the Sunday school ministry will present its annual Easter program. The theme, "Where Is Easter", will be presented at 9 a.m. in the multi-purpose center. On Wednesday, the Bible study will begin at noon followed by evening Bible study starting at 7 p.m. Bus and child care services are available. For details, call (847) 695-7757 or visit www.SBCElginIl.org.
First Congregational: On Sunday, March 29, the Rev. Donald Longbottom will present the sermon, "Costly Obedience," based on selections from John 12:20-33, at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. The Human Resources Ministry will be highlighted during worship. After both services, join them for fellowship and treats. Traditional worship, with the Chancel Choir and a vocal or bell choir, will be at 9 a.m. Progressive worship, a spirit-filled experience with the Praise Singers and Band, will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday's Ministry of Music at the 9 a.m. service will be by the Chancel Choir, directed by Robert Blazek with Linda Gilmore, piano/organ accompanist. The 10:30 a.m. service will feature songs and music by the Praise Singers and Band: Cheri Blazek; Robert Blazek; Sonja Boekenhauer, Penny Mensik, Sue Schmidt and Sara Tustin with Robert Blazek, saxophones; Mark Frystak, guitar; Linda Gilmore, keyboard; Noah Katsma, bass and Rich Robotham, drums.
The Mission Ministry is collecting donations of personal products for the armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the military is well supplied, personal products must be paid for by the soldiers. If you would like to help our servicemen and women, consider donating a few of these supplies. Contact the church office for a complete list of items to be collected. All donations will be assembled and sent overseas.
Children, age 3 through fifth grade, will begin their worship in the sanctuary with their families and move to Sunday school classes at 9 a.m. and to God's Big Backyard for KidsOwn Worship at 10:30 a.m. A new snack time for kids will be held in God's Big Backyard from 10 to 10:10 a.m. Nursery care is available for infants through first grade from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. Children should be signed in and out.
The high school youth group meets from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Sundays with Chad Coe, director of youth ministries. The group will be having a Road Rally. Participants will wander the area picking up clues, figuring them out and video tape the whole thing. The middle school youth group will meet from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1.
God's Kitchen concludes at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. The meals are served buffet-style and a freewill offering will be taken. Sign up by calling the church office with the number attending on a specific date and in which areas you will be able to lend a helping hand. Come gather in God's Kitchen.
The Lenten study series, "Rethinking The Christian Vision" continues at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Over the next five Wednesday evenings, the Rev. Don Longbottom will be addressing and discussing various subjects related to the material known as the Phoenix Affirmations. One particular subject will be the relationship of Christianity to the other great religions of the world. Come, bring your questions, your opinions and any concerns you may have with the historic Christian faith. For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.
King of Glory: On Sunday, March 29, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin, will observe the fifth Sunday in Lent at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services by looking at the topic of prayer and the example of Jesus. This is also Friendship Weekend at King of Glory, and they encourage visitors to come and worship with them. The regular weekly worship schedule includes a more traditional style worship at 8:15 a.m. Sundays, as well as a contemporary style worship at 10:45 a.m. led by the praise team singers and band. Adult Bible classes are held every Sunday at 9:20 a.m. They also offer during the school year various midweek educational opportunities as well as a preschool education for 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as youth programs for various age groups. On Mondays, join "The Refuge" and connect with God in a different, informal way at 7 p.m. Come for fellowship starting at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy some coffee and snacks before worship. In addition, a series of Wednesday Lenten worship opportunities continue with the theme of "King of Kings" at 7 p.m. For details, call (847) 931-1520 or visit www.kogonline.org.
First Congregational: On Sunday, March 29, the Rev. Jim Benzing will focus on scripture from Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33 at the 10 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 30 N. Washington St. in Carpentersville. The old passes away, the new emerges. It is an open and affirming congregation, welcoming all to their services. Sunday school is designed for children age 3 through seventh grade and begins at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Nursery care is available during the service. For details, call (847) 428-1712.