Fox Valley religion notes

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Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren: On Sunday, April 19, worship at 9:30 a.m. will feature a sermon by the Rev. Joel Kline titled "Hope to Sustain Us" at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. At 12:30 p.m., the Spirited Sisters will celebrate a birthday party in the fellowship room with a light lunch followed by cake and ice cream and a "surprise." From 6 to 7:30 p.m. the Stewardship Formation Ministry Group is sponsoring a workshop "Living Simply in a Time of Economic Uncertainty." On Tuesday, April 21, "The 2:44 Circle" will have its first meeting to begin a process of mutual assistance and empowerment in these times of declining prosperity at 6:30 p.m. Members and friends will meet to talk about what we can do together to face hard times. (The name refers to the scripture passage Acts 2:44.) Common Meal will be served at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 in the fellowship hall. The Judson University Choir will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26 in the sanctuary. All are welcome. For information, call (847) 741-5124 or visit hacob.org.

Kneseth Israel: Congregation Kneseth Israel 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 "Shemini." 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 reading is "Sh'mini" where Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu die after offering "strange fire to G-d." For details, call (847) 695-6246 or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org.

First UMC-West Dundee: On Sunday, April 19, the Rev. Steven Mindrup presents the theme, "The Fellowship of Children of the Light" at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. The scripture lessons are Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-22; and John 20:19-31.

The nursery is open for children age 3 and younger. Children who are 4 and older are invited to attend the multi-grade Sunday school class held in the church youth room. There will be a benefit concert for the Community Crisis Center and PADS to be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17. Holly McNeil, Claude and Jan Quisenberry, Act of Grace, Steve and Sylvia Francois and the Rev. Steve Mindrup will be the featured musicians. Admission will be a canned good and there will be a free-will offering. For details, call (847) 426-2113 or visit www.firstumcdundee.net.

First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, April 19, the Rev. Jonathan Hutchison will preach on "The Sins of the World" at the 9 a.m. service and the Rev. Mona Walker will preach on "After the Resurrection" at the 11:30 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church at 216 E. Highland in Elgin. There are Christian education classes for all ages from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The youth group, under the direction of Keith Duncan, meets at 12:45 p.m. For details, call (847) 741-0038 or visit www.fumcelgin.org.

St. John: On the first Sunday after the Resurrection, April 19, the Rev. Loren Kraut will preach the sermon, "Believing is Seeing," based on John 20:19-31, 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. A date has been set for the first Friendship Sunday in three years, May 17. They are also planning a church picnic for late July in the Burlington Park. The day will include an outdoor service. The board of Christian education has picked the vacation Bible School program "Crocodile Dock" from Group Publishing; the planned date is July 20-24. For details, call (847) 683-2338 or visit www.stjohnburlington.com.

First Congregational: On the Second Sunday of Easter, April 19, the Rev. Lois Bucher will ask "Marks of Faith," based on John 20:19-31 and 1 John 1:1-2:2, 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. At the second service, the chancel choir will sing the anthem, "Come, Let Us Sing" by Alice Jordan. Adult Christian Formation starts at 9:15 a.m. with breakfast and continues with an in-depth Bible study. Currently, 1 Corinthians is the book under study. No Biblical expertise is required to attend, and child care is available. Everyone is invited. After the second service all are invited to attend a fellowship coffee hour on the lower level. Scrip cards are available for purchase at that time. Did you know that you have just the right gifts for what God wants you to do? "LifeKeys" can help anyone discover how significant their gifts are, and how to explore and hone those gifts. The classes will be at 7 p.m. Mondays, April 20, 27, May 4,11 and 18. On Thursday, April 23, Damaris, the women's fellowship group, will be dining out at 6:30 p.m. at Green Jade Restaurant, 10 Tyler Creek Plaza in Elgin. All women are invited. 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, April 19, the Rev. Nathaniel L. Edmond will deliver the message, "I Need a Little Bread" inspired by I Samuel 21:1-9, for the 8 and 10:30 a.m. services at Second Baptist Church, 1280 Summit St. in Elgin. The Male Chorus will render the music for both services. A special business meeting to review the newly drafted church constitution will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17. All members are welcome to attend. The Youth Ministry will partner with the Roosevelt University's New Dear Service Days event from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Schaumburg campus. They will volunteer at the Kenneth Young Center and Friendship Village. The Bus Ministry will provide transportation to the Schaumburg Campus. The bus will leave the church at 8:15 a.m. The Brotherhood Ministry invites all men to come out every fourth Saturday of the month to fellowship with your Brothers in Christ. Free haircuts will be provided by the "barbershop" beginning at 9 a.m. On Wednesday, the Bible study will begin at noon followed by evening Bible study starting at 7 p.m. For details, call (847) 695-7757 or visit www.SBCElginIl.org.

Living Water International Church: On Thursday, April 30, annual Founder's Night celebration honoring Louise Forshe 9 years in ministry and 5 years in pastoral services will be held at 7 p.m. with Bishop Linda C. Shearrill at Church Of Louise Forshe Ministries-Living Water International Church, 601 Hill Ave. in Elgin. Shearrill is currently a member of the Monument of Faith World Ministry Church under the leadership of Chief Apostle, Richard D. Henton. She is the founder and presiding prelate of International Deliverance Outreach Ministries Inc. Shearrill resides over churches throughout the Midwestern and some foreign countries as well. She is on radio telecast weekly. Living Water International Church is a church of the languages English, Spanish, Polish, French and Swahili, plus all languages are welcome. Louise Forshe Ministries is a community service, which is separate from the church. For details, visit www.livingwaterofelgin.org.

First Congregational: On Confirmation Sunday, April 19, the Rev. Donald Longbottom will present the sermon, "Are You Horse Enough?" based on Philippians 3:12-15, at the 9 service at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. A palm processional with the chancel choir and the Sunday school children will begin the service at 9 a.m. Holy Communion will be celebrated. At the 10:30 a.m. service, the theme will be "Marks of Faith," based on John 20:19-31, with Frank Constant, guest speaker, presiding. A church council chat will be at 10 a.m. Sunday. Sunday's Ministry of Music at the 9 a.m. service will be by the Chancel Choir. The 10:30 a.m. service will feature songs and music by the Praise Singers and Band. 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. The high school youth group meets from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Sundays with Chad Coe, director of youth ministries. The middle school youth group will meet from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The women's book/Bible study meets from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays with Karen Gundersen. The group will be reading "Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out" by Joanna Weaver. Read chapter 10 and reflect on the study questions. The book is available at all major bookstores. If child care is needed, call the church office. The church serves dinner at the Community Crisis Center in Elgin on a monthly basis. The next meal will be provided on Tuesday, April 21. If you are interested in cooking, donating food or delivering the meals, call the church office. Some menu items need to be prepared while others can be purchased and dropped off at the church. Any help is appreciated by the temporary residents. The XYZ's will gather for their monthly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 22. Come enjoy the luncheon prepared by Pat Crowe and Trudy Dunmeyer will provide the program on making your own greeting cards. Call the church office if you plan to attend. A free will offering will be taken. XYZ, "eXtra Years of Zip," is a group for singles and couples, 55 years of age and older. Dave Ramsey's "Town Hall for Hope" will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the sanctuary. Join FCC and Dave Ramsey, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what's happening with the economy, how we got here and where we're going. Ramsey will be hosting this meeting live from LifeChurch in Oklahoma City. For details, visit www.townhallforhope.com. For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.

King of Glory: On Sunday, April 19, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin, will observe the second Sunday of Easter by looking at the importance of touch and especially how Christ continues to touch your life in so many ways each day at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services. 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. For details, call (847) 931-1520 or visit www.kogonline.org.