Fox Valley notes on religion
To include your church in the free listings, e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com, fax to (847) 608-0849, or mail to 385 Airport Road, Suite A, Elgin IL 60123.
St. Peter: On Sunday, April 26, the Rev. Gerhard Mau will preach on "Children of God" at the 9 a.m. service 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. Little Saints Preschool hosts "Touch A Truck" from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at the parking lot. Various age appropriate activities for younger children are planned. 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 and pre-kindergarten class. Call Kristina at (847) 464-5134 for a tour or for details. Members of the community are encouraged to apply.
Country Covenant Church: On Sunday, April 26, the Rev. Paul Bischoff, interim pastor, will preach at the 10:30 a.m. service at Country Covenant Church, Route 47 and McDonald Road in Campton Hills. Adult Sunday school is held at 9:30 a.m. Bring your Bibles and enjoy good, Scripture-related conversation, study, and prayer. Children's Sunday school is at 10:30 a.m. Join them this week for the new Wednesday study group at 6:30 p.m. The topic will be "Rocksolid," an exploration of faith for the mature Christian and for the new Christian. This material will serve as a foundational guidebook to take you into a deeper understanding of your faith. A Fay's Pork Chop dinner fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, May 16. Tickets are $12 advanced sales or $13 at the door. For information, call (847) 464-5381 or visit www.countrycov.org.
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren: On Sunday, April 26, worship at 9:30 a.m. will feature a sermon by the Rev. Audrey deCoursey titled "Please Rise" at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. The Agape Choir will provide special music. During the church school hour, a new class, "Move Your Prayer," will hold its second session; the purpose is to explore ways to pray through play, dance, and movement. At 3 p.m. the Judson University Choir will present a concert in the sanctuary.
This past Wednesday as a part of the congregation's celebration of Earth Day, there was a "Blessing of the Bikes." Church members brought their bicycles to be tuned up and readied for a summer of safe, healthy riding, after which there was a brief blessing ceremony. Also at this same time, members painted the rain barrel that will be the congregation's contribution to Gail Borden Public Library's auction.
On Friday, May, 1 through Sunday, May 3, the Finders Class, a group of young adults, will hold their annual spring retreat at Starved Rock State Park. On Sunday, May 3, the congregation's church school teachers will be honored at a noon potluck, after which there will be a congregational business meeting.
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 "Rosh Kodesh Iyar." 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 "Tazria-Metzora." It is also Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the new Hebrew month. Following services and lunch, there will be an adult education class on Rosh Chodesh and Kiddush Levanah - Jewish Celebrations of the Moon. For details, call (847) 695-6246 or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org.
First UMC-West Dundee: On Sunday, April 26, the Rev. Steven Mindrup presents the theme, "Righteous Children of a Righteous God" at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. The scripture lessons are Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7 and Luke 24:36b-48. 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 in the church sanctuary. 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. Each Sunday's service is now being digitally recorded and is available on the Web site on Monday. If you are unable to attend, visit the Web site. For details, call (847) 426-2113 or visit www.firstumcdundee.net.
First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, April 26, the Rev. Mona Walker will preach on "Experiencing Christ" at the 9 a.m. service and lay speaker Pat Hargis will preach on "Defeat Sin" at the 11:30 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church at 216 E. Highland in Elgin. The Cathedral Choir will provide music at the 9 a.m. service and the Homegrown Worship Band will sing and play at the 11:30 a.m. service. 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 April 26, the Third Sunday of Easter, confirmands will read their Statements of Faith during the 8 and 10:30 a.m. services 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. With Easter now over, they will begin to prepare for confirmation set for May 3. 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 Third Sunday of Easter, April 26, the Rev. Paris Donehoo will speak on "The Last Word," based on Genesis 37:29-36 and Romans 5:1-11, at the 8:15 and 10:15 a.m. services at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. The church will hold its fourth Folk Music Service. Both the 8:15 a.m. service in the chapel and the 10:15 a.m. service in the sanctuary will resonate once again with the rhythms of guitars, banjos, harmonicas, tambourines, and voices as worship is celebrated with the sounds of folk music. Sunday school starts at 10:15 a.m. in the sanctuary and, after the children's message, students are dismissed to their classes. Adult Christian Formation starts with breakfast at 9 a.m. and Controversial Conversations with Carl starts at the same time in the library with a discussion of "President Obama's First 100 Days?" At 9:15 a.m., there is an in-depth Bible study of the book of 1 Corinthians in fellowship hall. No Biblical expertise is required to attend. On Monday, April 27, the LifeKeys class meets for those interested in discovering their special gifts at 7 p.m. On Thursday, April 30, Stepping Stones will discuss "Communicating with Your Children" in the fellowship hall. For details, call the church at (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.
Second Baptist: On Sunday, April 26, the Rev. Larry Henderson, associate minister, will deliver the 8 a.m. message, and the Rev. Lionel Sweeney will deliver the 10:30 a.m. message at Second Baptist Church, 1280 Summit St. in Elgin. The Praise and Worship leaders will render the music for the 8 a.m. service and the Choral Ensemble will render the music for the 10:30 a.m. service. 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.
First Congregational: On Sunday, April 26, Dirk Fuqua, guest speaker, will present the sermon, "Have You Seen a Ghost Eat?" based on Luke 24:36-48, at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. Fuqua is a past moderator of the church and is currently serving on the pastoral relations committee. The building and grounds ministry will be highlighted during worship. After both services, join them for fellowship and treats.
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: 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.
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 travel to Laser Quest in Hoffman Estates on Sunday, April 26. Bring $20 and some friends. 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. The book is available at all major bookstores. If child care is needed, call the church office. For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.
King of Glory: On Sunday, April 26, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin, will observe the third Sunday of Easter by looking at Luke 24, under the theme of "Jesus Opened Everything" at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services. 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.
First Congregational: On Sunday, April 26, the Rev. Jim Benzing will focus on scripture from Luke 24:36b-48 at the 10 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 30 N. Washington St. in Carpentersville. You can't keep Jesus sealed in any "tomb," no matter how hard you try. 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.