Fox Valley religion special events

Rummage sale: Immanuel Lutheran School Parent-Teacher League will sponsor its annual rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 1; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2. It will be featuring clothing, toys, antiques, housewares, appliances, furniture and more. The sale will be held at Immanuel Lutheran School, 5 S. Van Buren St. in East Dundee.

Strawberry Festival: Bethlehem Lutheran Church 340 Grand Blvd. in Elgin, will host its 36th annual Strawberry Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2. It will be held rain or shine. Enjoy the strawberry shortcake, chocolate-dipped strawberries and strawberry jam. There also will be a flea market, book sale, jewelry, crafts, bake sale and plants. The proceeds will benefit PADS, YWCA, Ecker Center for Mental Health, Open Door Clinic, Bethlehem Lutheran Child Development Center, and mission trip. It is co-sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The youth group will host a car wash to benefit their mission trip to Canada. It will be free-will donation. For details, call the church office at (847) 741-8434.

Friendship Day: The May Friendship Day, sponsored by Church Women United, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. The board of directors will be hostesses. May Friendship Day is an annual event that unites Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian women in common worship experience, building and strengthening friendly relationships within the community. The program is "Building on Our Stories," inspired by the scripture from Joshua 4:1-9, wherein Joshua ordered the men of the 12 tribes to each carry a stone to heap together and act as a reminder of what God has done in the past to save his people. Fellowship of the least coin gathering for its missions will be observed. "Building on Our Stories" provides opportunities to share who they are as a movement of faith-filled women and to celebrate the work of the past. They each have stories of remembrance and hope, of trials and successes of the past. When they hear, share, and take them to heart, they prepare ourselves for the work ahead.

Join Hands Day: Local Catholic Order of Foresters members gear up for local volunteer activity supporting the 10th annual Join Hands Day, a national service day. Join Hands Day brings local youth and adult volunteers together to collect food for the Hampshire/Burlington Food Pantry. Local COF Hampshire Court 729 members will join with volunteers from St. Charles Borromeo School in Hampshire on Friday, May 1 with delivery on Saturday, May 2. America's Fraternal Benefit Societies created Join Hands Day in 2000 to promote intergenerational community service and relationship development. Fraternal benefit societies, organized into smaller regional groups known as courts, chapters, or lodges, impact their communities through millions of hours of volunteer work, fundraising, and outreach programs. Since Join Hands Day's inception, more than 2,500 COF members have participated in service activities. Established in 1883, Catholic Order of Foresters is a nonprofit fraternal benefit society with more than 140,000 members nationwide. It is committed to providing members with quality life insurance plans, annuities, and added-value fraternal benefits. Members support and raise money for school, parish, community, and humanitarian needs. For details, call Ruthann Seisser at (847) 697-2650.

Combined choir concert: Wesley United Methodist Church, 1070 South St. in Elgin, will host a combined choir concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Wesley's choir will be joined by the choirs from the Arlington Heights First Church. Arlington's organist and director of choirs will be Jeannie Richardson, the daughter of Pat Ferguson, choir director at Wesley Church. There will be songs by each chancel choir and the combined choirs chancel, men's and women's, plus solos, from both churches and one by recording artist Greg Ferguson. There will be a musical selection by HOPE - Wesley's Guitar Choir. The concert will conclude with selections from "Jesus Christ, Superstar!" A free-will offering will be collected for the mission work of Wesley and Arlington Heights United Methodist churches. For details, contact (847) 742-7256.

Super Service Saturday: On May 2, Epworth United Methodist Church in Elgin will host a community work day and worship celebration at 10 a.m. The Super Service Saturday is a program started by the church's Mosaic Youth Group. Everyone is welcome to come together for an uplifting worship in the morning. At the conclusion of service, work teams will form and be sent into the Elgin community to serve a variety of organizations. After the work day concludes, groups will meet back at Epworth to connect and celebrate the experiences from the projects and worship together. Elgin community organizations we will service include Hawthorne Hills Nature Center, Sherman West Court, PADS of Elgin, Hostas for Heifer International, Restore of Elgin, and also a 40,000-pound potato drop for Northern Illinois Food Banks. There will also be service activities for the youngest of volunteers, 5 and under. Nursery care is also available free of charge. The cost is $15 per person or $40 for the family. Children 5 and under are free. T-shirts, a snack and dinner will be provided. Volunteers of all ages are needed. Please visit epworthumcelgin.org for registration information, or call (847) 931-5400, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. Groups are welcome to work together and please let us know if there are limitations, as non-standing projects can be accommodated. Catch this event on Twitter, May 2. Epworthumcelgin is the feed to follow for a range of experiences, relations and happenings at the various work sites.

Open house: Myogyoji Buddhist Temple, 1S100 Route 59 in West Chicago, will host an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Join them to learn more about Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. The open house will include an opportunity to participate in a brief introduction meeting and a question-and-answer session with Chief Priest Reverend Shingi Iwaki. For details, call (630) 293-5235.

St. John's Bible Exhibit: The Saint John's Bible Exhibit will open on May 3 and run through June 21 at the First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake. A modern, handwritten and illuminated Bible for the 21st Century, The Saint John's Bible was commissioned in 1998 by the Benedictine Monastic Community at Saint John's Abbey and University in Collegeville, MN to mark the beginning of the third millennium. The Saint John's Bible was designed and executed by Donald Jackson, world-renowned calligrapher, illuminator and Senior Scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Crown Office, in collaboration with an international team of theologians, historians, artists and scribes. It is a unique blend of ancient methods, materials and tools with modern themes, images, technology and text. Newsweek Magazine described it as, "America's Book of Kells." Hand-cut quills made from goose, swan and turkey feathers, and traditional tools were used to apply ancient inks, hand ground pigments, and gold-silver-platinum leaf to manually prepared vellum pages crafted from 250 carefully selected calfskins. A wide variety of techniques and images are reflected in the art including: Eastern Orthodox icon painting, Renaissance traditions, Muslim tapestry, Native American basketry, liturgical vessels, architecture, cave paintings and computer images. Special attention was made to include Hebrew and Islamic calligraphy and graphic elements in the books of the Old Testament. More than ten years in the making, The Saint John's Bible contains 160 illuminations across its 1,150 pages and seven volumes. The exhibit at FCC will contain 25 high quality reproductions of the illustrations and calligraphy in the book. Six-volume, full-color reproduction books of the original manuscript will be available at FCC during the exhibit. The Opening Celebration takes place Sunday, May 3 at 12:15 p.m. in FCC's Chapel. Thereafter the exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week, except Memorial Day Weekend; other times and group tours by appointment. Admission is free and the building is handicap-accessible. For details, call (815) 459-6010 or visit: fcc-cl.org.

Friends of Judson: The Friends of Judson University invite you to their annual Spring Luncheon to be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 4 in the Eagle Lounge on the Judson University campus, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. The theme of this year's luncheon is "Readin', Writin', and 'Rithmatic." Joy Towner of Judson's Department of Education will be speaking. In addition, you will have the opportunity to hear about fundraising projects and events that contribute to student scholarships and quality of life. The cost of the luncheon is $15. Call (847) 888-2775 by April 23 for further information and reservations.

All God's Daughter Dinner: Epworth United Methodist Church, 37W041 Highland Ave. in Elgin, presents the annual "All God's Daughters' Dinner" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7. Tickets are available through the office or at the door. Admission is $7 or $5 for children, age 5 and older. Children under 5 get in free. This will be a family style meal, prepared by the church's United Methodist Men. This year's guest speaker will be Lynn Rymarz. She is returning to the church to present a program for women about Mary Pickering, the woman who made the flag that flew over the fort when "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written. To sign up online, visit www.epworthumcelgin.org or call (847) 931-5400 for details. This is a fun evening for honoring all mothers, daughters and grandmothers. Everyone is welcome.

Walk for Life: Many people are expected to attend a "Walk For Life" from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 9 at Lords Park Pavilion, 100 Oakwood Blvd. in Elgin. The event is open to the public. Anyone who would like to join in for a morning of family fun, fellowship, and fundraising is welcome to attend. Participants are asked to collect pledges ahead of time for walking around the pond at the park. One lap is a one-quarter of a mile and the target goal is for each walker to collect $50 in pledges for each trip around. Festivities include face painting, music, and giveaways. A continental breakfast will be served. Prizes will be given for the top pledges collected. The Life Center, 825 Dundee Ave. in Elgin, is a nonprofit pregnancy support center staffed mostly by volunteers. The center offers support to women in unplanned pregnancy situations. Free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds are available by appointment at their new medical clinic, Life Choices, (Walk-ins are also welcome). In addition, the center provides free clothing, diapers, and other basic needs to low-income mothers who are current clients. At this time, they are servicing hundreds of women and children every month. For details, call Betsy Patrick (847) 420-1515 or Mary Viz Darrow at (847) 622-1235. All proceeds from this event will benefit the work of The Life Center as they continue to reach out to the hundreds of women and children who rely on them for help.

Motorcycle blessing: On Saturday, May 9, First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St. in Crystal Lake, will be hosting its second annual Motorcycle Blessing at noon. Whether you are a rider, passenger or family member of the participant, feel free to come and support all those who are getting ready to hit the road this season.

Worship and Prophetic Encounter: Morning Star Church and The River Church welcome back Josh Young this Mother's Day weekend. Join them at 7:14 p.m. Friday, May 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday, May 10 for two special services. Young leads worship at the North Shore Bridge Christian Fellowship and travels throughout the U.S. leading worship at conferences and worship events. Songs from his debut album, "Under Your Shadow," and his second album, "Closer," have found their way into the local church and abroad. He resides in Bradford, N.H., with his wife of more than 10 years. Visit www.joshyoungonline.com. Morning Star Church and The River are at 41W350 Powers Road, just north of the I-90 Route 47 exit in Huntley. For details, call Maria at (847) 669-9800, ext. 111 or visit morningstarwoc.org/events and theriver-church.com/events.

Anniversary open house: On May 13, a 50th Anniversary Open House will be held at the Church of the Brethren General Offices, 1451/1505 Dundee Ave. in Elgin. The theme for the event is "What do these stones mean to you?" (Joshua 4:6). It begins at 1:15 p.m. on May 13 with building tours. At 2 p.m., "Worship in Word and Song" will be held in the stonewalled chapel, led by Wil Nolen and the choir of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren. The speaker will be Fred Swartz, secretary of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. At 2:30 p.m. a program of "Stories of Living Stones" will be led by Howard Royer, manager of the denomination's Global Food Crisis Fund who has worked as church staff in Elgin for more than 50 years. A reception will follow, and another opportunity for tours of the building. On April 8, 1959, the building was opened on Dundee Avenue after the church moved its offices from a previous location on State Street. This year also marks the 110th anniversary of the church's move to the city. Currently the building houses Church of the Brethren denominational staff, the Brethren Benefit Trust, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Living Gospel Church of God in Christ. Behind the building are community garden plots, and an expanse of lawn borders on all sides. The General Offices has hosted numerous ecumenical visitors and church-related events over its 50 years. Next month, on May 18-20, it hosts spring meetings of the National Council of Churches Governing Board. The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. It is one of the three Historic Peace Churches and celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts 130,000 members across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with sister churches in Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Haiti, and India.

St. Mary dinner dance: St. Mary's Catholic Church, the largest church community in Huntley with over 14,000 registered members, will hold its Dinner-Dance and Fundraiser Friday, May 15 at a new location, the remodeled Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake. Seating is limited so be sure to get your reservation early. The evening starts at 5 p.m. with many activities including the silent auction in merchandise, dining and services. A popular activity is the "Lucky Card" game where everyone is a winner every time; $10 (or three cards for $25) guarantees you a prize for each card valued at $15 or more, perhaps a lot more. In previous years, these prizes included several TVs, leather jackets, dinners to fine restaurants, and more. Along with these activities, you'll have one last chance to participate in the grand raffle for prizes valued at over $5,000. The top prize is a seven-day Eastern Caribbean Princess Cruise. The second prize is $2,000 in gift certificates to Joe Caputo and Sons in Algonquin. Third prize is $300 in gift certificates to Hennessy's Steak and Seafood. And finally, the fourth prize is $250 in gift certificates to Barley House. Of course, there will also be a 50/50 game where the winners go home with hundreds of dollars. Cocktails are available for purchase throughout the evening. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Select your entree from among tournedos of beef Oscar, champagne chicken or oven-roasted tilapia. Complimentary wine will be served throughout dinner. At 8:15 p.m., the "Ft. Knox 50/50" drawing will take place with the lucky winner taking home $5,000. A total of $10,000 will be split among five lucky winners. Dancing begins at 9 p.m. with music for all generations, provided by Esposito Enterprises Inc. During this time the silent auction bid winners are notified and the prizes are picked up. Delivery arrangements can be made for the larger items. Tickets are $55. Make your reservations now at (847) 669-7029.

Buddha Day: On Saturday, May 16, the community is invited to the seventh annual Buddha Day celebration held in Woodstock. The popular event, beginning at 6 p.m., is co-hosted by Blue Lotus Temple and the Ten Directions Zen Community. Buddha Day, Visakha Puja in the ancient Indian language of Pali, is celebrated in all Buddhist communities and countries. It honors the three most important events in the life of Buddha: his birth, his enlightenment, and the attainment of Nirvana at his death. This is a happy and joyful holiday for Buddhists. It's a time of celebration, personal reflection, and generous giving. It's also a time to be with family and friends. The day is traditionally celebrated on the first full-moon day and evening of May. Here in America, local Buddhist communities often spread the holiday over different dates in May so monks, speakers and guests can visit several Visakha Day celebrations. For the Woodstock event, 20 monks from around the Midwest have been invited to participate. Anyone who has seen the candlelight procession around Woodstock Square, and heard the drumming and chanting, will remember the experience forever. Hundreds of handmade paper lotus lamps lit by candlelight are paraded around the Square after sundown, led by drummers and a statue of the Buddha carried by members of Blue Lotus. Before the procession begins, everyone is invited to the Congregational Unitarian Church one block off the square for chanting and music. And after the procession, all are invited back to the church for light refreshments. This is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and greet old ones, spread loving-kindness, and be part of this growing tradition in Woodstock. The event begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean St., Woodstock. For details, call Blue Lotus Temple at (815) 444-8915 or visit www.bluelotustemple.org.

Great Adventure Bible Timeline Seminar: Join in "Great Adventure Bible Timeline Seminar With Jeff Cavins" from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at St. Mary Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. Jeff Cavins, renowned Catholic author and biblical scholar who has unlocked the mystery of the Bible for thousands of people, is coming to the area to present his Bible Timeline Seminar. According to Cavins, many Christians pick up their Bibles, resolving to read them cover to cover, only to become frustrated after a month or so because they have lost the story. The Great Adventure focuses on teaching people to learn narrative books of the Bible - to get the "big picture-before they begin a deeper study of scripture. The cost for the one day seminar is $35 which includes all materials and lunch. Space is limited so call Janet Marmion at (847) 669-3137, ext. 101, or via e-mail at marmionj@aol.com to register as soon as possible.

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.

School registration: St. John's Lutheran School, 300 Jefferson St. in Algonquin, is now accepting kindergarten through eighth grade day school registration for the 2009-10 school year. St. John's Day School offers an all-day kindergarten program and first- through eighth-grade classes. St. John's School Program offers core subjects as well as computers, art, music, band, chapel and physical education. The program is complemented by after school extracurricular programs including art classes, chess club, foreign language classes, scouting programs and sports programs including: soccer, volleyball, basketball and pep squad. St. John's also offers BASS (Before and After School Services) program for all enrolled students. It has limited class sizes and acceptance is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enrollment is open to the community and is not limited to church members. St. John's is located in downtown Algonquin, just 1 block west of route 31. For information or to enroll your child contact St. John's school office (847) 658-9311 or via email at stjohns@covad.net.

Register for school: St. Laurence School, 572 Standish St. in Elgin, is now accepting registration for kindergarten for the 2009-10 school year. It offers a full day kindergarten with a comprehensive curriculum, small class size and experienced teachers. St. Laurence School is accredited by the state of Illinois and the Diocese of Rockford. They offer classes from preschool through the eighth grade. To learn more about the school or make an appointment for a personal tour, call the school office at (847) 468-6100. Visit stlaurenceschool.com.

Preschool at Light of Christ: Light of Christ Preschool, 100 Hanson Road, Algonquin, is continuing enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year. A new curriculum is being offered for children ages 3-5. Enrichment program with lunch also available. Visit locpreschool.com or contact Preschool Director Michele Niehoff at (658)-0955 for information.

Register for Griffin school: Griffin Christian School, a ministry of Fox Valley Baptist Church, is now accepting enrollments in all grades for the 2009-10 school year. The school, located at 16N562 Vista Lane in East Dundee, is for preschool through 12th grade. They offer a full, Bible-based academic schedule, along with classes in art, music, computer skills, gym, and several foreign languages. After school care is also available. The preschool program is for both 3- and 4-year-olds. Parents will be able to choose between a two-day or a five-day program, either mornings or full day. The kindergarten program is either mornings or full day. Both programs feature early learning activities with a low student-to-teacher ratio, and include phonics-based reading instruction. The elementary program is a multi-age class, but with traditional classroom instruction and a phonics-based reading program. The middle and high school programs use a technology based individualized program, utilizing the latest in computer technology to assist in the learning process and prepare students for the modern collegiate experience. For several of their subjects the middle and high school use an online curriculum with real time assistance, where each student can complete his subjects with lessons specifically tailored to his needs. Traditional classroom instruction in several subjects is also included. For details, or to make an appointment to visit the school, call (847) 428-5413 or visit griffinchristianschool.org.

Register at Good Shepherd: Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 1111 Van St. in Elgin, is accepting applications for enrollment for the 2009-10 school year. Good Shepherd will offer kindergarten to fifth grade for the 2009-10 school year at 1111 Van St. The preschool is located 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 more information, contact the school office at (847) 741-7795 or the preschool office at (847) 697-4745.