Tri-Cities religion notes

Special events

• The public is invited to the dedication of a new open-air steel pavilion at the future site of Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, 4S633 Harter Road. The event will begin at noon Sunday, May 17. The site is part of a the church's 40-acre campus, located three-quarter mile west of Route 47. For information, contact Sugar Grove United Methodist at (630) 466-4501.

• Temple B'nai Israel, at 400 N. Edgelawn Drive, in Aurora is hosting a lecture "The Arab-Israel Conflict in Light of Recent Events." The guest speaker will be Dr. Zohar Raviv, a. US-based Israeli scholar. The lecture is $10, and will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 17. It will be followed by a light lunch. For information, call the temple office at (630) 892-2450.

• Local poet Christopher Kuhl will read from her newly published book, "Sightings - Visions of the Human Spirit," on Friday, May 22, at Calvary Episcopal Church. The book explores the philosophy that while we each have an individual soul, there is a spirit that connects us all as human beings. While not espousing any specific religious doctrine, the book is about spirituality, and what it means to be human.

"Sightings" follows Kuhl's earlier book, "Blood and Bone, River and Stone: Memoirs of Lewis County," a poetic reflection about her home county. She has also been published in numerous literary journals. Copies of both books will be available for purchase at the reading.

The poetry reading begins at 7:30 p.m. in Calvary's Memorial Hall, 222 S. Batavia Ave., on the corner of Route 31 and Main Street. Admission is free. For information call (630) 879-3378.

• St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Galena Boulevard and Orchard Road in Aurora, will host a Dodgeball Tournament and a 5K and 1K Run the weekend of May 29-31. This event will help raise money for the school's technology and scholarship programs. The Dodgeball Tournament for junior high, high school and adults starts Friday at 4:30 p.m. and runs all weekend. On Saturday, the 5K starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 1K starts at 9:30 a.m. There will also be a Kid's Carnival on Saturday. For dodgeball team and 5K/1K fees and applications, visit the Web site at events.stpaulaurora.org or call (630) 896-3250.

• The Congregational Church of Batavia celebrates "Senior High Sunday" on Sunday, May 31. Graduating high school seniors and their families will be recognized at a breakfast at 9 a.m. and during the 10:30 a.m. worship service, which is planned entirely by the students. In the service, 25 students will be commissioned for their June mission trip to West Virginia. For information, e-mail bataviaucc@sbcglobal.net.

• "Women Who Influenced My Life" is the special program sponsored by Celtic Connections from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at Calvary Episcopal Church, 222 S. Batavia Ave. Attendees will be invited to share stories about the powerful, spirited and, yes, sometimes crazy women who have had a great influence on their lives. The insightful and extremely humorous program will be presented by Brigid Duffield, an attorney, mediator and public speaker who concentrates on family law and domestic relations. Using her work and life experiences, she provides inspiration and appreciation for audiences of all sizes.

Celtic Connections is an organization for the personal development of women. It believes wisdom happens when a woman invests in lifelong learning.

Ticket prices, which include tea, coffee and dessert, are $15 or $20 for nonmembers, or $30 at the door. Tickets are available at celticconnect.com or by calling (630) 406-6439.

Support

• Moms Together welcomes Lynne Hybels who will present "Nice Girls Didn't Change the World" from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Thursday, May 21, at the west campus of First Baptist Church of Geneva, 3435 Keslinger Road. The cost is $6 per mom, $8 for mom with one child, and $10 for a mom with two or more children. To register, call (630) 232-7068, ext. 137 or e-mail jragains@fbcg.com.

After living a life she thought was what God demanded Lynne Hybels felt utterly lost - both to herself and to God. Lynne will share her struggle to stop living someone else's life and to reclaim the unique gifts, strengths, and passions God gave her.

Lynne married a youth pastor, Bill Hybels, in 1974 and in 1975 they started Willow Creek Community Church in a rented theater in Palatine. For years she has been involved in Willow's ministry partnerships in communities in Latin America and Africa. She is the author of "Nice Girls Don't Change the World" and co-author of "Rediscovering Church" and "Fit to be Tied."

Concerts

• Pianist Jim Hendricks, professor of music at Chicago State University, will be in concert at the Sycamore United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 17.

The church is at the far west end of Sycamore on Route 64.

The event is entirely free and open to the public. He will be playing America's favorite songs - tunes including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "My Favorite Things," "When I Fall in Love," "How Great Thou Art," and many others.

• Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May St., Aurora, will offer a concert and culture series for 2009. All events will be held in the church's social hall on the newly renovated stage.

A fiery group, Celtic Sounds, will be performing time-honored Irish music and songs, including a fun-filled blend of folk, country and soft rock favorites at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. An inspiring stirring presentation accompanied by guitars, fiddle, penny whistles, harmonica, mandolin and bag pipes. This concert will also feature a performance by students of the Mayer School of Irish Dance. Tickets are $20 each.

The third and final event will be a comedy show performed by Lou and Peter Berryman. Whimsical and wonderfully accessible, their performances are hilarious, quirky, yet oddly profound, leaving you with cheeks aching from smiling. Join them at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. All tickets may be purchased by calling the office at Wesley United Methodist at (630) 896-1033. A 10 percent discount will be applied if you purchase tickets for all three shows.

Fundraisers

• The senior high group at the Congregational Church of Batavia is hosting a car wash from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 16 at the church at 21 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. Your freewill offering will help cover supplies for the group's June mission trip to West Virginia and also for the support of three Compassion International children in East India, Rwanda and Haiti. For details, contact Marcia Schneider at bataviaucc@congregationalchurch.org or call (630) 879-1999.

• Mary's WAY or Women Answering Yes is holding its inaugural event in the Tri-City area from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at The Lincoln Inn, 1345 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. Sponsored by Holy Cross Catholic Church, the "Miracles with Mary" evening for women features a candlelight dinner, spiritual music and inspirational speakers.

After attending a women's conference in Rockford, local resident Ann Winkle felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to begin a women's ministry focused on creating a greater spiritual connection to God through the humble and loving example of the blessed mother, Mary. As a result, Winkle founded Mary's WAY to encourage women to bring the messages of Jesus and Mary into the lives of their family members and friends. Mary's WAY events focus on increasing women's faith through education and fellowship.

Join Ann Winkle, founder of Mary's WAY, and Sally Studlow, mother of five, cancer survivor and Holy Cross parishioner for 20 years, on Sunday, May 21, as they share personal stories of the "Miracles with Mary" in their lives. Attendees will be enlightened and strengthened by the power of Mary. The suggested donation of $20 per person includes a casual dinner buffet, beverages, music and the opportunity to meet new friends. Call (630) 236-8621 for more information or to register for the evening.

Tracing it roots to the first mass held in 1854, Holy Cross Catholic Church is comprised of more than 3,200 families from Batavia and the area.

The church education center also houses more than 75 community service and outreach ministries. For more information, visit holycross-batavia.org or call (630) 879-4750

• From 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Fox Valley Unity church facilitates a discussion of "A Course in Miracles." The class is always open to new attendees. Fox Valley Unity is at 230 Webster St., Batavia. Call (630) 879-1115 or visit foxvalleyunity.org.

Jewish

• Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors is holding its monthly Friday Night Shabbat service on Friday, May 15. Services begin at 7 p.m., followed by an oneg (snacks and visiting). Feel free to bring a simple fruit or dessert to share. All are welcome to participate in this family service, filled with music and more. FVJN is located at 121 S. Third St., Geneva. Visit fvjn.org for more information. All events are interfaith and family friendly.

Evangelical Covenant

• On Sunday, May 17, visiting pastor the Rev. Joyce Cosman invites you to join Sunday worship and the Service of Confirmation at the 10:30 a.m. service at Country Covenant Church, Route 47 and McDonald Road, 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.

The Wednesday study group continues "Rocksolid," an exploration of faith for the mature Christian and for the new Christian, at 7 p.m. A Fay's Pork Chop dinner fundraiser is scheduled for 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 16. Tickets are $12 advanced sales or $13 at the door. Join them for music and conversation, a bake sale, and raffle. The monies raised are used to send campers to summer camp. For more information, call (847) 464-5381 or visit countrycov.org.

United Church of Christ

• Twelve eighth-graders will lead the Confirmation Worship Service this Sunday, May 17, at the 10:30 a.m. service of the Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave. Joining the eighth-graders are the seventh-grade students who are also in the Logos-Confirmation program at the church.

The students will lead the congregation in all parts of the service and have selected the music for the service as well. A skit dealing with challenges to faith also will be presented by some of the students. Students confessing their faith in Christ are Alexina Beckley, Cara Chemasko, Julia Field, Melissa Furnas, Zak Gomes, Becca Grischow, Haley Grant, Aaron Hurd, Paul Mainzinger, Aidan Osterby, Brandon Purcell and Melanie Rush.

Working with the students are the Junior High Ministry Team: Ann Alexander, Amy Apperson, Ty Brauhn, Pastor David Foxgrover, Terry and Betsy Lewis, Heather Hamilton, Ed Plamondon, Amanda Srail and Amy Thompson.

For more information, contact the church by e-mail at bataviaucc@sbcglobal.net or call (630) 879-1999. Child care and Sunday school are available.