Fox Valley religion - Special events
Blessing of boats: The Robert Sherry, pastor of The Church of Holy Apostles in McHenry, will visit the shores of the Fox River for his annual blessing of boats and personal watercraft from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 5. The blessing has grown in popularity each year with as many as 50 boats/personal watercraft attending. Directions to the boat blessing by water are three-tenths of a mile north of the Route 120 bridge on the west side of the Fox River. Or attend by land at 1608 N. Riverside Drive, McHenry. The Chain O' Lakes boasts the largest number of boats on any inland waterway in the nation with more than 26,000 registered boaters last year. It is navigable from the Fox River in Wilmot, Wis. through the Stratton Lock and Dam in McHenry to Algonquin. For details on the boat blessing, call The Church of Holy Apostles at (815) 385-5673.
Worship conference: A worship conference with musician and teacher Steve Mitchell will be held Friday, July 10 and Sunday, July 12, at Morning Star Church and The River in Huntley. His worship is honest, prayerful, heartfelt and carries with it a relentless pursuit to make call with God. He views every corporate worship setting as a window of opportunity for a divine encounter. Mitchell ministers at many conferences and churches throughout the country as a worship leader and psalmist, and he and his wife have been part of the leadership at MetroChurch for almost 20 years. He teaches, leads worship, and oversees the intercession and music ministry there. Morning Star Church and The River is at 41W350 Powers Road, north of the I-90 Route 47 exit. For details, call Maria at (847) 669-9800 ext. 111 or visit morningstarwoc.org/events and theriver-church.com/events.
Monthly meal: Lutheran Church of the Atonement invites the community to its third monthly meal from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. "Our goal is to encourage and strengthen friendships, share kindness and inspire hope in the community by the simple act of sharing a meal together as neighbors," said organizer Mary Hasse. Reservations are not needed. There will be plenty for all who attend. Everyone is welcomed. The church is at 909 E. Main St. at Eastern Avenue, Barrington. For details, call (847) 381-0243.
Barbecue: First Congregational Church of Huntley's annual Fay's Pork Chop Barbecue will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25. This community event includes Fay's famous pork chops and/or chicken, beans, applesauce, coleslaw, rolls and butter, beverage, homemade cookies, and marvelous entertainment on the grassy lot at the corner of Main and Myrtle streets. Everyone is welcome. Carryouts will be available. Advance tickets are $12 and may be purchased by calling the church office at (847) 669-3691. Walk-in tickets may be purchased at the dinner, as available, for the price of $13, but purchasing sooner is recommended.
Church history: The youth of Community United Methodist Church in South Elgin are looking for historical information. They will be leading worship at 9 a.m. Aug. 30. The theme of the service will be the United Methodist heritage. They are asking anyone who has information, historical documents, or photos from the church's past (back to the church's founding in1892 if possible). Any information received would be appreciated in helping put together a meaningful service of celebration. Call the church at (847) 931-0563 or send info to cumcsouthelgin@sbcglobal.net.
Holiday in the Halls: Crafters are needed for the St. Thomas More School annual craft fair and bake sale, "Holiday in the Halls" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. The event will be held at the school, 1625 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. There will be more than 80 booths. For booth information, contact Laura Przybylski at (847) 888-4363.
Register at Good Shepherd: Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 1111 Van St., Elgin is accepting applications for enrollment for the 2009-10 school year. Good Shepherd will offer kindergarten to fifth grade 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. Information and registration for the school will be held, along with meeting of teachers and tours of the school. Also learn about the all-day kindergarten program. To schedule a tour or for details, contact the school office at (847) 741-7795 or the preschool office at (847) 697-4745. Good Shepherd is also hosting a variety of summer camps at the Nesler Road Christian Life Center. For details, call the preschool office at (847) 697-4745.
Angel Food Ministries: Hunger is a very real problem in this nation - each year more than 5 million Americans face life without adequate food. With today's economic challenges, many families have fallen on hard times and just need a little help to make ends meet while they get back on their feet. That's where Angel Food Ministries can make the difference. Angel Food is a nationwide program offering low-cost food relief to anyone in need. However, Angel Food Ministries is available to everyone that wishes to order. Orders are usually due midmonth with delivery usually the last Saturday of each month about 9:30 a.m. For details, including what is available and the cost, visit angelfoodministries.com and type in the ZIP code 60120, select Community of Christ Church or call (847) 741-1366 to leave a message. Your call will be returned. Community of Christ, 1675 E. Chicago St., Elgin is participating in this program to provide food assistance to families across America. For details, visit elgin.chicagomissioncenter.org.
School registration: St. John's Lutheran School, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin, is accepting kindergarten through eighth grade day school registration for the 2009-10 school year. St. John's 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., 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. It offers preschool through the eighth-grade classes. 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, 16N562 Vista Lane, 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.