Fox Valley religion special events

Taize service: A Taizé Prayer Service for Peace will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 24 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. It is a one-hour prayer service that incorporates meditative song, scripture, silence, and prayer. Taizé prayer moves you to pray for peace in the world and peace in your heart. It's a very simple prayer format so consider spending a peaceful prayer hour. For details, call Rick Yurs, director of worship, at (847) 669-3137, ext. 109. or e-mail rick.stmary@att.net.

Book, music sale: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Woodstock, 221 Dean St., will offer a "Second Chance Book, Music and Video Sale" in conjunction with Woodstock's Sidewalk Sale Days, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 24 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25. The sale will feature a wide variety of quality hardcover and paperback books culled from the collections of congregation members and their friends. In addition there will be CDs and videos for sale. For details, call the church at (815) 338-0731, e-mail office@cucw.org or visit www.cucw.org.

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 popular 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.

Pork chop dinner: St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Road, a quarter-mile east of Route 47 in Hampshire, will hold the church's annual pork chop sandwich dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25. The menu includes their popular pork chop sandwich with coleslaw or applesauce, grilled sweet corn, Rice Krispie treats and homemade pie slices. Pricing is a la carte. Indoor/outdoor dining and carryouts are available. For details, call the church office at (847) 464-5721.

Ice cream social: St. John's Music Ministry Team is sponsoring an ice cream social from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25 in St. John's Church and School Activity Center, 300 Jefferson St. in Algonquin. The offerings include: ice cream cones at $1 each; ice cream shakes at $2 each; and ice cream sundaes at $2 each. For details, call St. John's church office at (847) 658-9300.

Guest speaker: Do you or does someone you love experience same-sex attraction? Do you or they need to experience the grace of God in the midst of it all? On Sunday, July 26, Fox Valley Church has invited Christopher Yuan to the 9 and 10:45 a.m. services. He will tell his inspiring story of grace and transformation as God brought him out of homosexuality and into a life of purity and obedience. Then, join Yuan and his parents at noon in multipurpose room for a question-and-answer seminar and luncheon. Call the church office, (847) 844-1010, to register and pre-order your Panera box lunch. Fox Valley Church is at 37W073 Huntley Road, a quarter-mile west of Randall in West Dundee.

Camp EDGE: The Congregational Church of Algonquin, 109 Washington St., hosts the vacation Bible school, "Camp EDGE" from 9 to 11:45 a.m. July 27-31. They are inviting all children, age 3 to having finished fifth grade, to be a part of the excitement at "Camp EDGE" "Experience + Discover God Everywhere!" Join an extreme camp adventure where they will come to know that their strength and might come from God. Extreme Bible treks will introduce them to Bible characters who have experienced and discover God in many ways. Kids will learn an EDGE Pledge with each story to encourage them to live on the EDGE every day. Your children will extend their learnings through every activity: making their own special memories at the Art Apex, singing new music at Music Max, experiencing science activities at Exploration Ridge, participating in recreational activities at the Rex Plex, and enjoying tasty snacks at the Snack Express. For details, call (847) 658-5308.

Women's summer conference: Harvest Bible Chapel, 1000 N. Randall Road, Elgin, will host its 2009 women's summer conference, "Pearls, Treasures Under Pressure" from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 31 and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. The 2009 Women's Summer Conference has many different aspects to it, including practical and relevant workshops to help women approach the everyday pressures in life. Also, Jennifer Rothschild, author and inspirational speaker, will be speaking. A jewelry boutique, supporting WAR International (Women at Risk), and a Friday night "Coffee House," with an acoustic guitar performer, will be available to participants. At age 15, she was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative eye disease that eventually stole her sight. Although she can no longer see, her joy, her peace, and her life help others to see with fresh eyes that pressures in life are best met when you walk by faith and not by sight. There are 30 workshops electives from which to choose. You may download the workshop descriptions by going to the below listed Web site. Also, participants will be able to support the "Pearls of Hope" mission, a project of WAR International (Women at Risk), through the purchase of jewelry crafted by women rescued from human trafficking. Visit harvestBiblechapel.org/pearlsconference to register or read more about this summer conference. For details, call (847) 398-7024, ext. 3601.

Register at St. Joseph: St. Joseph Catholic School will host open registration on Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. at the school gym, 274 Division St. in Elgin. It is the only Catholic School in the area providing full-day preschool, kindergarten to eighth grade. Are you new to the area and have children ages 4 to 14? St. Joseph School may be the school for them. The school welcomes families of all faiths and cultures. It is state of Illinois and Diocese of Rockford accredited. They have certified and experienced faculty with a low student-teacher ratio; comprehensive curriculum; computer lab and library and playground; active Home and School Association; sports program, band and co-curricular programs; and after-school care. The preschool and kindergarten are full day programs from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. After-school care is available from 2:30 to 6 p.m. daily. Want to know more? Stop in during registration day or call to tour the school at (847) 931-2804. Visit www.stjosephschoolelgin.org.

Source of Living Water: In the heat of the summer, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Elgin and Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Cary are joining more than a dozen other Lutheran congregations in the north and northwest suburbs for a unified outreach initiative. On Thursday, Aug. 6, these two churches will provide busy commuters at the Elgin Metra stations and the Cary Metra stations with a bit of relief by passing out free water bottles, no strings attached. Each of these water bottles will have a custom label pointing to Jesus as the Source of Living Water, as well as an additional tag with details about the congregation. For details on Good Shepherd, call outreach coordinator Jenny McAdams at (847) 697-4745, or visit www.goodshepherd-elgin.org. For details on Holy Cross, call (847) 639-1702.

Golf outing: Get ready for the Good Shepherd Church and School golf outing on Monday, Aug. 10 at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. The shotgun start will be at 11 a.m. with registration at 9:30 a.m. A buffet dinner with prizes, silent auction, and raffles will follow at the banquet room overlooking the course. On-course action will include longest drive, most accurate drive, closest to the pin, and many other chances to win prizes. All proceeds will benefit the school. To sign up and pay, visit church.goodshepherd-elgin.org/golf.php.

School registration: Good Shepherd Lutheran School will hold registration from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11 at its 1111 Van St. location in Elgin. Church membership is not required. Good Shepherd will offer grades kindergarten to fifth grade for the 2009-10 school year, with an all-day kindergarten. Sign up now and receive $50 off your registration fee. Some scholarships are also available for new students. For details, call the school at (847) 741-7795 or visit www.goodshepherd-elgin.org.

Preschool is 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. To schedule a tour, call the school office at (847) 741-7795 or visit www.goodshepherd-elgin.org.

Day of Renewal: Magnificat: A Ministry to Catholic Women McHenry Chapter-Mother of the Eucharist invites you to a Spirit filled Day of Renewal with the world renowned Rev. John H. Hampsch for a special "Generational, Teaching and Healing Mass" on Saturday, Aug. 15, The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 15 at The Church of the Holy Apostles, 5211 W. Bull Valley Road, McHenry. Admission is free, but register by calling Catherine at (815) 455-8425. Bring a sack lunch. Ordained in 1952, the Rev. John H. Hampsch is a member of the Claretian Missionaries. In his many years of service, Fr. Hampsch has seen all aspects of ministry including parish priest, college professor and prison chaplain to name a few. He is the author of 17 books and can be seen on his two TV series, "Send Forth Your Spirit" and "Glad You Asked." To learn more, visit www.claretiantapeministry.org.

Memorial Mass: A Memorial Mass for Deceased Children will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. If you have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, illness, accident or any other way, they welcome you to gather with them to remember these special children with a Memorial Mass. The celebrant will be the Rev. Steve Knox. This Mass is intended for anyone who has lost a child recently or in the past. They also invite family and friends who support those who have lost a child. Refreshments will be available after the Mass.

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.

Angel Food Ministries: Hunger is a very real problem in this nation - each year over 5 million Americans face life without adequate food. With today's economic challenges, many ordinary 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 mid-month with delivery usually the last Saturday of each month about 9:30 a.m. If you or someone you know needs help - Angel Food is here for you. For details, including what is available and the cost, visit www.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. in 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. 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.