McHenry County religion notes

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.

First Congregational: On Sunday, Nov. 1, the Rev. Michelle McNamara will preach at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main St. in Huntley. The Crusaders Handbell Choir will play in the first service and the Chancel Choir will sing in both. The Sunday school children, after attending the first part of the 9 a.m. service, will learn how "Job Suffers" and how good and bad things happen to God's people. This month's mission is Faith in Action, a volunteer organization that provides services to seniors in the area. On Wednesday, Clickin Sticks, the knit/crochet group, will meet at 1 p.m. The choirs are looking for new members. The vocal choir practices on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the sanctuary and sings on the first and third Sundays of the month. There are four bell choirs who all play once each month: the Crusaders (mostly fourth- to sixth-graders) practice from 4:15 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays; the Sunday AM's (seventh -12th-graders) practice at 9 a.m. Sunday and the Chime choir, all ages, at 10:30 a.m.; Whitechapel (adults) begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. For details, call (847) 669-3691 or visit www.firsthuntley.org.

St. John Lutheran: This weekend, the Rev. William Stroup will deliver the message, "Take a Peek", based on Revelation 7:2-8, 9-17, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday at St. John Lutheran Church, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Adult Bible class Sunday at 9:15 a.m. A supervised nursery is offered at the 10:30 a.m. service. Sunday school children meet at the 10:30 a.m. service, and are excused to go to their classes after the children's message. Monday evening worship has ended until next summer. The Mission Resale Shop, located on Washington Street, is open on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gifts and good quality used clothing, and small household items can be purchased at reasonable prices. Donations are gratefully appreciated, and proceeds benefit mission work locally and afar. Call (847) 658-9300 or visit www.stjohnsalgonquin.org.

St. John's Lutheran School offers a day school program for first to eighth grade; all-day kindergarten and morning and afternoon preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Church membership is not required. To register or schedule a school tour, call Principal Ralph Peterson at (847) 658-9311.

Shepherd of the Prairie: On Sunday, Nov. 1, the Rev. Mark Boster will lead at the 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, 10805 Main St., Huntley. Holy Communion will be celebrated at each service. Sunday school and nursery care is available at both services. The adult Bible study meets at 10:30 a.m. The Power Hour will be from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. It is Grafton Food Pantry Day. The Prairie Points Quilting Group will have on display all the quilts that they have made this year. Blood pressure screening will be offered between services. On Tuesdays, the first music team will meet at 5 p.m. with the second music team at 6 p.m. Prairie Points Quilting Group will meet at 9 a.m. On Wednesdays, Shepherd Voices Choir will meet at 7 p.m. Confirmation classes will meet for pizza at 6 p.m. at the church. On Thursday, Nov. 5, Prairie Crafters will meet at 9 a.m. and the Prairie Ringers Bell Choir will meet from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Holiday Bazaar will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. On Sunday, Nov. 8, the Spirit of Life Chorus will perform at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 3:30 p.m. Call (847) 669-9448 or visit www.sotp.org.

Faith Community: On Sunday, Nov. 1, the Rev. Bruce Cole leads worship at the 9 a.m. blended service and 10:30 a.m. contemporary service at Faith Community Church, 10547 Faiths Way in Huntley. His sermon, titled "Four Myths of Christianity, Part 4: It Says It's Right Here in the Bible." Holy Communion will be celebrated. Nursery for children up to age 3 is available at both services as well as Sunday school for children from age 4 through middle school. A blood drive will be held at from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 1. To schedule an appointment, visit heartlandbc.org. Walk-ins are welcome. Bring a photo ID.

Alcoholics Anonymous holds a weekly closed meeting at noon Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Mondays. On Tuesdays, TOPS meets at 11:30 a.m. New members are welcome. Awana meets Mondays with a family dinner at 5:30 p.m. and Kids Club from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Call the church office for a registration form or go to www.fccwired.tv. "Friends" Bible study meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. They are currently studying the book "The Power of a Woman's Words" by Sharon Jaynes. All women are welcome. Adult Bible studies are offered at 9 a.m. Wednesdays to discuss the scripture of the upcoming sermon. There is also a 7:30 p.m. Bible study on the book of Romans. The Faith Community Food Pantry is open from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays. First-time clients should bring a photo ID and proof of residency. The middle school "Wednesday Night Life" praise, worship and classes are held Wednesdays with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and worship, teaching and LIFE groups from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All students in sixth to eighth grades are invited to attend. "Play 2 Learn" playgroups for children ages 2-4 will be offered each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning here at FCC. For details, call April LoCoco at (847) 309-8445. Call (224) 569-6501 or visit www.fccwired.tv.

First Congregational: On All Saints Sunday, Nov. 1, the Rev. Budd Friend-Jones will preach at the 9 and 10:45 a.m. services at First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake. Worship will begin with a procession of banners decorated with bells in memory of friends and loved ones who have passed away. It is also Food Pantry Sunday. Members are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for the Crystal Lake Food Pantry.

Sunday school is offered at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Each Sunday, all children, age 2 to seventh grade, will begin worship with their family. After the children's message, they will be excused to their appropriate Sunday school class. Nursery care and Toddler Time is provided for infants, and toddlers at each service.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, Christmas Giving Tree and Outreach Ministry Fair begin. Sunday school kicks off its Heifer Project. The Pilgrim Fellowship high school youth will have Game Night at 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. The PADS program will meet at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room.

On Monday, Nov. 2, volunteers will work at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. The All-Ministries Meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall. On Wednesdays, the Seasons of the Spirit Bible Study is held at 10:15 a.m. in the Banner Library; and confirmation class is at 5:30 p.m. in the youth room. On Thursday, Nov. 5, the women's fellowship luncheon and program will be at noon in the fellowship hall. The wine tasting event will be at 6 p.m. at the Dole Mansion. On Friday, Nov. 6, the Junior Fellowship middle school youth will host a lock-in from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. For details, call (815) 459-6010 or visit fcc-cl.org.

McHenry County Church of Religious Science: On Sunday, Nov. 1, M. Harre Harren will speak at the Center for Spiritual Evolution, McHenry County Church of Religious Science. Everyone is welcome to attend the 10 a.m. Sunday Celebration Service at 204 Spring St., lower level in Cary. He will also be doing an open to the public concert and workshop from noon to 2 and 2:30 to 4 p.m. The Kirtin Chanting and Healing Concert will be from noon to 2 p.m. The Healing Powers of Indian Music Therapy, sacred chants and sounds and planetary effects workshop begins is from 2:30 to 4 p.m. A donation of $35 covers both the Concert ($20) and Healing Powers workshop ($20). There is a Tuesday morning mediation with Bhanta Sujatha at 10 a.m. for a $10 donation. For details, call (847) 516-1950 or visit www.newthoughtmchenry.org.

Congregational Church of Algonquin: On Heritage Sunday, Nov. 1, the Rev. Brian Cope will preach at the 8 and 10 a.m. services at the Congregational Church of Algonquin, 109 Washington St. The sermon will be based on Ruth 1:1-8. The church celebrates all members who have been members for 25 years or more. Music will be offered by the Senior Choir. On Sunday, Nov. 15 during the 10 a.m. worship, the church will remember those loved ones who have passed away in this church year. Sunday school for seventh to 12th grade is at 9 a.m. The Adult Christian LIFE hour is at 9 a.m. Sundays with different classes. Shepherd University, the children's Sunday school program, will be at 10 a.m. Sundays. This program is based on the Rotation Model that uses a variety of learning techniques which includes; games, crafts, Bible lessons, puppets, cooking and storytelling. The Movies and More Club will meet at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. It is for second through sixth grades. They will be going out to lunch and then to a movie. The men's fellowship breakfast will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. The Hanging of the Greens will be at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. Shop at the Heavenly Attic Resale Shop, 307 S. Main St. in Algonquin. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. They are in need of in need of Halloween costumes, magazines and books. The church is handicap accessible at the rear entrance. For details, call (847) 658-5308.