McHenry County notes on religion

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.

McHenry County Jewish Congregation: The McHenry County Jewish Congregation offers a class for adults called "Feeling at Home in the Synagogue: What does Judaism have to Say About -" from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. Sundays. The classes are open to all adults. MCJC's Book Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, to discuss "My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for his Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq" by Ariel Sabar. All are welcome to attend. Adult education is also offered on Sundays and Wednesdays at noon. Religious school meets each Wednesday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon. Twice-a-week instruction is offered to second- to seventh-grade students, and Sunday-only instruction is offered for the parent-tot, pre-K and kindergarten to first grade classes, and those in eighth grade through high school. Adult education is also offered at noon Sundays and Wednesdays. Shabbat services are at 6:30 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. Saturdays at the synagogue, 8617 Ridgefield Road in Crystal Lake. Shabbat services are led by Rabbi Maralee Gordon and are free and open to everyone. This is the only Conservative Jewish congregation in McHenry County. Interfaith families are welcome. It also operates a gift shop offering a range of Judaica items. It is located on Ridgefield Road in unincorporated Crystal Lake, accessible from Route 14. For information, call (815) 455-1810 or visit mcjc-online.org.

First Congregational: On the First Sunday in Advent, Nov. 29, the Rev. Michelle McNamara will preach a sermon, based on Luke 21:25-36, at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main St. in Huntley. The Sunday school children, after attending the first part of the 9 a.m. service, will learn about "Renewing the Covenant" and how you say thank you to God. There will be a pre-service Christmas season singalong for about 15 minutes before the 9 a.m. service each Sunday during Advent. This is the Sunday for the Mission of the Month collection. This month's mission is Faith in Action, a volunteer organization that provides services to seniors in the area. The special needs this month of the Grafton Township Food Pantry are: cereal, juices, peanut butter, jellies, and snacks for school lunches. There is a box in the fellowship hall from the Grafton Township Office for donation of gently used coats.

On Wednesday, Clickin Sticks, the knit/crochet group, will meet at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 6, there will be a 10 a.m. service to meet and hear the newly called pastor, the Rev. Lance Lackore. For details, call (847) 669-3691 or visit firsthuntley.org.

St. John Lutheran: This weekend, the Rev. William Stroup will deliver the message, "The Gracious Promise," based on Jeremiah 33:14-16, at 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. Coffee and Fellowship follows the Sunday services. Starting on Wednesday, Dec. 2, the Soup and Salad Suppers will be held at 5:30 p.m. before each midweek Advent Service at 7 p.m. 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. 29, the Rev. Mark Boster will lead the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, 10805 Main St., Huntley. Bring Christmas to a family as the wish tree will be available for anyone wishing to help a family at the holidays. 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. Sunday. Orders for poinsettia plants will be accepted on Sundays, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6. On Tuesdays, the first music team will meet at 5 p.m. with the second music team at 6 p.m. and Little Lambs Learning Program will be from 9 a.m. to noon. 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, Dec. 3, the Prairie Ringers Bell Choir will meet at 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 6, there will be the gathering of new members from 3 to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 9, WELCA will hold a Christmas Party at 6 p.m. at the church. Sign-up sheets will be available. On Sunday, Dec. 13, the new members will be received into the church. Sunday, Dec. 20, the Sunday school will present the annual Christmas program at the 9 a.m. service. Call (847) 669-9448 or visit www.sotp.org.

Faith Community: On Sunday, Nov. 29, the Rev. Bruce Cole leads worship with the sermon, "Community of Grace" at the 9 a.m. blended service and 10:30 a.m. contemporary service at Faith Community Church, 10547 Faiths Way in Huntley. 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. 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. Visit the church for "A Night in Bethlehem" from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. Admission is free to experience and interact with an authentic Bethlehem marketplace, including: living nativity, toy shop, bakery, rope making, spice shop, sandal making, traditional home, and children's craft fair. "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.

McHenry County Church of Religious Science: On Sunday, Nov. 29, the Rev. Anne Muelleman will preach on "You Are Enough - Have Been Will Be!" at the Center for Spiritual Evolution, McHenry County Church of Religious Science. It wraps up the series on the book by David Walker, a Religious Science minister and former president of Religious Science International. Everyone is welcome to attend the 10 a.m. Sunday Celebration Service at 204 Spring St., lower level in Cary. Music will be provided by Amy Beth. There is a children's program and toddler care. If you arrive early, there is a meditation at 9:30 a.m. There is a Tuesday morning mediation with Bhanta Sujatha at 10 a.m. for a $10 donation. As a trans-denominational church, all services and activities are open to everyone without obligation. For details, call (847) 516-1950 or visit www.newthoughtmchenry.org.

Congregational Church of Algonquin: On Sunday, Nov. 29, 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 Luke 21:25-36. Music will be offered by the Senior Choir. 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 Men's Fellowship are selling Entertainment Books for $20. The entertainment books help to raise money for the Men's Fellowship. The money they raise helps toward buying Bibles for elementary students and confirmation Bibles for seventh-graders. They also help fund various other projects at the church. 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. The church is handicap accessible at the rear entrance. For details, call (847) 658-5308.

Tikkun Olam: Congregation Tikkun Olam will host its annual Hanukkah celebration at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, the last night of Hanukkah, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 221 Dean St., Woodstock. The church is handicapped accessible but notify Congregation Tikkun Clam ahead of time if you need that option so that the back doors can be opened for you. The free celebration will begin with a community menorah lighting, followed by a Shabbat service and a dairy potluck dinner with latkes. Attendees are asked to bring: their menorahs with candles for the eighth night; a dairy salad, side dish or dessert to share; and a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and/or nonperishable food items for the local food pantry. RSVPs required by Monday, Dec. 14, by calling (815) 334-7110. For details, call (815) 334-7110 or visit tikkunolam.org.