Churches plan special services, activities for Lent
Lenten retreat: St. Joseph Parish, 121 E. Maple Ave., Libertyville, will have a Parish Lenten retreat, "Jesus at Table - the Eucharist" with the Rev. Bill Burton, OFM. The retreat seeks to recapture the life-giving meaning of Gospel scenes in order to more fully appreciate the importance of Jesus' use of the meal setting and table fellowship. The focus will be particularly on Luke's Gospel and Acts of the Apostles. The three-evening retreat will be held in the Koenig Center from 7 to 9 p.m. Topics will be "The Jewish and Gentile Worlds of Jesus" on Sunday, Feb. 28; "Jesus Challenges Both Worlds" on Monday, March 1; and "Why a Meal? What is Jesus Trying to Teach Us? The Eucharist" on Tuesday, March 2. No registration is necessary.
Lenten series: St. Lawrence Episcopal Church 125 W. Main St., Libertyville, extends a special invitation to those new to the Christian faith, the Episcopal Church or St. Lawrence to attend a Lenten series called "Via Media Values: Baptismal Ethics in Action." It will meet from 10:45 a.m. to noon on Sundays through March 28 in the Fireside Room. Extended nursery care will be provided. Questions? Contact the rector at rector@stlawrencechurch.org
Midweek services: Meditate on "Words of Life from the Cross" each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 405 W. State Route 176 in Island Lake. On March 3, the topic will be "The Faithful Word," "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" Come early for a soup supper between 5:30 and 6:30. Call (847) 526-7614 for more information.
Lenten services: Christ Lutheran Church in Vernon Hills will offer a special Lenten Series at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through March 24. (847) 367-5787.
Lenten Soup Suppers: Community Protestant Church, United Church of Christ, will be holding Lenten Soup Suppers and Discussions Wednesdays during Lent, in the Fellowship Hall. Following the meal, the Discussion Group starts at 7 p.m. and is lead by our Adult Sunday school team. The topic this year is "Gospel Portraits of Jesus." The Discussion Group will continue for four more Wednesdays. Community Protestant Church is located at 418 N. Prairie Ave. in Mundelein. Call (847) 566-4000 for information.
Lenten program: Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church will present a Wednesday night Lenten program, "Living the Questions 2.0," based on the idea that Christianity is a living, growing, evolving religion. The program will be from 6:15-8 p.m. Wednesdays through March 24. The format of each session includes a simple supper, then a 20-minute video featuring experts in the field, followed by guided small-group discussion, and concluding with Night Prayers from the New Zealand Prayer book. The church is at 5725 Stearns School Road in Gurnee. (847) 336-3730. annunciationgurnee.org
Midweek services: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods, will offer a five-part Lenten series titled "Witnesses of Christ's Passion" at 7 p.m. Thursdays through March 25. Pastor Schalk will dress and act the part of various people who witnessed Christ's passion. (847) 438-7709 or stmatts.net.
Lenten Mission: The Rev. Fr. Alfred McBride, O. Praem., named one of the most influential religious educators of the 20th Century, will preach a Lenten Mission at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, 2101 E. Route 173, Antioch, The Lenten Mission will begin on Saturday, March 13, at the 4 p.m. Mass and conclude on Wednesday, March 17, at 7 p.m. Mission Service and Confessions. The Lenten Mission schedule will begin with preaching at all regularly scheduled Sunday Masses at St. Raphael the Archangel Church on March 13 and 14. Sunday Vigil Masses: 4 and 6 p.m. Sunday Masses: 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Monday, March 15, at 7 p.m. is Lenten Mission Service and Preaching; Tuesday, March 16, 7 p.m., Lenten Mission Service and Preaching; and Wednesday, March 17, at 7 p.m., Lenten Mission Service and Preaching and confessions. (847) 395-3474.