Churches plan special services, activities for Lent

Fish fry: Holy Family Catholic Community invites you to its annual Lenten Fish Fry Dinners and Stations of the Cross on Fridays through March 19. Fish Fry dinners begin at 6 p.m.; Stations of the Cross begin at 7:30 p.m. Neighborhood Ministry will host this event, with dinner prepared by the Knights of Columbus. The menu includes fried fish, pizza, macaroni and cheese, fries, coleslaw, applesauce, beverage, dessert and entertainment. Suggested donation for dinner is $7-$10 per adult. Holy Family Parish, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness. For information, call (847) 359-0042.

Friday dinners: A fish fry is offered every Friday during Lent at Knights of Columbus Hall, 15 N. Hickory, Arlington Heights. The all-you-can-eat dinner features fried cod, dirty rice, seasoned green beans, slaw, cornbread and fries. Cash bar. Kitchen is open from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults, $4 for kids 12 and under, and free for preschoolers. (847) 255-4483

Fish fry: The Knights of Columbus will be conducting all-you-can-eat Friday night Fish Frys from 4-8 p.m. through March 26 at St Joseph the Worker Church, 181 W. Dundee in Wheeling. The all-you-can-eat Fish Fry includes deep fried fish, choice of potato, coleslaw, rye bread and coffee. Half-pound shrimp dinner, super salad bar, kids menu, beer and wine also available. Call (847) 537-2740 for more details or directions.

Lenten services: St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church will offer a variety of services for Lent and Easter. "Rediscovering Catholicism," discussions based on the book by Matthew Kelly, meets from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Sundays through March 14 in Meeting Room A. Kelly also will speak at a Multi-Parish Mission at 7 p.m. March 10-12 at St. Emily Parish, 1400 E. Central Road, Mount Prospect. On March 23, a multi-parish Lenten Reconciliation Service will be at 7 p.m. at St. Cecilia, 700 S. Meier Road, Mount Prospect. Regularly scheduled confession is available at 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays. On March 27, there will be a palm weaving class at 10 a.m. in the dining hall at St. Alphonsus. On March 28, a Seder service and dinner will be at 3 p.m. in the dining hall. Stations of the Cross will be offered at 1:30 p.m. Fridays through March 26. St. Alphonsus is located at 411 N. Wheeling Road in Prospect Heights. (847) 255-7452, saintalphonsus.com.

Lenten small groups: New "Listen Up" Small Groups provide a Lenten opportunity to discuss the messages offered on each of the six Sundays in Lent and on Easter morning at Congregational United Church of Christ, 1001 W. Kirchoff, Arlington Heights. The adult groups meet in homes every other week. Small Groups Sessions begin the first week of March and continue through the end of May. To sign up, call (847) 392-6650 and indicate weekday preference. For details, visit CongUCC.org.

Lenten dinners: Each Tuesday in Lent will feature soup and salad dinners followed by a video and discussion group for adults focused on the faith journey and a study of church art for children. The dinners begin at 6 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 337 Ridge Road, Barrington Hills.

Lenten classes: "Keeping It Real for Lent," a three-week class series, will be taught by Greg Barrette, minister of Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines, at 7 p.m. Tuesdays beginning March 2. An offering will be taken. For more information, call (847) 297-0997 or visit unitynorthwest.org.

Lenten soup suppers: Christ Presbyterian Church, 6900 Barrington Road, Hanover Park, will host Lenten Soup Suppers through March 31. Fellowship begins at 5:45 p.m. and soup is served at 6 p.m. The cost is $5, $20 for a family, and covers all seven Wednesdays. Reservations requested. (630) 289-5411.

Midweek services: Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, 1116 E. Devon Ave, Bartlett, will hold Lenten Services every Wednesday at 7 p.m. through March 24, preceded by a soup and sandwich supper at 5:45 p.m. (630) 837-1166.

Soup supper: Living Lord Lutheran Church, 1044 Congress Drive in Bartlett, will offer Soup Supper at 6 p.m. Wednesdays through March 24, followed by Lenten Worship at 7 p.m. (630) 830-3630, livinglordlutheran.org.

Wednesday services: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 119 W. Wise Road, Schaumburg, will offer services each Wednesday evening until Holy Week. Services begin at 7 p.m. Interim Pastor Dennis Bushofsky presiding. (847) 895-8877, LOLOffice@Lord-of-life.org.

Midweek services: Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road, Palatine, will hold Wednesday services at 7:30 p.m. throughout Lent. CLC is located at 41 S. Rohlwing Road, Palatine. Come at 6:30 p.m. to enjoy a light soup supper. An offering will be taken for supper. (847) 358-4600, clcpalatine.org.

Lenten services: Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, will have midweek services on Wednesdays at 11 a.m., followed by a soup lunch, and dinner at 6 p.m., prior to a 7 p.m. service. (847) 827-6656.

Lenten services: North Northfield United Methodist Church at Sanders and Dundee in Northbrook will have Lenten services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, March 3, 10, 17 and 24. Members of the congregation will share their personal thoughts on their walk with God, and there will be special music.

Lenten meals: Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1234 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, will be offering a simple meal at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, through March 24, in the fellowship hall. An offering will be taken and signup sheets will be available in the North and South narthex. Worship service will follow at 7:15 p.m. For more information, call Jim Valentine at (847) 255-8700, ext. 231 or visit oursaviours.org.

Lenten services: Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Elk Grove Village will hold services on Lenten Wednesdays through March 24. Fellowship meal at 6 p.m. followed by 7 p.m. midweek worship. The church is at 150 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village. (847) 437-5897, holyspiritlutheranchurchelkgrove.org.

Wednesday services: Christ Church, 1492 Henry Ave., Des Plaines, will have Lenten worship services on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. through March 24.

Midweek services: St. Philip Lutheran Church, 16090 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will have Lenten suppers and services Wednesdays, through March 24, with soup at 6:30 p.m. and worship at 7:30 p.m. (847) 998-1946, stphilip.info.

Lenten services: St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church in Niles will hold six midweek Lenten Services at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays through March 24. St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church is located at 9081 N. Maryland St. in Niles. (847) 827-4360.

Midweek services: St. John Lutheran Church, 1100 Linneman Road, Mount Prospect, offers Lenten Services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through March 24 in the lower level of the school building, across the street from the church. (847) 593-7670, ext. 1.

Lenten series: A new sermon series for Lent titled "A Journey of Hope" will be presented at Prince of Peace Church, 1400 S. Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village, on Wednesday evenings through March 24. (847) 439-0668.

Walking with the Angels: A Stations of the Cross inspired by the Our Lady of the Angels School fire will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 26, at St. James Catholic Church, 820 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. This Stations of the Cross is written to remember the people whose lives were forever changed Dec. 1, 1958, when the OLA fire took the lives of 92 children and three nuns. (224) 345-7200.

Living Last Supper: Christ Lutheran Church presents The Living Last Supper at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 1, at the church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road in Palatine. Members re-create the last meal with words scripted from the Bible. (847) 358-4600, clcpalatine.org.

Good Friday: "A Butterfly Looks like Death to a Caterpillar" will be the theme of a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. Friday, April 2, at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines. A potluck Soup Supper at 6 p.m. will precede the service given by Greg Barrette. The seven last words of Christ will be shared and experienced in this service. An offering will be taken. (847) 297-0997 or unitynorthwest.org.

Holy Week: Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road in Palatine, will have the following Holy Week Services: Palm Sunday, March 28, Procession of Palms, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; Good Friday, April 2, Tenebrae Service, 7:30 p.m.; Easter Sunday, April 4, Festival of the Resurrection, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with celebration music. (847) 358-4600. clcpalatine.org.

Holy Week: Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Elk Grove Village will have the following Holy Week services: Passion/Palm Sunday, March 28, 9 a.m. Holy Communion service; Maundy Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m. Eucharist service and stripping of the altar; Good Friday, April 2, 7 p.m. Tenebrae service; Easter Sunday, April 4, 9 a.m. Festival Eucharist service. The church is at 150 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village. (847) 437-5897, holyspiritlutheranchurchelkgrove.org.

Holy Week: St. Alphonsus, 411 N. Wheeling Road in Prospect Heights, will offer the following services: April 1, Holy Thursday, Morning Prayer 8:15 a.m., Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:30 p.m.; April 2, Good Friday, Morning Prayer 8:15 a.m., Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m., Good Friday Service at 7:30 p.m.; April 3, Holy Saturday, Morning Prayer 8:15 a.m., Blessing of Easter Baskets at noon, Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m.; April 4, Easter Sunday, Masses at 8:30 a.m., and 11 a.m. (No 6 p.m. Mass.) (847) 255-7452, saintalphonsus.com.

Holy Week: Special Holy Week services at North Northfield United Methodist Church at Sanders and Dundee in Northbrook will include a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. April 1 and a Tenebrae service at 7 p.m. Good Friday, April 2. On Easter Sunday, April 4, a sunrise service will be held at 6 a.m. In addition, an Easter breakfast in the Fellowship Hall will be served from 8 to 9:30 a.m., followed by a worship celebration at 10 a.m. (847) 272-2250. northnorthfield.org.