Lake Co. religion notes

Prayer and mediation: Community Christian Church, 1970 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire, will have an open sanctuary for Good Friday meditation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 10. (847) 945-8824, ccclincolnshire.org.

Special services: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods, will have services at noon and 7 p.m. Friday, April 10. (847) 438-7709, stmatts.net.

Special services: The Church of the Holy Family, 25291 W. Lehmann Blvd., Lake Villa, will have services at 7 p.m. Friday, April 10.

Guarding of the tomb: Each year during Holy Week, St. John Lutheran Church members re-enact the Roman guards keeping watch over Jesus' body in the tomb until he rises on Easter morning. The guarding of the tomb begins at 3 p.m. Good Friday and continues until the Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday. After viewing the guards, take the children to drop off canned goods for a local food pantry. The church, 501 W. Park Ave., Libertyville, will be a collection point for canned goods throughout the weekend. In addition, Good Friday services will be at noon and 7 p.m. April 10.

Good Friday: St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 31 Park Ave., Grayslake, will have services at noon and 7 p.m. Friday, April 10.

Special service: Good Friday will be observed jointly by Community Protestant Church and Ivanhoe Congregational Church at a 7:30 p.m. service April 10 at Community Protestant Church, on the corner of Hawley and Prairie in Mundelein. (847) 566-4000.

Good Friday: Grace Lutheran Church, 501 Valley Park Drive, Libertyville, will offer a Prayer Oasis from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; a Family Worship service at 1 p.m.; and a Service of Darkness at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 10. (847) 367-7050. aboutgracelutheran.org.

Good Friday: A Good Friday Experience for children for kindergarten through sixth grade will be held from 10-11 a.m. April 10 at The United Protestant Church of Grayslake: 54 S. Whitney St., Grayslake. A Tenebrae worship with music by the Chamber Choir and Chancel Choir will be held at 7:30 p.m. The youth will hold an all night Easter vigil with prayer partners from 8 p.m. Saturday, April 11, to 6 a.m. Sunday, April 12. upcgl.org, (847) 223-8131.

Egg hunt: A Community Easter egg hunt and carnival will be from 2 to 4 p.m. April 11 at Community Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1970 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire. ccclincolnshire.org.

Clothes for the needy: Clothing in sizes ranging from infant to size 16 boys and girls is available the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Andrew Episcopal Church's Elijah's Mantle for Children in Need community service project, 31 Park Ave., Grayslake. Next dates are: April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. There is no cost. Donations of gently-used children's clothing in good condition are always welcome. standrewsgrayslake.org or (847) 223-2310.

Survivors of abuse: The Archdiocese of Chicago and the Office of Assistance Ministry will sponsor a therapy group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Therapy groups for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse will meet every other week from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Mondays in Lake Villa Those interested in attending the sessions are asked to call or e-mail Matt Hunnicutt at (312) 534-8267, mhunnicutt@archchicago.org or Kathleen Leggdas at (312) 534-5268, kleggdas@archchicago.org.

Flower sale: Order your bedding plants and help raise money for the Dustan family through a sale at Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church, 5725 Stearns School Road, Gurnee. The Dustans have been living at Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee for more than eight months because the children are in and out of the hospital. Ian was diagnosed with multiple gastrointestinal issues shortly after his birth. His current diagnoses are: GERD, dysphagia, gastroparesis, asthma, and visceral hyperalgesia. His brother, Evan, was diagnosed with AML Leukemia last July and is recovering after receiving a bone marrow transplant in December. Visit annunciationgurnee.org/events/flowers/flowers.asp to order your flowers. All the profits will go to the Dustan family. Checks and credit cards are accepted. (847) 336-3730.

Honoring military: St John Lutheran School, 501 W. Park Ave., Libertyville, will host a public open house and free spaghetti dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 19. With a theme of honoring our military, the event will feature school tours, raffles for gift baskets and performances from St. John students. In addition, St. John will also present 15 tuition grants totaling more than $57,000 to active military families in the area. (847) 367-1441. stjohnslib.com

Caring for the earth: In honor of Earth Day, the Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Congregation will examine our roles in the interdependent web. During the intergenerational service at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, April 19, in the Byron Colby Barn, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake, children will share stories about how caring for the earth deepens their spirituality.

Survivors of Suicide: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago welcomes those who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide to participate in its Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide program meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays April 23 and May 28, at Carmel High School, One Carmel Parkway, Mundelein. (847) 376-2118.

Rummage sale: The First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville, 219 W Maple Ave., is holding a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 24, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Saturday is half price day with a bag sale for clothing starting at noon. Proceeds support mission activities of the church. firstpreslibertyville.org. for further information.

Immaculate Heart: Society of Mary, the local ward of the Immaculate Heart, meets at 9 a.m. the first Saturday of the month at Holy Cross Chapel, 500 Park Ave, and Route 83, Unit 102, Lake Villa. The day begins with the recitation of the rosary, followed by Mass, a continental breakfast and a period of study and discussion. societyofmary-ne-il.org.

Make friends: "Friday Friends" has been organized within The Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church in Mundelein for the purpose of fun and fellowship. The group meets the second Friday of the month, each time at different members' homes. For details, call (847) 949-8670.

Recycling: On the third Sunday of each month, youth will man the recycle bin between services, from 9:30 to 10 a.m., and after the second service, after 11 a.m. Bring your old newspapers, junk mail and catalogs. Youth will be ready to assist with the unloading of your car as you drive up to the bin in the Grace parking lot. The recycle bin is in place on a daily basis, so come any time that is convenient for you. A portion of the cash credits for all paper donations will be used toward a green gift for the community. Grace Lutheran Church is at 501 Valley Park Drive in Libertyville. aboutgracelutheran.org or (847) 367-7050.

Grief support group: Faith Lutheran Church announces the formation of a GriefShare Support Group, which provides support for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. Meetings are from 7-8:30 p.m. Sundays through May 31, excluding Easter, April 12, at Faith Lutheran Church, 24300 Grass Lake Road in Antioch. (847) 293-6101 or faithantioch.org

For seniors: The senior group, The Primetimers, meets at The Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church in Mundelein the fourth Monday of the month for refreshments, book studies and guest speakers. In addition, the group sometimes attends local plays, historical activities and visits tourist attractions. For details, call (847) 949-8670.