Religion - Special events

Ecumenical service: On Good Friday, April 10, celebrate the citywide nondenominational multicultural Good Friday service, sponsored by the African-American Christian Ministers Alliance. The Good Friday service will be held at 7 p.m. at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. The Pastors Group of Elgin will join in the celebration.

Easter weekend in Huntley: Join Morning Star Church and The River Church for a special worship conference featuring Sean Feucht, Easter Weekend, through Easter Sunday, April 12. Feucht will be accompanied by Will Reagan of United Pursuit Band. Meeting times of this worship celebration weekend are as follows: 7:14 p.m. Friday, April 10; 6 p.m. Saturday, April 11; 10 a.m. Sunday, April 12. There is no charge for these meetings. Morning Star Church and The River Church are at 41W350 Powers Road, just north of the I-90-Route 47 exit in Huntley. For details, call (847) 669-9800 or visit morningstarwoc.org and theriver-church.com.

Tenebrae service at Huntley church: At 7 p.m. Good Friday, there will be a Tenebrae service in the sanctuary, which will include a portrayal of the disciples and those closest to the Lord, at the First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main St., Huntley. This is a powerful service that begins in light and ends in relative darkness. Everyone is welcome. Call the church office at (847) 669-3691.

Eggstravaganza: Good Friday, April 10, will be observed at Elgin Bible Church through a service of music and scripture, with a message focusing on "I Thirst." The service begins at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 11, bring the family to a fun, free Easter "Eggstravaganza" from 10 a.m. to noon. The event includes an egg hunt, a giant basket drawing, and a show by an award-winning puppet team which will focus on the true significance of Easter. The Easter service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, April 12, will feature praise and worship to the risen Lord, and a Biblical message with application to life. Elgin Bible Church is at 1580 E. Chicago St. on the east side of Elgin. For information, call (847) 888-1978. All are welcome and encouraged to attend these events.

Feast of Pesach: The Feast of Pesach/Passover, hosted by Ha Mishkan David, will be held Saturday, April 11, at the Tabernacle of David. To register, visit hamishkandavid.org. After the Seder, they will have worship, food, fellowship and Israeli music and dance. Cost is $10 for adults. Make checks payable to The Tabernacle of David, 876 Clover Lane, Pingree Grove. For details, call (847) 464-5477.

Easter egg hunt: There will be an Easter egg Hunt from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Poplar Creek Church, 300 Schick Road, Bartlett. The event is free and the anyone from the community is invited to join the hunt for the thousands of eggs on the church property. For details, call (630) 483-1000.

Easter egg hunt: First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St., West Dundee, invites the community to an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 12, in celebration of springtime. The hunt will be held on the church grounds, weather permitting. Children will be grouped by age and every egg will have special treats inside. Prizes will be awarded. There will be plenty of family fun on the ground while the kids hunt for the eggs. Refreshments will be served free of charge. For details, call (847) 426-2161 ext. 210 or visit fccdundee.com.

Fashion Show: Wesley and Epworth United Methodist Churches will host their third annual fashion show and entertainment from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18. This year's theme is "Dancing Into Spring." Dessert buffet with fashion show from Christopher & Banks at Spring Hill Mall will be followed by a musical program, featuring Aleksander Krukowski with classical piano solos; Beth Bonasera, scripture reading with interpretive ballet dance; and Rise Jones, soloist accompanied by Murna Hansemann. There will be a free will offering for Methodist missions. Tables of 8 may be reserved by the church office at (847) 742-7256 before April 14.

Open houses at Good Shepherd: Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 1111 Van St. in Elgin, will host open houses at two times every Wednesday in April, and a Saturday morning event on Saturday, April 18, for all-day kindergarten and first to fifth grades. The Wednesday open houses include a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or a dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. through April 29. On Saturday, April 18, coffee and doughnuts will be served to all who visit from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Information and registration for the school will be held, along with meeting of teachers and tours of the school. Learn about the quality Lutheran education and all-day kindergarten program. Good Shepherd will offer kindergarten to fifth grade for the 2009-10 school year at 1111 Van St. Preschool is located at its Nesler Road and Route 20 location and offers programs for both 3- and 4-year-olds. Before-school care is available for preschool and after-school care is available at both sites. Church membership is not required. To schedule a tour at a different time, contact the school office at (847) 741-7795 or the preschool office at (847) 697-4745.

Annual beef dinner: The United Methodist Women of the Burlington United Methodist Church invite you to their annual beef dinner. The all-you-can-eat dinner will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Burlington United Methodist Church, 195 W. Center St. The menu features roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttery green beans, fruit salad, fresh rolls and pie or cake for dessert. Carryouts will be available until 6:30 p.m. during the dinner. And there will be a bake sale of homemade goods. Proceeds from this dinner help support the programs of the United Methodist Church in Burlington and the missions of the United Methodist Church worldwide. Bring your friends and neighbors to enjoy this annual tradition of good food. Admission is $10 for adults, $4 for children, children under age 6 get in free. For details, call (847) 683-3535 or visit Burlington-UMC.org.

Flea market: Vendors are wanted for the outdoor flea market to be held Saturday, June 13, at King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads, Elgin. For details, call Cindy Meseke at (847) 468-8160.

School registration: St. John's Lutheran School, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin, is now accepting kindergarten through eighth grade day school registration for the 2009-10 school year. St. John's Day School offers an all-day kindergarten program and first- through eighth-grade classes. St. John's School Program offers core subjects as well as computers, art, music, band, chapel and physical education. The program is complemented by after school extracurricular programs including art classes, chess club, foreign language classes, scouting programs and sports programs including: soccer, volleyball, basketball and pep squad. St. John's also offers BASS (Before and After School Services) program for all enrolled students. It has limited class sizes and acceptance is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enrollment is open to the community and is not limited to church members. St. John's is located in downtown Algonquin, just 1 block west of route 31. For information or to enroll your child contact St. John's school office (847) 658-9311 or via email at stjohns@covad.net.

Register for school: St. Laurence School, 572 Standish St., Elgin, is now accepting registration for kindergarten for the 2009-10 school year. It offers a full day kindergarten with a comprehensive curriculum, small class size and experienced teachers. St. Laurence School is accredited by the state of Illinois and the Diocese of Rockford. They offer classes from preschool through the eighth grade. To learn more about the school or make an appointment for a personal tour, call the school office at (847) 468-6100. Visit stlaurenceschool.com.