Fox Valley 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.
Bethlehem Lutheran: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 401 W. Main St., West Dundee, invites children ages 3 through sixth grade to vacation Bible school on Monday, June 29 to Thursday, July 2. This year's theme is "Crocodile Dock." Registration will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28 in the church parking lot. The congregation invites children and their parents to a kickoff ice cream social at noon. Bethlehem worships at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday in their main sanctuary using a traditional liturgy and at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in their Bethlehem Community Ministry Center using a blended liturgy led by the praise team.
For details, call Bethlehem at (847) 426-7311.
St. Peter: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Gerhard Mau will preach on "Generosity" at the 9 a.m. service at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Road (one mile east of Route 47) in Hampshire. It will be repeated at the 7:30 p.m. Monday service. For information, contact St. Peter's Lutheran Church at (847) 464-5721. Registration is open for Little Saints Preschool, including the Intro to Preschool class and prekindergarten class. Call Kristina at (847) 464-5134 for a tour or for details. Members of the community are encouraged to apply.
Country Covenant Church: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Paul Bischoff, interim pastor, invites you for Sunday worship at the 10:30 a.m. service at Country Covenant Church, Route 47 and McDonald Road in Campton Hills. Adult Sunday school is held at 9:30 a.m. Bring your Bibles and enjoy good, Scripture-related conversation, study, and prayer. Children's Sunday school is at 10:30 a.m. The church picnic will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 28 at Elburn's Lions Park, 500 Filmore St. A potluck luncheon will follow the service. Bring a dish to pass. The Wednesday study group continues "Rocksolid," an exploration of faith for the mature Christian and for the new Christian, at 7 p.m. For information, call (847) 464-5381 or visit www.countrycov.org.
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Dale Kleinschmidt, retired Elgin-area United Methodist pastor, will be guest preacher at the 9:30 a.m. service at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. Children in kindergarten to fifth grade will be invited after the children's time to go to children's worship, a kid-friendly time of fun and learning. The congregation has put up two resource-sharing bulletin boards in the church library. One shows work opportunities; the other shows things and services to be shared or traded. For information, call (847) 741-5124 or visit hacob.org.
Kneseth Israel: Congregation Kneseth Israel has been serving the Fox River Valley for over 116 years. As a member of United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, it offers a full range of services: Torah school for prekindergarten to high school, adult education classes, a youth program for age 6 to 12, Sisterhood and Men's Club, and age-based interest groups. This week's Torah portion is "Korach." The service is led by Rabbi Jonathan Kohn in prayer and study. Shabbat services are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the synagogue, 330 Division St. in Elgin. Guests are welcome. CKI believes that each person can participate in the observance of Shabbat through the use of English, Hebrew, and age-appropriate activities. For details, call (847) 741-5656 or visit www.ckielgin.org.
Shirat Shalom: Congregation Shirat Shalom, 30W509 Shoe Factory Road in Elgin, offers friendly, participatory Shabbat services, led by Cantor Sarah Alexander, at 9:45 a.m. Saturdays and followed by a community kiddush luncheon. Services include a spirited Torah discussion, focusing on the "parsha of the week." This week's Torah reading is "Chukat," where you learn the mystical significance of the Red Heifer. For details, call (847) 695-6246, e-mail hazzansarah@gmail.com, or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org
First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Jonathan Hutchison will preach on "A Fair Balance" at the 9 a.m. service and "Generosity of Faith" at the 11:30 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church at 216 E. Highland in Elgin. Special music at the services will feature organ and piano music by Mark Johnson at the 9 a.m. service and instrumental and vocal music by Pat Hargis and Bob Carroll at the 11:30 a.m. service. There are Christian education classes for all ages from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The youth group meets at 12:45 p.m. For details, call (847) 741-0038 or visit www.fumcelgin.org.
St. John: On the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, June 28, the Rev. Howard Gleason will preach the sermon, "Genuine Justification," based on 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, at the 9 a.m. service at St. John Lutheran Church, 13N535 French Road in Burlington. The summer schedule includes a 9 a.m. Sunday service and a 7 p.m. Wednesday service. The church continues the Walk-R-Run sessions twice a month. You can find information on the sessions by www.stjohnburlington.com. They are also planning a church picnic for late July in the Burlington Park. The day will include an outdoor service. The St. John float will be in the Coon Creek Days parade set for Aug. 2. The theme will be fishers of men as they share Jesus with the world. The board of Christian education has picked the vacation Bible School program "Crocodile Dock" from Group Publishing; the planned date is July 20-24. For details, call (847) 683-2338 or visit www.stjohnburlington.com.
First Congregational: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Lois Bucher will preach at 8:15 a.m. in the chapel and at 10:15 a.m. in the sanctuary at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Her sermon will be "Growing Faith," based on 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 and Mark 4:26-34. During the summer months, favorite hymns of the congregation will be included in the service. All are invited to a fellowship hour on the lower level after the service.
Mission trip '09 will leave by Amtrak the evening of July 2 for their work in Washington, D.C. Besides work in soup kettles, homeless shelters, food pantries and day care facilities, they will take a capitol tour on the Fourth of July. For details, call the church at (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.
Second Baptist: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Nathaniel L. Edmond will deliver the sermon at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. messages at Second Baptist Church, 1280 Summit St. in Elgin. The Praise and Worship Ministry will render the music for the 8 a.m. service and the Choral Ensemble will render the music for the 10:30 a.m. service. The Brotherhood Ministry invites all men to come out every fourth Saturday of the month to fellowship with your Brothers in Christ. Free haircuts will be provided by the "barbershop" beginning at 9 a.m. On Wednesday, the Bible study will begin at noon followed by evening Bible study starting at 7 p.m. Bus and child care services are available. For details, call (847) 695-7757 or visit www.SBCElginIl.org.
First Congregational: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Michael Kirchhoff, guest pastor, will deliver the message, "Out of the Depths of Faith" and is based on II Samuel 1:1, 17-27 and Mark 5:21-43, at the 9 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. Kirchhoff is a graduate of Elmhurst College and Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Mo. From 2004-09, he was a chaplain of Bridgeway Christian Village in Bensenville. He is currently a member of Faith Community UCC of Bensenville which is the merging of St. John's UCC, Immanuel UCC and Peace UCC.
The Ministry of Music will be by the vacation Bible school kids. They will lead the congregation in song and teach what they learned about God during vacation Bible school, "Crocodile Dock." Children, age three through fifth-grade, are asked to attend the "kid friendly" worship in the sanctuary with their families. High school youth group meets on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday for an "End of the Year" pool party at the home of Mark and Londa Krueger. There will be food, games, contests with prizes and more. Summer Parent's Day Out is offered on Tuesdays from June 30 to Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon. Celebrate the Fourth of July and explore the world God has created for you. For details, contact Michelle Hendricks at 847.426.2161 ext. 204 or by e-mail to mhendricks@fccdundee.com. For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.
King of Glory: On Sunday, June 28, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin, will observe the fourth Sunday after Pentecost by looking at the theme "Waiting Quietly" based on Lamentations 3:26, at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services. You wait through the sufferings and trials of life, knowing that God still promises good for his people. The regular weekly worship schedule includes a more traditional style worship at 8:15 a.m. Sundays, as well as a contemporary style worship at 10:45 a.m. led by the praise team singers and band. Adult Bible classes are held every Sunday at 9:20 a.m. They also offer during the school year various midweek educational opportunities as well as a preschool education for 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as youth programs for various age groups. On Mondays, join "The Refuge" and connect with God in a different, informal way at 7 p.m. Come for fellowship starting at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy some coffee and snacks before worship. For details, call (847) 931-1520 or visit www.kogonline.org.
First Congregational: On Sunday, June 28, the Rev. Jim Benzing will focus on scripture from Mark 5:21-43 at the 10 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 30 N. Washington St. in Carpentersville. Sunday school is on summer break. Nursery care is available during the service. For details, call (847) 428-1712.