Fox Valley notes on religion

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St. Peter: On Sunday, June 14, the Rev. Gerhard Mau will preach on "Our Aim is to Please Christ" 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.

Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren: On Sunday, June 14, the Rev. Joel Kline's sermon will be "Soothing Troubled Souls" at 9:30 a.m. at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. The children's worship will use the Gather 'Round curriculum and will be a kid-friendly time of fun and learning. Six junior highs and three adult leaders are preparing for a trip to the Church of the Brethren National Junior High Conference at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. They leave Thursday, June 18 and will return Monday, June 22. The congregation has created a resource sharing bulletin board for work opportunities and assistance. It is located in the library. For information, call (847) 741-5124 or visit hacob.org.

Kneseth Israel: Congregation Kneseth Israel 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 "B'Ha'Alotekha." 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 "Behaalot'cha," in which Aaron lights the seven-branched menorah in the Tabernacle. For details, call (847) 695-6246 or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org

First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, June 14, Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated at First United Methodist Church at 216 E. Highland in Elgin. At the 9 a.m. service, the sermon will be "Good/Evil, Old/New." The 11:30 a.m. service will include a message, "Walking by Faith." Special music will be presented by Jordan and Noah Zuniga and the Homegrown Worship Band. 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 second Sunday after Pentecost, June 14, the Rev. Howard Gleason will preach the sermon, "Whatever God Wants," based on Ezekiel 17:22-24, 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 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 14, First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elgin is going on a picnic at Wing Park's Shelter 1. The schedule starts with worship at 10:15 a.m. followed by a cookout. Everyone is reminded to bring outdoor folding chairs and a dish to pass. All kinds of games, with prizes, along with great fun and fellowship will be provided. The schedule starts with worship at 10:15 a.m. followed by a cookout. Everyone is reminded to bring outdoor folding chairs and a dish to pass. All kinds of games, with prizes, along with great fun and fellowship will be provided. For details, call the church at (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.

First Congregational: On the second Sunday after Pentecost, June 14, the Rev. Donald Schmidt, guest pastor, will deliver the message at the 9 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. The retired pastor of First Congregational Church in Elgin was a leader in social action, bringing races together, and a member of Elgin Cooperative that brought the vision of PADS of Elgin to fruition. The Ministry of Music will be by the Praise Singers with Linda Gilmore, piano/organ accompanist. The Religious Education Ministry will provide a skit on the upcoming vacation Bible school, "Crocodile Rock," to be held June 22-26. Children, age 3 through fifth grade, will begin their worship in the sanctuary with their families at 9 a.m. After the children's message, they will be dismissed to God's Big Backyard for "Fruits of the Spirit." This Kids' Travel Guide adventure leads children on a 13-week scripture based discovery of how God's Spirit helps express his love to others through caring actions and healthy attitudes. Children will explore how to be strong in the decisions they make and how to live out the "Fruits of the Spirit" in their own daily lives. A snack time for kids will be held from 10 to 10:10 a.m. Nursery care is available for infants through first grade from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. The high school youth group meets from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Sundays with Chad Coe, director of youth ministries. The group will take a look at transitions and examine how to get through tough times of change and adjustment. Yes, this is especially true for graduating seniors, but all youth have times of adjustment and new beginnings. The middle school youth group will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 with the 2009 confirmation class leading the activities. The church serves dinner at the Community Crisis Center in Elgin on a monthly basis. The next meal will be provided Tuesday, June 16. If you are interested in cooking, donating food or delivering the meals, call the church office. Some menu items need to be prepared while others can be purchased and dropped off at the church. Any help is appreciated by the temporary residents. PADS of Elgin Inc. provides safe shelter, support services and advocacy to homeless individuals in Dundee, Elgin and Hanover townships. Four volunteers, 18 and older, are needed to provide staffing at PADS, 1730 Berkley St. in Elgin, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17. Sign up by calling the church office.

For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.

King of Glory: On Sunday, June 14, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin, will observe the second Sunday after Pentecost by looking at the theme "A Call to Mercy" based on Mark 2, at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services. 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 14, the Rev. Jim Benzing will focus on scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 with the theme, "Cheating Death" 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.

St. James Episcopal: On the Second Sunday after Pentecost, June 14, the Rev. Don Frye will be preaching on "Lacey's Story" at the 10 a.m. service at St. James Episcopal Church, 516 Washington St., West Dundee. The readings are 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, Psalm 20, 2 Corinthians 5:6-17, and Mark 4:26-34. Lianne Dalphy will teach the final Sunday school class for this spring. The children will be making special gifts for Father's Day and hosting an ice cream social after services. June 14 marks the 74th anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron, Ohio. The church will celebrate with a special service commemorating a spiritual movement that has helped millions of people around the world. During coffee hour, the video "A House of Miracles" will be shown presenting the history of the founding of AA. Everyone is welcome to attend this celebration of hope and transformation. For details, call (847) 426-5612 or visit stjamesdundee.org.