Fox Valley religion events
Worship conference: A worship conference with musician and teacher Steve Mitchell will be held Friday, July 10, and Sunday, July 12, at Morning Star Church and The River in Huntley. His worship is honest, prayerful, heartfelt and carries with it a relentless pursuit to make call with God. Mitchell ministers at many conferences and churches throughout the country as a worship leader and psalmist, and he and his wife have been part of the leadership at MetroChurch for almost 20 years. He teaches, leads worship, and oversees the intercession and music ministry there. Morning Star Church and The River is at 41W350 Powers Road, north of the I-90, Route 47 exit. For details, call Maria at (847) 669-980, ext. 111, or visit morningstarwoc.org/events and theriver-church.com/events.
Piano/organ concerts: Jeffrey Neufeld and Jeremy Neufeld present a piano and organ duo concert at 7 p.m. Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11. The evening will include familiar hymns, patriotic songs and solo works. Admission is open to the public, and a freewill offering will be taken each night. The first concert July 10 will be at Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road in Barrington. The second concert July 11 will be at Epworth United Methodist Church, 37W040 Highland Ave. in Elgin. For details, call Epworth UMC at (847) 931-5400.
Monthly meal: Lutheran Church of the Atonement invites the community to its third monthly meal from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. "Our goal is to encourage and strengthen friendships, share kindness and inspire hope in the community by the simple act of sharing a meal together as neighbors," said organizer Mary Hasse. Reservations are not needed. There will be plenty for all who attend. The church is at 909 E. Main St. at Eastern Ave. in Barrington. For details, call (847) 381-0243.
Blood drive: St. James Episcopal Church, 516 Washington St. in West Dundee, will join the village's annual blood drive from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, at the Public Safety Center 2, 100 Carrington Drive. Call the West Dundee village hall at (847) 551-3800 to schedule a time for your donation or visit www.wdundee.org to sign up online. Walk-ins are welcome until 7 p.m. Photo ID is required. The village has set a goal of 50 pints of blood. All donors will receive a certificate for a free quart of Oberweis ice cream.
Taize service: A Taizé Prayer Service for Peace will be from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. It is a one-hour prayer service that incorporates meditative song, scripture, silence, and prayer. Taizé prayer began in a small ecumenical community in southern France in 1940. During the World War II era, the founder, Brother Roger, used an uninhabited house to provide shelter for Jewish refugees. As the community continued to grow through the years, they continued to provide support and help to the oppressed, the suffering, and the poor. As a way of life, the Taizé community gathers and worships three times a day through song, prayer, and silence. For details, call Rick Yurs at (847) 669-3137, ext. 109, or e-mail rick.stmary@att.net.
Barbecue: First Congregational Church of Huntley's annual Fay's Pork Chop Barbecue will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25. This community event includes Fay's pork chops and/or chicken, beans, applesauce, coleslaw, rolls and butter, beverage, homemade cookies and entertainment on the grassy lot at the corner of Main and Myrtle streets. Carryouts will be available. Advance tickets are $12 and may be purchased by calling the church office at (847) 669-3691. Walk-in tickets may be purchased at the dinner, as available, for $13, but purchasing sooner is recommended.
Guest speaker: Do you or does someone you love experience same-sex attraction? Do you or they need to experience the grace of God in the midst of it all? On Sunday, July 26, Fox Valley Church has invited Christopher Yuan to the 9 and 10:45 a.m. services. He will tell his story of grace and transformation as God brought him out of homosexuality and into a life of purity and obedience. Then, join Yuan and his parents at noon in multipurpose room for a question-and-answer seminar and luncheon. Call (847) 844-1010 to register and pre-order your Panera box lunch. Fox Valley Church is at 37W073 Huntley Road, a quarter-mile west of Randall and Huntley roads in West Dundee.
Golf outing: Get ready for the Good Shepherd Church and School golf outing Monday, Aug. 10, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. The shotgun start will be at 11 a.m., with registration at 9:30 a.m. A buffet dinner with prizes, silent auction and raffles will follow at the banquet room overlooking the course. On-course action will include longest drive, most accurate drive, closest to the pin, and many other chances to win prizes. All proceeds will benefit the school. To sign up, visit church.goodshepherd-elgin.org/golf.php
Memorial Mass: A Memorial Mass for Deceased Children will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. If you have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, illness, accident or any other way, they welcome you to gather with them to remember these special children with a Memorial Mass. The celebrant will be the Rev. Steve Knox. Refreshments will be available after the Mass.
Church history: The youth of Community United Methodist Church in South Elgin are looking for historical information. They will be leading worship at 9 a.m. Aug. 30. The theme of the service will be the United Methodist heritage. They are asking anyone who has information, historical documents, or photos from the church's past (back to the church's founding in1892, if possible). Any information received would be appreciated in helping put together a meaningful service of celebration. Call the church at (847) 931-0563 or send info to cumcsouthelgin@sbcglobal.net.
Holiday in the Halls: Crafters are wanted for the St. Thomas More School annual craft fair and bake sale, "Holiday in the Halls," from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the school, 1625 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. There will be more than 80 booths. For booth information, call Laura Przybylski at (847) 888-4363.
Register at Good Shepherd: Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 1111 Van St. in Elgin, is accepting applications for enrollment for the 2009-10 school year. Good Shepherd will offer kindergarten to fifth grade at 1111 Van St. The preschool is 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. Information and registration for the school will be held, along with meeting of teachers and tours of the school. Also, learn about the all-day kindergarten program. To schedule a tour or for details, contact the school office at (847) 741-7795 or the preschool office at (847) 697-4745. Good Shepherd is also hosting a variety of summer camps at the Nesler Road Christian Life Center. For details, call (847) 697-4745.
Angel Food Ministries: Hunger is a very real problem in this nation - each year more than 5 million Americans face life without adequate food. With today's economic challenges, many ordinary families have fallen on hard times and just need a little help to make ends meet while they get back on their feet. That's where Angel Food Ministries can make the difference. Angel Food is a nationwide program offering low-cost food relief to anyone in need. However, Angel Food Ministries is available to everyone who wishes to order. Orders are usually due mid-month with delivery usually the last Saturday of each month at about 9:30 a.m. For details, including what is available and the cost, visit www.angelfoodministries.com and type in the ZIP code 60120, select Community of Christ Church or call (847) 741-1366 to leave a message. Community of Christ, 1675 E. Chicago St. in Elgin, is participating in this program to provide food assistance to families across America. For details, visit elgin.chicagomissioncenter.org.
School registration: St. John's Lutheran School, 300 Jefferson St. in 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. 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 in downtown Algonquin, just one block west of Route 31. For details, call St. John's school office at (847) 658-9311 or e-mail stjohns@covad.net.
Register for school: St. Laurence School, 572 Standish St. in 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. It offers classes from preschool through eighth grade. To learn more about the school or make an appointment for a personal tour, call the school office at (847) 468-6100 or visit stlaurenceschool.com.
Preschool at Light of Christ: Light of Christ Preschool, 100 Hanson Road, Algonquin, is continuing enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year. A new curriculum is being offered for children ages 3-5. Enrichment program with lunch also is available. Visit locpreschool.com or contact Michele Niehoff at (658)-0955 for information.
Register for Griffin school: Griffin Christian School, a ministry of Fox Valley Baptist Church, is now accepting enrollments in all grades for the 2009-10 school year. The school, 16N562 Vista Lane in East Dundee, is for preschool through 12th grade. They offer a full, Bible-based academic schedule, along with classes in art, music, computer skills, gym, and several foreign languages. After school care is also available. The preschool program is for both 3- and 4-year-olds. Parents will be able to choose between a two-day or a five-day program, either mornings or full day. The kindergarten program is either mornings or full day. Both programs feature early learning activities with a low student-to-teacher ratio and include phonics-based reading instruction. The elementary program is a multi-age class, but with traditional classroom instruction and a phonics-based reading program. The middle and high school programs use a technology-based individualized program, utilizing the latest in computer technology to assist in the learning process and prepare students for the modern collegiate experience. For several of their subjects the middle and high school use an online curriculum with real time assistance, where each student can complete his subjects with lessons specifically tailored to his needs. Traditional classroom instruction in several subjects is also included. For details or to make an appointment to visit the school, call (847) 428-5413 or visit griffinchristianschool.org.