Your faith

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Adult education

Holy Family Parish, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, will offer an ongoing Bible study led by Jim Papandrea, Ph.D., director of Adult Faith Formation. In the 2007-08 year, it will complete the last third of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) including the last week of Jesus' life and the passion narratives.

No experience is necessary. Learn how to read and interpret the Bible and participate in small group discussion of Scriptures. Two class time options are available: Monday evenings (7 to 9 p.m.) or Thursday mornings (9:15 to 11:15 a.m.) starting this week. Nursery care is available Thursday morning. Call the parish office for information, (847) 359-0042.

The Barrington United Methodist Church will offer adult fellowship and Bible study programs. On Sunday mornings from 9 to 10:15 am., programs to be offered include "Walk as Jesus Walked: Making Disciples"; a 10-week Interpretation Series Bible study that explores the book of Genesis; and "Five Languages of Apology How to Experience Healing in All Your Relationships."

In addition, "Invitation to Genesis" will be offered Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 26. Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Women of the Word will study the series "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place" by Beth Moore. On Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. the Women's Evening Study will study "Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God" from Sept. 20 through Oct. 28.

On Fridays from 10 to 10:30 a.m., join the Breathing Spaces fellowship group and meet at the Starbuck's inside Dominick's on Rand Road in Lake Zurich.

Barrington United Methodist Church is located at 98 Algonquin Road (at Route 59) in Barrington. Call (847) 836-5540 for information.

Apocalypsis Jesu Christus is a 30-session, in-depth study into the Book of Revelation. Lutheran Church Charities will host classes on Mondays starting at 6 a.m. Monday at the Harris Bank Building in downtown Palatine and at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Quentin and Old McHenry roads in Hawthorn Woods. The course is also available to be taken solely on the Internet. Classes are non-denominational and are open to anyone regardless of church (or lack of) affiliation. You can find out more information or a location near you by going to www.WAUonline.org or by calling (866) 455-6466. If you have questions contact Word Among Us at WordAmongUs@LutheranChurchCharities.org.

Children, teens

Salem United Methodist Church will begin a new season of Sunday School this Sunday. Beginning at 9 a.m. with an Inquiry Breakfast, the morning will feature a special worship service titled "Sing a New Song!" Regular fall Sunday School classes will begin at 9:15 a.m. Sept. 16. For information, call (847) 381-0524 or e-mail sumchrch@mc.net. Salem's Web site is: www.salemumc.info.

United Methodist Church, 115 W. Lincoln Ave, Barrington, begins it third season of once-a-month children's worship services at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 23. With songs, stories, prayer and even crafts, children and youth engage with the adults of the congregation in learning the Bible and the faith from a child's point of view.

For more information, call: (847) 381-0524 or e-mail sumchrch@mc.net. Salem's Web site is: www.salemumc.info.

Calling all families … come to Rally Day Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road in Palatine. Following the 10:30 a.m. service meet Sunday school teachers, enjoy refreshments, get your materials and register, if you have not yet done so. Sunday school will start for the school year on Sept. 16 at the 10:30 a.m. service.

Classes are for 3-year-olds through sixth grade. Come and experience the rotational model of teaching which alternates Bible stories, crafts, movies and activities to provide an exciting learning experience. Also, special worship time each week helps the children learn about church service.

To preregister, call the church office at (847) 358-4600.

Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 W. Michigan Ave., Palatine, has fall openings in its preschool program. The 3- to 5-year-old program is held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Children may attend two or three days per week. Children are eligible when they turn 3. Cost is $145 a month for three days and $99 a month for two days. The new preschool teacher is Valerie Schultz. To register or for information or a tour the preschool, call (847) 358-0230 or e-mail preschool@ByFaithAlone.org. Christ the King Preschool is a Christian preschool that is open to all in the community and is licensed by the state of Illinois.

Bethel Lutheran Church of Rolling Meadows, 3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine, is holding a congregational Balloon Launch at 9:50 a.m. Sunday to celebrate Rally Day, the kickoff of the Sunday school year. The balloons will be released with a return tag and prizes will be awarded in the future to the person whose balloon travels the farthest. Come join in the fun. Call (847) 397-4372 for information.

Family

Don't miss the third annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road in Palatine.

This fest has it all: live music, carnival games with prizes, crafts, raffles, a bean bag tournament and refreshments. Please your palate with the chili cook-off, hot dogs, pizza, roasted corn, and baked goodies. Purchase some crafts to decorate your home or for the holidays. Find out about Sunday school program. Contact the church office at (847) 358-4600 for more information.

St Paul United Church of Christ of Barrington will be celebrating a Rally Day Weekend, today-Sunday. Today, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., come support St Paul's First Mission car wash & cookout. Relax and enjoy a hot dog while your car is washed. Proceeds will benefit local benevolences. Cap off the celebration on Sunday with an uplifting worship service at 9:30 a.m., followed by the annual Mission and Ministry Fair. Enjoy the fried chicken and potluck brunch and discover the many study and fellowship groups available at St Paul. The church is at 401 E. Main St. (847) 381-0460.

Salem United Methodist Church, 115 W. Lincoln Ave., Barrington, will hold its 2nd Annual Pig Roast and Corn Boil, from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 23. Open to the community and held in Salem's Russell Street parking lot, roast pig, fresh corn and all the fixin's can be purchased. The afternoon will include entertainment, games and good down-home fun. Tickets purchased ahead of time will be discounted.

For ticket or other information, call (847) 381-0524 or e-mail sumchrch@mc.net. Salem's Web site is: www.salemumc.info.

Casa de Luz, a ministry of Willow Creek Community Church, will host Festival de Independencia 2007 from Thursday-Sept. 16. The four-day event is designed as an outreach to the Hispanic community and will offer informational seminars, concerts, an expo of local services and more.

The event begins with an immigration seminar from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Attorney Shirley Sadjadi will provide essential information on living and working in the U.S. While parents attend the seminar, a mini-carnival will be available for children.

On Friday, Expo Ayuda will feature exhibits from local organizations that offer free services such as English as a Second Language classes, family support and more. The expo runs from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a variety show at 7:30 p.m. Celebrity singer Maria del Sol and soap opera star Maria Sorte will both take part in the show, along with comedians, interviews, and other musicians.

The music continues on Sept. 15, with a concert by Contagious at 8 p.m. The band has a sound similar to Salvador, and has opened for groups including Salvador, Third Day, and Newsboys.

The festival wraps up on Sunday morning, Sept. 16, with Casa de Luz services at 9 and 11:15 a.m. Maria del Sol and Maria Sorte will take part in both services.

Independence Fest takes place at Willow Creek Community Church and all of its events are free. Willow Creek Community Church is located at 67 E. Algonquin Road in South Barrington. For more information, call (847) 765-5000 or visit www.willowcreek.org/casadeluz.

Fundraisers

Saint Philip's Episcopal Church, at Route 14 and Wood Street, Palatine, will host an English Car Boot Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 15. An "English Car Boot Sale" is like a flea market. Admission is free. Visit www.stphilipspalatine.org or call (847) 358-0615 for details.

The Barrington Area CROP Hunger Walk Committee announces that Barbara Schmidt and Konrad Bald have been named grand marshals for the 25th anniversary of this event that raises funds for people in need in our communities and around the world.

Barbara Schmidt founded the Barrington Area CROP Hunger Walk in 1982 and has remained on the annual organizing committee ever since. She was chair of the event through St. Mark's Episcopal Church four years.

Konrad Bald has been a member of the Barrington Area CROP Hunger Walk committee since its beginning in 1982. Since 2001 he has been the top fundraiser in the United States. Recently, Konrad was named 2007 Barrington Area Development Council Citizen of the Year.

The Barrington Area CROP Hunger Walk is Oct. 14. The walk begins with registration at 12:30 p.m. at the Barrington Middle School Station Campus. For additional information, call 2007 Chairman Dennis Rossow at (847) 726-9171.

Living Faith Cathedral Worship Center Church will have its Seventh Anniversary Fashion Show and Benefit Banquet at 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at Hyatt Regency Woodfield, 1800 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. The banquet theme is "Seeking his kingdom -- receiving his riches!" (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). This year's proceeds will benefit the Capital Building Fund of LFCWC. Anniversary banquet/fashion show tickets cost $75 for adults and $37.50 for those under 13. Call (847) 382-1830 for reservations or ticket information and make all checks payable to Living Faith CWC Church. Contributions are tax-exempt to the extent allowable by law. Make reservations by Oct. 12. The executive offices for Living Faith CWC Church are at 1250 S. Grove Ave, Suite 200, Barrington.

Lectures, seminars

St. Theresa Parish, 455 N. Benton in Palatine, will be offering its RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) process for anyone interested in joining the Roman Catholic Church. Meetings will be held Monday nights. An inquiry group is forming now. If interested, call (847) 358-7760 and leave a message for Deacon Lou Riccio.

Fr. William Meninger is coming to Holy Family Parish from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 22 to present a day of enrichment. He will speak about "The Process of Forgiveness." All are welcome. For additional information, call the parish office at (847) 359-0042 or (847) 907-3441. The workshop fee is $15 which includes lunch.

Holy Family Church, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness, will show the award-winning film "Deliver Us From Evil," at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 in Common Ground. This film gives insight into the problem of child sexual abuse, from the experience and eyes of a pedophile who spoke openly about his lifestyle. Oliver O'Grady presents a transparent profile of an individual who "grooms" his victims and their families in an effort to build trust. This film will prepare families to recognize warning signs.

Miscellaneous

Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 W. Michigan Ave., Palatine, will hold its Sunday School Rally Day and Neighborhood Picnic on Sunday. The Divine Service returns to its 8 and 10:30 a.m. schedule. Children age 3 through grade 12 are welcome to attend Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. All are welcome to attend the neighborhood picnic on the church grounds at 11:30 a.m. Hamburgers, bratwurst, as well as other picnic foods, will be available, along with events for children. For information, call the Rev. Thomas Schultz at (847) 358-0230 or visit www.ByFaithAlone.org.

Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 E. Main St., Barrington, will sponsor an American Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 23. For an appointment or information, call (847) 381-0243, ext. 176. Walk-ins are also welcomed. Remember to eat a healthy meal and drink extra water prior to donation. Bring a photo ID.

Special services

Bishop Wayne Miller will deliver the message at Bethel Lutheran Church, 3839 W. Frontage Road,. Palatine, at the 10 a.m. worship service Sept. 23, which is the kickoff Sunday for Bethel's 50th anniversary celebration. A potluck luncheon will be held at church in the Fellowship Hall following the service featuring recipes from the Commemorative 50th Anniversary Cookbook that will be on sale that day for $10. For more information, contact Bethel Lutheran Church at (847) 397-4372.

Michael Franzese will be the guest speaker this weekend at Willow Creek Community Church. As an ex-Mafia prince with New York's powerful Columbo family, Michael was the most financially successful mobster since Al Capone -- until he turned his back on the mob and walked away from a Mafia death sentence.

Willow Creek holds three identical services each weekend. Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9 and 11:15 a.m. Willow Creek Community Church is located at 67 E. Algonquin Road in South Barrington.

For information visit www.willowcreek.org or call (847) 765-5000.

Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist, 1025 N. Smith Road, Palatine, will have its second annual water Communion, a ceremony welcoming us back together as a beloved community after our summer experiences.

You are asked to bring a small amount of water to share from your travels. This can be from the actual place you visited, or tap water to symbolize that place. During the ceremony, you will come forward (as individuals or families), say the name of the place you've been, and pour the water into the common bowl. The sermon will be about the meaning of "home." Please join us at 10:30 am Sunday. (847) 359-8448

St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 720 Dundee Ave., Barrington, will return to its regular worship schedule with services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. beginning Sunday. Sunday School and Bible classes will meet at 9:15 a.m. Child care will be provided each Sunday during both services and during the Bible study hour.

Two new Bible study classes will begin Sunday. The Rev. Mark Nordman will be teaching "How to Defeat the Devil, Ephesians 6." "Faith Lessons on the Promised Land," is based on the video series by Ray Vander Laan. This study will examine the history of God's Old Testament people as they moved into the "Land of Promise." For information, call (847) 382-7002.

A prayer service for peace in the Middle East will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 Main St. in Barrington. The service includes reading from the Bible, music, and prayers for peace in the Middle East. Following the service there will be a presentation "Islamic Fundamentalism: Is it Fact or Fiction?" relating to fundamentalism among Jews and Christians by Dr. Khalid Sami. Sami is a Muslim and a practicing physician anesthesiologist. He is a native of India, has been in the U.S. since 1963 and now lives in Roselle. Call (847) 381-0243 or visit www.elca.org/middleeast for more information.

Share the excitement of a new school year, starting Sunday when Barrington United Methodist Church begins its regular schedule at 8 and 10:30 a.m. services at 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington (corner of Routes 59); nursery care for infants and toddlers available all morning. Sunday school is at 9:15 a.m. for all ages. Join in at Fellowship Hall to learn about all the educational, fellowship, mission and music offerings. Meet this year's Sunday school teachers and students, as the third-graders receive their Bibles and the children learn a new craft. A continental breakfast will be served. At 11:45 a.m. celebrate Rally Day following the service with cake, coffee and punch in the narthex.

For more information, call the church offices at (847) 836-5540. Visit the church's Web site at: www.BarringtonUMC.com.

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, 200 N. Plum Grove Road, Palatine, begins a new worship schedule Sept 8-9 with blended worship at 5 p.m. Saturdays, Bible study at 7:45 a.m. Sundays, traditional worship service at 8 a.m. Sundays, Sunday school at 9:15 a.m., blended worship at 9:15 a.m. Sundays and modern worship at 10:45 a.m. Sundays.

In addition, Wednesday Night Community Builders Session One classes run Sept. 12-Oct. 10, with 5:30 p.m. dinner (freewill offering) and 6:15 p.m. classes for all ages including nursery (847) 359-1649. www.ilcp.org

St. Paul United Church of Christ, 144 E. Palatine Road, Palatine, begins its fall worship schedule Sunday with worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10 am. Nursery care and Sunday School available. Second Saturday Creative Worship at 5 p.m. with optional potluck dinner to follow. (847) 358-0399. www.stpaul-ucc.org

Women's programs

Holy Family Parish, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, will offer Community on Wednesday Sept. 19 with an evening of prayer, learning and conversation. Special guest speaker Leslie Bennetts will present "The Feminine Mistake, Are We Giving Up Too Much?" at 7 p.m. This will be of special interest to women of all ages.

Leslie Bennetts is the author of "The Feminine Mistake, Are We Giving Up Too Much?" a controversial, provocative investigation of the risks of economic dependency and the benefits of work for women. For additional information, call the parish office at (847) 359-0042 or (847) 907-3441.

The Women's Book Discussion Group of St. Paul United Church of Christ, 401 E. Main St., Barrington, welcomes all women to attend informal and lively discussions. It meets once a month at 10 a.m. in the church library. There is no cost, but read the book before the meeting. The book for Tuesday is "Dance of the Dissident Daughter" by Sue Monk Kidd. Call (847) 381-0460 for information or to register.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 720 Dundee Ave., Barrington, will hold a Women's Fellowship Luncheon Sunday. The catered luncheon begins at 12:30 p.m. Guest speaker for the luncheon will be Jane Rubietta, spiritual motivational speaker, author and co-director of Abounding Ministries, a nonprofit organization that draws people to God through writing, speaking, music and retreats. Tickets for the luncheon are $15. For information or to purchase tickets, call (847) 382-7002.