Fox Valley religion notes

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.

St. Peter: On Sunday, July 12, the Rev. Mark Frusti will preach on "A Reverent Work in Progress" 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. The Seniors' Card Club meets Thursday, July 16, at the church. 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 pre-kindergarten 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, July 12, 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 Wednesday study group continues "Rocksolid," an exploration of faith for the mature Christian and for the new Christian, at 7 p.m.

Vacation Bible school will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10 to Friday, Aug. 14. "Crocodile Dock" will have pre-registration and registration on the first night, Aug. 10. For information, call (847) 464-5381 or visit www.countrycov.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 "Pinhas." 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 "Balak," where the prophet Balaam, who came to curse the people of Israel, ends up blessing them instead. For details, call (847) 695-6246, e-mail hazzansarah@gmail.com, or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org

First UMC-West Dundee: On Sunday, July 12, the Rev. Steven Mindrup presents the theme, "The Dance of Life or the Dance of Death?" at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. The scripture lessons are 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29. The nursery is open for children age 3 and younger. Children who are 4 and older are invited to attend the multi-grade Sunday school class held in the church youth room. "Saturday with the Spirit" service will be Saturdays. Come snack and socialize from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Service will follow and end by 6:30 p.m. Come for the food, come for the message or both. The vacation Bible school is scheduled for July 20-24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Each Sunday's service is now being digitally recorded and is available on the Web site on Monday. If you are unable to attend, visit the Web site. For details, call (847) 426-2113 or visit www.firstumcdundee.net.

First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, July 12, the Rev. Jonathan Hutchison will preach on "Predestination" at the 9 a.m. service and "Holy Ground" 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 Gwynn Downey, bassoon, and Jonathan Besancon, piano, at the 9 a.m. service. They will play two movements from Mozart's Bassoon Concerto, K. 191. 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. The church youth group will return from the mission workweek Saturday, July 11. They worked a week at the Wind River Indian Reservation in western Wyoming. For details, call (847) 741-0038 or visit www.fumcelgin.org.

St. John: On the sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 12, the Rev. Howard Gleason will preach the sermon, "Plumbline" based upon Amos 7:7-15, 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. Midweek service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. There will be no midweek service Wednesday, July 22, because of the evening VBS program. 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.

Second Baptist: On Sunday, July 12, 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 Choral Ensemble will render the music for the 8 a.m. service and the T.E. Bedford Choir will perform at the 10:30 a.m. service. The Theatre Arts Ministry presents Poetry Night at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Poets, comedians, rappers, mimes, and jugglers are encouraged to perform. Contact Jocelyn at jyarbrou@roosevelt.edu for more details. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. On Wednesday, the Bible study will begin at noon followed by evening Bible study starting at 7 p.m. For details, call (847) 695-7757 or visit www.SBCElginIl.org.

First Congregational: On Sunday, July 12, the Rev. Michael Kirchhoff will perform at the 9 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. Holy Communion will be celebrated. 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. A reception will follow worship in honor of Pastor James' call to service. Sunday's Ministry of Music will be by the Praise Singers: Cheri Blazek, Robert Blazek, Sonja Boekenhauer, Rick Gilmore, Penny Mensik, Sue Schmidt and Sara Tustin. 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. Children should be signed in and out. Summer Parent's Day Out is offered on Tuesdays from July 14 to Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon. For details, contact Michelle Hendricks at 847.426.2161 ext. 204 or by e-mail to mhendricks@fccdundee.com. 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, July 15. 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, July 12, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Hopps and Randall roads in Elgin, will observe the sixth Sunday after Pentecost by looking at the theme "The Least of These" based on Matthew 25, at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services. The church will welcome Deaconess Lori Wilbert with an update on prison ministry. 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.

St. James Episcopal: On the Sixth Sunday After Pentecost, July 12, the Rev. Don Frye will be preaching at the 9 a.m. service at St. James Episcopal Church, 516 Washington St., West Dundee. His sermon will be "Dare to Speak." The readings for this week are 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24, Ephesians 1:3-14, and Mark 6:14-29. Rev. Frye will be in the parish office on the following Fridays: July 10, 17. Call Liz Jackson, parish administrator, to schedule an appointment at (847) 426-5612. For details, call (847) 426-5612 or visit stjamesdundee.org.