Tri-Cities religion briefs

Fundraisers

• Need to get more for your money and support your community? On Saturday, Sept. 19, Hosanna! Lutheran Church will be having its first-ever garage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items for sale include household goods, tools, electronics, outdoor items, small appliances, books and toys. Twenty percent of all proceeds will go to support Lazarus House, the St. Charles-based homeless and transitional living center. All in the community are welcome to stop by, rain or shine, for this indoor sale. Payment terms are cash and carry only. For information, call the church office at (630) 584-6434, email Welcome@HosannaChurch.com or online at HosannaChurch.com. Hosanna! is at 36W925 Red Gate Road (entrance just east of Randall Road), St. Charles.

• Bethlehem Lutheran Church is hosting its second annual Trunk Sale (outdoor flea market) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the church, 1145 N. Fifth Ave., St. Charles. Collectibles, books, toys, sports equipment, new crafts, jewelry, etc. will be for sale. The sale will offer great prices on old and new items as well as a fun shopping opportunity for the community. A limited number of vendor spaces are available for $10. Deadline to register for a 10- by 16-foot spot is Sept. 20. Contact Michelle at (630) 377-5879 for information. Registration fees collected will support Bethlehem's missionaries abroad. Money raised by sellers will be theirs to keep. There will be baked goods. For details, visit www.bethlehemluth.org

• A huge biannual church rummage sale will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct 2, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct 3, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles. On Saturday, there is a $4 bag sale as well as a half price sale on all large items. Available for sale is furniture, clothing, household items, linens, craft items and more. For details, call (630) 584-6680. Benefits from the sale will support a variety of missions and programs such as youth, local missions, refugee relocation, adoption, education, music. Missions supported include Lazarus and Hesed House, Northern Illinois Food Bank, TriCity Family Services, Heifer Project for poverty solutions, relief for hurricanes and other disasters, and missionaries in Senegal. The senior high and college youth spend time every summer helping to provide better housing and services within various areas of the United States such as Appalachia and Native American reservations in South Dakota.

• The Sugar Grove United Methodist Church invites you and your family to enjoy a variety of hot soups and baked breads at the Annual Bread and Soup Luncheon hosted at the Sugar Grove Community House, 141 Main St., Sugar Grove. The Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, Mission's committee, will conduct the luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 4, serving at 11:45 a.m. Soup bowls and dining service are provided. The fundraiser seeks to raise voluntary contributions for Mutual Ground of Aurora, a shelter whose mission is to provide care and assistance to women and children who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. It is our hope that you will join us in raising donations for our local women and children's shelter. If you are unable to attend, but would like to support this benefit, you can make your check out to Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, designating your gift to Mutual Ground. You can mail your donation to P.O. Box 226, Sugar Grove, IL 60554. We appreciate your consideration and all voluntary contributions made to the Mutual Ground.

• "Lights, Camera, Auction!" is the theme for Calvary Episcopal Church's annual silent auction and raffle at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Items will be up for bid and raffle, and proceeds from the event go toward Calvary's budgeted outreach ministries, many of which are here in the Fox Valley, including Lazarus House, the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, Mutual Ground and Hesed House. Individuals or businesses wishing to donate items for the event may do so through early October. A highlight of the evening will be the drawing for the raffle grand prize of $1,000 in cash. Tickets for this raffle are on sale now and are $5 each. Only 1,500 will be sold. Admission is free and dinner is included. Calvary is located at 222 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. For information, or to order raffle tickets, call Calvary at (630) 879-3378.

• Calvary Episcopal Church is once again offering high-quality, low-cost wreaths and greens for your holiday decorating needs, and is now taking advance orders. All proceeds benefit a variety of Community Outreach Ministries supported by the parish. Calvary has been purchasing from the same local grower for over 10 years, and the wreaths and roping are not made until just before delivery, so they will last beautifully throughout the season. All wreaths come with a velvet bow and pine cones attached. They will arrive the week of Thanksgiving; arrangements can be made for earlier delivery if enough notice is given. Calvary will deliver orders locally (within the greater Tri-Cities area) at no charge. For pricing and an order form, visit calvary-episcopal.org. Those wishing to shop in person may do so Friday through Sunday, Nov. 27-29, and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6, at Calvary, 222 S. Batavia Ave. For details, call Calvary at (630) 879-3378.

Food drives

• More than 150 volunteers from nine Batavia churches and the Batavia Lions Club will join Jewel and Berkeley's food stores to help restock the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry on Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20.

Eighteen years ago, a group of concerned citizens met to try to find a solution to help needy, local residents. From this grass roots beginning, Food Sharing Days were developed to assist and benefit the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry.

Volunteers in red aprons will be passing out lists of suggested items that the food pantry needs to shoppers entering the stores and will collect the food items that the shoppers donate to the food pantry. Containers for money donations will also be available for those not grocery shopping.

All donations will be taken to the food pantry where another group of volunteers will sort and shelve the items for distribution to qualified, needy Batavia and Batavia Township residents. The food pantry serves 1,100-1,200 people each month. Food donations may also be dropped off at the food pantry, which is located at 100 Flinn Drive, 2 blocks south of Wilson Street in Batavia. Food pantry hours are 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, and 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. For details, call (630) 879-3784.

• Rejoice Lutheran Church in Geneva is offering a bowl of gumbo to anyone who brings nonperishable foods, paper goods or cash donations to the church on Saturday, Sept. 26. All donations will go toward stocking and transporting goods to a food pantry in Biloxi, Miss., in conjunction with an adult mission trip Rejoice Lutheran is hosting to Biloxi in October. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, donors may either drop off donations in a special drive-through lane set up outside the church at 0N377 Mill Creek Drive, Geneva, or they may enter the church between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to receive a free bowl of authentic Cajun gumbo. During the gumbo giveaway hours, Rejoice members will also have a packing party as they load the donations in a truck heading for Mississippi. "Four years ago, when Hurricane Katrina hit, there was a huge outpouring of love and donations for the people in Mississippi and Louisiana who lost their homes, businesses and so much more," says Amy Frazer, a Rejoice member and one of 27 missionaries going on the mission trip. "Unfortunately, many people in the storm areas are still suffering, and a large percentage of Biloxi residents live below the poverty line. We want them to know we still remember them and will do what we can to help."

Recommended food donations (no glass, please) include: canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, canned ham, rice, pasta sauce, noodles, peanut butter and jelly. Diapers, baby wipes and toilet paper also top the list of needed items. Any cash donations will go toward stocking and transporting goods to the food pantry.

While in Biloxi, Rejoice missionaries will work on various projects to repair and rebuild homes for area residents. For information, call Rejoice Lutheran Church at (630) 262-0596. Rejoice is located in southwest Geneva within the Mill Creek subdivision about half-mile north of Fabyan Parkway and 3 miles west of Randall Road.

• Community of Christ, 1675 E. Chicago St., Elgin, is participating in the Angel Food Ministries program to offer low-cost food relief to anyone in need. Orders are usually due midmonth with delivery usually the last Saturday of each month about 9:30 a.m. For details, including what is available and the cost, visit angelfoodministries.com and type in the ZIP code 60120, select Community of Christ Church or call (847) 741-1366 to leave a message. Your call will be returned. For details, visit elgin.chicagomissioncenter.org.

Special events

• "Cry Out America," a nationwide prayer gathering, will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the grounds of the old Kane County Courthouse, 100 S. Third St., Geneva. It will be focused prayer for community, friends and family, and for the spiritual condition of the nation. For information, visit awakeningamerica.us or call (888) 9-AWAKE-US.

• St. Charles Episcopal Church, 994 N. Fifth Ave. (Route 25), St. Charles, invites the community to its annual Fall Fest from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. Children's activities, a silent auction, musical entertainment, and a spit-roasted pork dinner are included. Advance tickets are $10 for the pork dinner and $5 for the hot dog plate. All tickets sold at the event are $10. More information is available at stcharlesepiscopal.org or (630) 584-2596.

• The public is invited to attend a free outdoor Christian rock concert in Sugar Grove from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at a 40-acre farm located three-quarter mile west of Route 47 and Waubonsee Community College (4S633 Harter Road). Harter Rock features four bands, hayrack rides, volleyball, refreshments, and Frisbee golf. Blankets or lawn chairs are recommended. Rain or shine. Freewill donations will be welcomed. No tickets required. For questions, call Sugar Grove United Methodist Church at (630) 466-4501 or visit sgumc.net.

Guest speakers

• Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors, 121 S. Third St., Geneva, has invited author and former Geneva resident John Kador to speak on "Apology, and What is a Kosher Apology?" at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. This 45- to 60-minute conversation about apology is based on Kador's recent book, "Effective Apology." Kador is a freelance writer and business author specializing in e-business for the new economy. For information, visit jkador.com. Five raffle winners will receive a free copy of "Effective Apology." Copies of the book also will be available to purchase for $15. To register, e-mail Nsohnworks@aol.com.

• Kathy Kelly and Dan Pearson, co-coordinators of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, will speak about their experiences in Pakistan at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, 102 S. Second St. Their talk will culminate a daylong celebration of the International Day of Peace, beginning at 10 a.m. with a story hour for preschoolers and their parents. Jean Pierce will share books about peace and will show children how to make origami peace cranes. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the sanctuary will be open for meditation, and information will be available regarding opportunities to promote peace through justice. From 1 to 2:30 p.m., knitters and others are invited to listen to recordings of stirring peace sermons, while those who knit or crochet will make shawls for peace. Between 2:30 and 3 p.m., the names of war casualties in Afghanistan will be read. From 3 to 5 p.m., two films will be shown and discussed: "Afghan Stories" and "The Day After Peace." "Afghan Stories" gives a face to the current struggle by introducing a member of the Afghan royal family who was tortured by the Taliban and Afghan warlords. "The Day After Peace" charts the journey taken by award-winning director Jeremy Gilley to establish a self-sustaining, institutionalized day of global nonviolence. From 5 to 7 p.m., the sanctuary will be open for meditation. From 7 to 8:30 p.m., Kelly and Pearson will talk and answer questions. For more information, visit uusg.org or call Jean Pierce at (630) 232-2350.

Film night

• An award-winning documentary film, "Blue Gold: World Water Wars," will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, 102 S. Second St. The director follows worldwide examples of people fighting for their basic right to water, from court cases to violent revolutions to U.N. conventions to revised constitutions to local protests at grade schools. For details, visit bluegold-worldwaterwars.com.

Workshops

• The Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave., will embark on a six-week book series titled "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" by Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church. From Sept. 13 through Oct. 18, the Rev. David Foxgrover's weekly message will be based on the book at both 9 and 10:30 a.m. services. Additionally, small discussion groups are being formed. For details, call (630) 879-1999, or e-mail bataviaucc@sbcglobal.net, or visit congregationalchurch.org.

• Bible Study Fellowship International will begin a 32-week study of the Book of John from 9:10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Riverside Community Church, 37W130 Crane Road, St. Charles. For information about the St. Charles Women's Class, contact Charlene Neidlinger at (630) 365-3488.

• Women of the Fox Valley and surrounding areas are invited to a Catholic Bible study on "Women in the Old Testament" from 9:15 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, beginning with the celebration of Mass at the first meeting Sept. 16, at St. Patrick Church, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles. This 10-week study includes prayer, lectures and small-group discussion. The Bible study is co-sponsored by five area Catholic parishes. Fee for this series is $30, $10 per child. Register by calling Mary Hendrian at (630) 208-8425.

Support groups

• Care4Caregivers Support Group is offered at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Hosanna! Lutheran Church, 36W925 Red Gate Road, St. Charles. Many people serve as caregivers to parents, spouses, or siblings. So how do you manage to maintain your adult demeanor while dealing with these issues? This month's topic "When Family Conflicts Get Old" will be presented by social worker Joan Guest. Call (630) 584-6434, e-mail Welcome@HosannaChurch.com or visit HosannaChurch.com.

• First Baptist Church of Geneva invites you to Moms Connected, a program for mothers of "tweens" and teens. They serve as a ministry to encourage, support and help moms connect with other women in this stage of teenage parenting. It includes an informative speaker, enjoyable table discussion, a continental breakfast and informal social time. On Thursday, Sept. 24, Julie Barnhill will be speaking on the topic "Getting into the Head of Your Rebellious Teen " from 9:15-11:15 a.m. at the West Campus, 3435 Keslinger Road, Geneva. To register, fill out a registration card at the welcome center, call (630) 232-7068, ext. 138 or e-mail jragains@fbcg.com before Sept. 22. Cost is $6 per person at the door. Childcare is available for $4 per child. Children need to be registered and prepaid one week in advance at the East campus to secure a spot. They will be accepting advanced preregistration for all Moms Connected programs for 2009-10. They will have scheduled 5 programs for the year. For all who are interested, please pay $30 at this time. You may also pay any child care ahead of time.

• A supportive discussion group for those caring for people coping with memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer's issues is meeting at the United Methodist Church of Geneva, 211 Hamilton St. The group will meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. There is no charge and the group is open to the public. The group will provide information on companioning a person with memory loss issues, education on available resources and services for people with memory loss and provide a supportive community to discuss questions and concerns. The group will be facilitated by Meghan Nelson and Kitty Ganzel. Nelson has a master's degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University and experience in facilitation of bereavement support. Ganzel is a retired ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. While there is no charge, registration is requested. More information is offered from Meghan Nelson, coordinator of congregational care at the church at (630) 232-7120 ext. 815 or Meghan@genevaumc.org. Visit genevaumc.org.

Services

• Calvary Episcopal Church, 222 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia, will hold its annual church picnic and outdoor worship service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, in the Bear Cage at Fabyan Forest Preserve on Route 31, Geneva. The picnic follows immediately. Please bring a dish to pass. Because of the event, there are no worship services at the church that day. For details, call (630) 879-3378.

• The Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, 176 Main St., invites children starting at age 3 and adults of all ages to the weekly Sunday school classes at 9:15 a.m. The adult class will begin with the theme, "How to be a Christian without being Religious," answering the questions,"Does God ever grade on a curve? Is your faith more than fire insurance? and How can all things work together for good?." No advance registration required. Contact the church office at (630) 466-4501 or visit sgumc.net

• Beginning Sept. 20, Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln St., will resume its fall schedule of two services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Education Hour for 3-year-olds to adult will be at 9:15 a.m. Nursery care is provided. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first and third Sundays, as well as on Festival Sundays. Contemporary worship is held on the second Sunday of the month. For details, call (630) 879-3444 or visit bethanybatavia.org.