Your faith

Adult education

Trinity United Methodist Church offers Movie Memories Night at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Professor Bob Burton of Oakton Community College will show his clipped-filled video featuring some of movie's best memories. From Chaplin to Connery, from Capra to Spielberg, they are all here to see and enjoy once more. Also enjoy some popcorn and pop with the show. There is no charge for this event. (This is an adult event, so please no children).

To R.S.V.P., call the church office at (847) 439-0950. Trinity United Methodist Church is at 605 W. Golf Road in Mount Prospect.

Fundraisers

The Spirit of Christmas Bazaar will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 10 at Park Ridge Community Church, 100 South Courtland Avenue, Park Ridge.

For more information on church services and programs, call the church office at (847) 823-3164 or visit www.parkridgecommunitychurch.org.

Queen of the Rosary Parish Health Ministry will hold a wine tasting/social hour from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Parish Hall. Tickets cost $20. The events includes food and a raffle. The church is at 750 W. Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village. For more information, call Diane Tieman at (847) 437-3905

St. John Brebeuf Parish, 8307 N. Harlem Ave., Niles, will hold a Holiday Craft Fair from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 11 in the parish ministry center. The craft fair is sponsored by The Guild of the Nativity of St. John Brebeuf's Catholic Women's Club. Crafters will be able to display handcrafted items for Thanksgiving and Christmas. To receive an application to sell items at the craft fair, call Judi Stephens at (847) 296-6421.

St. John Lutheran Church is sponsoring a community-wide Spaghetti Dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday. This family-style dinner will be held in the lower level of the school building (across the street from the Church) at 1101 Linneman Road, Mount Prospect.

Dinner will include spaghetti with choice of meat sauce or garlic with olive oil, garlic bread, salad, dessert and beverages. Ticket donation: adults: $8, children (4-10 years old): $4, and under 4 get in free.

There will be a raffle drawing at 7:30 p.m. You do not need to be present for raffle prize drawing. For more information, call the church office at (847) 593-7670, ext. 1.

Lectures, seminars

A "Courageous Souls" Workshop will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 11 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road in Des Plaines. It will be facilitated by Robert Schwartz, author of the book "Courageous Souls," and by Deborah De Bari, one of the psychic contributors to that same book.

Understand how you as a soul create your life blueprint. Consciously use your challenges to foster spiritual growth. Understand that the people in your life, including your parents and children, are there at your request, motivated by their love for you to play roles that you scripted. Replace anger, guilt, and blame with forgiveness, acceptance, and peace. Deepen your appreciation of and gratitude for life as a soul-expanding, evolutionary process.

A freewill offering will be accepted. To register, call (847) 297-0997.

"Spiritual Preparation for Christmas" will be presented by the Rev. Diane Venzera & Bradford Newquist from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 28 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines.

Advent represents the inward preparation as we invite the Christ Spirit to be renewed in our hearts. The gathering will prepare a place within ourselves for the re-birth of our Christ nature.

A "Touchstones of Grief" class series will be on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning Nov. 20 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines.

Laurie Geschrey, a hospice chaplain, and certified grief/bereavement counselor, will facilitate an interactive five-week class titled "The Ten Touchstones of Grief." This class will offer tools to assist you with working through the process of grieving, as well as providing you with support on your healing journey.

The last night of class ,there will be service of remembrance to honor the loss of loved ones. A freewill offering will be accepted.

For more information or to register, call the church office at (847) 297-0997.

Men's fellowship

A Men's Breakfast in honor of all veterans will be held Nov. 10 at Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory Mount Prospect.. Veterans, firefighters and police officers eat free, all other men $5. Breakfast is at 8 a.m. Program is from 8:30-9:30 a.m. A blood drive sponsored by LifeSource will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (847) 259-3090 or visit the Web site at www.christianlifechurch.org.

St. Cecilia Parish, 700 S. Meier Road., Mount Prospect, is hosting a Saturday Morning Men's Retreat from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 10. Greg Pierce will speak on "How to Connect What Happens at Mass with Your Daily Life -- Your Job, Your Family, Your Community." Greg is a nationally known, dynamic, entertaining, speaker and an author. For tickets, call the Parish Office, (847) 437-6208. Cost is $10 and includes continental breakfast and pizza lunch. All men 18 and over are welcome.

Miscellaneous

More than 20 local faith-based groups and humanitarian organizations will join forces for the second annual Day of Spiritual Unity today in Des Plaines.

Hosted by the Des Plaines Ministerial Association, the ecumenical gathering is free and open to the public. Activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Johnny James, will open the program at 10 a.m. Panel discussions led by local clergy are scheduled throughout the day on various topics involving prayer. Informational booths will highlight the work of participating churches and agencies.

The Des Plaines Ministerial Association will hold a luncheon meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at Oakton Arms in Des Plaines. For more information, contact Jim Ernst at Our Lady of Hope at (847) 825-4673.

Life Community Church, 1500 E. Central Road, Mount Prospect, will offer a Karaoke Coffee House for the community the last Friday of each month through June 27, 2008. Hours for the Friday night karaoke are 7:30 to 10 p.m. with a 15-minute break. There is a library of 2,500 songs available including pop, classic rock, country, oldies and more. Coffee and dessert are available at no cost (tipping is acceptable). For more information, call (847) 296-3242.

Every Monday morning, several members from Life Community Church stand out in the parking lot with pots of hot coffee ready to serve anyone who wants a free cup of coffee.

Coffee is served to commuters from 6 to 8 a.m. All you have to do is drive up to the coffee bar and a hot cup of coffee will be served to you in your car. The cup of coffee is free. It is just their way of helping out in the neighborhood in a time when everything from gas prices to food prices is going up.

Life Community Church is located at 1500 E. Central Ave., in Mount Prospect, along Central Avenue, between Rand Road and Wolf Road. The members plan to serve coffee all through fall and into spring.

Worship services start at 9:30 am on Sunday, followed by adult and children Sunday school. For more information, call (847) 296-3242.

Performances

The Spirit of Life Chorus announces the following concerts as part of its Fall Concert Series:

• Sunday, 4 p.m., Christ Church, 1492 Henry, Des Plaines, (847) 297-4230.

For more information, visit www.spiritoflifechorus.org.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church is holding its 18th annual benefit concert at 3 p.m. Nov. 18 and features Marimba Ixchel, a Guatemalan children's marimba band, and organist John MacKey.

Marimba Ixchel promotes the Guatemalan culture through the marimba and folkloric dances. It is a non-profit organization geared to helping communities in need in Guatamala.

The concert is free with a freewill offering. Handicap access. St. Martin's is located at 1095 W. Thacker, Des Plaines. For more information, call (847) 824-2043.

Special services

Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, invites all to participate in remembering the saints on All Souls Day, today and Sunday. All Saints Day gives people an opportunity to remember those who were instrumental in nurturing their faith. As we give thanks for the lives of these saints, we also give thanks with anticipation for the gift of life everlasting. Services will be held at 5:30 p.m. today and at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. For more information, call (847) 827-6656.

A special Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road in Des Plaines. It will be facilitated by the Rev. Patty Pipia.

Light a candle, worship in song and in prayer, in meditation and community.

Unity Northwest Church welcomes people from all walks of life. Unity is nondenominational and teaches "positive, practical Christianity."

Women's programs

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, introduces "Fourth Fridays." This ministry for single moms and their children meets on the fourth Friday of each month from October through April. Moms will dine with their children at 6 p.m. and then enjoy dessert and tea as they hear the Good News of Jesus Christ while their children have their own supervised activity/craft time. Come and be pampered. Contact the church at (847) 593-8337 and leave a message for Laurel Hult or Kaylene Contri for more information or to make a (suggested) reservation.

The Ninth Christmas Candlelight, Tea, hosted by the Women's Ministry of Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory St., Mount Prospect, will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 29. Tickets are $10 and need to be purchased by Nov. 18. Call Jeri for tickets at (847) 259-3090, ext. 10, or e-mail joleksy1963@aolcom.

All women are invited to participate in a Bible study called "Encouraging One Another" on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 100 S. School St., Mount Prospect. Learn how God encourages his people though the Bible, through your own life and through other people. Copies of the book "Women of Faith Study Guide Series: Encouraging One Another" will be available to purchase Tuesday night for $7. You do not need a book to participate. For more information, contact Shane at (847) 392-9060, Schwich@comcast.net or visit saint-paul-women.blogspot.com.

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, wants to invite all women, college age and up, to its Ladies' Bible Study at 9:30-11 a.m. or 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the church. This fall's theme is "Discovering Contentment in Stressful Times." Child care is available at the 9:30 class for preschoolers and infants. Bring your Bible, your Starbucks, and yourself (and a friend). For more information, call (847) 593-8337.

Women's Wednesday Night Bible Study, Drawing Near To God by John Bevere, is held at 7 p.m. at Christian Life Church, 400 E. Gregory St., Mount Prospect. For more information, call (847) 259-3090, ext. 10.

To submit items, e-mail faith@dailyherald.com, or send fax to (847) 427-1301.