Cook Co. Notes on Religion

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

Adult education

A Marriage Enrichment Evening will be presented by guest speakers Gina and Mark Buckley from Worldwide Marriage Encounter. The presentation will be based on some of the ideas from the book "Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti: Understanding & Delighting in Our Differences." Make it a fun "date night" -- at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Hubert Parish Ministry Center, 729 Grand Canyon, Hoffman Estates. Refreshments provided. Register at (847) 885-7700 or hilawson@comcast.net .

Barrington United Methodist Church will offer adult fellowship and Bible study from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Sunday mornings beginning Sunday. In "What's So Amazing About Grace?" author Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. What is grace? If grace is God's love for the undeserving, then what does it look like in action? Join in for compelling, true portraits of grace's life-changing power. No preparation needed, workbooks are $12. The church is at 98 Algonquin Road (at Route 59) in Barrington. Call (847) 836-5540 for information.

Children, teens

Christ The King Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 W. Michigan Ave., Palatine, has openings in its "Me and You" preschool class for 2-year-olds and young 3-year-olds not yet in preschool. The children will have time to interact with their parent or caregiver and classmates as they hear Bible stories, participate in music and movement, enjoy an age-appropriate art experience and play. A parent or caregiver needs to be present for the class. Babysitting for siblings (infants to 5 years) is available in the church nursery. Hours are 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays beginning this week. The cost is $60 per six-week session. To register or for information, call Valerie Schultz, (847) 358-0230.

Lectures, seminars

Come to hear Frank Bucaro, a nationally known author and speaker, present "Taking the High Road: How to Succeed Ethically When Others Bend the Rules" from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Damian Parish, 131 S. Crest Ave., Bartlett.

This humorous yet practical presentation by Frank Bucaro, a nationally known speaker on ethics, will inform, entertain and motivate you to see ethics in a positive way.

St. Hubert's in Hoffman Estates will begin a series called Catholics Returning Home on six consecutive evenings beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Parish Ministry Center, 729 Grand Canyon St. These sessions are for nonpracticing Catholics who are seeking answers to questions about returning to the church. There will be informal sharing and an update of the Catholic faith and the church. For details, call Gene and Eileen Farrell at (847) 843-1975.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA) will hold a series of New Member Classes at 11 a.m. on Sundays, Feb. 10, 17 and 24 in Room 213 of the church, 930 W. Higgins Road, Schaumburg. Anyone interested in membership at Prince of Peace, contact the church office at (847) 885-7010. For information about Prince of Peace, visit the church's Web site at www.princeofpeace.net

Holy Family Catholic Community is sponsoring a day-long Small Christian Community Institute Jan. 26. Three speakers will be presented, and 10 breakout sessions conducted.

The keynote speaker will be Bill Wise, chief compliance and business ethics officer of Analog Devices, Inc. An adjunct faculty member at Boston University and holder of a law degree from Suffolk University, Wise will speak on "The New Evangelization and You: Our role in taking the 'Gospel … to the heart of society.' "

For information, contact Wilma Growney at (847) 428-7468 or wilmagrow@aol.com. Advance registration is encouraged as there is limited seating for each breakout session. Everyone is welcome. Holy Family Church is at 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 720 Dundee Ave., Barrington, will offer two new Bible study classes beginning at 9:15 a.m. Sunday and continuing for five weeks.

Nancy Klaman, the congregation's parish nurse, and Pat Marks will be teaching a "Health and Wellness" class. The class will address the question, "How can we improve our lifestyle, begin or be consistent with exercise, and put into practice the Christian disciplines of prayer and Bible study?"

The second class, "The Burden of Habakkuk" will be taught by the Rev. Gerald Schalk. The study classes are open to anyone who is interested. For information, call (847) 382-7002.

Great Plains Zen Center will present a workshop, "Embracing Forgiveness," from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Countryside U.U. Church, 1025 N. Smith Road, Palatine.

Participants will use journaling and guided meditation to explore various topics.

Participants will be given tools in the form of understanding and experience to help on their personal journey. Sharing is done in an atmosphere of respectful and nonjudgmental listening.

This workshop is led by Susan Myoyu Andersen, Roshi, Zen teacher and occupational therapist for over 10 years. Myoyu Roshi is the teacher of the Great Plains Zen Center and mother of two children. The suggested donation is $20; $10 for students and seniors.

The facility is wheelchair accessible and a vegetarian lunch will be provided.

For information, visit: www.greatplainszen.org or contact gpzc@greatplainszen.org or phone (847) 274-4793

Basic Buddhism Classes are offered the first Sunday of every month at Rissho Kosei Kai Buddhist Church, 1 W. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect. The next class will be Sunday. All are welcome to attend the 10 a.m. service, followed by hoza (discussion) and Buddhism class. The topic will be "The Four Noble Truths." (847) 394-0809.

Men's fellowship

Rinkey Dinks Christian Men will meet Tuesday at the Palm Court Restaurant, 1912 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. The men have met for 20 years on the second Tuesday of each month. The speaker will be Keith Hoover, computer consultant and service manager for Palatine's SeniorNet Learning Center. Hoover lives in Schaumburg.

Miscellaneous

Faith World Outreach, 6N100 Route 59, Bartlett, is partnering with Angel Food Ministries to provide groceries to those in need. For $25, a family in need receives a box of quality groceries, both fresh and frozen items. For information, call Faith World Outreach at (630) 830-0193 or go to www.angelfoodministries.com.

As part of the continuing celebration of Beth Tikvah Congregation's 50th anniversary, it will host a "Jumping for Joy" retreat. It begins with a Shabbat dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 18 and continues at 8 am. with a continental breakfast and various workshops and activities. Lunch will be served. Havadalah services will be followed by a Mexican dinner and Mariachi band, and there will be a Judaica Rock Concert to conclude the festivities. For details, call Beth Tikvah at (847) 885-4545.

Our Saviour's United Methodist Church, 701 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg is looking for names and addresses of former friends and members of the congregation for the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration in March. Please contact Sandy Marcks at sjmarcks@ameritech.net with this information.

New Beginnings formally of St. Hubert's Church is now moving and will be having its Monday evening meetings at St. Mathew's Church, 1001 Schaumburg Road (in the Hughes Center), Schaumburg. Contacts: Joan Neville at (847) 397-9643 or Bob Maczko at (847) 537-2517.

The Vatican Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles will be displayed before, during, and after all the weekend Masses Jan. 19 and 20 at St. Marcelline Catholic Church, 822 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg.

With an extensive assortment of photographs and historical descriptions, the exhibit presents 126 of the principal Eucharistic Miracles (about 140 panels) that took place throughout the ages in various countries of the world and which have been recognized by the church. By means of the panels, one can "virtually visit" the places where the miracles took place. The exhibit has already visited more than 500 parishes in Italy and in other countries and has been translated into numerous languages.

Holy Family Catholic Community, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness, will host An Evening With Our Blessed Mother at 6 p.m. Jan. 22. Since June of 1981, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, has been appearing daily to a group of young people in a remote village in Yugoslavia called Medjugorje. One of them, Ivan Dragicevic, has accepted an invitation to visit Holy Family Catholic Community Jan. 22.

Our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Peace, is scheduled to appear and speak with Ivan on Jan. 22 while he is at Holy Family Catholic Community. All are welcome to come and be present at this apparition. Schedule of events are: 6 p.m., the recitation of five decades of the rosary; 6:40 p.m., at about this time, Ivan will speak with Our Blessed Mother. After this apparition, the recitation of the rosary will continue; 7 p.m., Holy Mass begins; 8 p.m., Ivan Dragicevic will give his testimony of Our Lady's message. Call (847) 304-4846 or (847) 359-7533 for information.

The public is invited to a Game Night, sponsored by Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church's Rainbow Friends, from 7 to 10 p.m. today. The event, to be held at the church, is designed to allow participants time to get to know a variety of different people and to affirm Countryside's values of celebrating all people, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation.

This will be an evening of board and card games along with refreshments. There is no charge for the event, but participants are asked to bring a snack to share, as well as make reservations by calling (847) 660-6077 or e-mailing susandeluca@comcast.

Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 1025 N. Smith Road in Palatine, between Northwest Highway and Dundee. Directions may be obtained at www.ccuu.org or by phoning (847) 359-8440.

Performances

A spectacular celebration of sacred music by eight Barrington churches is coming to Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road (at Route 59) at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.).

Participating churches include: Atonement Lutheran Church -- Helen Ailabouni, director; Barrington United Methodist Church -- Karen Maxwell; Presbyterian Church of Barrington -- Kirsten Hedegaard; St. Anne Catholic Community -- Rory Cooney; St. Mark Episcopal -- Cory Thompson; St. Matthew Lutheran )-- Cathy Gathman; St. Michael Episcopal Church -- Robert Lind; Salem UMC -- David Hartley.

Featured soloists for the concert are: Kimberly Albrecht, soprano -- BUMC; Colleen Bolthouse, soprano, Atonement; David Hartley, baritone -- SUMC; and Prelude music by Jeffrey Neufeld, organ, BUMC.

Special services

Addison Aglow International will hold a praise and worship titled "One Hour with Jesus" from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, the first Monday of the month, at Addison Presbyterian Church, 233 N. Mill Road, Addison. The service is open to women, men and teens. Baby-sitting is not available. For details, visit the Web site at www.aglow.org or call Nancy at (630) 543-3016.

Congregation Kneseth Israel holds Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at the synagogue, 330 Division St., 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.

Religious school for pre-kindergarten to high school is offered. For details, call (847) 741-5656 or visit www.ckielgin.org.

Celebrate the Joys of Conservative Judaism at Congregation Shirat Shalom in Elgin. Friendly, participatory Shabbat services are held every Saturday at 9:45 a.m., and are followed by a community kiddush luncheon. Services include a spirited Torah discussion, focusing on the "parsha of the week".

A class on "Believing in G-d" will be held at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 19, immediately following lunch.

Guests are always welcome. For information, call (847) 695-6246, e-mail hazzansarah@gmail.com, or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org.

Immanuel United Church of Christ will have new hours starting Sunday. The church is at 1500 Old Church Road in Streamwood. All are welcome at the following times of worship on Sundays:

• 9 a.m. -- worship (traditional with a bit of contemporary), fellowship and coffee following the service.

• 10:15 a.m. -- adult and children's education in the west classroom.

• 11:30 a.m. -- worship (contemporary except on the fourth Sunday of the month). Fourth Sunday of the month only is at 6 p.m., no sanctuary required. This time is set aside to work on mission projects.

For details, call (630) 837-0190 or visit www.streamwoodiucc.org.

St. Marcelline Catholic Church announces the resumption of weekly exposition and adoration of the blessed sacrament. These are held each Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Family Room Chapel. 822 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. (847) 524-4429.

Am Chai will be holding its Friday night service at 8 p.m. Friday at the Devonshire, 1515 Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates. Rabbi Tillman will be officiating. For details, call (847) 604-4060 or e-mail info@amchai.org.

Christ The King Evangelical Lutheran Church (Wisconsin Synod), 100 W. Michigan Ave., Palatine will offer Epiphany services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, with an international meal to follow at 11:30 a.m. in fellowship hall. For information, call (847) 358-0230 or visit www.ByFaithAlone.org.

A prayer service for peace in the Middle East will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 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, "The Jewish Ethical Tradition and the Middle East Conflict," by Larry Hamilton.

Larry Hamilton was a Lutheran pastor from 1982 to 1993. Raised in his early years as a Jew, he made the decision in 1993 to reclaim his Jewish identity and underwent a formal ceremony of return to the Jewish faith. A graduate of Harvard College, Trinity Lutheran Seminary and the University of Chicago Law School, he practices law in downtown Chicago.

Call (847) 381-0243 or visit www.elca.org/middleeast for more information.

Women's programs

Women of all ages (high school on up) are invited to the sixth annual Women's Winter Retreat from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 26 at Living Lord Lutheran Church. The theme for the day is "Celebrate!" Attendees will share fun, good food, inspiring music and messages, and spiritual nurturing. For information and registration, visit www.livinglordlutheran.org or call the church office at (630) 830-3630. Registration ($25, or $10 for students) includes a continental breakfast and a light lunch and is due by Sunday. Living Lord Church is at 1044 Congress Drive, just south of Stearns Road on Route 59.

Women at the Well is St. Marcelline's newest ministry designed for women. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 in the Family Room. A light meal is planned, along with a presentation titled "Laughing Your Way to Wellness" by Colleen Caron, a nurse and certified laughter therapist.

The evening also includes prayer, a time for fellowship and an opportunity to share thoughts on faith, family, health and womanhood with the other women. A donation of $7 is requested to help fund the program.

To make your reservation, call (847) 524-4429. St Marcelline Parish is at 822 Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg.

The Women's Book Group of St. Paul United Church of Christ, Barrington, meets at 10 a.m., the second Tuesday of the month. All women in the community are welcome to come and share in these lively and insightful discussions.

On Tuesday, the discussion book will be "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh.

There is no fee, but please read the book before the meeting in order to fully participate. St Paul is at 401 E. Main in Barrington. For information, call Pastor Jeanne or Pastor Jana at (847) 381-0460.

"What Does the Lord Require of You?" will be the topic of guest speaker Pastor Gretchen Winkler of the Lutheran Church of Martha and Mary, at the Church Women United Annual Meeting Jan. 18.

She will share her photographs and reflections on a study tour she took of the West Bank with the Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolitions. She will enlighten us about the difficult situation Palestinians live with in the Occupied Territories.

Fair trade embroidered goods made by women of the West Bank will be available for purchase. We will also conduct our annual business meeting, take our annual offering for the work of our unit and share in a lunch provided by the executive committee. Coffee begins at 10 am at Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road, Palatine. For more information, contact Barb Olson, (630) 529-2874.