Notes on Religion

To submit your listings, e-mail M.J. Porter at mporter@dailyherald.com or fax items to (630) 955-0895. Mail should be sent to Daily Herald, 4300 W. Commerce Court, Lisle, IL 60532.

• Three area churches are listed in the top 25 of the 125 Most Innovative Churches of 2008 in America by Outreach magazine. The churches are Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington at No. 10, Community Christian Church in Naperville at No. 13, and Orchard Valley Community Church in Aurora as No. 24.

Today

• Iglesia Evangelica Luterana San Pablo of Aurora will hold a Spanish marriage encounter from 4 to 9 p.m. today at Long Island Sound Banquet Hall, 1920 E. New York St., Aurora. The cost for food, child care and materials is $30 per person. For details or reservations, call Violeta at (630) 946-9640.

• Wayside Cross Ministries will hold its second annual winter walk, "Walk a Mile in My Shoes," at 9 a.m. today beginning at the Aurora Community Center, 501 College Ave., Registration is at 8:30 a.m. The goal is to raise $100 per walker for the transitional living center for homeless women and children. For details, visit www.walk-a-mile-aurora.org or call (630) 723-3405.

• Christian Youth Theater will present the musical "Godspell" at Timothy Christian School, 188 W. Butterfield Road, Elmhurst. Performances are at 2 and 6 p.m. today and Feb. 16, 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Tickets are $8 to 12 in advance with an additional $2 at the door. For details or tickets, call (847) 516-2298.

• The Power Team will present programs at 7 p.m. through Sunday at the Harkness Family Center, 60 S. Fourth St., Aurora. A $2 donation is suggested at the door. The team is a group of world class athletes with positive messages. For details, visit www.firspresaurora.org or call (630) 844-0050.

Sunday

• Holy Spirit Catholic Community will hold its Lenten mission, "The Math of Live It," from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the church, 2003 Hassert Blvd., Naperville. A light meal will be served each night before the program. Baby-sitting reservations are required 48 hours in advance by calling (630) 922-0081. For details, visit www.HolySpiritNaperville. org or call (630) 922-0081.

• Community United Methodist Church will present the A Cappella's concert, "Romanticism and Rock 'n' Roll," at 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 20 N. Center St., Naperville. For details or tickets, call (773) 755-1628.

• Temple B'nai Israel will feature a lecture by Shuli Eshel, "Jewish Women in American Sports," at 10:45 a.m. Sunday at the temple, 400 N. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora. A brunch is at 10 a.m. with a suggested donation of $6. For details, call (630) 892-2450.

Monday

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish will present a Taize service at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. The program "Reconstructing Catholicism: Our Way into the Future" is from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. A Soup and Bread Night is at 6 p.m. Wednesday. For details, call (630) 355-8980.

Tuesday

• New Beginnings, a nondenominational self-help group for those experiencing separation, divorce, death of a spouse or loss of a significant relationship, meets at 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1215 Modaff Road, Naperville. For details, visit www.newbeginningsil.com or send an e-mail to cml525@gmail.com.

Wednesday

• St. Margaret Mary Parish offers a Morning Enrichment series at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at the church, Naper Boulevard and Green Trails Drive, Naperville. Topics are presented by professional speakers with events also planned April 16. For details, call (630) 369-0777.

• The Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland will celebrate Darwin Day at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 4S535 Old Naperville Road, Naperville. The event begins with a potluck dinner. Anthropologist Art Piper will be the featured speaker. For details or reservations, call Jack Sechrest at (630) 554-8058.

• Word of Life Lutheran Church will hold services at 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Lent at the church, 879 Tudor Drive, Naperville. For details, call (6300 355-9655.

• Holy Spirit Catholic Community will present a free Christian acoustic guitar and vocal concert featuring Ryanhood, Ryan Green and Cameron Hood, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 2003 Hassert Blvd., Naperville. The concert is for middle and high school students. A reception follows the concert. For details, call (630) 922-0081.

Thursday

• River Valley Community Church's Singles FOCUS, Fellowship of Christians United in Spirit, meets at 7 p.m. Thursday with a light meal at 6:30 p.m. at River Valley Community Church, 1655 Bowman Drive, Aurora.

Upcoming events include a game night at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and a movie night featuring "Amazing Grace" beginning with a light dinner at 5:30 p.m. March 1. Reservations are requested by calling (630) 907-2992.

A Divorce Recovery Workshop is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, March 11 to April 29, at Westminster Church in Aurora. The fee is $39 in advance, $49 at the door.

Church services are at 10 a.m. Sundays. For details, visit www.rivervalleycommunity.org or call (630) 907-2992.

Friday

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish will hold Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m. Fridays through March 14 at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-8980.

• St. Margaret Mary Church will hold a Catholic Charismatic Mass and Healing Service at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the church, 1450 Green Trails Drive, Naperville. For details, call (630) 369-0777.

• Holy Spirit Catholic Community will hold Lenten reflections at 7:30 p.m. Fridays through March 14 at the church, 2003 Hassert Blvd., Naperville. For details, call (630) 922-0081.

Feb. 19

• Wheaton College's Center for Applied Christian Ethics will feature author Jim Wallis discussing his new book, "The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith and Politics in a Post-Religious Right America," at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in Kresge Room of Edman Memorial chapel, Washington and Franklin streets, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 752-5886.

Feb. 20

• First Church of Lombard will hold its second annual Women's Wellness Workshop with a registration deadline of Feb. 20. The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1 at the church, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. Participants have an opportunity to choose three of 12 information sessions. Featured speaker Faith Roberts will present "From Wedding Rings to Nose Rings … Generational Differences in the Pews." The fee is $45 and includes breakfast, workshops and lunch. For details or to register, call Debra Haugen at (630) 629-2630, ext. 12.

Feb. 21

• Wheatland Salem United Methodist Church will present "Making Room for Life" with Randy Frazee and Ed Bahler from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at the church, 95th Street and Book Road, Naperville. The $20 fee includes lunch. For details or to register, call Pat Masek at (630) 388-5101.

• Author Mike Sandrolini will discuss his new book, "All the Good in Sports: True Stories that Go Beyond the Headlines," from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 21 at First Presbyterian Church, 325 E. Downer Place, Aurora. Those attending may bring a lunch or pre-order a sandwich for $2.25. For details, visit www.firstpresaurora.org or call (630) 844-0050.