Religion notes

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Adult education

Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village will offer the Alpha program for 10 weeks from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, April 3-June 5, and from 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays April 2-June 4. The program is free. Babysitting will be provided for a fee. Each Thursday evening session will begin with dinner, followed by a large group presentation and then break into small groups for discussion. Alpha is an opportunity for anyone to explore spirituality from a Christian perspective. 1045 S. Arlington Heights Road, (847) 437-2666.

The WiredWord Bible class and discussion group will be expanding to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday nights, beginning April 2 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin, Des Plaines. The class will continue meeting at 9:15 a.m. Sunday mornings, as well. The WiredWord.com provides a weekly topic that becomes the focus of discussion of current events and how Scripture helps make sense of the world around us. (847) 827-6656 or visit the Web site trinitydesplaines.org.

Children, teens

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue invites parents with school-age children to meet Education Director Alice Bechtolsheim and Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow while learning about Shir Hadash's one-day-a week religious school at an open house from 11:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Field Middle School, 3131 Techny Road, Northbrook.

Summer and fall 2008 registrations are now being accepted for Sonshine Preschool, 304 W. Palatine Road, Prospect Heights. Summer session is on Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. June 10-July 10 Fees for the summer is $125 for two days a week, and $170 for three days a week. Fall sessions offer both morning and afternoon preschool hours. Call Barb Orze at (847) 520-1116.

Registration for fall 2008 has begun for the Mother's Day Out Preschool Program at Prince of Peace United Methodist Church, 1400 S. Arlington Heights. Road, Elk Grove Village. A new expanded program begins in September. The hours are 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day for children ages 2 to 5. (847) 439-0668.

Family

Northwest Assembly of God, 900 N. Wolf Road, Mount Prospect, will host a community egg hunt at 10 a.m. today. There will be a petting zoo, inflatables, face painting, free food and free pictures with the Easter Bunny. (847) 299-2400.

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, behind Alexian, Brothers Medical Center, offers Wednesday night dinners. Cost is $1.50 per person. The dinners at 6 p.m. precede the church's weekly AWANA club night for children ages 3 through sixth-grades. (847) 593-8337.

Trinity Lutheran Church will host its first Chili Cook-Off and Pie Contest March 29. Everyone is welcome to bring a favorite recipes. Judging of chili will begin at 5:30 p.m., with dinner to follow. Trinity Lutheran Church is at 3201 Meadow Drive, Rolling Meadows. (847) 398-7122.

Fundraisers

Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church, 8624 W. Normal Avenue, Niles, will hold its 19th Annual Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 29. All proceeds to benefit the parish as a whole. (847) 823-2550.

St. Raymond de Penafort Parish, 301 S. I-Oka, Mount Prospect, will host Spring Gala -- The Spirit of Giving for 6:30 p.m. April 25 at the Woodfield Hyatt in Schaumburg. Tickets cost $85. An overnight stay package costs $109. The event features dinner, dancing and an auction. (847) 253-8600.

St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, will have an Italian Buffet at 5 p.m. April 12. The menu will be chicken tetrazzinni, mostaccioli, Italian sausage & peppers, salad, bread, dessert and beverage. For tickets, call (847) 272-2246. Cost: $12 and $5 for children ages 5-12. (847) 272-2246.

St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, will hold its annual rummage sale. Preview Friday will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 25. Admission costs $3. On April 26, hours will be 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. There is no admission fee for Saturday. (847) 272-2246).

Lectures, seminars

The Home Educators Loving Parents homeschool support group will hold its second annual H.E.L.P. Homeschool Resource Fair at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Elk Grove Village Library, 1001 Wellington Ave, Elk Grove Village. www.help-home.org.

Laurie Geschrey, a hospice chaplain and certified grief/bereavement counselor, will facilitate an interactive five-week class titled "The Ten Touchstones of Grief." Classes will be on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning April 1, and held at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines.

The last night of class there will be service of remembrance to honor the loss of loved ones. A freewill offering will be accepted. (847) 297-0997.

Miscellaneous

"Why Go to Church?" will be broadcast at 9 a.m. Sunday on WNDZ 750 AM. People will speak of the difference regular commitment has made in their lives and activities. For more information, call (847) 381-0939, or visit chicagospirituality.com.

"Easter 2008" will be broadcast in Spanish at 8 a.m. Sunday on WRTO 1200 AM. Speakers describe encounters with the joy of Easter, and how its message of hope transformed their outlooks and lives.

Easter Sunday services at all Christian Science churches celebrate Christ Jesus' resurrection from death. For the church nearest you, visit chicagospirituality.com or call (800) 222-6793.

Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim, 2095 Landwehr Road, Northbrook, holds movie nights monthly on Thursday. The films are in Hebrew with English subtitles. Admission costs $5 and $10 for nonmembers. Some of the films will highlight subjects that may be geared toward an adult audience.

Upcoming films: "Forgiveness" at 7:30 p.m. May 15. nceh.org or (847) 480-1690.

Our Lady of the Brook Parish will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a gala dinner May 10 in the Parish Worship Center. The evening will begin with Mass at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person, and are available by mail. Send ticket orders and a check (payable to "Our Lady of the Brook") to: 40th Anniversary Dinner, Our Lady of the Brook Parish, 3700 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. Please RSVP by April 15. (847) 272-5686 or visit www.olbparish.org.

Unity Northwest Church will offer a special screening of "The Moses Code," a film bringing together some of the best-known spiritual leaders of our time to discuss the importance of service as a spiritual practice. Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines, will show the movie at 7 p.m. April 4 and 5, and at 1:30 p.m. April 6. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance. For more information, call (847) 297-0997.

Feed My Starving Children is having a mobile packing event at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 200 S. Wille St. in Mount Prospect from April 16-20. There are four shifts on Wednesday-Saturday (9:30-11:30 a.m., 1:30-3:30, 4-6 and 6:30-8:30 p.m.) and two shifts on Sunday (9:30-11:30 a.m. and noon-2 p.m.). Volunteers of all ages are needed to hand-pack nutritious meals for starving children. Sign up by calling the church at (847) 253-0631.

The Rev. Carl Morello, pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Park Ridge, is one of eight pastors from across the country to receive the first Distinguished Pastor Award from the National Catholic Educational Association.

St Nicholas Episcopal Church opens its Supplemental Food Pantry from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays to the hungry of Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg.

Bags of groceries are given to anyone in need, with no eligibility requirement. 1072 Ridge Ave., Elk Grove Village. (847) 439-2067 or visit online onebreadonebody.org.

Performances

St. Stephen's Parish, Everett and Spruce, Des Plaines, will host the St. Stephen's Gaslight Players' production of "Lila of the Pine Barrens" Hanley Hall. The musical comedy/melodrama will be presented at 8 p.m. Fridays, April 4 and 11; 7 p.m. Saturdays, April 5 and 12 and at 1 p.m. April 6. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors/students, and $8 for children. Doors open a half-hour before showtime and tickets will be available at the door. For ticket information, call (847) 824-2026.

Trinity University Concert Choir will perform at 6:30 p.m. March 30 at Mount Prospect Bible Church, 505 W. Golf Road, Mount Prospect. (847) 439-3337, mp-bc.org.

Seniors

Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village, invites all area seniors to its senior luncheons, held the third Friday of every other month at 11:30 a.m. Bring a dish to share if you like, and meet new people while you enjoy conversation and fellowship. The next gathering will be in April. (847) 593-8337.

Special services

Trinity Lutheran (ELCA), 675 E. Algonquin, Des Plaines, will offer the Rite of Healing during the 5:30 p.m. contemporary service March 29 and also during the 8 and 10:30 a.m. services on March 30. (847) 827-6656.

Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook will be holding a community Passover Seder at 8:15 a.m. April 19 at Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook 755 Huehl Road at the corner Dundee Road. Join Rabbi Meir Moscowitz for a traditional Seder experience complete with a full Passover meal, handmade Shmurah Matzah and plenty of holiday insights and explanations. Participation: adults $36, children $25. Reservations required by April 7. (847) 564-8770 chabadnorthbrook.com.

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights culminates its yearlong celebration of 50 years of ministry with an Anniversary Festival Worship Service at 10 a.m. April 13. The Rev. Wayne N. Miller, bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA, will preach, former pastors, and other clergy will be in attendance.

The Jubilee Celebration of "Walking with the Shepherd" continues that day with a banquet from 1-5 p.m. at the Astoria Banquet Hall, 1375 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. Tickets for the four-course dinner are: $30 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under. Reservations are due by Tuesday. (847) 537-4353.

Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 150 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village, invites all to attend their Casual Service, held every Thursday in the fellowship hall of the church. This service offers the same message as the Sunday service but in a more casual setting.

Women's programs

"Building a Spiritual Green Connection" is the topic of Church Women United's April Forum. Linda Sonner, coordinator of the Spiritual Green Connection, will be the speaker. Its mission is to support people of faith who wish to create a "Going Green" campaign in their faith communities. Questions and discussion will follow. The meeting begins at 9:15 a.m. at the Christian Church of Arlington Heights, 333 W. Thomas St. All women are invited and free childcare is provided, but reservations are necessary. Call Gail at (847) 255-2977.

St. Emily's Women's Club is presenting this year's fashion show "Springtime in Paris" April 11 at the Cotillion. The ticket price is $40. Menu choices are chicken breast ala Champagne or whitefish with lemon and butter sauce. Deadline is April 4. For tickets, contact Darlene Malloy at (847) 577-2767.