Fox Valley religion special events

Healing service: The McHenry County Church of Religious Science will offer a monthly Healing Service at 4 p.m. today at Golden Harvest Health Foods and Holistic Center, 330 N. Eighth St. (Route 31) in West Dundee. Healing services are popular and known for their uplifting effect with concentrated high vibrational energies revealing spiritual perfection in all areas of your life. The Rev. Anne Muelleman will deliver a short message leaving ample time for prayer, meditation, and spiritual mind treatment by the pastor and the church's professional Practitioners in response to your healing requests. The McHenry County Church of Religious Science continues to hold its Sunday celebration service at the Country Inn and Suites, 600 Tracy Trail in Crystal Lake. Arrive early for the 9:45 a.m. meditation, service and children's program at 10 a.m. For details, visit the Web site at www.newthoughtmchenry.org or call (815) 444-0942.

Culture Club: Today, the Culture Club at Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee will discuss "Einstein: His Life and Universe" by Walter Isaacson. This book has many favorable reviews. His independent thinking and willing to ignore conventional wisdom made Einstein one of the greatest scientists in the 20th century. Join the discussion that start immediately after the 6 p.m. service, around 7:15 p.m. in the church's Luther Hall, 310 E. Main St., East Dundee. In February, the Culture Club discussed "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult. The story spoke clearly about school shootings. The book provided a good description of young people's struggles and frankly admitted that the parents knew nothing of the problems their own children were having. On April 5, the book will be "Rhett Butler's People" by Donald McCraig. For details, call the church at (847) 428-4477.

"Expecting a Miracle": Come to "Expecting a Miracle" at 4 p.m. Sunday at Living Water Church, 601 Hill Ave., Elgin. The Rev. Jennifer Busa is an ordained minister and founder of Living Sword Ministries. She is also a Christian life coach, author, conference speaker, and entrepreneur of Queen Esther's Jewels. She ministers on the power of revelatory authority teaching on the power of the prophetic, the vision and revelations God gives and how to stay focused in the fires. As a mother, she endured the heartbreak of burying her 17-year-old son Daniel after his long battle with a brain tumor. She continued to battle opposition coming at her from people involved in the occult. In this battle God has given her spiritual warfare prayers and through that she wrote a spiritual warfare manual titled, "Special Operations Spiritual Warfare Prayers -- The How-to Series." She has given her testimony and spoken on television programs such as "Voices in the Wilderness" and "Jesus Saves." As she ministers, the power of God is released and captives are set free to reach their destiny in Christ. Living Water Church is two blocks north of Summit Street (Route 58) between Liberty Street and Dundee Avenue. For details, e-mail livingwaterofelgin@yahoo.com.

Donations for food baskets: On Sunday and March 9, the Outreach Committee at the First Congregational Church of Huntley will be collecting food and money to make Easter baskets for the Grafton Township Food Pantry. They welcome donations of: boxed potatoes, canned vegetables, cake mix and frosting, as well as $15 for the purchase of ham. The church is at Main and Church streets in downtown Huntley. For details, call (847) 669-3691.

Rummage sale: The Cary United Methodist Women will host a rummage sale from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon March 8 at the Church, 500 First Street, Cary. Come out to shop, and find good bargains. Saturday is half price sale or fill a bag for $2. Proceeds of the sale go to local and global missions. For details, call the church at (847) 639-7627.

World Day of Prayer: Women and men in more than 170 countries and regions will celebrate World Day of Prayer Friday. "God's Wisdom provides new understanding" is the theme used by Women of Guyana for the prayer service. As you observe WDP 2008, millions of God's people are suffering from violence, neglect, poverty and political injustice. Women and children, especially, are denied basic human rights and are victims of those who would exploit them and abuse them. The service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Community United Methodist Church, 400 W. Spring St., South Elgin. Chairwomen for the event are Marilyn Dorsey and Gwen Kleinschmidt. Pianist for the day is Pam Buckardt. There will be no child care available. Invite friends and family and communities of faith to join the Women of Guyana in prayer and song to support Women's Ecumenical Ministries toward justice, peace, healing and wholeness. The annual offering will support the work of World Day of Prayer and help meet the needs of families in regions of turmoil worldwide. World Day of Prayer is an international movement in 170 countries and regions whose prayers follow the sun across the globe on the day of the celebration. Prayer and action are inseparable and both have immeasurable influence in the world. For details, call Peggy Homfeldt (847) 741-6358.

Shabbat Across America/Canada: On Friday, members of Elgin's Jewish community will gather at Congregation Shirat Shalom in an unparalleled display of Jewish revitalization and Jewish unity. Conceived and organized by the National Jewish Outreach Program in 1997, Shabbat Across America/Canada represents a united effort by the entire Jewish community to renew interest in the fourth of the Ten Commandments - observing a weekly day of rest (Shabbat in Hebrew). Congregation Shirat Shalom will be one of approximately 700 synagogues across the continent that will simultaneously open its doors to practicing and non-practicing Jews alike, so they may join together to experience and rejoice in a traditional Shabbat service and festive meal. More than 600,000 people have participated in Shabbat Across America/Canada in the past. Led by Hazzan Sarah Alexander, attendees will experience an interactive Friday night Explanatory Service and a traditional Shabbat dinner with all the rituals explained. The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Located at 30W509 Shoe Factory Road, Congregation Shirat Shalom is a Conservative synagogue, welcoming all those who seek to deepen their understanding of and commitment to Judaism. For details, call (847) 695-6246 or visit www.CongregationShiratShalom.org "We just can not accept the common perception that North American Jewry is an endangered species," said Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, founder and director of NJOP. "While it is true that the vast majority of Jews in this country have never participated in a traditional Sabbath experience and do not feel a connection to the Judaism that their grandparents practiced only half a century ago -- this should not be. Shabbat Across America/Canada is an exciting and modern way of reintroducing friends and family members to a practice that has been with, and unified, our people for over 3,300 years, and which we trust will be with us for at least 3,300 more." Prompted by the growing rate of Jewish assimilation in North America, NJOP hopes that a memorable and rewarding experience at Shabbat Across America/Canada will infuse thousands of non-practicing Jews with a sense of a greater commitment to Judaism. Of the 5.2 million North American Jews, 2.4 million no longer identify themselves as Jews, 1 million are unaffiliated with any Jewish organizations, and 1.2 million are marginally affiliated, meaning they rarely attend synagogue and have little to do with Jewish life. In addition, 47 percent of American Jews intermarry and 54 percent of Jews below age 18 are being raised as non-Jews or with no religion. Perhaps, the most poignant fact is that more than two thirds of all North America Jews do not observe the Sabbath in any way (2001 National Jewish Population Survey, Council of Jewish Federations). Designed to teach a generation of unaffiliated Jews about the beauty and significance of the Jewish Sabbath, Shabbat Across America/Canada is the first nationally orchestrated program to appeal to members of all major Jewish denominations. It is also the first and only program aimed at uniting Jews across the United States and Canada through one single event. Shabbat Across America/Canada will take place in every city where there is a Jewish presence - from major Jewish geographical centers, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto, to cities with smaller Jewish populations such as Lexington, Ky., Portsmouth, N.H., and Tacoma, Wash.

Jane Hampton Chipman Lenten series: At noon Friday, Phyllis Lange-Connelly, director of music/organist at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Cary, will present the 30-minute organ recital in the sanctuary of First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. He is music director and organist of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. On March 14, the Chicago Gargoyle Brass Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. with organist Michael Surratt and conductor Jon Warfel. The music will be "All-Night Vigil" by Sergei Rachmaninoff. On March 20, it will be "St. Matthew Passion" by Heinrich Schutz. For details, call the church at (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.

Women's retreat at Epworth: Have you ever felt tired or frustrated, alone or lonely? As women you deal with emotions raging inside, vying for time and attention. Just as in your life, the demands of time and attention often overrun you. Family, work, friends and relatives; the commitments in life can wear you down. The Women of Epworth UMC understand the needs of many women in the community and invite all women to spend a day looking at how to keep yourself strong in the face of pressure. This year's women's retreat, "Keeping Your Faith Through the Journey of … ," will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 8. Each of you are on a journey, and "on a long journey of human life, faith is the best of companions; it is the best refreshment on the journey; and it is the greatest property" (Hindu, 480BC). Who refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 This refreshing day will be filled with guest speakers, inspiring drama, music, lunch and a new fellowship between in the community. The cost is $25. Tickets are available through the church office, Randall Road and Highland Avenue in Elgin. For information, call Epworth at (847) 931-5400 or e-mail Patti Floyd, event coordinator, at pfloyd12861@yahoo.com.

Pine Car Derby Race: Bethel Baptist Church invites you to its ninth annual Pine Car Derby Race from 1 to 4 p.m. March 8 in the church gymnasium, 200 N. Roselle Road in Schaumburg. There will be more than 200 entries from children, age 6 to 12, racing toward the finish line. Admission is free. For details, call the Rev. Josh Plonk at (847) 885-3230, ext. 3033 or e-mail josh@bethelministries.org.

67th annual ham supper: The Men's Club of the Burlington United Methodist Church invites you to its 67th annual Ham Supper. This all-you-can-eat dinner will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. March 8 at the church, 195 W. South St., across from the fire station in Burlington. Dinner carry-outs and a bake sale of fresh homemade treats will be available until 6:30 p.m. Enjoy a dinner of ham and corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, applesauce, coleslaw, rolls, and of course, pie or cake for dessert. Proceeds from this fundraiser help support the programs of the United Methodist Church in Burlington. Cost is $9 for adults, $4 for children under 12. Kids under age 6 get in free. For details, call (847) 683-3535 or visit www.Burlington-UMC.org.

Program for seniors: Community United Methodist Church, 400 Spring St. in South Elgin, presents a program on "Senior Citizen Concerns" from 9 to 11 a.m. March 8. Arlene Petersen of Visiting Angels will present a short program regarding issues facing senior citizens and those who care for them, a subject that will affect all of us at some time. A question and answer period will follow. All are welcome. It is free of charge. For details, call (847)931-0563 or e-mail cumcsouthelgin@sbcglobal.net.

Annual Hobo Show: The First Congregational Church of Huntley will present its 44th annual Hobo Show at 6 p.m. March 8 and noon March 9. This year, the popular event features 20 "hobo" entertainers performing musical numbers, including "Whistle While You Work" and "Walking on the Sun," while the hobos go on a hunt that begins in the pastor's office. Tickets, which are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12, include the show, a beef stew dinner served by the hobos, and door prizes. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the church at (847) 669-3691.