Your faith

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Adult education

The Book of Revelation will be the subject for 30 weeks, beginning Tuesday, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, for Community Bible Study's only coed evening group in the Chicago area. It meets this year at Cumberland Baptist Church, 1500 E. Central Road, Mount Prospect. Registration is open now. Contact Pam Reed at (847)373-7375.

St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Parish, 411 N. Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights, will offer Bible study programs this fall.

A new program, "The Great Adventure -- A Journey Through the Bible," will be covered in three 8-session "semesters" offered from September until mid-May. Sessions will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, led by Pat Morey, and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, led by Joanne Twomey. The two-hour sessions will begin on Sept. 18 and 19. The program begins with Genesis and continues with Exodus and the historical books of the Old Testament and finishes with the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. The cost of materials for the three semesters is $40.

A 30-minute preview of this program will be held at 4:15 p.m. today and at 9:45 a.m., Sunday. Samples of the video and workbooks will be available for review. For information call Pat Morey at (847) 541-0652 or Joanne Twomey at (847) 590-8110.

All programs are open to the public. For additional information call the parish office at (847) 255-7452, or visit the parish Web site, www.saintalphonsus.com.

Children, teens

Northbrook Congregation Ezra Habonim, 2095 Landwehr Road, Northbrook, will hold an Open House at 11:30 a.m. Sunday for students and their parents to meet the Hebrew and Sunday School teachers and learn about the program. A free hot dog lunch will be served. For information, call the synagogue at (847) 480-1690.

The Performing Arts Ministry of St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, invites all youth in grades 4-9 to audition from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 17-18 for a role in a play based on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." It will be presented during the weekend of Nov. 9-11. The production will be in workshop format with children changing roles and younger children being instructed using creative dramatics. All who are cast will be asked to pay a production fee of $100. Scholarships available.

For information and audition forms, consult the church Web site at StPeterNorthbrook.org or call the church office (847) 272-2246.

Catechesis at St. Cecilia Catholic Church resumes after Labor Day. Classes begin this week and end in May 2008. The weekly classes are available for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Late registrations will be accepted until Labor Day. Call St. Cecilia's Religious Education Office at (847) 437-6310 to register. St. Cecilia Church is at 700 S. Meier Road in Mount Prospect.

Rally Day to kick off the start of Sunday/FUNday School will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church, 1624 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect. The community is invited. (847) 824-7408.

First Congregational Church of Des Plaines, 766 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines, will hold its Sunday School Rally Day Sunday. Rally Day registration takes place from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at the church and Sunday School will meet during the 9:30 a.m. worship service. "Living God's Word" is this year's theme. The Sunday school program features "Bible Quest" classes for children in first through fifth grades and "Tween Time" for sixth-graders. "Mission Works" includes seventh- and eighth-graders. "The Ark" is the preschool and kindergarten program and nursery care is available during the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Following Rally Day, a continental breakfast, hosted by the Children's Ministries will be served at 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (847) 299-5561.

Family

Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, will hold a bake sale, sponsored by the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, at Septemberfest to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The Septemberfest marks the beginning of a whole new season of education, music and youth ministry at the church. Everyone in the community is invited to participate in the Septemberfest which will feature food, games, petting zoo and pony rides in addition to the bake sale. For more information, call (847) 296-5351.

Fundraisers

Shoe Drive for Soles4Souls, Inc., a nonprofit organization that gives away shoes worldwide, will be sponsored by Women's Fellowship of St. Peter Community Church, Northbrook. Men's, women's and children's new and lightly worn shoes and boots can be dropped off at the church at 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook. Please rubber-band pairs together. The shoes may be dropped off from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 31. For information, call the church at (847) 272-2246.

When you are out and about shopping this summer, keep in mind the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes that St. Peter Community Church, 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, will again be collecting. The drop-off dates for 2007 are Nov. 12-18. These boxes are delivered to children in desperate circumstances around the world. Call St. Peter Community Church office (847) 272-2246 for more information.

The Pilgrim Fellowship Youth Group from the First Congregational Church will offer free car washes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at 766 Graceland, Des Plaines. A freewill offering will be accepted to raise funds for a trip to the Duvall Home for the Developmentally Disabled next summer. For information, call the church at (847) 299-5561.

The Women's Guild of Christ Church UCC, located at 1492 Henry Ave. at Cora Street in Des Plaines, is having its fall rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept 25 and from 8-11 a.m. Sept. 26. This fundraiser includes everything from knickknacks to clothing. Donations will be accepted at the church from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sept. 24. The proceeds will benefit the Church and Missions.

Space reservations are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for the Pumpkinfest Craft Fair at Prince of Peace United Methodist Church in Elk Grove Village. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 at the church at the intersection of Arlington Heights Road and Devon Avenue.

People can reserve a 10-foot x 10-foot space for a cost of $35. For information, call the church office at (847) 439-0668 or e-mail princepeaceumc@sbcglobal.net. Proceeds from the event benefit the church ministries and ministries throughout the world.

Community Presbyterian Church, located in Mount Prospect at Elmhurst Road/Route 83 and Gregory Street, is looking for crafters to participate in its upcoming fall arts and crafts festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29. It will include indoor locations ($35 for one 8-foot table/$60 for two tables) or outdoor locations ($45 for 15-foot by 15-foot space) for crafters to display their handmade goods. The festival will also include a bake sale and brat fest. If interested, call the church office at (847) 392-3111 to get more information and receive a registration form.

Lectures, seminars

St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 205 N. Prospect in Park Ridge (at Prospect and Cedar streets), will hold a five-part series, "In Search of Peace," sponsored by Theology of Park Ridge. Meetings will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and is open to the public. Dates for the series are Wednesday, Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and 24 and Nov. 7. Each session will have a featured speaker and topic. Cost for the series is $30, or $8 per session. For questions or registration information, call Mary Lou Murphy at (773) 774-4421.

Have you ever wondered why humans in all places and times have searched for truth, spirituality and justice? St. John's Episcopal Church invites you to an inspiring program to examine how the ancient truths of Christianity may be lived out today. The program will explore the book "Simply Christian" by Bishop N.T. Wright and will run for five weeks, beginning with an introductory session at 7 p.m. Sept. 19. St. John's Episcopal Church is at 200 N. Main St., Mount Prospect. Questions? Contact Father Scott Barron at (847) 392-1700.

The Heartland Region of the A.R.E. 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines, will host the Rev Patty Pipia from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Her vast knowledge of "Dying, Grieving, and Living on" comes from her five years experience as a trained hospital chaplain and also two years in hospice ministry.

In this presentation Pipia will help us understand the process of dying. For information, call Edgar Cayce Headquartars at (847) 299-6535. Suggested donation $20.

The Rev. Patty Pipia facilitates a five-week series of Prosperity Classes at 10 a.m. today through Oct. 6 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road., Des Plaines. Required books are "Spiritual Economics" by Eric Butterworth and "Prosperity" by Charles Fillmore. Can be taken for SEE credit. For more information or to register, call (847) 297-0997.

Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines, will hold a seminar from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 16 on Simultaneous Healing. Come experience the power of retroactive miracles and Holographic Memory Resolution (HMR), as you go deeper and learn to use your spiritual strengths to heal yourself. Cynthia Hosman, licensed counselor, Unity Northwest chaplain, & HMR practitioner, will conduct this seminar. Suggested fee is $20. For information or to register, call (847) 297-0997.

The Gifts of Grief Workshop video presentation and discussion time will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday at Rainbow Hospice, 444 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 145, Park Ridge. Registration required. Fee is $15. For more information or to register, call Rainbow Hospice Bereavement Support at (847) 692-8884.

Miscellaneous

St. Peter Community Church, (affiliated with the United Church of Christ) 2700 Willow Road, Northbrook, will launch its new program year Sunday, including an ice cream social from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (847) 272-2246.

St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, 411 N. Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights, will host its second annual Oktoberfest at 7 p.m., Sept. 21. The evening, open to adults over 21, will feature traditional Oktoberfest music by the Johnny Wagner Band; other performances include yodeling, the Alphorn and Cowbells. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door, space permitting), and include a dinner of grilled bratwurst, potato salad, sauerkraut and dessert. The Beer Tent will offer imported German beer, domestic beer, wine, Jagermeister and soft drinks.

Tickets are available in the church lobby following Sunday Masses or by mail. Tables of 10 can be reserved in advance with full payment only. Make checks payable to Saint Alphonsus Church and mail to: St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest, 411 N. Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights, IL 60070. All mail order tickets will be available at will-call. For information, call the parish office at (847) 255-7452.

Grace Lutheran Church, 1624 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect, will have a pet blessing service at 4 p.m. Oct. 6 on the lawn in front of the church. The community is invited. Bring your pet and invite a neighbor or friend. (847) 824-7408.

Returning Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, 100 S. School St., Mount Prospect, are programs including "Tough Questions -- An Interactive Message Series"; Sprout Sunday School; confirmation and junior high Bible study; and senior high youth Bible study.

In addition, at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 6 a Faith Basics class is offered. From 9:20-10:20 a.m. Sunday mornings, classes on the following topics will be offered: the Parables of Jesus; Marriage -- From Surviving to Thriving; and What We Believe.

In addition, there is a Tuesday Morning Men's Group that meets at 6 a.m. at the school; a Tuesday Evening Mixed Group that meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Busse home, 117 S. School St.; a Women's Tuesday Evening Group that meets at 7 p.m. at the school; and a Wednesday Morning Bible Study group that meets at 9 a.m.

For more information, call the church at (847) 255-0332 or visit the Web site at www.saint-paul.org.

The Inaugural Bible Baseball game will begin at 9:45 a.m. Sunday in the big back yard at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Prospect Heights. It begins the education year and hits off the new interactive, hands-on program for children and youth called Shepherds' Journey. Classes for adults are ongoing, with a variety of meeting times and topics. Contact the church office at (847) 537-4353 for information. Good Shepherd is a congregation of the ELCA and is at 1111 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights.

Christus Victor will celebrate Rally Day Sunday with a classic and custom car, motorcycle and bicycle show from noon to 3 p.m. at 1045 S. Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village.

All makes and models of cars and motorcycles are welcome. If you are a proud owner, we invite you to show it off at this community-wide event. Ballots will be available for all participants to vote on their favorite. Prizes will be awarded.

Grab a hot dog and coke, and browse the bake sale area. Enjoy a great day of fellowship and fun.

If you have an entry for the first car, motorcycle and bike show, register at rallyday0909@sbcglobal.net. A donation of $5 would be appreciated.

For information, call (847) 437-2666. Services are held Saturday evenings at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. We are at 1045 S. Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village.

Nearly $650,000 of a $1 million goal has been collected from the St. Zachary School parish community in Des Plaines for a new gymnasium and parish life center. During the closing Mass of the parish's annual Augustfest celebration on Aug. 5, the Rev. John Plotkowski, St. Zachary's pastor, blessed and then led a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of these new facilities, which is now under way at the parish, 567 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines.

Celebrate the life of poet, scholar, and theologian Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) at 2 p.m. today during the Mount Prospect Public Library's commemoration of the 800th anniversary of his birth. Rumi was a Sufi mystic who, through poetry, music, and dance, searched for the ineffable meaning of life. The program will feature a brief, 10-minute documentary film on Rumi's life, distinguished lecturers who will explore the timelessness of his beliefs and their impact on life in the 21st Century, readings from Rumi's work, and traditional Turkish music. It is sponsored by the Niagra Foundation, the Turkish American Society of Chicago, the village of Mount Prospect, and the Mount Prospect Public Library. To register, go to www.mppl.org/events or call (847) 253-5675.

Special services

St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church, 9081 N. Maryland St. Niles, (just south of Golf Mill Shopping Center) has scheduled an outdoor service for 10 a.m. Sunday. The service will be held under a tent on the church property. Everyone residing in the community is welcome to attend. Those who attend worship are invited to stay for the church picnic. For information, contact the church at (847) 827-4360 or e-mail KnowJesusBetter@StMatthews.ws.

Northbrook Congregation Ezra-Habonim, 2095 Landwehr Road, Northbrook, will hold High Holy Day Services at the synagogue and at Glenbrook North High School's auditorium, 2300 Shermer Road in Northbrook. Synagogue memberships, which include High Holy Day tickets, are available for families, singles, and senior citizens. Reasonably priced individual High Holy Day tickets are also available. For more information, call (847) 480-1690. The schedule of services is as follows:

Today at 10 p.m., Slichose services at NCEH, refreshments and study at NCEH Synagogue; Wednesday at 6:45 p.m., Erev Rosh Hashana -- Mincha and Maariv Service at NCEH Synagogue; Thursday at 8 a.m. Rosh Hashana First Day at Glenbrook North High School Auditorium and at 5 p.m. Tashlich at NCEH Synagogue Lake Mincha and Maariv at NCEH Synagogue; Friday at 8 a.m. Rosh Hashana Second Day at NCEH Synagogue, and at 6:45 p.m. Conclusion of Rosh Hashana at NCEH Synagogue Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat at NCEH Synagogue; Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. Shabbos Shuvah at NCEH Synagogue; Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Kol Nidre at Glenbrook North High School Auditorium; Sept. 22 at 8 a.m. Yom Kippur at Glenbrook North High School Auditorium, and at 7:30 p.m. Yom Kippur -- Ne'ilah Concluding Service at Glenbrook North High School Auditorium.

With the Jewish high holidays approaching, Rabbi Meir Moscowitz of Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook is embracing new technology to promote holiday services: YouTube. Moscowitz has also revealed plans for a brief 60-second video clip to be included in his e-mails that he sends regularly. Rosh Hashana is celebrated this year from Wednesday-Friday, and Yom Kippur on Sept. 21 and 22. Information on Chabad's services is available on its Web site www.ChabadNorthbrook.com

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue will rent space for the High Holy Days from a nearby congregation to meet the needs of its growing congregation. The space belongs to the Catholic community of Our Lady of the Brook, 3700 Dundee Road in Northbrook.

The rental of space for the High Holy Days is not unusual, but using a Catholic church may be. The parish must make several (temporary) changes to the church's interior in order to accommodate the Jewish worshippers.

Among those changes: the covering of the altar with a white cloth, the covering of the baptismal font with a cloth, the covering of statues and icons, the removal of the Stations of the Cross, and all other movable items that make the space a Christian worship space. Although many of the Jewish services during these 10 days will occur on weekdays, the space must be returned to its original state for weekend Masses, and converted back again.

Although this will be the first time Shir Hadash has used space at Our Lady of the Brook, both communities hope it will become a successful venture, to be repeated in the future.

Shir Hadash, which has about 200 families as members, also uses space at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire, Trinity United Church of Christ in Deerfield and at public spaces around the north shore. For a schedule of these services, go to the temple's Web site at www.shir-hadash.org. Not all services are open to the public, so see the site for details.

On Thursday, thousands of people around the world will once again join with Unity churches and prayer groups in a sacred partnership of prayer -- the 14th annual Unity World Day of Prayer. World Day of Prayer is an interfaith event open to people around the world. Unity Northwest Church will participate by holding a special prayer service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This will begin a 24-hour prayer vigil held at the church. Unity Northwest Church is at 259 E. Central Road, in Des Plaines.

Unity's non-denominational prayer ministry, Silent Unity, maintains a 24-hour prayer vigil every day of the year and receives more than 2 million letters and telephone calls for prayer annually. Anyone in need of prayer support may call (800) 669-7729. This service is free.

Olive Tree Congregation, a Messianic Jewish congregation of Jews and Gentiles following Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, invites all to worship for the High Holy Days.

Services will be on erev Rosh Hashana at 7 p.m. Wednesday and for Rosh Hashana at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Worship will continue on erev Yom Kippur at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 and at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 22 for Yom Kippur services. A Neilah service begins at 5 p.m. Sept. 22, followed by a delicious break-fast meal.

All are also invited to join under the stars and the Sukkah, to celebrate erev Sukkot at 7 p.m. Sept. 26, and to continue to rejoice together in God's faithfulness under the Sukkah on Shabbat, at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 29.

Children's classes and nursery care is available, and admission to services is free. For information about the Olive Tree Congregation High Holy Day services, call (847) 222-1230 or visit the Web site at www.olive-tree.org. The congregation is at 203 E. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights.

A special Healing Service, facilitated by the Rev. Patty Pipia, will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road in Des Plaines. A freewill offering will be accepted. For information, call (847) 297-0997.

Des Plaines Bible Church, 946 Thacker in Des Plaines, will begin having two Sunday morning services starting Sunday. The first service is at 8:30 a.m. with fellowship/coffee time from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m. The second service begins at 10:30 a.m. Child care is provided at both services. New Pastor Scott Ziegler will be speaking at both services along with a time of music by the praise team.

A rite of healing will be offered at the 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship services Sept. 16 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1111 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights. The rite is intended for anyone who wishes to receive an individual blessing in the struggle with any type of illness. Contact the church office at (847) 537-4353 for additional information.

Women's programs

The Des Plaines Bible Church, 946 Thacker St., Des Plaines, invites women to Tuesday morning Bible study sessions led by Sharon Fridley from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. The first session, on Tuesday, begins with a complimentary breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Child care will be available at all sessions. To make a reservation, call the church office at (847) 297-2525.