Fox Valley religious notes

To include your church in the free listings, e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com, fax to (847) 608-0849, or mail to 385 Airport Road, Suite A, Elgin IL 60123.

Country Covenant Church: On Sundays, the Rev. Mark Harder leads worship at the 10:30 a.m. service at Country Covenant Church, Route 47 and McDonald Road in Elgin. This week's message will introduce the third of the Covenant affirmations, "Commitment to the Whole Mission of the Church." Adult Sunday school is held at 9:30 a.m. Bring your Bibles and enjoy good, Scripture-related conversation, study, and prayer. Wednesday study groups will be on "Exploring the Covenant Affirmations." This will be a discussion of Covenant Church doctrines and how they are applied to today's world and specifically to the church. It will begin with dinner at 6 p.m. and study at 7 p.m. The Maranatha Players will be performing Oct. 5 for the entire Sunday service. This drama is a 45-minute account of the life of Simon Peter, fisher of men, and his life as a follower of Jesus. There will be audience interaction and participation. For information, call (847) 464-5381 or visit the Web site at www.countrycov.org.

Kneseth Israel: Congregation Kneseth Israel celebrates Erev Rosh Hashana Sept. 29. Services will be led by Rabbi Kohn and guest Cantor Jack Falk. For registration, membership, or high holy day tickets, call the synagogue office.

This week's Torah portion is "Ki Tavo." The service is led by Rabbi Jonathan Kohn in prayer and study. Shabbat services are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the synagogue, 330 Division St. in 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. For details, call (847) 741-5656 or visit www.ckielgin.org.

First UMC-West Dundee: On Sunday, Sept. 21, the Rev. Steven Mindrup presents the sermon, "What Is It? The Bread of Heaven!," at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St., West Dundee. The Scripture lessons are Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45; Philippians 1:21-30 and Matthew 20:1-16. The nursery is open for children age 3 and younger. Children who are 4 and older are invited to attend the multi-grade Sunday school class held in the church youth room. The annual rummage sale will be Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27. For details, call (847) 426-2113 or visit www.firstumcdundee.net.

First UMC-Elgin: On Sundays, the Celebration Ringers, bell choir, under the direction of Jonathan Besancon, will perform at 9 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland in Elgin. The 9 a.m. traditional worship will feature music provided by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of John Slawson with organist Mark Johnson. The message will be given by the lead pastor, the Rev. Jonathan Hutchison, based on John 1, "God's Redemption Story." It is the first sermon in a series of eight, based on a study book, "Invitation to the New Testament." Christian education for all ages will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The 11:30 a.m. service will feature music by the youth band, "O Mighty God," and a message by the pastor, "Comparing Ourselves to Others Leads to Trouble." The youth group meets at 12:45 p.m. For details, call (847) 741-0038 or visit www.fumcelgin.org.

St. John: On Sunday, Sept. 21, the Rev. John Gleason will preach the sermon, "Declares the Lord" based on Isaiah 55:6-9, at 8 and 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 13N535 French Road in Burlington. Fellowship is at 9 a.m. and family education hour from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. St. John's Octoberfest on Oct. 10-11 will include a Friday night Family concert with the McAvoy Family Ministries and a pinochle tournament on Friday, Oct. 10. Oct. 11 will include a 5K walk or run and the traditional German dinner and music later that day. This month, St. John will participate in the CROP Walk for the local food pantry. Proceeds from a number of Octoberfest activities will go to various ministries including hurricane relief and Habitat for Humanity. For details, call (847) 683-9108.

First Congregational: On Sunday, Sept. 21, the Rev. Paris Donehoo will preach on "The Sawdust Trail" at the 8:15 and 10:15 a.m. services at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. The Sanctuary Choir will assist in leading worship singing "Would I Have Answered When You Called" by Roy Hopp. After the service, Cherub and Joyful Noise choirs will rehearse with Letty Jocius in the choir room. As part of "Faithwalk," DiscipleWay will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 with the study of the "Six Marks of Discipleship." The first module, FirstSteps, will visit, or revisit, basic Christian beliefs in an open-minded challenging way at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. The third module, LifeKeys, will be offered in January and February. It is open to everyone. The Rev. Lois Bucher will meet prospective confirmands and their parents at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24. Damaris Circle will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Golden Corral, 601 S. Randall Road in Elgin. For details, call (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.

Second Baptist: On Sunday, Sept. 21, the Rev. James Bradford, associate minister, will deliver the message at the 8 a.m. service and the Rev. Andrew Love will preach at the 10:30 a.m. service at Second Baptist Church, 1280 Summit St. in Elgin. The Male Chorus will render the music for both services. The CUPS (Couples United to Process Success) will host their annual retreat from Friday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 21. For details, contact Rev. Andrew and Brenda Love. Or call the church office. On Wednesday, the Bible study will begin at noon followed by evening Bible study starting at 7 p.m.

The church's 2008 Women's Conference will be held Oct. 10-12. The theme is: "High Heels, High Hopes, High Calling!" For details, call (847) 695-7757 or visit www.SBCElginIl.org.

First Congregational: On Sunday, Sept. 21, the Rev. Donald Longbottom, interim intentional pastor, will present the sermon, "Scratch Where You Itch," based on I Kings 19:7-13 and I Peter 1:13-17, at 9 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee. Church Council Chat will be at 10:15 a.m. The Third Sunday Benevolence Offering will be donated to the Community Crisis Center. Donations will be used to purchase size 5 and 6 diapers for the temporary guests at the center. Sunday's Ministry of Music will be "Come Build A Church" by the Chancel Choir, directed by Robert Blazek with piano/organ accompanist Linda Gilmore; and a bell ensemble by mother and sons, Debbie and Jason Clark and Susan and Alec Schmidt.

Children are invited to go to the 9 a.m. service with their parents. After "Our Children's Time," youth, age 3 through fifth grade, may attend "FaithExplorers in God's Big Backyard" with the Rev. Nancy Schatzeder, acting associate pastor for children's ministries. The theme will be "Adam and Eve Disobey God" based on the Bible story in Genesis 3:1-24.

Confirmation Informational Meeting will be held on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. for all seventh- and eighth-grade youth and parents. Come to the Senior High Youth Room for a discussion about confirmation, why it is important, what you should expect from the process, what expectations are in place as well as any other logistical concerns that come up. Classes begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7.

New Member Class will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The class is an effort to involve adults in a discussion about basic issues of Christianity. Completion of this class may enable one to become a part of the church (although participation does not obligate one to join), to prepare for adult baptism or to have a review of the Christian faith.

XYZ's are ready to kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 11:30 a.m. Enjoy the luncheon prepared by Pat Crowe and catch up on what happened this summer. XYZ, eXtra Years of Zip, is a social group for persons aged 55 and older. They meet September through May on the fourth Wednesday of the month (except for November, December and February when they meet on the third Wednesday) for lunch and a program. Call the church office to sign up. A freewill offering will be taken. The high school youth group will meet on Sundays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with Chad Coe, director of youth ministries. Bring your friends, both old and new. For details, call (847) 426-2161, ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.

First Congregational: On Sunday, Sept. 21, the Rev. Jim Benzing will focus on Scripture on Matthew 20:1-16 at the 10 a.m. service at First Congregational Church, 30 N. Washington St. in Carpentersville. God is a loving, sustaining God who is committed to "steadfast love" of you, despite you. Sunday school is designed for children age 3 through seventh grade and begins at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Nursery care is available during the service. For details, call (847) 428-1712.

The History of the Mass: Father Francis J. "Rocky" Hoffman will give a presentation titled "The History of the Mass" from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at St. Mary Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley. Admission is free. Father Rocky is a nationally known speaker recognized for his sense of humor and ability to explain the faith in simple and inspiring ways. His bimonthly column appears in The Catholic Answer, which is published by Our Sunday Visitor. For information, e-mail Joe Marmion at marmionj@aol.com or (847) 658-0504.

Public prayer meeting: The Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren invites the community to a public prayer meeting at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 to pray about violence in Elgin and around the world. Highland Avenue is joining with other local churches and some 200 Church of the Brethren congregations and colleges in the United States, Nigeria and Puerto Rico, who are sponsoring events as part of the International Day of Prayer for Peace. The communities join thousands of people on all five continents who will participate in events on or near the date. Highland Avenue's prayer service will begin in the front yard of the church at 6 p.m. with an opportunity to share concerns about specific neighborhoods. This September marks the fourth observance of the International Day of Prayer for Peace, sponsored by the World Council of Churches, which joins the United Nations' 25-year commitment to an International Day of Prayer for Peace on September. This is a free event sponsored by the Highland Avenue congregation. For information, call the church office at (847) 741-5124.

Fall rummage sale: First Congregational Church, 900 S. Eighth St. in West Dundee, will hold its fall rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. A Bag Discount Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26. The church provides financial support to area organizations in the community serving children and families and continues its assistance to area families in need with groceries and school supplies. Proceeds will be used to fund these charities which help the hungry, the homeless and those in need in the greater community. Items for sale include everything from jewelry, books, toys, clothing and household goods to furniture. Clean out your closets and set aside all of your gently worn clothes and those no longer needed possessions. Computer electronics and exercise equipment will not be accepted. Donations are welcome at the church from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the setup days, Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 22-24. A letter acknowledging donations will be available upon request for income tax purposes. For information or to arrange a drop-off for your donations, call (847) 426-2161 ext. 210 or visit www.fccdundee.com.

Truth Project: Elgin Bible Church, 1580 E. Chicago St., offers "Be A Truth Champion," the Truth Project live simulcast event with Del Tackett on Saturday, Sept. 27. The event will run 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with registration at 8 a.m. In the midst of the confusion, the worldview of many Christians has shifted. According to a 2003 Barna study, only 9 percent of Christians now possess a Biblical world view. In response, The Truth Project, a new initiative of Focus on the Family, offers a systematic and comprehensive way to bring Biblical truth to church communities across North America. At 8:30 a.m. Sept. 27, Focus on the Family will partner with Church Communication Network to launch The Truth Project via live satellite. Elgin Bible Church invites you to attend so you can learn how to lead this DVD-based small group curriculum in your home and/or community. E-mail pleman@fvi.net, call (847) 683-7986, or visit www.elginbiblechurch.org for details.

Join Catholic Church: The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults program at St. Mary Catholic Church of Elgin provides an opportunity for adults to learn more about the Catholic faith. Many in the program, through prayer and discernment, choose to become a fully initiated member of the Roman Catholic church at Easter. St. Mary's program begins at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 in the upper level of St. Mary's parish office, 400 Fulton St., Elgin. The classes continue each Sunday morning through next Easter, with time off for holidays. Study materials are provided and there is no fee to attend the classes. Call the religious education office at (847) 888-2718 or e-mail deaconhank@stmaryelgin.com to register.

High Holy Days: Congregation Kneseth Israel, 330 Division St. in Elgin, announces its schedule of services for the upcoming observance of the High Holy Days for year 5769 in the Hebrew calendar. Services for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29; 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30; and 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Children's services will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. Sept. 30. Services for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will be held at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, and 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, with Yizkor prayers said at approximately noon. Children's services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9. A break of the fast will follow the concluding Yom Kippur service which begins at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 9. Rabbi Jonathan Kohn, CKI's religious leader, will conduct this year's services, which promise to be an engaging blend of traditional Jewish melodies, and Hebrew and English readings. He will again be joined by Cantor Jack "Yankel" Falk, a nationally-known vocalist from Portland, Ore. Tickets are required for admission, and new members are welcome. For information on tickets or CKI membership, call the synagogue office at (847) 741-5656.

Wild Utah: On Sunday, Sept. 28, Clayton Daughenbaugh, Midwest field organizer for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, will present a program on "Wild Utah: America's Redrock Wilderness" at 12:30 p.m. after the service at the Unitarian Universalist Church, on Highland Avenue, three miles west of Randall in Elgin. Robert Redford narrates this multimedia slide show documenting citizen efforts to designate public lands in southern Utah's spectacular canyon country as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The entire presentation will last about an hour. Daughenbaugh is also the Chair of the Sierra Club's National Wildlands Committee and is author of "Common Sense Democracy: How to Complete the American Revolution in Your Neighborhood." For details, visit www.uuce.org.

Prairie Fest: For the fifth year, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin is sponsoring its free community conference on sustainable living from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at the church west of Elgin. This one-day program of workshops, presentations, exhibits, and interactions is free to the community and explores the meaning of sustainability and how to live more sustainably. Prairie Fest billed as a "Festival of Information and Ideas for Sustainable Living" features professionals, practitioners, authors, and civic official who give attendees the opportunity to explore the many practical ways that we can live more sustainably. For information, visit www.uucePF.com.

Jammin' for Justice: Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice Presents the second annual Jammin' for Justice Benefit Concert from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. The concert features national Blues, Folk, Rock, Slide Guitar champion Kraig Kenning (KraigKenning.com), with special guest: harmonica virtuoso Kevin Purcell (nightburners.com). Tickets are $15. For details, call Betsy Ducote, (630) 372-9543.