Religion -- Special events

Turkey raffle: St. Thomas More School will hold a turkey raffle from 6 to 11 p.m. today at the school, 1625 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. Admission is free. Brats, Italian beef and beverages will be available for purchase. New turkey and meat raffles will be held every 15 to 30 minutes. Raffle tickets are 50 cents. Prizes include turkeys, hams and other fun items. A $10,000 cash raffle winner will be drawn at 10 p.m. Additional tickets available all night. No children please. For details, call (847) 742-3959.

Turkey lunch, bazaar: The Ladies Aid of St. Peter Lutheran Church will hold its annual turkey luncheon, bazaar and silent auction/raffle from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with tickets on sale at the door. The bazaar includes a bake sale, farm produce, white elephant, greeting cards, handmade quilts and tree skirts, crocheted dishtowels and more. There also will be a silent auction and raffle featuring well over 100 items. Winners need not be present. For information call the church at (847) 464-5721. The church is at 43W301 Plank Road, 6 miles west of Elgin and a quarter-mile east of Route 47.

Special service at Huntley church: First Congregational Church of Huntley will hold a contemporary service at 5 p.m. today. The service will feature praise and worship music led by a music team, drama, prayer, and a message from the Rev. Walter Thyng from Luke 20:27-40, with the theme, "We never truly comprehend God's gifts until we live them." Members of the community are invited to attend. Parents are encouraged to bring children and teenagers to the service, which is being planned to be of interest to them as well as adults. Nursery care will be provided for those too young to participate. The church is at 11628 E. Main St. in downtown Huntley. For details, call (847) 669-3691.

Spirit of Life Chorus: The Spirit of Life Chorus and Des Plaines Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2992 have joined together to fulfill "A Soldier's Wish List." The theme for this year's free concert series in the Chicago area is "Joy." The free concert programs began Oct. 13 in Arlington Heights and continues through Dec. 2 throughout the Chicago area. The chorus has partnered with the Des Plaines VFW Post 2992 in collecting "A Soldier's Wish List." When attending a concert, bring a couple of the personal items from "A Soldier's Wish List" located on the Web site at spiritoflifechorus.org. VFW volunteers will ship your gifts to troops overseas. The schedule continues with concerts at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley.

Holiday Harvest Market: Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin will host its Holiday Harvest Market from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 39W830 Highland Ave., three miles west of Randall Road. The market provides the community with locally produced foods and handiwork to purchase for yourself and for gift giving. Browse and select from hand crafted gifts and collectibles and locally grown produce from area artisans and farmers. At the Farmers Harvest Market, enjoy foods and items grown and produced in the Midwest and support the farm families who provide them. Some of the featured products will be: natural meats including chicken, ham, beef and pork from Arnold's Farm; honey, candles and soap from Dennanne Farms; honey, local flours, flax crackers, dried veggies, and more from Erehwon Farm; milk soap and cheese from Scotch Hill Farm; dried fruit, chocolate covered fruits, apple and pear butters from Seedling Fruit; and salsas, fruit preserves, Bloody Mary mix, soups, and pasta sauces from Tomato Mountain; as well as Fair Trade organic coffees, teas, and chocolate, organic flours and popcorn, honey, maple syrup, sorghum syrup, eggs, yogurt, apple cider and cream cheese. The artisan vendors will be: Susan Goldberg offering handcrafted jewelry items in silver, silk, crystal, gemstones, and art glass beads in metaphysical, spiritual, and peace themes; Ruth Gnuechtel of Wish Upon a Bead offering glass, crystal and semi-precious stone beaded jewelry with sterling silver and gold filled accessories; hand-woven necklaces, bracelets, and earrings; Sandy and Gordon James offering botanically themed jewelry and sculpture (leaves covered in copper); Henny DuBois offering photography and ceramics; Claire Dassy offering photo note cards, bookmarks and magnets; Janice Sollenberger offering rug-hooked Santas, paper-mache Santas, homespun hand-dyed yarns; Juli McCarthy of Mockingbird Studio offering handmade beaded and polymer clay jewelry, ornaments, and small gifts; Liz Woods offering fall leaf candles; Frieda Anderson offering hand-dyed fabrics, fused quilts, and quilt kits; and Kim Cecil offering beaded earrings, necklaces, and napkin rings. The church will offer the opportunity to make a gift donation to one of several charities in someone's name, and will provide a handmade card explaining the gift. The sponsored charities include FINCA International, Heifer International, Community Crisis Center, The Larkin Center, and Churches' Center for Land and People. The farmers market is a Harvest of Hope benefit. Ten percent of sales of affiliated farmers donated to a farm crisis fund for farm families in emergency financial situations. For details, call the church at (847) 888-0668 or visit www.uuce.org.

Ablaze in Asia: Former pastor, the Rev. E.H.H. Gade is remembered as a sturdy man of God and leader to the flock of East Dundee residents who were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church from 1930 until his retirement in 1956. His legacy lives beyond memories and East Dundee. What he taught his children and grandchildren survives and thrives in his grandson, Rev. Carl M. Hanson and is being spread throughout East Asia today. Hanson will return to his grandfather's church and share his experiences as Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod World Mission Area Facilitator for East Asia. His talk titled, "Ablaze in Asia -- Asia to Asian Ministry and the Exciting Things God is Doing in Asia" will be held 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Immanuel's Christian Life Center. Beginning in 2005, he was appointed the Area Facilitator for East Asia. The area he works includes China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. During his speech, he will touch on the issues and outcomes after the 2005 Asia Ablaze summit in Hong Kong and offer highlights on the church in China. He will include information on the opportunities and challenges for the church as they continue to bring Christianity to the lives of North Koreans. The community is invited and all are welcome to attend Rev. Hanson's discussion. Immanuel Lutheran is at 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee. For details, call (847) 428-4477.

Special Veterans Day tribute: On Sunday, Veterans Day, 46 boxes with about 3,700 homemade bar cookies, will be blessed by the Rev. Kendall Koenig at Light of Christ Lutheran Church. The boxes will be sent to military personnel throughout the world. The homemade goodies will be enjoyed in Afghanistan, Alaska, Italy, Maryland, South Carolina, South Korea, California, Arkansas, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Washington, Kuwait, Hawaii, and Japan. Eighteen boxes will be delivered to individuals now stationed in Iraq. The homemade cookies will include personalized notes and pictures from the children of the church. The church invites all past and current servicemen to wear their uniforms. Members of the local Boy Scout Troop will be presenting the flag at the services which will be held at 5 p.m. today and at 7:45, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. For details, call Steve Fiorentino at (847) 226-5237.

Operation Christmas Child: Fox Valley Church in West Dundee is now a designated drop-off center for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child collects and hand-delivers shoe box-sized gifts to children around the world who are suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism disease, poverty and famine. Since 1993, the Operation has collected and hand-delivered more than 54 million shoe box gifts to hurting kids in some 120 countries. The church invites you join its effort to fill over 500 boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items and a hand written note of encouragement. To pack and send a shoe box or to volunteer during National Collection Week Nov. 12-18, call (847) 844-1010.

Israel's Consul General to speak in Huntley: On Tuesday, Congregation Tikkun Olam, along with McHenry County Jewish Congregation and Sun City's Shalom Group, will welcome the Honorable Barukh Binah, Israel's Consul General for the Midwest, who will speak about the current situation in Israel. The event will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Huntley Park District building cafeteria, 12015 Mill St. This free event is free and is open to the public, but RSVPs are requested to (815) 334-7110, (815) 455-8110, or (847) 669-7144.

Fair Trade Gift Fair: The third annual Fair Trade Gift Fair will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean St., Woodstock. The fair features fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate as well has hand crafted toys, home decor items, clothing and more. The fair is sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Committee, the congregation's environmental service, education, and advocacy organization and supports its work in making the church and community more ecologically friendly. Items also will be on sale from noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday after worship. For information, call (815) 338-0731 or e-mail office@cucw.org.

Sister's Christmas Catechism: See "Sister's Christmas Catechism -- The Mystery of the Magi's Gold" the new holiday comedy from Maripat Donovan, the creator of "Late Night Catechism," at 7 p.m. Nov. 17. The production will be held at the St. Margaret Mary Education Center, 110 Hubbard St, Algonquin. Tickets are $30 for adults or $20 for youth, age 10 to 15. Premium reserved seating is available for $40 per ticket. A pre-show dinner is also available. For information, call the youth ministry office at (847) 658-7881.

Red Bird Mission Crafts: Epworth United Methodist Church hosts Red Bird Mission Crafts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 and 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 18 at the church, 37W040 Highland Ave., Elgin. There will be baskets, some made of honeysuckle vines and creek willow, that are family traditions developed in an age when self-sufficiency was necessary in the isolated mountains. Another native art is the woven rugs. They will have an assortment of corn-shuck items including a variety of flowers. Other items include handmade dolls, unscented beeswax candles, jewelry, jams and jellies. There are note cards, history books of the area, recipe books, hand painted gourds, woven place mats, and handmade brooms. The wooden crafts consist of toys, games, utensils, cutting boards, cooling racks and furniture. Adorable wood and cloth Christmas ornaments and an assortment of nativity sets add to the colorful display. For details, call Kara Berg at (847) 931-5400.

Hymn Festival: On Nov. 18, Westminster Presbyterian Church are co-sponsoring a special Hymn Festival along with the American Guild of Organists at 3 p.m. at the church, 2700 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. Timothy Albrecht, university organist and professor of church music from Emory University in Atlanta will lead the congregation in singing some of the great hymns of the faith, along with the Chancel Choir. Afterwards there will be an extended reception with homemade desserts. Admission is free. For details, call (847) 695-0311 or mstevenson@wpchurch.com.

Thanksgiving Sunday: On Nov. 18, Wesley United Methodist in Elgin will celebrate its Thanksgiving Sunday service at 9:30 a.m. with special music with the addition of Wesley's Orchestra and Cello Choir. Wesley Chancel Choir will present the anthem, "Love Divine," a tribute by Charles Wesley hymns and accompanied by the orchestra. The church is at 1070 South St. For details, call (847) 742-7256.

Thanksgiving dinner at St. Joseph: The 24th annual Thanksgiving Day dinner for those in need, alone or homebound is once again being sponsored by St. Joseph Catholic Church of Elgin. They are asking for food donations and money. Meals are served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in the school cafeteria, located at 274 Division St., Elgin. Tickets may be picked up at St. Joseph Parish office, 274 Division St. If you are homebound and would like a meal delivered, call Sharon at (224) 587-3579. To make a cash donation, mail checks payable to St. Joseph Church - Thanksgiving Dinner, 272 Division St., Elgin, IL 60120. To volunteer time, call Leo or Tina at (847) 697-7616 after 5 p.m.

Alumni reunion: St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School will have an alumni reunion from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 24 in the school cafeteria, 274 Division St., Elgin. The potluck get-together is for all St. Joseph Elementary School alumni. Bring a dish to share if you can. For details, call Zhennie P. Graf at (224) 805-6317.