Notes on Religion

Faith and worship in DuPage County

• To submit your listings, e-mail M.J. Porter at mporter@dailyherald.com or fax items to (630) 955-0895. Mail should be sent to Daily Herald, 4300 W. Commerce Court, Lisle, IL 60532.

Today

• Trinity Lutheran Church will present its live Nativity at 6 and 7 p.m. today and Sunday at the church, Curtis Avenue and Warrenville Road, Warrenville. The annual event includes a narrative, musical and stable animals for petting and feeding as well as refreshments. For details, call (630) 393-9104.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold its 15th annual live Christmas Nativity Pageant from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every 30 minutes today and Sunday at the church, 7201 Woodridge Drive, Woodridge. Musical groups will perform during the free program. For details, call (630) 852-0962.

• Lutheran Church of the Master will present its Bethlehem Faire 2007 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. today and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the church, 580 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream. For details, call (630) 665-3384.

Sunday

• Christ Church of Oak Brook will present "God's Gift of Love: Handel's Messiah and Carol Fest" at 7 p.m. Sunday at the church, 31st and York Road, Oak Brook. Admission is free. For details, call (630) 654-1882.

• Congregation Etz Chaim will hold its Hanukkah Happening at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the temple, 1710 S. Highland Ave., Lombard. The event includes a puppet show and dinner. For details, call (630) 627-3912.

• Family in Faith Christian Church will present a Carols and Bells Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the church, 1480 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights. A brass choir will accompany popular Christmas carols. Children may bring all kinds of bells to ring along with the music. For details call (630) 653-5030.

• River Valley Community Church's Singles FOCUS, Fellowship of Christians United in Spirit, will have a movie afternoon at 2 p.m. Sunday at River Valley Community Church, 1655 Bowman Drive, Aurora.

The group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays with a light meal at 6:30 p.m. A service project sorting canned goods is planned at wayside Cross Rescue Mission in Aurora. .

A Christmas Party is planned beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20. Those attending are asked to bring a white elephant gift and a ready-to-serve dessert.

Church services are at 10 a.m. Sundays. For details, visit www.rivervalleycommunity.org or call (630) 907-2992.

• Grace Church of DuPage will present a children's Christmas musical, "Mystery of the Manger," at 6 p.m. Sunday at the church, 27W344 Galusha Ave., Warrenville. The Celebration of Christmas Concert is at 6 p.m. Dec. 16. For details, call (630) 393-7344.

• St. Andrew United Methodist Church will hold a Hanging of the Greens at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, 250 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. For details, call (630) 653-7116.

• St. Luke Lutheran Church will hold its service of Lessons and Carols at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, 23W080 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn. For details, call (630) 469-5552.

• St. Matthew United Church of Christ will present its Christmas Cantata at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the church, 1420 S. Gables Blvd., Wheaton. The Rockin' Christmas Celebration for families is 5 p.m. Dec. 16 with dinner to follow. For details, call (630) 665-1236.

• St. John United Church of Christ will present its Christmas pageant, "The Night the Animals Sang," at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, 1190 Olesen Drive, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-5208.

• Our Saviour's Lutheran Church will present its Christmas cantata, "The Season of Wonders," with a full orchestra, choir and hand bells at 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the church, 815 S. Washington St., Naperville. A chili dinner will be available after the 4 p.m. service. An offering will be taken. For details, visit www.oursaviours.com.

• St. Thomas the Apostle Parish will hold Advent Lessons and Carols at 5 p.m. Sunday with Christian vocalist John Angotti at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. A Lehavree prayer service is from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday. For details, call Robert Frazier at (630) 355-8980, ext. 112.

• St. Paul Lutheran Church will feature the Rev. Ralph Klein, Old Testament professor at Lutheran School of Theology of Chicago, at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the church, 515 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. His topic is "Reading the Bible as Lutherans in the 21st Century." For details call (630) 668-5953.

• First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton will feature the Rev. Paul Kirbas and Navigating the Uncharted Seas from 9:55 to 10:50 a.m. Sundays through Dec. 23 at the church, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 668-5147..

• St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold its ecumenical Alternative Gift Market after services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays through Christmas at the church, 515 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. A choice of 33 gifts are available. For details, visit stpaulwheaton.org or call (800) 842-2243.

• Grace Lutheran Church will hold a children's and youth service at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, 493 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. The church will be open as a Praying Place at noon Thursdays and after Bible study at 7:20 p.m. Thursdays. For details, call (630) 469-1555.

• Community Baptist Church will present its Christmas cantata, "Comfort and Joy," at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, Main and Warren, Warrenville. The children's Christmas pageant will be at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16. For details, call (630) 393-9609.

• First United Methodist Church will hold its Christmas concert, "Glory to God in the Highest," at 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the church, 1032 Maple Ave., Downers Grove. Tickets are $7 per person.

A live nativity is planned at 5 p.m. Dec. 16. For details, call (630) 968-7120.

• Canaan Apostolic Church will present its Christmas play, "The Reason for the Season," at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, 210 E. Pine St., Roselle. For details, visit the Web site at www.canaanupc.org.

• The Rev. Verlee Copeland will present "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" at 11:15 a.m. Sunday at the Union Church, 137 S. Garfield Ave., Hinsdale. The program is a hands-on exploration of the season. For details, call (630) 323-4303.

Monday

• Lombard Catholic Charities will accept new, unwrapped winter clothing and outerwear for families in need from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the center, 26W. St. Charles Road, Lombard. Donations of food and gift certificates also are needed. For details, call (630) 495-8008.

• The Ministry of New Beginnings St. Hubert Church will meet at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Trinity Lutheran Church, 405 Rush St., Roselle. The group is a 30-year-old Catholic oriented, nondenominational support group for singles. Donation is $3 per meeting. The group also plans outings and activities during the week. For details, call Carol Galat at (847) 524-1397 or Steve Siegel at (773) 761-7381.

• First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton will offer its ongoing grief recovery program, Beginning Again, at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the church's living room, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton. For details or to register, call Pastor Caryle Wilkie at (630) 668-5147, ext. 13.

Tuesday

• St. Margaret Mary Parish will hold a Mass of Remembrance with registration deadline Tuesday at the church, Naper Boulevard and Green Trails Drive, Naperville. The Mass will be at 7 p.m. Thursday. For reservations, call (630) 369-0777.

The program on adult appreciation of the Christmas story will be from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Donation is $7. For details, call (630) 369-0777.

• The Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 4S535 Old Naperville Road, Naperville. Hemant Mehta, author of "I Sold My Soul on e-Bay," will be the speaker. For details, call Jack Sechrest at (630) 554-8058.

• Coffeebreak, a women's interdenominational Bible study, meets at 9:15 a.m. Tuesdays at Evangel Baptist Church, 1900 Manchester Road, Wheaton. This year's study will focus on the book of Isaiah. Child care is provided for ages 6 months to 5 years. For details, call Debby France at (630) 462-7605.

• New Beginnings, a nondenominational self-help group for those experiencing separation, divorce, death of a spouse or loss of a significant relationship, meets at 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1215 Modaff Road, Naperville. For details, visit www.newbeginningsil.com or send an e-mail to cml525@gmail.com.

• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will offer "One Woman, One God" and a study of "When the Heart Waits, Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions" from 7:30 to 9 p.m. every other Tuesday through December at the church, 1310 Shepherd Drive, Naperville. For details call Deb Roe at (630) 898-6197.

• St. Margaret Mary Parish will study the Letter to Romans from 9 to 11 a.m. or 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the church, Naper Boulevard and Green Trails Drive, Naperville. The fee is $30. For details, call (630) 369-0777.

• St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church will sell copies of its 50th anniversary cookbook at the church, 547 N. Main St., Lombard. The cost is $12.50. For details, call the church from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at (630) 627-2435.

Wednesday

• Bethany Lutheran Church's youth choir, Scholara Cantorum, will present Advent vespers at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 1550 Modaff Road, Naperville. A taize advent service is at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 19. For details, call (630) 355-2198.

• First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn will continue its four-part series on immigration from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 535 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. Kevin Kalinich of Glen Ellyn will present the series at the same time Jan. 16. For details, call (630) 469-3810.

• St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish will hold a bilingual Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. A fiesta follows. The Praise/Prays continues from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays for the whole family. For details, e-mail jfrazier@stapostle.org or call Robert Frazier at (630) 355-8980, ext. 112.

• Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church will hold Advent services at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Dec. 19 at the church, 331 George St., West Chicago. Regular services are at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. Sunday. For details, visit www.trinitywc.com or call (630) 231-1175.

Thursday

• Grace Lutheran Church will offer a six-session study of the parables of the book of Luke beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 493 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. For details, call (630) 469-1555.

• St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold a meditative worship from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 20, at the church, 515 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. For details call (630) 668-5953.

• Faithful Living for Dummies, a weekly Bible study about the Book of Sirach, will meet from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through June 5 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Parish, 36 N. Ellsworth, Naperville. The fee is $6. For details, call Christine Kancewick at (630) 718-2154.

Friday

• First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton will hold a taize prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the church, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 668-5147.

• Ben Thomas will present songs of his new CD, "The Bewildering Light: Faces at the Manger," at 7 p.m. Friday at The Union, North Central College, 129 W. Benton Ave., Naperville. He also will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Raphael's Church, 1215 Modaff Road, Naperville. Visit, www.benthomasonline.com.

• A new Christian social group for single, divorced and widowed members in the Addison area will begin meeting at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at a local restaurant. The group will plan activities. For details, call (630) 202-0333.

Dec. 15

• St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold a Blue Christmas service for those suffering losses and experiencing sadness at 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at the church, 515 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. For details call (630) 668-5953.

• Calvary United Methodist Church will hold a Holiday Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at the church, Summit and Highland, Villa Park. Advance orders will be taken at (630) 530-1282 or (630) 530-8200.

• Bensenville Bible Church will present its Christmas musical, "On this Very Night," at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Blackhawk Middle School, 250 S. Church Road, Bensenville. The program is free. For details, call (630) 624-7070.

• Quest Theatre Ensemble will perform "Blue Nativity" at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Christ Community Mennonite Church, 888 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. The 30-minute show tells the story of the birth of Jesus with larger-than-life-sized puppets. For details, call (847) 895-3654.

Dec. 16

• First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn will present Maggie Rowe and "The Woman Jesus Called Mother" at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 550 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. For details, visit www.firstpresge.org or call (630) 469-2007.

• The choirs and musicians of St. Michael Catholic and St. Paul Lutheran churches will present a Community Concert of Lessons and Carols at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at St. Michael's, 310 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. The concert is free. For details, call (630) 668-5953.

• The Aeolian Choral Association will present a Christmas Concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Community Congregational Church, 410 S. Cornell Ave., Villa Park. A offering will be taken. For details, call (630) 627-5764.

• Emmanuel Baptist Church will present "Hope Through Trial," a Christmas drama written by the junior-senior high class at the church, at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 3S465 Briggs Ave., Naperville. For details, visit the Web site at www.EmmanuelBaptistChurch.info or call (630) 393-2565.

• Good Samaritan United Methodist Church will hold its Christmas Pageant at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 960 W. Army Trail Road, Addison. A lunch will be served after the service with activities for children and a visit with Santa. For details, call (630) 543-3725.

• St. Mark's Episcopal Church will present Lessons and Carols at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 393 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. For details, call (630) 858-1020.

• Grace Lutheran Church will present three mini-dramas at 8 and 10 a.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 493 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. For details, call (630) 469-1555.

• Immanuel Presbyterian Church will hold a Blue Christmas service at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 29W260 Batavia Road, Warrenville. For details, call (630) 393-4400.

• Charles Cosgrove, New Testament professor at Northern Seminary in Lombard, will discuss "The Origins of Christmas" at 11:15 a.m. Dec. 16 at the Union Church of Hinsdale, 137 S. Garfield Ave. For details, call (630) 323-4303.

• Grace Lutheran Church will hold a Blue Christmas service at 4 p.m. Dec. 16 at the church, 5 N. Princeton Ave., Villa Park. For details, call (630) 832-0870.

• The Amitabha Buddhist Library will hold a two-day retreat beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 22 at 2753-55 W. Maple Ave., Lisle. Registration deadline is Dec. 16 for meals and the party. The event includes English lectures and a year-end party Dec. 23. The event is free, but donations are welcome. For details, call (630) 416-9422.

Dec. 17

• Grace Lutheran Church will be the site of a non-denominational prayer ministry of the West Suburban Healing Rooms of Chicago from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at the church, 950 S. York Road, Bensenville. Appointments are not necessary; first come, first served. For details, call Carolyn Aiello at (630) 860-0566 or (630) 766-3030.

Dec. 18

• St. Luke Lutheran Church in Itasca will hold a support group for people who have been diagnosed with cancer beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the church, 410 S. Rush St., Itasca. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month. For details, call the Rev. Alex Duff at (630) 773-0396.