Arlington Hts. church offers ‘Renew U’ for women

“Renew U” — 33 courses for women that range from health and well-being to hobbies, continuing education and spirituality — will be held Feb. 26 at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., costs $25, and includes lunch. Childcare reservations are accepted at the time of registration, which is now open. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 13.

Women can register to take up to four courses. Participants mix and match courses from a potpourri of stimulating offerings put together by the Womens Ministries at the church.

The classes are organized around four “schools of learning”: the School of Creative Pursuits; the Department of a Little Know-How; the Consort for a Woman’s Well-Being; and the Continuing Ed Series on Your Spiritual Life.

During the 9 a.m. session, women can choose from quilting, fresher school lunches, women’s portrayal in art, dealing with hormone imbalances, online banking savvy, healing oils of the Bible, the Saints ushering program, and watercolor painting.

At 10 a.m., choices include knitting for newbies, making little changes for better health, moving and grooving through menopause, creating a healing garden, women who changed the Western world, good car care, interval cardio and toning, and a craft project using Paintstiks on fabric.

At 11 a.m., choices are using photo-sharing software, helping a child grow spiritually, helping friends through tough times, being safer, yoga and Pilates, spring wildflowers, community-sponsored agriculture programs and learning less toxic, more natural cleaning and shopping strategies.

Topics at 1 p.m. are traveling with confidence, sustainable seafood, keeping a spiritual journal, using acupuncture and diet for hormone imbalances, growing and using herbs, scam smarts, genealogy and tech help for cell phones, MP3 players and other gadgets.

Each instructor is a volunteer with expertise or passion for the course topic. The first Renew U workshop was held in 2004, and was attended by more than 100 women.

The last day for registration is Feb. 13. Brochures are available with course descriptions by e-mailing renewu-fpcah@comcast.new