Your faith

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Book sale: St. Matthew Ladies Aid and St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods, will hold its third annual book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, in Luther Hall. Refreshments available. stmatts.net.

Special music: Choral Evensong featuring Mozart church sonatas - Ron Lemke playing the organ with guest violinists Angelia Martin Licari and Scott Reed; pianists Betsy Donegan and Tina Schumann; and Fr. Gary Cox on the cello - will be offered at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church, 5725 Stearns School Road, Gurnee. www.annunciationgurnee.org.

The homeless: Joel Williams from the Lake County Speakers Bureau will give a talk at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, on "The Homeless in Lake County," at Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church in Mundelein. This event is sponsored by the Primetimers, the senior group at the church. The public is invited and refreshments will be served. The Kirk is located at 1500 W. Hawley St. - next to Mundelein High School. For questions, call (847) 949-8670.

Ash Wednesday services: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods, will offer Ash Wednesday services of Holy Communion at noon and 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25. (847) 438-7709, stmatts.net.

Ash Wednesday services: Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church, 5725 Stearns School Road, Gurnee. will have services at noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Ash Wednesday services: St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 31 Park Ave., Grayslake, will offer services with Eucharist at 7:30 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25. (847) 223-2310 or standrewsgrayslake.org.

Midweek services: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod), 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods, will offer five midweek services at 7 p.m. Thursday evenings during Lent. (No Thursday evening service on Feb. 26). Each evening service is preceded by Lenten dinner at 5:30 p.m. in Krueger Hall. (847) 438-7709, www.stmatts.net.

Survivors of Suicide: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago welcomes those who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide to participate in its Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide program meetings: from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 26, and March 26, at Carmel High School, One Carmel Parkway, Mundelein. (847) 376-2118.

Open house: Gentle Hands Healing Rooms is having an open house from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. Come out and meet the prayer teams and tour the facilities. Staff will be on hand to answer questions. Rooms will be open to receive healing prayer. Gentle Hands Healing rooms is a Christian, interdenominational ministry, located at 1117 S. Milwaukee Ave, Suite A-14, Libertyville. (847) 362-7281.

Organ concert: Chicago native Nathan Laube will perform an organ concert at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 29700 North St. Mary's Road in Libertyville. (847) 367-4060.

Intolerance: Dr. Michael Merritt will preach at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, March 1, at Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Byron Colby Barn, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake, in the Prairie Crossing community. The sermon topic is: "At What Point Should We Be Intolerant?" The Rev. Harding is now the part-time consulting minister for the Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Congregation. www.prairiecircleuuc.org, or (847) 604-1908.

Lenten course: Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church will begin a new contemporary series of faith-based courses called Via Media from 6:15 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays in Lent, starting March 4. The program is open to anyone who is curious about or interested in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition. Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church is at 5725 Stearns School Road in Gurnee. annunciationgurnee.org, (847) 336-3730

Dessert with the Rabbi: Rabbi Looper will host Thursday morning discussions called "Dessert with the Rabbi," from 10 to 11:15 a.m. March 5 and 19, at the synagogue, 21 Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills. The program features discussion, study and dessert for a fee of $25 for the session.

Women's Ministry Retreat: Jamie Beran, certified life purpose coach, life plan facilitator and instructor, will share about finding your purpose in Jesus at the St. Matthew retreat Friday to Sunday, March 6-8, at the Cove of Lake Geneva, Lake Geneva, Wis. For details, call Scarlett Mankowsky at (847) 540-5501 or visit stmatts.net. St. Matthew Lutheran Church is at 24500 N. Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods.

Purim party: A Big Balloon Show Purim Party will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Lake County Jewish Community Campus, 23280 N. Old McHenry Road near Route 22 in Lake Zurich. Families with children are invited to enjoy a performance of the Purim story by "Smarty Pants" using balloon sculptures, balloon magic and wearable balloon costumes. Make Purim crafts and eat Hamentashen. $18.54 per family in advance, $25.75 at the door. For more information, contact Heidi Massey at hmassey@gojcc.org or (224) 406-9204. gojcc.org.

Desserts Seder: Shir Hadash Women's Desserts Seder will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at Lamb's Farm Country Inn Restaurant, 14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville. Cost: $20. Registration is due by Sunday, March 1. Call Stacey Zenn at (847) 680-8204 to R.S.V.P.

Clothes for the needy: Clothing in sizes ranging from infant to size 16 boys and girls is available the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Andrew Episcopal Church's "Elijah's Mantle for Children in Need" community service project, located at 31 Park Ave., Grayslake. Next dates are: March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. There is no cost. Donations of gently used children's clothing in good condition are always welcome. standrewsgrayslake.org or (847) 223-2310.

Lenten Mission: St. Mary of Vernon will have a Parish Lenten Mission for three evenings, Sunday through Tuesday, March 15-17, at 7 p.m. in the Worship Center. Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson will present "The Paschal Mystery: Cheerleader or Participant?" The topic will cover how we are invited to actively live the Paschal Mystery and use Christ's passion, death and resurrection as a model through which to live our lives. Sunday night's gathering will include a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. in the John P. Finnegan Parish Center, a Simple Lenten Meal on Monday evening at 6 p.m., and a dessert reception following the presentation on Tuesday evening. Join us for all or for as many evenings as you can. For more information, contact Maureen Evers at mevers@maryofvernon.org and at (847) 362-1005, or by visiting www.maryofvernon.org.

Honor your parents: A special, timely program called "Honor Your Father and Mother: Limits and Limitations" will be led by Rabbi Scott Looper and will be held on at 7 p.m. Monday, March 16, at Hawthorn Lakes, 10 E. Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills. This program is intended for adult children and their parents.

Judaism 102: Congregation Or Shalom will offer the last in a series of three classes called "Judaism 102: Religious School for Adults" for a fee of $18 for members and $25 for nonmembers on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:15 p.m. On Wednesday, March 18, participants will learn how to "Spice Up Your Seder," discussing ways to add variety to the traditional Seder. These ways include having a "chocolate Seder," a women's Seder, drama and hands-on activities that fit with individual choices, depending on those participating. Treats are served at every class. The synagogue is located at 21 Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills.

Got Shabbat: Families with children ages 4-8 can spend a Shabbat afternoon at JCC's Got Shabbat? from 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Congregation Or Sholom, 21 Hawthorn Pkwy, Vernon Hills. Enjoy craft projects, food, Shabbat songs and Mark Nichols Puppet Palace. Contact Susan Ellenby at (224) 406-9223.

Retreat: A Lenten Retreat, "The Seven Last Words of Christ," will be offered from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 31 Park Ave., Grayslake. Free, but registration is necessary by calling (847) 223-2310.

Stations of the Cross: St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 31 Park Ave., Grayslake, will Stations of the Cross Explored at 6:30 p.m. and Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m. April 1 and 8. (847) 223-2310 or standrewsgrayslake.org.