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Immanuel Lutheran: On Dec. 17-18, the Rev. Phillip Baerwolf will be sharing the message as visitor St. Nicholas with “2 Gifts … for Now and Always,” based on Romans 1:7, at the 6 p.m. Saturday service, and the 8 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday services at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee.

At the Sunday 10:45 a.m. praise service, Immanuel will have its annual “Jazz Noelle” worship, featuring horns and a praise ensemble leading worship with the songs of the season with a jazz twist. Holy Communion will be celebrated at all three services this weekend.

Christmas Eve worship will begin at 4 p.m. with a Children’s Christmas Celebration service called “Messiah’s Messengers,” a family candlelight service at 7 p.m., and a candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols at 11 p.m.

On Christmas Day, the Festival of Christmas service with Holy Communion will be at 10 a.m. The Rev. William Yonker will be sharing the message “Christmas … A Letter to My Children.” For details, call (847) 428-4477, or visit www.immanuel-ed.org.

St. Hugh of Lincoln: On Sunday, Dec. 18, celebrate the Eucharist at 8 and 10:30 a.m. at St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church, 36W957 Highland Ave. in Elgin. At 9 a.m., join an adult education class for discussion. The current discussion is on a workbook by Beth Moore, titled “Beloved Disciple: The Life and Ministry of John.”

St. Hugh is sponsoring two giving opportunities to help the Elgin community in December. They are collecting warm socks and monetary donations for the creation of gift bags that will be distributed at Elgin’s Soup Kettle on Dec. 22. The bags will contain socks, fruit, and chocolate. St. Hugh is also collecting trial-sized personal care items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorants, lotions, etc. These donations will be taken to Elgin’s Community Crisis Center Dec. 20. Donations to either of these projects can be delivered to St. Hugh from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, or call (847) 695-7695 to arrange another time.

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, they offer Eucharist at 7 a.m.

St. Hugh will have a Family Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m., with carols at 7:30 p.m. and Christmas Eve worship at 8 p.m. Christmas Day worship will be at 10:30 a.m. For details, call (847) 695-7695, or visit www.sthugh.net.

St. John Lutheran: On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 17-18, the Rev. Hannibal Frederich will preach a special sermon on the “O Antiphons,” the seven antiphons sung during vespers the seven evenings before Christmas Eve, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 115 N. Spring St. in Elgin. Those seven verses became the basis for the great Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Worship is at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The Joyful Singers of St. John’s Lutheran School will sing at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. St. John’s preschool to second grade will have their annual Christmas service at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. On Wednesday, Dec. 21, St. John’s will have its final midweek Advent services at 11 a.m. in the all-purpose room and at 7 p.m. in the church. An Advent supper with freewill offering will be served at 5:30 p.m. in the gym. For details, call (847) 741-0814.

First UMC-Elgin: On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Rev. Rick Carlson will preach “Home for Christmas, Part Three: “Fixer-Upper” at the 9 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin. Join the 11 a.m. service called “Castle Rock.” The style of this service is upbeat and praise-oriented with contemporary music. Join Arturo and Natalie Caballero for the start of a new era at the church. Check out the “Kids Church” program at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays, offering fun and creative programming for kindergarten to fifth grade. For details, visit www.fumcelgin.org or call (847) 741-0038.

St. Peter: On Dec. 17-18, the Rev. Bruce Milash’s sermon will be “Are You Excited?,” based on Matthew 1:18-25, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 18N377 Galligan Road, Gilberts. Services are at 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Holy Communion is the second and fourth Sunday at both services. The Children’s Christmas Program will be held during the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Dec. 18.

Christmas Eve services will be at 2, 5 and 11 p.m. with Holy Communion at each service. Christmas Day worship will be at 10 a.m. with Holy Communion. For details, call (847) 428-4054 or visit www.stpeterlutheran.org.

Lord & Savior: On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Rev. David Carlovsky will offer the sermon, “Our God is Special,” based on Isaiah 7:10-14, at the 9 a.m. service at Lord and Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9300 Ridgefield Road in Crystal Lake. Continuing the season of Advent, it will focus its attention on the Old Testament text for the day, which includes one of the best-known prophecies in the Old Testament (“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”)

Children’s Christmas services will be at 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. A special candlelight Christmas Eve service will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 24, with the theme, “Let’s Go to Bethlehem!,” based on Luke 2:15. On Sunday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day, the theme will be “Good News! Great Joy!,” based on Luke 2:10-11. For details, call (815) 444-4175 or visit www.lordandsavior.org.

St. John UCC: On Sunday, Dec. 18, James Fisher will leading the worship as they light the fourth candle on the Advent wreath at the 9 a.m. service at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 11821 E. Grant Hwy., Hampshire. Come prepare as you remember the reason for the Christmas season. A candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. The Rev. Jeremy Jenkins will deliver the evening message as they sing Christmas carols. On Christmas Sunday, Dec. 25, James Fisher will celebrate the birth of Christ. For details, call (815) 923-4263 or visit www.stjohns uccharmony.com.

Bethlehem Lutheran: On Dec. 17-18, the Rev. Jim Murr presents his sermon “An Extra-Ordinary Joe” at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in West Dundee.

Traditional worship with organ music and hymns and songs by the Bethlehem Choir is offered at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. Sundays in the sanctuary at the red brick church at 401 W. Main St.

Contemporary worship with Christian pop music and songs by The Messengers Praise Band and Singers with audio/visual technology is at 10:30 a.m. Sundays in the sanctuary called The Well in the yellow brick church at 417 W. Main St. Holy Communion is offered the first and third weekends.

For details, call (847) 426-7311 or visit www.bethlehem dundee.org.

First Congregational: On Saturday, Dec. 17, everyone is invited to sing songs of the season at the annual Community Christmas Carol Singalong at 4 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St. This will be a feast of carols and Christmas songs that you get to sing led by the acoustic sounds of the Blue Tulip Wranglers. A freewill offering will benefit the Ecker Center for Mental Health.

On Sunday, Dec. 18, the historic sanctuary will be filled with the joy of children at 10:15 a.m. as the Sunday school presents “Come to the Manger,” telling the age-old Christmas story through new eyes. At 8:15 a.m. in the chapel, the Revs. Paris Donehoo and Lois Bucher will lead a “Feast of Carols.”

Christmas Eve services will be at 4:30 and 10:30 p.m. The Rev. Paris Donehoo will preach at both services on “Generous Receiver.” Holy Communion will be celebrated. The 4:30 p.m. service will feature a Blessing of the Children, and the 10:30 p.m. service will feature music by the Chancel and Handbell choirs.

On Christmas Day, there will be a service at 10:15 a.m. Feel free to dress casually. Children can come in their pajamas and bring one of their Santa gifts, if they desire.

Want to make a difference locally, nationally, and internationally? Give to the annual Christmas Eve Offering. All gifts will go to: the Community Crisis Center to purchase a new stove; Dig Deep to provide a water system for a Navajo family; Family Village Farm to support orphans and destitute elderly in Katpadi, India. If you are unable to attend Christmas Eve worship, you can contribute via the church website using the tithe.ly app. For details, visit www.fcc-elgin.org or call (847) 741-4045.

First Congregational-Dundee: On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 18, the Rev. Aaron James, senior pastor, will continue the Advent series “Make Ready” at 8:30 and 10 a.m. at First Congregational Church of Dundee, 900 S. Eighth St. (Route 31) in West Dundee. It will be Joy and Benevolence Offering Sunday.

Sunday’s Ministry of Music at the 10 a.m. service will feature songs and music by Mark Frystak, guitar and vocals; the Joy Ringers, Harmony Singers, and the Chancel Choir, with Linda Gilmore, organ/piano accompanist.

The Benevolence Offering will be donated to the United Church of Christ’s Christmas Fund Special Mission Offering — God’s Love Colors Everything. One of the aspects of the Christmas Fund is that the donations do not support programs, make grants to institutions or fund advocacy programs, but rather, they provide direct financial assistance to individual UCC clergy and lay employees. The generous gifts of UCC congregations and individuals enabled the Pension Boards’ Ministerial Assistance Program to provide assistance to approximately 1,285 individuals and families during 2016 from the 2015 offering.

In December, the Mission Ministry is collecting canned and dried fruits for FISH Food Pantry. Donations of size 4-6 diapers, infant formula and miniature toiletries are also being collected for the Community Crisis Center. Drop off your donations to the church.

If Christmas isn’t simply a celebration this year, you are not alone. Join a quiet, meditative “Longest Day” service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20. Share and hear prayers, Scripture and music and seek God’s presence, no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey during this holy season. All are welcome.

Four volunteers, 18 and older, are needed to provide staffing at PADS, 1730 Berkley St. in Elgin, on Wednesday, Dec. 21, from 6-8:30 p.m. Volunteer your service by calling the church office, (847) 426-2161, ext. 210, or visit www.fccdundee.com.

St. Paul UCC-Elgin: On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 18, the Rev. Jill Terpstra will preach at the 9:30 a.m. service at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 40W720 Plank Road in Elgin. The choir, directed by Jon Kobel, will perform “What Shall the Children Bring?,” along with Gaye Bouwmeester and the church schoolchildren. The Christmas Eve candlelight service will begin at 5 p.m. Christmas Day worship will begin at 9:30 a.m. The church continues to serve a meal at PADS on the first and third Tuesday of each month, including Dec. 20. For details, call (847) 628-6118 or visit www.stpaulucc elgin.org.

Bethlehem Lutheran: On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Sunday school Christmas pageant will be featured at the 9 a.m. traditional service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 340 Grand Blvd. in Elgin. Contemporary worship will be at 10:30 a.m. There is Sunday school for ages 3 through sixth grade. Youth group for seventh to 12th grade meets at 9 a.m. in the youth loft. Hospitality Hour is at 10 a.m. in Wittenstrom Hall. The Christmas Posada will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. For details, call (847) 741-8434 or visit www.blcelgin.org.

First UMC: On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Choir Cantata will perform at the 10 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church, 318 W. Main St. in West Dundee. Sunday school is at 10:30 a.m. The Blue Christmas Worship will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 21, this year at Trinity United Methodist Church in Carpentersville.

The discussion group with Tom Miller will discuss “The Redemption of Scrooge!” by Matt Rawle at 8:45 a.m. Sunday during Advent. Check out the new contemporary worship experience at 5 p.m. on the third Saturdays, Dec. 17, in the Fireside Room. It features contemporary music, a casual style, sermon by the Rev. Hill, and experiential component. Youth pastor Michael Bramble is leading the music. Christmas Eve services will be at 4 and 9 p.m. Christmas Day worship will be at 10 a.m. For details, call (847) 426-2113 or visit fumcwd.org.

St. Peter: On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Christmas Sunday school program with choir will be at the 9 a.m. service at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Road, a quarter-mile east of Route 47, in rural Hampshire. There will be a spaghetti dinner and raffle fundraiser for Chuck Petersen from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. Christmas Eve Carol and Candlelight services will be at 4 and 9 p.m. Christmas Day worship will be at 9 a.m. For details, call (847) 464-5721 or visit www.stpeters northplato.org.