<lst>Send announcements to The Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703- 917-0991. Deadline is Friday before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Questions? Call Michael O'Connell at 703-917-6449.
<lst>Children can learn about God's generosity at ChildrensChurch.org's Generosity Sunday. The March 24 event will feature a puppet show, an improvisation, a craft, an object lesson, a video clip, and a game emphasizing God's generosity. Generosity Sunday will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Conservatory Ballet, across the walkway from the Reston Community Center in Hunter Woods Village Center in Reston. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 703-471-7828 or visit ChildrensChurch.org.
The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston is hosting a community teach-in on March 26, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The topic will be the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Invited are two prominent peace activists with a deep understanding of the historical and cultural issues in this area of the Middle East. One of our speakers, Barbara Wien, is a prominent peace activist who recently returned from a nine-day trip to the region. The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston is located at 1625 Wiehle Avenue opposite Fairway Drive.
Through March 26, Great Falls United Methodist Church will offer a series of Lenten Services on Tuesday nights from 8-8:45 p.m. in the sanctuary. Reverend Richard Keller has designed these services to be a time of quiet reflection and prayer.
The public is also invited to the regular Tuesday night, 7 p.m., prayer meeting in the parlor, led by Dick and Bettey Bruss and followed by the Lenten Service. Great Falls United Methodist Church is located on Georgetown Pike, west of Walker Road and the fire station. For more information, call 703-759-3705.
Three Views of One God will be the topic of an April 7 panel discussion at Vienna's Church of the Good Shepherd. The church is hosting the 7:30 p.m. event in collaboration with the Institute on Religion and Public Policy in Washington, D.C. The panel will help people understand the paradox of "if all the major religions of the world promote peace, why is it that we find ourselves waging so many wars in the name of God?" The Church of the Good Shepherd is a United Methodist church located at 2351 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna.
Washington Plaza Baptist Church is hosting a Seder Dinner and Maundy Thursday Communion & Prayer Service on Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. Call to Register.
Washington Plaza Baptist Church is hosting a Reston Community Ecumenical Good Friday Service entitled "What the Cross Means in 2002", on Friday, March 29 from noon to 1 p.m. The church will be open for prayer from 1-3 p.m.
Washington Plaza Baptist Church is hosting an Easter celebration entitled "Learn to Live", on Sunday, March 31 at 11 a.m.
Holy Trinity Parish is celebrating Easter Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 31, followed by an egg hunt. The event wiil be at Brown's Chapel on Baron Cameron Road. For more information, call 703-787-9477 or visit www.cacina.org.
St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Reston has scheduled the following services during Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday, March 28, there will be a service of the Holy Eucharist with foot washing, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday, March 29, will be observed with a service at 7:15 a.m., 12 noon and 7:30 p.m.
The celebration of Easter begins on Holy Saturday, March 30, with the Great Vigil of Easter at 7:30 p.m.
Services on Easter Sunday, March 31, are scheduled for 7:45 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
St. Anne's is located at 1700 Wainwright Drive in Reston. For more information, call 703-437-6530 or visit www.stannesreston.org.
The Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood Rummage Sale will take place on Sunday, March 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the synagogue, 1441 Wiehle Avenue in Reston.
Holy Week activities for the United Christian Parish (UCP) of Reston begin with a ritual Passover Seder at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 28 at the UCP Redeemer facility at 11508 North Shore Drive. The Seder will consist of traditional foods and prayers in preparation for Good Friday.
On Good Friday, March 29, all Restonians are invited to participate in the community service at the Washington Plaza Baptist Church at noon. The Sanctuary at the UCP South Lakes building at 11180 Ridge Heights Road (corner of Ridge Heights and South Lakes Drive) will be open from 2-8 p.m. on Good Friday for prayer and meditation. At the start of each hour volunteers will read portions of the Passion narrative, followed by a short spoken or sung meditation.
UCP will conduct three services on Easter Sunday, March 31. The first will be a Sunrise Service at 6 a.m. at the UCP Hunters Woods building at 2222 Colts Neck Drive across from the Hunters Woods Center. Members of UCP's Youth Ministry will lead this service, which will take place out doors, weather permitting. The other two Easter Services will take place at the South Lakes building at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
<lst>On Saturday, April 27, the Herndon-based History Church will host a live simulcast seminar called "Maximum Impact: Becoming a Person of Influence." The seminar will feature best-selling author John C. Maxwell, football coach Lou Holtz and master motivator Denis Waitley. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Reston Sheraton Hotel, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive. The cost is $79 per person and pre-registration is required before April 20. A free breakfast buffet will be served. For tickets and information, call History Church at 703-713-9700 or visit www.historychurch.com.