Send announcements to The Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703- 917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Bonnie Eaton at 703-917-6449.
Congregation Beth Emeth, 12523 Lawyers Road, Herndon, will hold a Chanukah Boutique on Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Thursday, Nov. 21, from 12:30-2 p.m. and from 4:30-6:30 p.m.; on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; and on Monday, Nov. 25 and Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 12:30-2 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. Browse a selection of jewelry, housewares, children’s items, religious items, dreidles and menorahs.
The Dranesville Church of the Brethren, 11500 Leesburg Pike, Herndon, will hold an Alternative Christmas Shop, Nov. 23, 24, 30 and Dec. 1. Saturday hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday hours are 1-3 p.m. The church is offering the public an opportunity to support:
v The Heifer Project International, which donates livestock to poverty-stricken people.
v SERRV International, which sells well-made handicrafts and chocolate directly from artisans and farmers in 35 developing countries)
v UNICEF (works to improve the health of women and children worldwide).
The church is also selling Herndon Harbor House cookbooks to help raise funds for senior activities, and baked Christmas goodies made by members of the congregation. Call 703-430-7872.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church in Reston will hold its annual women’s prayer breakfast, “The Power of Women’s Prayer in Troubled Times” at the Embassy Suites-Dulles Airport Hotel in Herndon on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9-11:30 a.m., with the Rev. Sandi John of Washington Plaza Baptist Church officiating. Tickets are $25 and are available through Nov. 20. Call 703-467-1544.
Floris United Methodist Church, 2730 Centreville Road, Herndon, will hold its annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The event features hand-made crafts, a silent auction (including vacation getaway to Wintergreen Resort, gift certificates, Rookie baseball cards, crafts and more), bake sale and lunch. Proceeds support children’s programs locally and abroad. Call 703-793-0023.
The United Christian Parish will hold a lay-led worship service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. United Christian Parish is an ecumenical church “worshipping in an atmosphere where all are welcome.” The parish is located at 11508 N. Shore Drive, Reston, next to Lake Anne Elementary School.
Early Thanksgiving at ChildrensChurch. org will take place on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., at Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston and the Conservatory Ballet, 2254 Colts Neck Road, Reston. The first half of the family service will be led by a live band. Event includes puppets, stuffing turkeys and human bowling pins. ChildrensChurch.org is a creation of Reston Community Church and is designed for children. The event is free and open to the public. Call 703-471-7828.
The 14th annual Jewish-Catholic Dialogue, sponsored by St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church and the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, will be held Sunday, Nov. 24, from 7-9 p.m., at St. Thomas a Becket, located at Lake Anne Village in Reston.
The topic will be “Civil Disobedience: What Do You Do When You Disagree with Your Government?” The format will be the same as in previous dialogues including presentations by speakers, refreshments and a follow-up question and answer session.
Rabbi Rosalind Gold and Father John Langan, S.J. will lead the discussion. Call for more information: Rabbi Gold at 703-437-7733, or Father Langan at 202-687-6746.
LINK, a 15-member nonprofit organization of churches, is seeking donations of non-perishable food items and $10-$25 grocery store gift certificates for Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets provided to needy families in the Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn areas. Families select their own food (mini supermarket inside the church) based on family size and also receive a gift certificate to buy a turkey and other perishables.
Food distributions will take place at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 651 Dranesville Road in Herndon and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church at 46833 Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7 ) in Sterling on Saturday Nov. 23. Donations of non-perishable food can be dropped off at the churches from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Nov. 18 -22.
Volunteers are needed to set up for the event days and evenings, Nov. 18-22, from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and also from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. To volunteer, call the LINK Hot Line at 703-437-1776. Check donations may be made payable to LINK, P.O. Box 443, Sterling, VA 20167. Donations are tax-deductible. LINK’s United Way Campaign Identification Number is 8442.
Reston Interfaith is seeking donations of food and gifts to distribute to more than 400 families during the holiday season. Every year, Reston Interfaith supplies food baskets and holiday gifts to residents in the Reston-Herndon area who are not able to make ends meet. This year, 400 families have signed up for Thanksgiving and holiday food baskets, and 278 families are registered for the Adopt-a-Family Program. Donations for holiday baskets should be delivered on Nov. 21. Interested parties should contact Ellie Moody at 703-787-3115.