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Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church hosts its next series of Circle Dance beginning Oct. 11. The class is appropriate for teens and adults; no previous experience or dancing skills are necessary. Dancers may come singly or bring a friend. All dates are open to new dancers. Fall dates are Saturdays, Oct. 11 and 25, Nov. 8 and 22, and Dec. 13, 8-10 p.m. Fee is $10 per person per class. Accotink is located at 10125 Lakehaven Court in Burke, 703-503-4579.
Harvest Church invites to public to its Grand Opening Weekend celebration on Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12. On Oct. 11, the church will have a community harvest festival featuring live entertainment, children’s games, a moon bounce, face painting, a clown and more, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Oct. 11, at 10:30 a.m., the church will convene for the Grand Opening Celebration Service with Pastor Tim Cerce speaking. These events are free to the public. Harvest Church is located at 7401 Beulah St., Alexandria. For more information, call 703-971-7070.
Miniature Sukkah Contest and Program at Chabad. Thursday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m., at the Chabad community campus, 3939 Prince William Drive, Fairfax. Highlights of this year's event include a Miniature Sukkah Contest. First prize is a $50 gift certificate to Toy R Us. Everyone is invited to make their own miniature sukkah using any materials they like, but keep it less than 12"x18"x10". Also on the program is Jonathan Austin the Fire Juggler, live music, singing, dancing. pizza, milkshakes and other goodies will be served. $8 per person. To R.S.V.P or for more information, call 703-426-1980.
The labyrinth at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Road, will be open for walking and meditation on Thursday, Oct. 16, 7-9 p.m. Newcomers and all faiths are welcome to participate. Parish office: 703-323-5400.
“Praying for Peace” open circle gathering. This quarterly reflective event welcomes offerings of poetry, prayer, song, chant, silence or any expression of peace in the world or individual hearts. The gathering will take place Friday, Oct. 17, 7-8:30 p.m., at Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, 10125 Lakehaven Court, Burke. For more information, call Kitty at 703-818-2349 or Lyn at 703-979-3917. For directions, visit www.accotinkuuc.uua.org.
Inquirers and Confirmation Classes. Youths and adults invited. Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m.-12 p.m., in the Simpson room at Olivet Episcopal Church 6107 Franconia Road, Alexandria. For more information, contact Rev. David Harper at 703-971-4733 or visit www.olivetepiscopalchurch.org.
Woman at the Well hosts its annual Prayer Breakfast with guest speaker Vi Walker, the founder of Woman at the Well, on Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., at Fairfax Presbyterian Church, 10723 Main St., Fairfax. 9 a.m. registration; $7 fee payable at door. Call Chris at 703-503-8519 for more information.
Addiction program. St. Andrews Episcopal Church will present a program on addiction on Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the church, 6509 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. The program will host a panel of experts in the field of addiction. It is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, call 703-455-2500.
Silent Auction. Sunday, Oct. 19, at 5 p.m., in the Fellowship hall at Olivet Episcopal Church 6107 Franconia Road, Alexandria. For more information, contact Rev. David Harper at 703-971-4733 or visit www.olivetepiscopalchurch.org.
Jubilee Campaign USA, a non-profit Christian human rights organization, hosts its First Annual Celebrate Freedom Banquet on Friday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m., at Springfield Hilton, 6550 Loisdale Road, Springfield. The keynote speaker is Lord David Alton, a member of the British House of Lords and advocate for the persecuted church. Other speakers include Ayub Masih from Pakistan and Mina Nevisa from Iran, who will share personal stories of religious persecution. $15. Call 703-503-0791 or visit www.jubileecampiagn.org for more information.
Scarecrow Making. Saturday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m., in the lawn at Olivet Episcopal Church 6107 Franconia Road, Alexandria. For more information, contact Rev. David Harper at 703-971-4733 or visit www.olivetepiscopalchurch.org.
The Community Youth Choir, for all children in grades 2-6 who love to sing contemporary Jewish music, starts its fourth season on Sunday, Oct. 26, under the direction of song leader/songwriter Carol Boyd Leon. The choir rehearses Sundays at 5 p.m., at Congregation Olam Tikvah, 3800 Glenbrook Road, Fairfax (except on holiday weekends) and will perform at Jewish choral festivals and community events including the Jewish Folk Arts Festival and Washington Area Jewish Youth Choir Festival. For more information, contact Carol at CBLeon@hotmail.com or phone her at 703-250-0554.
"Ordinary Faith, Ordinary Science." Dr. William D. Phillips, physics Nobel laureate, will speak on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m., at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1545 Chain Bridge Road at the corner of Westmoreland and Chain Bridge, McLean. In 1997, Phillips was awarded the Physics Nobel Prize with colleagues Steven Chu of Stanford and Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and was elected to the National Academy of Science. Phillips will discuss the relationship of his religious beliefs with his scientific knowledge. For more information, call 703-356-3346 or visit www.redeemer-mclean.org.
Trunk and Treat. On Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m., members of the Central Christian Church will pass out candy in the church parking lot from the trunks of their cars. This is a safe environment for children to dress up in their favorite costumes and receive candy. Fun for children of all ages accompanied by a parent or guardian. The church is located at 6427 Franconia Road, Springfield. For more information, call Jacynda Lynch, the children's minister, at 703-971-0277.
Sydenstricker United Methodist Church will host its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festive crafts, a Second Time Around shop, a “gifts from around the world” table, a silent auction, a bake sale and lunch will be available. All proceeds benefit mission and youth projects. Free. Sydenstricker is located at 8508 Hooes Road, Springfield. For more information, call 703-569-5744.
Rabbi Sholom Deitsch, director of Chabad Lubavitch of Northern Virginia, will give a series of lectures entitled "Kabbalah for Dummies and Everyone Else," Mondays, Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 14, 7:30 -9 p.m. The four-session course is open to the entire community and everyone is welcome to attend. No prior background or knowledge is required. The classes will take place at the Chabad Community Campus, 3939 Prince William Road in Fairfax. The cost for all four sessions is $36. Call 703-426-1980 for more information and to register.
New World Unity Church offers a Sunday Celebration Service every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Irving Middle School , 8100 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. New World Unity is a Christ-centered spiritual community dedicated to building a consciousness of oneness based on unconditional love and total acceptance. Services include prayer, music, meaningful message, food and celebration. Call 703-690-7925.
Transgenderism 101 & 102. Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke is inviting the public to a discussion series about transgenderism, intended to inform and dispel common myths and misconceptions. Learn the basics and background on being transgender in this society, and gender etiquette, too. Invited guests offer different perspectives. These three sessions will offer a question-and-answer time. Meetings will be Monday, Nov. 3; Tuesday, Nov. 11; and Wednesday, Nov. 19. All are 7-10 p.m., at Accotink UU Church, 10125 Lakehaven Court, Burke. Participants may attend any discussion or all three. The $10 registration fee supports Accotink's adult education program. For information, call 703-503-4579 or visit http://accotinkuuc.uua.org.