Rabbi Robert A. Nosanchuk will become the third full-time rabbi in the history of RestonÕs Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, which was founded in 1966. Nosanchuk begins his duties on July 15, following the retirement of Rabbi Rosalind A. Gold, who was NVHCÕs spiritual leader for 23 years.
Prior to joining NVHC, Nosanchuk served as associate rabbi at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation in Maryland. There he held numerous pastoral, educational and liturgical responsibilities and led many new community initiatives in social action, youth activities, community Mitzvah Day and interfaith work. He also served on the Jewish Education Committee of the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and has been a contributing columnist for the Jewish Times of Baltimore. He will continue to work as a Rabbinic Dean for the Mid-Atlantic region of the North American Federation of Temple Youth and to do outreach work in the Jewish community-at-large.
Nosanchuk is a native of West Bloomfield, Mich., and is an honors graduate of Michigan State University. He has earned two masters degrees from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Ñ one in Jewish Communal Service and one in Hebrew Literature. In 2001, he was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, earning academic prizes in the areas of Hebrew and liturgy. Before beginning his work in the rabbinate, he had a full-time career as a Jewish communal worker.
The rabbi, his wife, Joanie Berger, who works in human resources at Accenture in Reston, and their 3-year-old son, Zachary, will reside in Herndon.
The Church of the Good Shepherd, a United Methodist Church, located at 2351 Hunter Mill Road in Vienna, invites all children ages 3-rising sixth grade to Lava Lava Island, a Vacation Bible School, the week of Aug. 9-13. The Lava Lava Island program will provide Bible learning activities for all ages including singing songs, playing games, Bible learning adventures, eating tropical treats and creating Bible Point crafts, as well as a hands-on mission project for needy children. The Bible school begins at 9 a.m. on Aug. 9. The cost is $20 per child. Deadline for registration is July 11. For more information or to register, call the church office at 703-281-3987 or register online at www.GoodshepherdVA.com.
Join the Dranesville Church of the Brethren every Friday evening, at 7 p.m., during July and August. The church is located at 11500 Leesburg Pike, Herndon. Contact the church office by calling 703-430-787 or 703-437-4852 for more information.
The Herndon Ecumenical discussion group meets on the fourth Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.-noon, to study the unity and diversity of Christian heritage. Meetings are in room 213 at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, 750 Peachtree St., Herndon. All are welcome. For more information call Betty at 703-437-1196.
Harvest Christian Fellowship, 1948 Isaac Newton Square West, will host a vacation bible school, from 9 a.m.-noon, July 26-30. The camp is free and open to all children aged 2 to 10. To register or for more information, call Tracy Ferrante at 703-430-2048.
Washington Plaza Baptist Church's "Monthly Forum: Discussion, Sharing and Action on Civil Rights/Civil Wrongs Past, Present and Future" will continue every fourth Sunday of the month, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., in the Plaza Room on the ground level of the church. For more information, call 703-471-5225.
Free help is available for Spanish-speaking parents and guardians through the Nurturing Parenting Program, held at Saint TimothyÕs Episcopal Church in Herndon. These session are scheduled every Tuesday until Aug. 17. Each class is from 5:30-8 p.m. Dinner is served and free child care will be provided. These meetings will be conducted in Spanish and are designed to help families with children, newborns to age 4. The program is designed for the entire family. Saint Timothy's Episcopal Church is located at 432 Van Buren St., Herndon. Contact Krissa Slone at 703-324-7745 or via e-mail at Kslone@fairfaxcounty.gov or Vera Berrio Breton at 703-324-7737.