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reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Questions? Call us at 703-917-6449.
Internationally acclaimed composer, vocalist and performing artist Debbie Friedman brings her trademark style to Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation on Saturday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m., in honor of Rabbi Rosalind Gold's retirement. Seating is limited and tickets are $36 per adult, $18 per child 12 and under and $72 per family. NVHC is located at 1441 Wiehle Avenue, Reston. For more information, call 703-437-7733.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church will be hosting a "Saturday Bluegrass Series" from May to December this year featuring regional bluegrass bands. Senior Youth provide a beverage and snack service with all proceeds going to support their activities during the year. The 2003 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award show nominees in the category of "emerging artists of the year," Nothin' Fancy, are the performing artists on May 22. Concert begins at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 - sold only at the door, check or cash. Holy Cross Lutheran Church is located at 1090 Sterling Road, Herndon. For more information, call the church administrator at 703-437-1883.
A "Study of the Lord's Prayer" Bible discussion is now through May 25, meeting every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9 p.m. Discussion will be held in the sanctuary at Washington Plaza Baptist Church, 1615 Washington Plaza, Reston.
On April 20, the Bahá’ís of the greater Herndon community gathered to elect their nine-member local governing council. The elections followed a framework set down by Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. In the Baha'i faith, there is no clergy; instead, the governance system is organized around elected councils at the local, state, national and international level. The chief duty of these councils is to promote the unity of mankind, the cardinal teaching of the Bahá’í Faith.
The election gathering began with opening prayers and selections from the Bahá’í writings highlighting the spirit and nature of the Bahá’í election process. Then, community members voted for nine council members using secret ballots. The selected council members, who do not receive any payment for their service, were:
Mohebat Ahdiyyih (chairman), of Herndon; Hojjat Ighanian (corespondent secretary), of Herndon; Farzad Ghassemi (treasurer), of Herndon; Fran Rasooly (recording secretary), of Oakton; Khosrow Saravi, of Chantilly; Hoori Kruszewski, of Herndon; Jim Amini, of Herndon; Houshmand Aghdasi, of Herndon; Azita Ahdiyyih, of Herndon. The position of vice chairman is still pending a vote by the council. Chief Teller on election day was Michelle Thurston
To find out more information about the Bahá’í election process and its administrative order, visit www.us.bahai.org, or to contact the local Bahá’í community, call 703-898-8705.
Sue Robertson, who is retiring as director of the United Christian Parish Preschool, will be honored on Sunday, June 13, at the 11 a.m. church service and a reception following at the church, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. All parents of children currently and formerly enrolled in the preschool are invited. Ms. Robertson has been director for 11 years and before that was a teacher at the school for 8 years. Jane Plum of Reston has been selected as the new preschool director. The UCP Preschool has classes at two locations in Reston and includes half-day classes from one to five days a week, depending on children’s ages. For more information about fall preschool openings, call 703-860-5613 or 703-437-1127.
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.
The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston (UUCR) is sponsoring a fund-raising raffle for which first prize is a seven-night cruise for two of the Western Caribbean aboard the smoke-free Carnival Paradise. Round-trip airfare from Dulles International Airport to Ft. Lauderdale is included. The raffle's second prize is a Kodak digital camera with printer and docking station. The cruise will depart from Miami on July 25 and will travel to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Isla Roatan and Belize before returning to Miami on Aug. 1. More information about the cruise can be found by going to www.srandolph.cruiseone.com and clicking on the UUCR FUNdraising Cruise link. Only 300 tickets will be sold; the cost is $50 per ticket. Proceeds will benefit the church's budget, part of which helps support local charitable organizations and social action programs. For information about ticket sales, contact the church office at 703-742-7992.
Free help is available for Spanish speaking parents and guardians through the Nurturing Parenting Program, held at St. Timothy’s 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 childcare will be provided. These meetings will be conducted in Spanish and are designed to help families with children, newborns to age four. The program is designed for the entire family. St. Timothy's Episcopal Church address is located at 432 Van Buren St., Herndon. Contact Krissa Slone at 703-324-7745 or via email at Kslone@fairfaxcounty.gov or Vera Berrio Breton at 703-324-7737.
On the first Sunday of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Washington Plaza Church hosts a Christian discussion group reinforcing God’s love for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning community and the people who love them. The discussion is led by Pastor Sandi John and Minister of Music Dean Jenkins. The gathering is an informal time of worship, instruction and fellowship. Call the church office at 703-471-5225, e-mail Pastor@WashingtonPlazaChurch.com and/or see www.WashingtonPlazaChurch.com for directions.