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 two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
Tuesday, Sept. 28, Dr. Ivo Daadler will be speaking at the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Ave., Reston, on "The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy." The meeting will begin at 7:45 p.m. and is open to the public. Having served in the Clinton Administration as director of European affairs in the National Security Council, Daalder is an internationally recognized expert in U.S. foreign policy and national security affairs. He has authored many books and is published nationwide in newspapers.
The Nurturing Parenting Program will be held at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 432 Van Buren St., Herndon. The first session begins Sept. 28, from 5:30-8 p.m., dinner will be served and child care is provided, free of charge. The 24-week series will end Jan. 17, 2005. The Nurturing Parenting Program, intended for families with children ages 0-4, is a series of courses providing education for families to build stronger, healthier interactions among all family members in order to prevent potentially destructive family patterns.
Genesis, an international church, will be hosting 40 Days of Purpose, a six-week spiritual journey based on the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life," beginning Sept. 26. The journey includes weekly home group studies, which culminate with Sunday morning messages. The study will kick off with a special launch celebration Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m., at the Dranesville Elementary School, 1515 Powells Tavern Place, Herndon. This celebration will be a simulcast with 5,000 other churches from across the nation. For more information call 703-437-6142 or visit www.genesisministries.net.
The Orchard Boys, a bluegrass/gospel band from Frederick, Md., will be in concert at Holy Cross Lutheran Church Saturday, Sept. 25. Holy Cross is located at 1090 Sterling Road in Herndon. Tickets are $10. For reservations by telephone 703-437-1883 (Ellie) or 703-435-8377 (Bob). Reservations and walk-ins pay the night of the concert. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. with the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Snack service is available. Holy Cross is handicapped accessible.
Harvest Christian Fellowship of Reston is hosting Harvest Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 2 from 1-5 p.m. at the Temporary Road Pavilion, intersection of North Shore Drive and Temporary Road, Reston. Everyone is invited for a fun day of games for the children, free hot dogs & lemonade, cotton-candy, helium balloons, a free clothing give away, sports, and music. The whole event is free and is open to the public. For more information call Harvest Christian Fellowship of Reston at 703-834-8100.
Grace Chinese Christian Church of Herndon will be hosting a two-day conference on Oct. 2-3 on Asian-American history and theology. Dr. Jeffrey K. Jue, assistant professor of church history at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa., and himself a fourth-generation Chinese-American will be speaking on making a home one's own. Through this conference, the church hopes that it can become a place that reflects the diversity of the community, moving not only beyond Chinese to Asians in general, but also beyond Asians, to embrace people of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). This conference is just the first of many to come. For more information contact English Minister Kenneth Woo at 571-217-7025. The church, a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church, is located at 898 Crestview Drive.
The Jewish Learning Institute, now at Chabad of Northern Virginia, presents "Finding Yourself In Genesis," a revolutionary concept in Jewish adult education. The program will be held eight consecutive Monday evenings beginning Nov. 1 at Chabad Community Campus, 3939 Prince William Drive, Fairfax. Visit myjli.com or call 703-426-1980 for dates and information on future programs.
The Herndon Ecumenical discussion group, which meets the fourth Saturday of each month, will not be meeting at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in September. The next meeting will be Oct. 23, from 9 a.m.-noon, at St. Joseph's, 750 Peachtree St., Herndon, in room 213.
Free conversational English classes for all levels, beginning to advanced, will be held at Washington Plaza Baptist Church, 1615 Washington Plaza West in Reston. Two classes will be offered, Wednesday, Sept. 22, from 1:30-3 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 23, from 7-8:30 p.m. Registration takes place Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 1:30-3 p.m., for the Wednesday afternoon class and Thursday, Sept. 16, from 7-8:30 p.m. for the Thursday evening class. For more information, visit the Web site, www.WashingtonPlazaChurch.com; e-mail Administrator@WashingtonPlazaChurch.com; or call 703-471-5225.
Tickets for the non member High Holiday are now available for purchase at Congregation Etz Hayim in Arlington, through Sept. 24. Tot, family and adult services are offered. For more information, call 703-979-4466, e-mail highholidays@etzhayim.net, or visit www.etzhayim.net.
Passages, a 10-session program for people experiencing separation and divorce will be held Tuesday evenings, from 7-9 p.m., beginning Sept. 28, at the Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park St. N.E., Vienna. Cost is $25. For more information call the church at 703-938-9050.
Reston Presbyterian Church invites the community to an old-fashioned Country Fair Saturday, Oct. 9, 1-5 p.m. The fair offers activities for all ages, including classic carnival games, a demolition car, flea market, pony rides, moon bounce, clowns, local firefighters, a firetruck and food. There is no charge for admission or for most games. The fair will be
held rain or shine on the church grounds at 10610 Sunset Hills Road. Call 703-759-5515 or visit the Web site at www.rpcconnected.org for more information.
In commemoration of the Festival of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Reston, will be holding a Blessing of the Animals service, Sunday, Oct. 3, beginning at 4 p.m. All are welcome, with or without pets. Meet outside the main entrance to the church, 2320 Hunters Woods Plaza. Includes refreshments after the service. Call 703-860-1757 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.