Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@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.
On Aug. 17, at 6:30 p.m., Galilee United Methodist Church will be having a nature walk and Native American display, done by Galilee member Bob Anderson. The nature walk will occur around the church environs, which includes a pond with wildlife and plants. The display will take place in the air-conditioned gymnasium, where Anderson will explore his Native American heritage and show artifacts. The event is free. Child care is provided. Galilee UMC is located at 45425 Winding Road, Sterling Contact the church at 703-430-2203 or visit www.galileeumc.org.
Evergreen Church invites the community to a special outdoor worship celebration, Aug. 21, at 10 a.m., at Tuscarora Creek Park, off Lawson Road in Leesburg. Bring a chair or blanket and experience God's grace in the park. All humans are welcome, no pets. Free food and children's activities, following worship. Visit www.EvergreenChurch.net, or call 703-737-7700.
Ashburn Presbyterian Church (APC) is hosting three community get-togethers for people who enjoy making crafts. The APC Women's Ministry is looking for individuals who enjoy expressing themselves through pottery, wreaths, stamping, ornaments, woodworking, sewing, painting or other projects. They are encouraged to get involved by creating and donating items for sale at the church's bazaar. While working on project ideas, join the Women's Ministry for one of its monthly craft classes to produce bazaar merchandise: origami gift tags; Aug. 18, from 7-9 p.m., rubber stamped Christmas and birthday cards; Sept. 18, from 4-6 p.m., bean bag snowmen. Craft sessions will be held at Ashburn Presbyterian Church, 20962 Ashburn Road. Visit the Web site at www.ashburnpresbyterian.org or call 703-729-2012.
On Aug. 18, at 7:30 p.m., Galilee United Methodist Church will be having a Service of Prayer and Healing. The worship service is free and the community is invited to be a part of reaching wellness and wholeness. Child care is provided. Galilee UMC is located at 45425 Winding Road, Sterling. Contact the church at 703-430-2203 or visit www.galileeumc.org.
The Leesburg Presbyterian Church, 207 West Market St., has set a new summer worship schedule. Worship services will be Sunday mornings, 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., through August. In addition, Saturday Night Outside worship services will be held on the church lawn at 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20. Food will be served and everyone is welcome. Call the church office at 703-777-4163.
On Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m., Galilee United Methodist Church in Sterling, will be having a "PRaise the Roof" concert, featuring the Full Circle Band from Floris United Methodist Church. Following the event will be an old-fashioned ice cream social. The event is free. Child care is provided. Galilee UMC is located at 45425 Winding Road, Sterling. Contact the church at 703-430-2203 or visit www.galileeumc.org.
From 8 a.m.- noon, Aug. 20, Galilee United Methodist Church will be having yard sale to benefit local, national and international mission causes. The yard sale will take place in the air-conditioned gym. Galilee UMC is located at 45425 Winding Road, Sterling. Contact the church at 703-430-2203 or visit www.galileeumc.org.
On Sunday, Aug. 21, at 10:30 a.m., the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling will hear Worship Associate James Stafford, a communications engineer, as he explores communication theory in a religious and spiritual context. UUS meets every Sunday morning, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive, off of Church Road near the W&OD Trail. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
Congregation Sha’are Shalom will hold its Congregational picnic for members and prospective members Aug. 28, at Fox Ridge Park in Leesburg, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Fox Ridge Park is located on the west end of Catoctin Circle next to C. S. Monroe Vo-Tech School in Leesburg.
There will be softball/soccer, basketball, children activities and plenty of kosher food. Rabbi Neil Tow will be there to meet those in attendance. A donation of $7.50 per adult or $20 per family is requested of congregation members, but prospective members are invited to enjoy the afternoon with the congregation at no charge.
Call the synagogue at 703-437-6500 or visit our Web site at www.sha-areshalom.org.
On Sunday, Aug. 28, Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation (BCRC) holds its annual picnic at Algonkian Park, Shelter No. 1, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost is $6 per person, free for children under 4, with a $24 household family maximum. Prospective members are free. Come meet their new rabbis, Student Rabbi Gallop and Rabbi Weiner. Includes grilling, games and good times. Call 703-391-8669 for more information.
Galilee United Methodist Church has designated Sunday, Aug. 28 "Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday." All children in the church and community are invited to bring their backpacks all ready for the new school year to church that day for a special blessing. The congregation will also be recognizing area school teachers and administrators. Worship times are 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Galilee UMC is located at 45425 Winding Road, in Sterling. Call 703-430- 2203 or e-mail the church office, Galileeumc@Galileeumc.net or go to visit www.Galileeumc.org.
On Sunday, Aug. 28, at the 10:30 a.m. service, the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling will welcome the new interim minister, the Rev. Matthew McNaught, into the pulpit for the first time. McNaught will serve as interim minister for a two-year period as he assists the congregation in finding a settled minister. An all-congregation picnic will follow. UUS meets every Sunday morning, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive, off of Church Road near the W&OD Trail. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation will hold youth services for the youngest members, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m., followed by a family Shabbat service in Sterling. Call 703-391-8669.
The Family Fun Festival sponsored by Church of the Holy Spirit in Ashburn will be held on the grounds of Mill Run Elementary School Saturday Sept. 17, from 2-5 p.m. The rain date will be Saturday Sept. 24, from 2-5 p.m., at Mill Run Elementary School. This will be a time to come and enjoy fellowship with neighbors while the children engage in fun games, moon bounces, pony rides and much more. Free food and drinks will be provided. There will be an opportunity to thank the local sheriff’s and fire departments for the work they do daily. Call 703-726-0777.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation Shabbat morning services/bar mitzvah, Sept. 17, 9:30 a.m. Call 703-391-8669.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation will hold a meet and greet, Sept. 25, in Ashburn at 9 a.m. Prospective and new members come join the BCRC family for coffee and a nosh and visit the Sunday school Call 703-391-8669.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation High Holiday Services:
Oct. 3, Erev Rosh Hashanah 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4, Rosh Hashanah 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 12, Kol Nidre at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13, Yom Kippur at 10 a.m.
With services throughout the day all the High Holiday Services will be held in Ashburn. Call 703-391-8669.
The High Holy Days mark the beginning of the Jewish New Year (5766). They begin with Rosh Hashanah at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 3. Congregation Sha’are Shalom will hold services the first and second days of the holiday Tuesday, Oct. 4, with Tashlich, at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 5. Services each day begin at 9 a.m. Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre) services begin at 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12 and at 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 13. A break-the-fast will be held after the conclusion of Yom Kippur services around 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13.
All services and events are held at Congregation Sha’are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg. Rabbinic intern, Neil Tow, will lead Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
Child care will be provided with a cooperative baby sitting effort by those in attendance. Nonmembers can reserve tickets by calling the synagogue at 703-437-6500. Visit the Web site www.sha-areshalom.org.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation will hold Sunday School every Sunday, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Boyd Montessori School in Ashburn. In addition to Sunday School, a second day of Hebrew School will be offered Tuesday evenings, from 7-8 p.m., at Sanders Corner Elementary School. Attendance is limited to fourth- through seventh-graders and adults interested in learning Hebrew. Contact Lisa Kimball at bradamk@aol.com or call 703-858-1999.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation (BCRC) will offer adult education with student Rabbi Jesse Gallop. The class will meet once a month during the academic year — September-June, 10 sessions in all — at the Boyd School in Ashburn. The course will be Sundays during religious school, 9:30-11 a.m.; and is intended as an introduction to Jewish customs, traditions, concepts and philosophies. All are welcome to participate. Tuition is free for BCRC members, $36 for nonmembers. To enroll, contact Karlah Louis at 703-421-0884 or by e-mail at karlah.louis@earthlink.net.
Required texts: Dosick, Wayne. "Living Judaism." HarperCollins: New York, N.Y., 1995; "Introduction to Judaism: A Sourcebook." The URJ Press: New York, N.Y., 1998; Perelson, Ruth. "An Invitation to Shabbat." The URJ Press: New York, N.Y., 1997; Sonsino and Syme. "Finding God." The URJ Press: New York, N.Y., 2002; Telushkin, Joseph. "Jewish Literacy." William Morrow (Publisher): New York,
N.Y., 2001; "Tanakh: The Holy Scripture." Jewish Publication Society (JPS), 1985, recommended, not required.
At a congregational meeting the Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun (UUCL) voted overwhelmingly to become recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a "Welcoming Congregation."
As a Welcoming Congregation, the UUCL has taken a vow to provide a welcoming place of worship to all people, regardless of sexual orientation. The congregation is dedicated to continued education on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues, and advocacy for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered persons.
Summer services are held at 10 a.m., every Sunday from through Sept. 4. Visit the UUCL Web site at www.uuloudoun.org or call the church at 703-737-7644.
"How do I deal with My Parents’ Divorce?" is being offered by the New Life Christian Church as a 13-week divorce care program for middle-school students and elementary-level, ages 5-11. Groups will take place from 9:30-11 a.m., at Westfield's High School campus on Sunday mornings in Centreville. Groups start Sept. 11. Contact Lucy Martinez for sign up information at 703-220-5022.
Student Rabbi Gallop and Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation (BCRC) will offer a monthly, hour-long, high-school class to meet one Saturday evening a month. To foster a high degree of student involvement, course topics relating to teenage life will be agreed upon jointly by attendees and the rabbi. Adopting a discussion-type format to exploring current issues and discuss Jewish and modern perspectives. An optional youth group social will follow each class to be determined by the students at the Sept. 17 kickoff. For enrollment and further information, contact Lisa Kimball at bradamk@aol.com. There is a nonmember fee of $36 for the 10-session class.
Potomac Falls Episcopal Church meets for Sunday services at 10 a.m., at Horizon Elementary School, 46665 Broadmore Drive, Sterling. Sunday school for children and nursery care for infants is provided each week.
The Loudoun Church Alliance is a formal association of churches of many denominations, founded two years ago. It works in the areas of youth development, international missions, evangelism outreach, and is now working to develop relationships with government and business. Contact founder and missionary Jack Stagman at jackstagman@adelphia.net.
The Unitarian Universalists of Sterling meet on Sunday mornings, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 21355 Davis Drive near Rt. 28 and Church Road. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.