<i>Send announcements to the connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to
reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Jean Card at 703-917-6437, with questions.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.</i>
<b>Buddhist meditation classes</b> will be hosted by Vajrayogini Buddhist Center every Tuesday in the 'Cry' room next to the chapel of St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 1700 Wainwright Drive in Reston. Fall classes will be from 7-8:30 p.m., <b>Sept. 13, 20, and 27</b>. There is a $10 attendance fee. Call 202-331-2122 or visit www.meditation-dc.org. Classes are open to all.
<b>Congregation Beth Emeth</b>, located in Herndon, will hold an Ice Cream Social <b>Sunday, Aug. 28</b>, from 2-3:30 p.m., for its members, “Shul shoppers,” and anyone in the western Fairfax County Jewish Community who is not currently affiliated with a synagogue.
The afternoon will include Jewish music and Beth Emeth leaders will be available to assist anyone seeking more information about this affiliate of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
There is no cost for members and prospective members but reservations are encouraged. Beth Emeth is found at 12523 Lawyers Road, Herndon.
Call 703-860-4515, Ext. 127 or e-mail dawn@bethemeth.org.
<b>Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation</b> annual picnic will be held 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in Sterling, <b>Aug. 28</b>. Prospective members are invited.
The BCRC will host youth services for the youngest members at 6:30 p.m., <b>Sept. 16</b>, followed by a family Shabbat service in Sterling. <b>Sept. 17</b>, Shabbat morning services and a bar mitzvah will be held 9:30 a.m. Hebrew High kickoff will be held at 7 p.m., with student Rabbi Jesse Gallop. Teens from the WFEL community are invited to join discussions pertaining to teens with a social following. Judaism 101 with Gallop will begin <b>Sept. 18</b>, at 9:15 a.m., in Ashburn. Members and nonmembers are welcome to this 10-part course on "what we forgot and what we never knew about Judaism." The course has a book list for participants and a $36 fee for nonmembers. On <b>Sept. 25</b>, there will be a BCRC Meet & Greet in Ashburn, at 9 a.m. Prospective and new members are invited to join the BCRC for coffee and a nosh and visit the Sunday school. Call 703-391-8669.
<b>Congregation Sha’are Shalom</b> will hold its congregational picnic for members and prospective members <b>Aug. 28</b>, 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.
<b>Congregation Beth Emeth</b>, located in Herndon, announces its 2005-06 <b>Adult Enrichment program</b> of classes, speakers and special events. The schedule kicks off with "The Elul Project: An Asset Workshop," three sessions in which participants will take stock of themselves in preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Classes will be held <b>Wednesdays, Aug. 31, Sept. 7 and Sept. 21</b>, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Classes offered include Basic Judaism, Introductory Hebrew, Israeli Dancing, Shalom Yoga TM, Jewish Meditation and Torah Trop. Rabbi Steven Glazer, D.H.L., will teach two classes, Exploring Classic Jewish Texts and Jew vs. Jew.
Special programs include "V'shinantam L'vanecha," informal Sunday morning sessions, once a month, exploring key Jewish values, led by Bonny Grosz; "In Synagogue," an intellectual/spiritual approach to High Holiday and Shabbat worship services; and hands-on workshops on Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot, prior to each.
A discussion group meets every Shabbat at noon to discuss the Torah Portion of the week and a group meets for Talmud study every Sunday morning, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
An affiliate of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Beth Emeth is found at 12523 Lawyers Road, Herndon. Call 703-860-4515, Ext. 127 or e-mail dawn@bethemeth.org.
Student Rabbi Gallop and <b>Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation</b> 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 <b>Sept. 17</b> 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.
<b>Holiday Services</b>. Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation will be hosting High Holiday services for Erev Rosh Hashanah <b>Oct. 3</b>, at 7:30 p.m., Rosh Hashanah <b>Oct. 4</b>, at 9:30 a.m., Kol Nidre <b>Oct. 12</b>, at 7:30 p.m., and Yom Kippur <b>Oct. 13</b>, at 10 a.m. All services will be held in Ashburn; call 703-391-8669.
Since the beginning of the 2005, the <b>Reston Bible Church's Food Bank</b>, has reached 240 families or 1,200 people in the local area plus countless others in five remote locations in the Virginia/Washington, D.C., locations. As many as 200 crates of food per week, provided by Giant Food, are distributed to low-income families and the homeless. The food is distributed to neighborhood walk-ins at RBC each week plus the needy at the Cherokee Nation in Warrenton, Central Union Mission in D.C., Great Day Child Care Families, William Ramsey Elementary School and just recently, the Reston/Herndon Hispanic community. In addition to food distribution, the RBC Food Bank has served as a center for meeting other types of needs as well, including a computer for home-schooled child, and linens, pots, pans and furniture for the truly needy. Food Bank volunteers have helped the unemployed find jobs, find legal help and transportation to doctor appointments.
The <b>Reston Bible Church</b> is a non-denominational church, which celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2005, and serves a congregation of more than 2000 at 11979 North Shore Drive, in Reston. Pastor Mike Minter has served as the church’s pastor since he and his wife, Kay Minter, founded the church 1974. RBC is a Bible believing and preaching church with a passion for impacting the lives of those living in the community. Call 703-478-9730 or visit www.restonbible.org.
<b>Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation</b> will hold Sunday School <b>every Sunday</b>, 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 <b>Tuesday evenings</b>, 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.
<b>Audition appointments</b> are being scheduled for a concert series program created at <b>St. Timothy's Episcopal Church</b> in Herndon. No phone calls will be accepted for appointments, only e-mails. All e-mails should include contact name, daytime telephone and a description of talent. Note in subject line "Concert Series Audition Request." E-mail all request for auditions to St.Tims.Music@hotmail.com.
<b>Every Wednesday at noon, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church,</b> 432 Van Buren St. in Herndon, offers a lunch-time Prayer and Healing Service. This 30-minute nondenominational service is offered to all local residents and people working in businesses in Herndon and surrounding areas; and allows people an opportunity to worship during the work week when they may be away from their regular church. All are welcome. Call the church Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at 703-437-3790 or visit the Web site www.saint-timothys.org. St. Timothy's Episcopal Church has been serving Herndon and its surrounding communities by its many ministries for more than 136 years.
<b>The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington</b> has organized trips to Israel this summer for groups, families and individuals who wish to explore the unique experience of life in the Jewish homeland. Jews visit Israel for many reasons — religious, cultural, recreational and to visit family, among others. Contact Beryl Meyer at 301-230-7264 or e-mail beryl.meyer@shalomdc.org for more information.
Upcoming trips to Israel scheduled through federation include:
* Health Professionals Affinity, October, 2005.
* Jewish Residents of Leisure World, November, 2005.
* Hanukkah trip to Israel, December 2005-January 2006.