<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>
Jubilee Christian Center will be having a free Summer Kid's Blast July 27-29, from 7:30-9 p.m., for ages 3 through rising sixth graders. The Kid's Blast will culminate with a free family dinner Sunday, July 31, 5:30 p.m., followed by a closing family service. There will be prizes for bringing the most guests, as well as puppets, Bible stories, games, music and other special activities. Children's Pastor Todd McKeever will be leading the Kid's Blast. 4650 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax. Call 703-383-1170 for information and to register.
Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia and the Trans Gender Education Association of Greater Washington Inc. will be holding an evening of presentation and discussion about issues and matters of faith/spirituality, Thursday, July 28, at 8 p.m. Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia is located at 10383 Democracy Lane in Fairfax. Call 703-691-0930 or visit www.mccnova.com. The Rev. Dr. Justin Tanis, author of Trans-Gendered: Theology, Ministry, and Communities of Faith, will be reading a selection from his book and facilitating our community discussion.
A free English class for speakers of other languages is offered at Jubilee Christian Center as a special Sunday school class at 9:30 a.m. 4650 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax. Call 703-383-1170.
A Serengeti Trek where kids are wild about God is being offered at Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church, 201 E. Frederick Drive in Sterling. The trek will guide children ages 4 through fifth grade for a week of wild adventure fun featuring exotic crafts, unforgettable music, exciting games and thrilling Bible stories. The Trek lasts for one week — July 25-29, in the evenings from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Dinner will be served to the hungry explorers. Registration has begun. The cost is $25 for one child, $35 for two siblings, no more than $40 per family. Visit our Web site at www.stmatthewssterling.org to download the registration forms or call Jodie Leach at 703-421-6310 or e-mail at jodieleach2@aol.com.
The Church of the Good Shepherd, a United Methodist Church, located at 2351 Hunter Mill Road in Vienna, invites all children ages 3 years to rising sixth-graders on a Serengeti Trek adventure, Aug. 8-12, 9 a.m.-noon.
Gear up for an adventure on the vast savanna. Serengeti Trek is an exciting way for kids to learn more about God’s love. Children will take part in a hands-on mission project that will reach needy children in Africa. Each day the children will sing cool songs, play teamwork-building games, snack at the watering hole, take on a daily challenge, experience thrilling Bible expeditions, collect animal buddies to remind them of God’s Word, create crafts to take home, and make new friends, Each day concludes at the Mane Event — a celebration that gets everyone involved in living what they’ve learned. Call the church office at 703-281-3987 or visit www.goodshepherdva.com. Deadline for registration is July 10. The cost is $20 per child.
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and its national umbrella organization, United Jewish Communities (UJC), are hosting the first-ever National LGBT Pride in Israel Mission, Aug. 14-21. The trip will address specific interests of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender (LGBT) community as they relate to Israeli society, gain insight on Middle East current events and explore Israel’s historic sites, among other programming. Subsidies for this trip are available, including $500 from The Jewish Federation and $500 from UJC. Contact Beryl Meyer at 301-230-7264 or e-mail beryl.meyer@shalomdc.org.
This summer, church youth groups with willing hands and open hearts are coming to the community of Reston to offer free help to children, elderly, disabled and others in need. The program is called "Week of Hope" and is sponsored by the Group Workcamps Foundation, an interdenominational Christian missions company.
At a Week of Hope, 65 to 99 youth and their adult leaders come to serve others for one week during the summer. There will be seven consecutive Week of Hope camps, with new campers and volunteers arriving and departing each week. Campers work with local social service agencies and community service organizations such as homeless shelters, church Vacation Bible School programs, food banks, nursing homes, and many others.
The Group Workcamps Foundation needs energetic and enthusiastic adults, 21 or older, interested in participating as adult volunteers for one week during the summer. Opportunities include assisting with service projects, helping in the office and working in the kitchen to prepare meals for students and leaders. This is a great chance to change lives right in your own backyard and help make a difference for your neighbors in your community.
Contact Sharon Moore at 1-800-635-0404, Ext. 4477 or smoore@group.com.
Audition appointments are being scheduled for a concert series program created at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church 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.
Every Wednesday at noon, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 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.
Washington Plaza Baptist Church offers Kerygma Bible study, Discovering the Bible. It is designed as a basic, yet comprehensive introduction to the Bible as a whole. Learn about the peoples, places and events as well as see beyond to new understandings of faith and life. The study, comprised of 30 lessons started Feb. 1 and continues Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. until mid November. Free. Workbook provided with option to purchase. Call the Rev. Sandi John at 703-471-5225 or visit www.washingtonplazachurch.com.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington 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.
Trips to Israel scheduled through federation include:
* Young Leadership program for singles and young couples, June, 2005.
* Family trips, June, July, 2005.
* National LGBT Pride in Israel, August, 2005.
* Health Professionals Affinity, October, 2005.
* Jewish Residents of Leisure World, November, 2005.
* Hanukkah trip to Israel, December 2005-January 2006.
Since the beginning of the 2005, the Reston Bible Church's Food Bank, 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 Reston Bible Church 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.
Meditate to become free from stress and discover a wealth of inner peace. Vajrayogini Buddhist Center offers classes in Buddhist meditation that are open to all.
Tuesdays, from 7:30-9 p.m., in the 'Cry' room, next to chapel. Come to St. Anne's Episcopal Church 1700 Wainwright Drive in Reston. Visit www.meditation-dc.org or call 202-331-2122.