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 Wednesdays, May 11 and 18, 7-7:50 p.m., a two-week discussion course on spiritual lessons from the cinema begins at St. DavidÕs Episcopal Church, Ashburn, led by Dwight Zscheile. Uncover spiritual lessons from two major movies that made a recent ÒTop 100 Spiritually Significant FilmsÓ list. Watch and discuss clips from Robert DuvallÕs 1997 film ÒThe ApostleÓ and Wim WendersÕ haunting 1987 film ÒWings of Desire.Ó There is no cost to attend. The address is 43600 Russell Branch Parkway and the class will be in the Education Room. Visit www.stdavidsashburn.org or call 703-729-0570.
The Word of Life Assembly of God Church, 21641 Beaumeade Circle, Ashburn, will host a whole-night youth worship session staring at 9 p.m., May 14, to 5 a.m., May 15. The session will feature live interviews, creative activities, video and fellowship for young adults and youth groups from all areas of Loudoun County. Call 703-777-6502.
The Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 E. Church Road, will entertain senior citizens for dinner, fun and music at the church, Saturday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. All seniors in the community are invited. Call 703-430-6455 or visit www.sterlingumc.org.
The 10:30 a.m. Worship Service at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling Sunday, May 15, is entitled "Van Gogh and God" and will be conducted by intern minister Amy DeBeck. She will talk about Vincent Van Gogh's first calling, which was to the ministry. This will be a multi-media worship service celebrating the art of this great artist. UUS meets every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 21355 Davis Drive off of Church Road near Route 28. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
The Global Day of Prayer will be observed May 15, at 5 p.m., at the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene, 17667 Roxbury Hall Road. The Christian Fellowship Church of Ashburn will host the event for Loudoun County next year. Christians in Loudoun will join more than 130 countries for this 24-hour prayer effort. Call 703-777-6502 or visit www.globaldayofprayer.com.
Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 E. Church Road, will hold an Inova-sponsored blood drive, Sunday, May 15, from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at its adjacent Jocabus Center. registration takes place Sundays, May 1 and 8, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the church narthex. All members of the community are invited. Call Kay Farrar, 703-430-3975.
Sunday, May 22, Darrell Scott, whose daughter Rachel was killed in the shooting at Columbine High School, will be speaking at Our Savior's Way Lutheran Church, 43115 Waxpool Road, Ashburn, about the tragedy and how to prevent further violence in schools. Call 703-858-9254 or visit ww.oswlc.org.
On Sunday, May 22, Jone Johnson Lewis of the Northern Virginia Ethical Society will discuss "The Tipping Point." 11 a.m. Free. 225 Nutley St., N.W., Vienna. Visit the Web site, www.noves.org or call 703-437-3161.
On Saturday, June 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Ashburn Presbyterian Church will host a light breakfast and gathering to provide general information about its church and ministries. 20962 Ashburn Road, in the heart of Old Ashburn. Child care will be provided, but register required by calling the offices at 7030729-2012 or visiting the Web site at http://www.ashburnpresbyterian.org.
James Stafford will be leading a Bible for Liberals at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, taking a literary and critical approach to the Bible. The ancient historical, cultural, literary and religious heritage both in and beyond the Bible will be explored. Open to those who have and those who have not read the Bible. Bible for Liberals meetings occur every second Sunday, through June, from 12:30 -2:30 p.m. These meeting are designed to be casual, drop in,
stand-alone sessions. The session will be held at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 21355 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, in conjunction with the Chaplaincy Department of Loudoun Hospital Center, provides a healing service on the second Sunday of each month, from 2:30-3:30 p.m., in the chapel of Loudoun Hospital Center, located on Riverside Parkway in Lansdowne. Patients, family, friends and staff, as well as the wider community are welcome. The service is conducted with "stations" so that people can drop in any time during the hour to receive healing prayer, holy communion, and request prayers for others. Contact the church office at 703-779-3616 or visit www.saintgabriels.net.
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.