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Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, located at 8508 Hooes Road in Springfield, presents the following events in preparation for Christmas. Visit www.sumcdisciples.org or call 703-451-8223.
* Children’s Birthday Party for Jesus, Saturday, Dec. 3; 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Crafts, music, stories, fun and refreshments all designed to help children learn the meaning of Christmas. Free, no reservations required.
* The Twelve Days of Christmas, performed by the Children's Choir, Sunday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m.
* The Nativity According to St. Luke, performed by the Chancel Choir, Sunday, Dec. 18, at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Features the Chancel Choir, members of the drama ministries, and soloists from the choir and George Mason University.
* Living Nativity, Sunday, Dec. 18, from 7-9 p.m.
* Christmas Eve services, Saturday, December 24: a children’s service, 5 p.m.; a Love Feast, 8 p.m.; and a candlelight service, 11 p.m.
* Christmas Morning service, Sunday, Dec. 25, at 10 a.m.
The Gospel of St. Mark is performed by Joseph Morris, Sunday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m., at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 6744 South Kings Highway. Tickets are $7, $12 per family and may be purchased by calling 703-765-3949 or at the door. Call 703-354-7966.
John Rutter's "Christmas Celebration," a choral and orchestral program featuring his popular carols, is performed Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., at Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Ave., Fairfax. Call 703-591-3120.
The Promised Land Southern Gospel Quartet performs for free on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m., at Parkwood Baptist Church, 8726 Braddock Road, Annandale. Visit www.parkwood.org.
The Messiah United Methodist Church sponsors the following events/services. The church is located at 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield. For more, call 703-569-9862.
* Christmas Concert. The 15th annual Springfield Area Community Concert of the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah" is Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. The event is free, but donations are accepted.
* Singles Dance. The Messiah Singles Holiday Dance is Saturday, Dec. 3. Dance lessons begin at 8 p.m., and the dance is from 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Cost is $5 with a dish of finger foods, $10 without a dish. Optional dress is formal (black tie and party dresses). Childcare available. Make reservations by Dec. 1 to 703-569-9862, ext. 213.
* Sunday Services. Traditional Sunday morning worship services: 8:15 a.m., with Holy Communion every Sunday; 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Holy Communion on the first Sunday; and Heartline, a contemporary praise and worship service, Sunday evenings at 7:15 p.m.
* Prayer at Messiah. Messiah offers the following prayer ministries: Sunday Morning Prayers, 7:15 a.m. in the Chapel; Tuesday Evening Prayer, 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel and Wednesday Prayer Group, 6 a.m. in the Chapel.
* Singles Sunday School, each Sunday, at 10:45 a.m., in Room 266.
* GriefShare, on through Feb. 16, from 7-9 p.m. This group focuses on Christ-centered healing through small group interaction. For information or to register for the sessions please call Irene Rich at 703-569-9862, Ext. 212.
The Nativity Catholic Church presents a fund raiser for CYO teens to travel to Pennsylvania to assist needy families, Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 6-9 p.m., at Silver Diner, 6592 Springfield Mall, Springfield. A portion of all sales will be donated to the CYO. Call 703-924-1701.
Truro Church MOPS would like to invite all mothers of preschool aged children to join MOPS for relevant speakers, small group time with other moms and food. The group meets the second Thursday of every month, and the next meeting will be Dec. 8, at 7 p.m., at Truro Church, located at 10520 Main St., Fairfax, in the church fellowship hall on the lower level. For more, call Amanda Qreitem at 703-222-2332 or e-mail amandazubi@hotmail.com.
"Born A Savior, Born A King: Fulfilling the Prophesy," a free gospel Christmas cantata, is Saturday, Dec. 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Greater Little Zion Baptist Church, 10185 Zion Drive, Fairfax. Call 703-764-9111.
Springfield Super Saturday presents "God Gives Good Gifts" on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Springfield Church of Christ, 7512 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. The event is for ages 4-12. Call 703-451-4011 or e-mail springfieldchurch@yahoo.com.
Jubilee Christian Center, located at 4650 Shirley Gate Road in Fairfax, presents two Christmas musicals on Dec. 11, at the 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Both "The Tale of Three Trees," the children's musical, and "The Christmas Story," the adult musical, will be performed at both services. There will be a free brunch between the services. Call 703-383-1170.
Parkwood Baptist Church, located at 8726 Braddock Road in Annandale, presents its Bethlehem Walk, a free interactive program replicating a Bethlehem street on the night Jesus was born, Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, from 5-8 p.m. Visit www.parkwood.org.
A live nativity will be performed at Harvest Church, 7401 Beulah St. in Alexandria, on Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17, each night at 7, 7:30, and 8 p.m. Free hot chocolate and refreshments will be served. Call 703-971-7070 or visit www.harvestchurchag.org.
Harvest Church, located at 7401 Beulah St. in Alexandria, presents a one-hour Christmas service, Sunday, Dec. 25, at 10:30 a.m. Call 703-971-7070 or visit www.harvestchurchag.org.
Congregation Adat Reyim is a progressive conservative congregation with educational programs for preschoolers through high schoolers. Led by Rabbi Bruce Aft. Services are as follow: Maariv every Wednesday at 7:40 p.m.; Erev Shabbat every Friday at 8 p.m.; and Shabbat Service every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Call for information on monthly Tot Shabbat, Kabbalat Shabbat and other special services. Adat Reyim is located at 6500 Westbury Oaks Court, in Springfield. For more information, call 703-569-7577 or visit www.adatreyim.org.
Fresh Fire International Center hosts a dress-down "Love Feast" on the second Sunday of every month at 10:30 a.m. at the Chinese Martial Arts Building, 8426-B Lee Highway, Fairfax, opposite the BMW Fairfax; entrance is in the back. Come meet new people, play games, enjoy a meal and hear the word. Call 703-815-8950.
New World Unity Church offers a Sunday Celebration Service every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at Irving Middle School, located at 8100 Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield. New World Unity Church is a spiritual community "consciously co-creating a peaceful, harmonious world that recognizes Oneness." Children's programs begin at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 703-690-7925 or visit www.NewWorldUnity.org.
The Fairfax Church of Christ sponsors a Divorce Recovery Support Group every Monday at 7:30 p.m., at the church. Cost is $10 for book used. For more information call 703-631-2100 or visit www.fxcc.org. The Fairfax Church of Christ is located at 3901 Rugby Road, Fairfax.
International Calvary Church is a Christ, Bible and Spirit centered church. Sunday services are as follows: English services at 9:45 a.m., Korean services at 11:30 a.m., and youth services at 11:30 a.m. Sunday School is as follows: English classes at 11:30 a.m., and children's classes at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday Bible study and Youth Meeting are at 8 p.m., and Friday Prayer and Youth Meeting take place at 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-569-1918. The International Calvary Church is located at 5700 Hanover Ave., Springfield.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for people who are interested in becoming Catholic or learning about the Catholic Church. A group will be meeting on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m., at St. Leo the Great Church, 3704 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax in the Old Parish Hall and will continue to meet throughout the school year. For more, call Martha Malloy at 703-273-5369.