The Church and Stem Cells. Fr. Taduez Pacholczyk, Ph.D, director of education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, presents a Diocesan Workshop on Current Medical Moral Issues, including discussion of stem cell research. The workshop is offered both Sept. 23 and 24 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1914 N. Randolph St., Arlington. Registration cost is $15 per person/$25 per couple on or before Sept. 15 or $20 per person/$30 per couple at the door. Lunch included. Visit www.arlingtondiocese.org/offices/family for information and registration form.
Christ the King Lutheran Church hosts Tapestry‚ an open, all-denominational Bible Study for all who wish to develop or deepen their Christian faith. Wednesday mornings, beginning on Sept. 23, from 9-11:30 a.m. The Book of John will be explored this fall, and in the spring, study turns to the Book of Philippians. The cost is $35 for the year. Contact Victoria Wagner at wagner20676@aol.com or 703-435-2141. Christ the King Lutheran Church is located at 10550 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer hosts its fifth annual Fall Festival, featuring "Christmas in Many Cultures," on Saturday, Sept. 24. Meet the neighbors and feast on an Oktoberfest menu, which includes bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, baked beans and apple kuchen, plus hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and a make-your-own sundae buffet for children. 6-9 p.m. at the corner of Westmoreland Avenue and Chain Bridge Road, McLean. The community is invited to attend. Call 703-356-3346.
Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (NVHC) in Reston will host its annual Selichot (penitence) program and worship, which is open to the community, on Saturday, Sept. 24. Selichot are special prayers for forgiveness. At the Selichot service, worshipers examine their deeds of the past year, seeking forgiveness from God and promising to improve their behavior in the New Year as part of preparation for the coming high holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Begins at 7:30 p.m. at NVHC, 1441 Wiehle Ave., Reston, with a screening and discussion of the Woody Allen film, "Crimes and Misdemeanors." This will be followed by a dessert social and Selichot worship beginning at 10 p.m., introducing the liturgy of the Jewish high holidays. The service will feature Kol Shira, the adult choir of Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, conducted by Carol Fram. E-mail info@nvhcreston.org or call 703-437-7733.
Stem Cell Research in the Light of Recent Advances. On Sunday, Sept. 25 at 9:45 a.m., Dr. Larry Millstein will make a presentation as part of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer's Faith and Life Forum. Millstein has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and is an attorney specializing in intellectual property law governing issues such as cloning. The church is located at 1545 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Visit www.redeemer-mclean.org or call 703-356-3346.
Martin Indyk, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and a Middle East expert, will speak at Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Ave., Reston, Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. His topic will be Israel, Iran, and Middle East Stability. The lecture is open to the public, and admission is free. Call 703-437-7733.
Second annual "Blue Mass." All police departments and fire/rescue departments located in the Diocese of Arlington are invited to attend this Mass to remember police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel who have fallen in the line of duty, and to pray for the safety of all public safety officers. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Paul S. Loverde. Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral Lane.
The Jewish Information and Referral Service, (JIRS) a division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, offers a listing of synagogues and other venues that offer low-cost or free tickets to upcoming Jewish High Holiday services in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. This opportunity is available to individuals, families, visitors or those who are not affiliated with a local synagogue. Call 301-770-4848 or 703-978-3910. Visit www.ShalomDC.org for a listing of places that are offering services.
Congregation Beth Emeth, a conservative synagogue in Herndon, will host a Singles Sukkot Shabbat on Friday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m., with an Oneg Shabbat immediately following Services. Jewish singles are invited to attend services, celebrate Sukkot and meet other singles from Fairfax, Loudoun and the metropolitan D.C. area. Beth Emeth is located at 12523 Lawyers Road, Herndon. For directions go to www.bethemeth.org/directions.htm or call 703-860-4515.
McLean Bible Church. Service times are Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The 10:45 a.m. service includes sign interpretation. Frontline services are Sunday nights at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The 5 p.m. Frontline service includes sign interpretation. Visit www.frontline.to to learn more. McLean Bible Church was established in 1965, and the senior pastor is Lon Solomon. The church is located at 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. The P.O. Box is 9300, McLean, VA 22102. Call 703-790-5590; 703-770-2939 (TTY), or visit www.mcleanbible.org.
Christian Assembly offers an opportunity for everyone to enter into praise and prayer every Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. The church is located at 8200 Bell Lane, Vienna. Call the church office at 703-968-9777 or visit www.christianassembly.net.
St. Athanasius Lutheran Church, 114 Kingsley Road in Vienna, member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, offers traditional worship in accordance with the historic liturgy of the church. The current Sunday schedule includes Bible study and Sunday school for all ages at 9 a.m. and worship at 10:15 a.m. A Lutheran book club is also offered twice a month. A midweek Bible study meets Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., preceded by "Ask the Pastor" time at 7 p.m. Call 703-455-4003 for more information or visit www.saint-athanasius.org.
Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, has a full range of worship, Christian education, youth, music and small group ministry programs. Traditional worship for the summer months is at 10 a.m. Visitors are always welcome. Call 703-356-7200 or visit www.lewinsville.org. Sunday, Sept. 18, the church will return to two worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church has a full range of education, music, worship and outreach programs. Traditional worship is at 8 and 11 a.m., in the rich Lutheran tradition of liturgical song mixed with music of the masters, spirituals and contemporary Christian music. Contemporary worship is at 9:30 a.m., with fresh liturgical song and contemporary Christian music led by Revelation. Christian education for all ages is 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon. Christian education is available for everyone from preschoolers through adults. Classes are always open to newcomers.
The church is located at 2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, on the Oakton side of Vienna near McDonald’s. Call 703-938-2119.
The Baha’i community of McLean holds a weekly fireside, a meeting of discussion, devotion and fellowship, at 7500 Box Elder Court in McLean, beginning at 8 p.m. every Friday. The fireside is an opportunity to learn about the Baha’i faith and why Baha’is find hope in a seemingly hopeless world. Call 703-556-3400.
Charles Wesley United Methodist Church, located at 6817 Dean Drive in McLean, holds Sunday School for all ages at 9 a.m., Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. and Communion and healing services Wednesdays at noon. Its motto is "A Place to Be and Believe, to Belong and Become." Call the office at 703-356-6336. Visit www.charleswesleyumc.org
Vienna Baptist Church offers numerous Christian worship, education, music and mission opportunities. Each Sunday begins with a VBPraise service at 8:45 a.m. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m., providing different programs to people of all ages. The traditional liturgical worship service takes place at 11 a.m. The church is located at 541 Marshall Road, Vienna. For more information, call 703-281-4400 or visit www.vbc-va.org.
Faith Baptist Church, located at 301 Center St. S., Vienna, offers Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. for all ages, 11 a.m. worship, and Bible Study on Sunday at 6 p.m. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., The Awana children's club for fourth- through sixth-graders takes place during the school year. Nursery school is provided for all services. The preschool and kindergarten program uses the abeka curriculum and serves ages 3, 4 and 5. Visit the Web site at www.FaithBaptistVienna.org or e-mail Faith@tidalwave.net. Call the church at 703-938-9688.
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer celebrates a contemporary service at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, supplementing its traditional worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Modern praise music is sung, accompanied by a band of nine musicians on electric keyboard, bass and acoustic guitars, trumpet and drums. Concurrently at 9:45, adult Bible study and Sunday School for children age 3 through high school. Nursery is available at all services. The church is located at 1545 Chain Bridge Road in McLean. For more information, visit www.redeemer-mclean.org or call the office at 703-356-3346.
Chabad at Tysons is holding a Shabbat educational service at the Embassy suites Hotel on Route 7 (next door to the Toys R Us, across from the Container store). Saturday morning service starts at 9:30 a.m., Torah discussion at 10:30 a.m., followed by a sit-down Kiddush. Call 703-356-3451, or e-mail ChabadTysons@aol.com.
The Great Falls United Methodist Church offers two services with different worship styles. The 8:30 a.m. service is traditional and the 11 a.m. service is a blend of contemporary and traditional styles. The church is located at 10100 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, located at 1830 Kirby Road in McLean, invites all to come for the Third Sunday Service every month at 10:15 a.m. This service allows the children to play active roles during the service, particularly in the music and as greeters and ushers. In addition to the Third Sunday Service, traditional services take place every Sunday at 8:15 and 10:15 a.m. Nursery is available at the 10:15 a.m. service. Call the church office at 703-356-7533 with questions.