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 Friday, 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.
The All Dulles Muslims Society (ADAMS) Center, 46903 Sugarland Road, will hold a special cultural event Saturday, April 29, at 1:30 p.m. celebrating the Prophet Muhammad.
In this cultural and spiritual program the Center will discuss who the Prophet Muhammad was, what he means to Muslims, as well as have performances of songs and devotional poems, in various languages including English, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Persian. Traditional refreshments and sweets will be provided, as well as arts and crafts for children.
People of all religious persuasions are invited to attend. There will also be an interactive question-and-answer session. Free. Call 571-213-5966 or visit thecelebration@gmail.com.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation has partnered with the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia to offer a new preschool school program and child care at BCRC's new Ashburn location this fall. Creative interaction between children and teachers complements the curriculum that includes language and communication, reading readiness, pre-mathematical concepts, science, nature, arts and crafts, music and creative movement. An information meeting with Bev Wolov, assistant director of the JCCNV, is scheduled for Sunday, April 30. Call 703-391-8669, visit www.bethchaverim.org or e-mail chaverim18@aol.com.
Congregation Sha'are Shalom, Loudoun County's conservative synagogue, will be holding a "Sunday School Sampler" open house for parents and children entering kindergarten in fall 2006 Sunday, April 30, from 9-10 a.m., at 19537 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. Children will attend a typical kindergarten class while parents meet with Michele Zuckerman, education director, to learn about the synagogue's religious school program and receive registration information for the 2006-07 school year. Congregation Sha'are Shalom's Sunday school classes meet from September to May, from 9-11 a.m. To register, contact the synagogue at 703-737-6500 or e-mail ljceducator@aol.com.
The women of Ox Hill Baptist Church will be holding a study Beth Moore's "Living Beyond Yourself - Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit." The study will teach how to nurture and cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit in your daily life.
The Bible study will be held Sunday evenings, April 30-Aug. 6, 6-7:30 p.m., at Ox Hill Baptist Church, 4101 Elmwood St., Chantilly. Preregistration is requested, contact the church at 703-378-5555 or www.oxhillbaptist.org.
On Sunday, April 30, at the 10:30 a.m. service, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, the Rev. Matthew McNaught will present a sermon titled "Science, Religion and the Meaning of Life." UUS meets every Sunday at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road, Sterling. Visit uusterling.org or call 703-406-3068.
Rabbinic intern Neil Tow will lead a Tot Shabbat at Congregation Sha'are Shalom, Leesburg, at 6 p.m., May 5. The program will be held "under the stars" for children ages 2 to 5 and their parents. There will be a pot-luck dairy dinner afterwards at 6:30 p.m. The community is welcome. RSVP Sherri Hodies at 703-737-6500 or shashaadmin@verizon.net.
Tow will also conduct Erev Shabbat services at 7:30 p.m., May 5. Sabbath Services will be held at 9:30 a.m., May 6. This is his last visit to the congregation, which is located on Evergreen Mills Road across from Heritage High School.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation and Congregation ShaÕare Shalom are sponsoring ÒLoudoun Celebrates Israel Independence Day,Ó Saturday, May 6. The event will begin with a Òbring your own dinner picnicÓ on the lawn at 6:30 p.m. followed by games and relays. Havdalah Services, conducted by Rabbi Neil Tow and Rabbi Jesse Gallop, will be at about 7:45 p.m. followed by Israeli dancing, Jewish music, games, and films. Festivities will take place at Congregation ShaÕare Shalom, 19537 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg. Parking will be available across the street at Heritage High School. The event is open to the public and free of change.
Contact Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation at 703-391-8669 or Congregation ShaÕare Shalom at 703-737-6500. In the event of rain, events will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Wear blue and white and bring nonperishables for Interfaith Relief.
Ashburn Presbyterian Church (APC) is offering its Stephen Ministry to people in the community. Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus' command to love one another.
Through one-to-one caring relationships those who are hurting and stressed receive a Stephen Minister to listen and pray with them. Although Stephen Ministry is not counseling per se, these caregivers walk with people through a variety of difficult life situations such as: divorce, grief, unemployment, relocation or just the stress of life. Anyone interested in being a care receiver, call the Rev. Mark Armstrong at 703-421-0511.
APC is located at 20962 Ashburn Road. Call the church offices at 703-729-2012 or visit the Web site at www.ashburnpresbyterian.org.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation invites the community to join it for Shabbat services, religious school, BÕnai Mitzvah program, youth activities, interfaith discussions, adult education and social activities. Student Rabbi Jesse Gallop presides over biweekly Shabbat services. Children attend Sunday school every Sunday and midweek Hebrew classes on Wednesday evening. The congregation eagerly anticipates moving into its own building in the fall. Call 703-391-8669 or visit the Web site www.bethchaverim.org or e-mail chaverim18@aol.com.
Potomac Falls Episcopal Church meets for Sunday services at 10 a.m., at Horizon Elementary School, 46665 Broadmore Drive, Sterling. Sunday school for children and nursery care for infants is provided each week.
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 Route 28 and Church Road. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
St. GabrielÕs Episcopal Church of Lansdowne is extending an invitation to families that have children with autism spectrum, ADHD, bipolar disorder and similar conditions. St. Gabriel's has developed several programs to reach out to the community.
* The ÒChrysalisÓ Room is a safe space for children with autism spectrum, ADHD, bipolar disorder and similar conditions. Includes a trained professional staff that provides appropriate activities and lessons. It is available every Sunday during the regular 10 a.m. worship and for special events.
* Spiritual Support Group for families with special needs, on the first and third Thursdays of each month, from 7-8:30 p.m. This group is completely Òdrop-in.Ó
All programs held Belmont Ridge Middle School, 19045 Upper Belmont Place in Lansdowne. Visit www.saintgabriels.net or call 703-779-3616.
Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration follows regular services Sundays, at 10 a.m., at the Loudoun County Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Call the church office 571-434-0888 or contact Father Mike Evans by e-mail dean@ccott.com.
Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 East Church Road, Sterling, will be holding a weekly Saturday night services n the Taize style of worship at 7:30 p.m. The services will include scriptural readings, song and reflective silent moments. Free. Call 703-430-6455.
Riverside Presbyterian ChurchÕs new Kenya CafŽ will be open, from 9:15-10:30 a.m., Sundays, at Potomac Falls High School. It offers a friendly, comfortable spot to grab a cup of coffee, chat with others or just relax and read the paper while the children are in small group. The cafŽ is also designed to raise awareness of RiversideÕs partnerships in Kenya and other parts of the world.
Feel free to join the church for worship at 10:35 a.m. Contact 703-444-3528 or www.riversidechurch.com.