To have faith news listed in The Arlington Connection, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457 with any questions.
The Active Retiree Group will meet Wednesday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m. at Etz Hayim, 2920 Arlington Blvd., Arlington where Alex Liebeman will discuss “The Joy of Yiddish and so Much More.”
Bethel United Church of Christ at 4347 Arlington Blvd., Arlington will hold its annual Strawberry Festival from 4-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. In addition to strawberry dishes, hot dogs, sloppy joes and hot fudge sundaes will be available. Call 703-528-0937 or 703-824-1764.
NoVaShir, Northern Virginia's Fourth Annual Jewish Choral Festival, will feature seven Washington-area choirs performing the songs they love, both separately and together, on Sunday June 4. Includes three adult choirs (from Adat Reyiim, Olam Tikvah and Temple Beth Ami), a teen choir (Hazamir of Alexandria), a family choir (from Beth El Hebrew Congregation) and two youth choirs (Kol NoVa Community Youth Choir and from Temple Shalom). No tickets required. Admission (recommended for ages 8 and up) is free with a $5 suggested contribution at the door to defray expenses. At 4 p.m., at George Mason University's Harris Theater on the Fairfax campus. Contact the festival coordinator at carol@carolboydleon.com or 703-250-0554.
All children ages 4 to 11 are invited to participate in Fairlington Presbyterian Church's Vacation Bible School, Adventure of the Treasure Seekers: Exploring God's Promises. The program runs from July 31 to Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon. The program is free, but a $10 donation per child is suggested. Transportation needs can be accommodated. Registration by July 1 is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Fairlington Presbyterian Church is located at 3846 King Street in Alexandria. Call the Director of Christian Education at Fairlington Presbyterian Church, Rob Ross, at 703-931-7344 or e-mail: rob@fpcusa.org. Visit www.fpcusa.org.
The Vajrayogini Buddhist Center continues to hold classes in Buddhist thought and meditation on Monday nights from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Griffin Center, 3800 Fairfax Drive in Arlington (Suite 5). Beginners to Buddhism and meditation are invited to join us to learn how Buddhist philosophy can help us cope with today's stressful times. Cost is a $10 donation. Classes will be held through the month of June.
The Arlington Metaphysical Chapel, 5618 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, offers lessons, classes and other activities for bettering life. Call 703-276-8738 or visit www.arlingtonmeta.com or e-mail info@arlingtonmeta.com for event information.
St. Ann's Youth Group hosts a Tuesday Night Drop-In Night every Tuesday form 6:30-9:30 p.m. The church hopes to make it a great space to do homework, listen to music, play on the computer, hang out, chat, watch movies, or maybe some TV shows and most importantly, just be in a communal sort of way. No need to be formal about it, just stop on in as time permits. Contact Toni at stannsyouthminister@yahoo.com with any questions.
Body & Soul Fitness offers a blend of cardio, strength training, Pilates, core strengthening, and flexibility rolled into a unique package. Set to contemporary Christian music, find a program that will work both your body and your soul. Local classes at Classes at The Falls Church on Mondays 10:30-11:45 a.m. and Wednesdays 12:30-1:45 p.m., low impact. Contact Dana Elsnick at 703-847-9814. Also at The Falls Church on Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30-8 p.m. Contact Tricia Van Ryn at trvanryn@yahoo.com.
Buddhist Meditation Classes. Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m., at the Griffin Center, Tower Villas, Suite 5, 3800 Fairfax Drive, Arlington. Local Buddhist teacher Kelsang Varahi will teach a series of classes on the text "Eight Steps to Happiness," which teaches about the Buddhist way of loving kindness. The classes include guided meditations, a Buddhism teaching, Q&A/discussion and refreshments. Cost is $10/class. Call 202-331-2122 or www.meditation-dc.org.
Shabbat Services are held at the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Newman, 4301 Seminary Road, Alexandria, each Friday at 7:30 p.m. Shabbat morning services begin Saturdays at 10 a.m. Services are followed by a sit-down Kiddush. Call 703-370-2774 or visit www.chabadalexandria.org
The progressive NOVA Catholic Community holds Mass on Sundays from September through mid-May at 10:15 a.m. at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, and Memorial Day weekend through September at 9:30 a.m. at Lacey Woods Park Pavilion, George Mason Drive and Washington Boulevard. Call 703-852-7907 or visit nova.novacommunity.org.
Faith, Food and Fellowship. Clarendon United Methodist Church, 606 N. Irving St., offers a twice-monthly Thursday noon service for the Arlington community, with one half-hour of spiritual nourishment and one half-hour of physical nourishment. On the second and fourth Thursdays, a worship service is held in the sanctuary at noon, and a hot lunch is serviced at 12:30 p.m. for a donation of $4. A time of fellowship follows from 1:15-2 p.m. with programs geared mostly to senior citizens. J. Reilly Lewis, CUMC's music director and director of the National Cathedral Choral Society, arranges for guest soloists at each service. Call 703-527-8574.