Faith Communities Prepare for Day of Service
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Faith Communities Prepare for Day of Service

Local faith organizations and neighbors tackle community projects on Aug. 19.

People of a variety of religious backgrounds will come together on Aug. 19, combining their skills and efforts to help the less fortunate members of the community. The 12th annual Works Sunday will feature 15 separate service projects and four donation opportunities.

"The idea is that as a part of your faith you have a commitment to the community," said Great Falls resident Peter Lubitz, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston. Lubitz participated in the last four Works Sundays. He said that Works Sunday is an opportunity for members of the local faith communities to tackle community projects together. "This is a chance to do a number of projects in the community one day per year," he said.

"It is a wonderful opportunity God has given us to work together," said the Rev. Jean Robinson-Casey of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church in Reston. All members of the community, children and adults, should help others who are less fortunate, she said. "We could not not do this, because it’s been mandated by God," she said.

This year Lubitz is one of the chairs for a project of performing maintenance on group residences for mentally challenged adults. Maintenance projects include carpentry, exterior painting, landscaping and power washing decks. The other three chairs are members of other faith communities: Joe Stowers from St. Thomas à Becket, Charlie Wight from United Christian Parish and John Callaghan from St. John Neumann. It is estimated that about 50 people are needed to perform the maintenance work on Gabriel Homes at three locations in Reston and Herndon.

RESTON RESIDENT Mohammed Karim is a member of Sterling-based All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) and is one of the chairs providing the Hunters Woods Fellowship House with a lunch. He has participated with Works Sunday for the last three years. Karim considers Works Sunday more than an opportunity to help those in the community who are less fortunate, but also an opportunity for people of different faiths to hold dialogue over their community’s needs. He hopes people outside who are not involved in participating faith communities will make themselves available for Works Sunday. "We always need some volunteers," said Karim.

"Works Sunday is an opportunity to contribute back to the community," said Barb Gouldey, a Reston resident who helped in last year’s event and is co-chairing two projects on Aug. 19. Gouldey is a member of Herndon-based Holy Cross Lutheran Church. She will co-chair the preparing and serving of hot lunch at Embry Rucker Community Shelter on Aug. 19 before making her way to the Herndon Harbor House, a senior residence, where participants will sort and reorganize library materials in the common areas. She said the projects benefit everyone in the community, not just the intended beneficiaries.

Gouldey also sees Works Sunday as an opportunity for the younger members of the community and families to contribute to their communities. She said it is not an event exclusive to people in participating faith communities. It is open to all members of the larger community. "Volunteers are always needed. People power is always good and monetary donations are very appreciated," she said. The monetary donations are used to help buy gift cards for the less privileged, so they can shop for their own clothes or other needs.

Another positive aspect of participating in Works Sunday, said Gouldey, is that it does not require a long-term commitment from individuals and families. "It’s a one-shot deal," she said. To learn more or to get involved, visit the event’s Web site at www.workssunday.org.