Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Riverside Presbyterian Church is offering the following children's programs Sunday mornings this summer, from 9:15-10:15 a.m. Includes breakfast munchies, videos, games, contests with prizes, a Bible message.
July 8, Crazy Sock Day; July 15, Backwards Day, wear clothes backwards; July 22, Wear your Faith on your Sleeve, put lots of crosses on sleeves; July 29, Hat Day; Aug. 5, Mismatch Day, mix and match clothes; Aug. 12, Sports Day, wear favorite sports jersey; Aug. 19, Pajama Day; and Aug. 26, Worst Bed Head.
For additional information and to register, visit www.riversidechurch.com or call Cara Shine or Beth Edens, 703-444-3528.
The 10:30 a.m. service at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling Sunday, July 15, centers on the Unitarian Universalist partner church in Romania. Karen Tripp, a Fairfax UU who spent two years in Transylvania will provide insights and reflections on this program. UUS meets every Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church announces a new summer schedule of services for July and August. Sunday Services will be at 8 a.m., as a quiet reflective service and "Together at 10" the 10 a.m. service will have Eucharist and eclectic blend of music. Saint Matthew's is located at 201 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling.
Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling, invites the public on either Tuesday evenings, 7–8:30 p.m., beginning July 17, or Thursday mornings, 10–11:30 a.m., beginning July 19, for a six-week class called "Faith Stories." What is your faith story? These classes are being held in conjunction with a sermon series on Biblical faith stories. Contact the church office at 703–430-2203.
The Rev. Amy DeBeck, minister at the Unitarian Universalists Church of Loudoun, will be in the pulpit at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling Sunday, July 22, for the 10:30 a.m. service. UUS meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
The 10:30 a.m. service at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, Sunday, July 29, will be led by physical therapist Deb Rose. Her sermon titled "The Evidence of Spirituality" will explore how the principles of evidence-based practice in health care and medicine can be used to examine spirituality. UUS meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun Sunday services are held, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., at the UUCL chapel, located at 20460 Gleedsville Road in Leesburg. UUCL is a welcoming congregation and invites everyone to attend Sunday services. Call the church at 703-737-7644.
St. Gabriel’s 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 "Chrysalis" 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 "drop-in."
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.
Riverside Presbyterian Church’s Kenya Café 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 café is also designed to raise awareness of Riverside’s 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.
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. 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.
Wat Yarnna Rangsee in Sterling will be offering free meditation classes every Sunday. Inquire and register at the temple at 21950 Shaw Road, Sterling, 703-406-8290/2509.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation holds traditional Shabbat services, family services, children’s services and High Holiday services. The religious school features preschool through post confirmation, B’nai Mitzvah, Hebrew High, adult Hebrew and adult education classes. Social activities include interfaith discussions, youth group, Sisterhood, Men’s Club and Empty Nesters. Student Rabbi Jesse Gallop and Rabbi Randi Nagel, lead biweekly Shabbat services, help prepare B’nai Mitzvah students, provide pastoral counseling and sick/bereavement visits and teach adult education classes at monthly pot-luck dinners before Shabbat services. Call 703-391-8669, visit Web site www.bethchaverim.org or e-mail chaverim18@aol.com.
Congregation Sha'are Shalom, Loudoun County's Conservative Synagogue, holds Erev Shabbat services Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Shabbat morning services on the first and third Saturdays of the month at 9:30 a.m. Rabbinic intern Michael Ragozin will preside over services once a month. The congregation has an active Men's Club, Sisterhood and extensive gift shop. Call 703-737-6500, e-mail info@sha-areshalom.org or visit www.sha-areshalom.org. Congregation Sha'are Shalom is located at 19357 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg.
The Loudoun Church Alliance is a formal association of churches of many denominations. 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.
Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling, invites the community to its evening contemporary worship service at 6 p.m., every Sunday, featuring the Winding Road praise band. Sunday school is available for children in kindergarten through third grade, and child care is available for the younger children. Visit www.GalileeUMC.org or contact the church office at 703-430-2203.
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.