Know of something missing from our Faith Notes? Send it to The Arlington Connection, e-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome.
Monday/May 21
Mental Illness Presentation. 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 415 S. Lexington St. Program titled "In Our Own Voice: Recovering from Mental Illness." Free. Visit http://stjohnsarlington.thediocese.net.
There will be Buddhist classes at 7 p.m. at The Griffin Center, Suite 5, 3800 Fairfax Drive. $10/class no registration required. Classes on the eight steps to happiness. Visit www.meditation-dc.org or 202-986-2257.
EKOJI BUDDHIST TEMPLE presents "Budhism 101," a series of five Dharma School classes for adults, beginning Sunday, May 13 at 10 a.m. through Sunday, June 10 at Ekoji Buddhist Temple Tsuji Education Center. The first classes cover Buddhist basics; later sessions are about Jodo Shinshu in particular. Beginners to Buddhism and meditation are invited to learn how Buddhist philosophy can help them cope with today's stressful times. Free, no registration is required. Visit www.Ekoji.org or call 703-239-0500, contact Mark LaWall.
Join the members of Arlington United Methodist Church for a six-week study on Christianity and World Religions on Sundays, April 29-June 10 at 11 a.m. This special event will include worship, sermons, a town hall forum with leaders from various faith traditions and several small-group studies featuring videos, Bible study, world religious art and discussion. Arlington United Methodist Church is located at 716 South Glebe Road. Visit www.arlingtonumc.com or contact Lindsay Haddox at 703-979-7527 or office@arlingtonumc.com.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd., offers a free educational series: "Who Are Our Central American Neighbors," four consecutive Wednesdays, 7:30-9:15 p.m. The series will conclude on May 2, will discussions on actions to improve Central American conditions and to help immigrants here. To register for all or a part of this series call the UUCA office 703 892-9061.
Clarendon UMC, 606 N. Irving, Arlington, will have a special program as part of its Thursday, Faith, Food and Fellowship. Twice monthly (2nd and 4th Thursday), Clarendon has a worship service at noon, a hot meal for $4 at 12:30 p.m. and a free program from 1:15-2 p.m. On Thursday, March 22, they will have a special program on "Seeking Peace & Pursuing Justice: Mission, Education & Advocacy for Israel & Palestine" by Mike Beard and Amy Stapleton, of Dumbarton UMC. Contact Jane Dixon 703-465-0341; or the church office 703-527-8574 to reserve a place for lunch.
Forums on how to deal with the death of a loved one are presented by professionals in the counseling field and are open to the public. They are held Thursday evenings from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Cathedral School of St. Thomas More at 105 N. Thomas St. in Arlington. Call Family Services at 703-841-2531 or visit www.ccda.net.
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 learn how Buddhist philosophy can help people cope with today's stressful times. Cost is a $10 donation. Visit www.meditation-dc.org.
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.
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
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 served 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.
The Catholic Diocese of Arlington Victim Assistance Coordinator in conjunction with Catholic Charities will offer a 10-week psychotherapy group for victims/survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Arlington and Fredericksburg. The groups are open to all victim/survivors of sexual abuse. Further information is available by calling Patricia Mudd, A.C.S.W. at 703-841-2530. Registration required.
The Victim Assistance Coordinator maintains a list of social workers and counselors, as well as local clergy available for counseling of victims. The office also facilitates counseling for any victims/survivors abused in other dioceses, but currently living in the Arlington diocese. Call Patricia Mudd, A.C.S.W. at 703-841-2530.