Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
Congregation Sha'are Shalom will celebrate Rabbi Michael Alex Ragozin's appointment as the congregation's rabbi in a ceremony Sunday, Nov. 9, from 2-4 p.m. in the synagogue, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. Speaking will be Ronald P. Rubin, president of Congregation Sha'are Shalom; Kristen C. Umstattd, mayor of Leesburg; Rabbi Steven Glazer of Congregation Beth Emeth, Herndon; Ned Gladstein; and Rabbi Michael Ragozin. The event is free and open to the public. Call Congregation Sha'are Shalom at 703-737-6500 or visit www.sha-areshalom.org.
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of Leesburg, the combined choirs of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and St. James’ Episcopal Church will sing early American hymns at two services, Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m., at Holy Trinity, 605 W. Market St., S.W. and 11:15 a.m., at St. James’, 14 W. Cornwall St., N.W. The music will feature tunes that originated in Virginia. The public is invited to these worship services. No fee. Call 703-777-4912.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation, 21740 Beaumeade Circle, Suite 100, Ashburn, invites the community to our Second Annual Jewish Book Fair, Nov. 9-18, featuring guest authors on the following dates. Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m., havdalah and dessert reception, guest speaker Jack Kitaeff, author of Jews in Blue. Sunday, Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m., guest speaker Deborah da Costa, author of Hanukkah Moon and Snow in Jerusalem. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m., dessert reception, guest speaker Maggie Anton, author of Rashi’s Daughters: Book One-Joheved, Book Two-Miriam and for young adults, Rashi’s Daughter: Secret Scholar. For the sales hours, contact 703-726-1659, www.bethchaverim.org.
The 10:30 a.m. service, Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling is Veterans Day in a Time of War. Guest community minister and military chaplain Rebekah Montgomery will invite congregants to consider the meaning of military 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.
CONNECT, the young adult group at Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 East Church Road, Sterling, is seeking new members. CONNECT focuses on bringing people together in a social setting as they commonly search for Christ's direction in their lives. The group is open to all men and women in their 20s and 30s, married or single, with or without children. There is no cost for membership, although activity participation fees may apply. Call 703-430-6455 or visit www.sterlingumc.org.
Stephen Ministry at Ashburn Presbyterian Church, 20962 Ashburn Road in Ashburn, is a one-to-one listening ministry for those who need support for reasons such as divorce, loss of a loved one, recent hospitalization or terminal illness. Although Stephen Ministers are not counselors, they do empathize with those they are called to support and help them to find comfort through God's loving presence. Call Mark Armstrong, associate pastor at 703-729-2012 or visit the church Web site at ww.ashburnpresbyterian.org.