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, Loudoun County's Conservative synagogue, celebrates Yom Kippur (day of atonement) services begining with Kol Nidrei (all vows) at 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, and resume at 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 9. A break-the-fast will be held after the conclusion of Yom Kippur services around 7:20 p.m., Thursday. All services and events are held at Congregation Sha'are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. Nonmembers can reserve tickets by calling the synagogue at 703-737-6500 or by downloading the reservation forms at www.sha-areshalom.org.
The 10:30 a.m. service, Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling is "Forgiveness, That We May Live." The Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael invites everyone to consider how forgiveness is both a personal experience and a spiritual pursuit. The service will touch on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. 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
Congregation Sha'are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, will host a kosher festive dinner in its sukkah, Friday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m. The sukkah is a temporary structure erected during the autumnal harvest festival of Sukkot (Feast of the Tabernacles). The sukkah represents the temporary dwellings that the children of Israel used on their Biblical sojourn from Egypt to the land of Israel. The cost for the dinner is $8 for each adult and $6 for each child. The maximum cost is $25 for a family. All are welcome. Call Congregation Sha'are Shalom at 703-737-6500 or visit www.sha-areshalom.org.
The 10:30 a.m. service, Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling is "United Nations Revelations." This is the 60th anniversary year of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael invites us to consider the dream of the UN in relation to the present struggles of our global civilization. On this day, the congregation will also recognize new members of the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling. 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.