The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington's Jewish in Northern Virginia Affinity Network and Congregation Beth Emeth will host a discussion on "Anti-Israelism and Anti-Semitism: The Dangers of Hate Speech," Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7:45 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a reception. Guest speaker will be Wayne L. Firestone, director, Hillel Foundation Center on Israel Affairs. Congregation Beth Emeth is located at 12523 Lawyers Road, in Herndon. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP by Sept. 25 to Sandy Barmak at 703-425-0066 or e-mail sandy.barmak@shalomdc.org.
The Book Club of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2320 Hunters Woods Plaza, Reston, will hold its next meeting on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. "The DaVinci Code," by Dan Brown will be the topic. Call Susan Rhoades to RSVP at 703-963-8766 by Oct. 16.
Pulitzer Prize winner Caryle Murphy of The Washington Post will share her reflections on Islam and the Middle East in a talk at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston (UUCR) on Monday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Murphy currently covers religion for the Post and is the author of "Passion for Islam: Shaping the Modern Middle East, the Egyptian Experience," published in 2002. She was the Post's Cairo bureau chief from 1989-1994. Murphy's talk is one in a series examining Middle Eastern issues.
UUCR is located at 1625 Wiehle Ave. in Reston. For further information. call the church office at 703-742-7992 or visit www.uureston.org.
Church of the Apostles, 3500 Pickett Road, Fairfax, Va., will hold a Children's Consignment Sale on Thursday, Sept. 25, from noon-8 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m.-noon. Included in the sale will be clothing, toys, books and equipment for infants and children as well as maternity clothes. Most items half-price on Friday. Entrance between noon and 1:30 p.m. on Thursday is by number. Numbers are given out starting at 10 a.m. For more information, call Carolyn Courtright Smith at 703-321-2210.
Harvest Christian Fellowship will hold its Harvest Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 1-5 p.m., at Temporary Road Pavilion in Reston. The event includes free food, children's entertainment and activities, free clothing give-aways, music, a soccer skills clinic and more. Call 703-834-8100.
On Sunday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m., Jone Johnson Lewis, Northern Virginia Ethical Society (NoVES) leader, will present a discussion entitled "What is Marriage For?" Lewis will explore marriage in the past, present and future addressing such issues as gay marriage and divorce. The event will be held at 225 Nutley St., N.W., in Vienna. Information about the Society is available at www.noves.org or call 703 437-3161.
The Interfaith Peace Coalition in Northern Virginia will host a public forum for discussions by citizens and experts regarding "peaceful solutions to the challenges of a shrinking globe." To participate, call 703-777-8014 to indicate an interest.
Children's Sabbath 2003 is a weekend celebration of children at The Church of the Good Shepherd, a United Methodist church located at 2351 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna. Scheduled for Oct. 18-19, the program centers on the theme "Providing What God Requires and Children Need: Justice, Kindness and Faith." It is open to the community and includes games, crafts, safety and nutrition, face painting and storytelling, from 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 18.
As part of the Children’s Sabbath observance, members of the congregation will collaborate on a Quilt of Care made up of symbols and other images that call attention to the needs of area children. Members will also participate in the Books on Tape project, providing books and taped readings for children whose parents are unable to read to them or purchase books.
Children’s Sabbath activities are designed to "highlight and affirm the gift and gifts of children, to increase awareness about the serious needs of children and to broaden the congregation’s concern for children to encompass those in the community."
The Church of the Good Shepherd holds worship services each Sunday at 8:30 and 11 a.m. and provides Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults at 9:45 a.m.
For more information about Children’s Sabbath 2003, contact director of Children & Youth Ministries Stacey Tuggle at 703-281-3987 or visit www.GoodShepherdVA.com.