Send announcements to The Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to
reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1090 Sterling Road, Herndon, will be playing host to three upcoming musical events, all open to the public.
Saturday, July 17, 7:30 p.m.: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, a bluegrass gospel band, will be in concert at the church.
Sunday, July 18, 9:30 a.m.: The McGinley Family Gospel Singers will perform during the morning worship service at Holy Cross.
Tuesday, July 20: "Tent Troupe 2004," a Christian traveling theater, will be cohosted by Holy Cross Lutheran Church and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 750 Peachtree Street, Herndon. The location for the Tent Troupe performances will be under the "big top" on the soccer pitch at Saint Joseph's. This is the 34th season for the troupe, a group of high-school students and their leaders from Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, Md. They present two shows: a children's interactive matinee at 2 p.m., called Animal Tales and a dramatic play at 8 p.m., based on Robert Fulghum's "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten."
Admission to both shows is free, but donations will be accepted at intermission.
Truro Episcopal Church, 10520 Main St., Fairfax, will be holding its Annual Used Book Sale on two weekends in August. The times are as follows: Friday, Aug. 13, 12-5 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 21, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The church will gladly accept contributions of books, videos, DVDs and cassettes. Items can be dropped off in the undercroft in the basement of the church after July 31. For more information, call Joanne Brookr at 703-938-8027 or Kathleen Gillmann at 703-644-6512.
Harvest Christian Fellowship, 1948 Isaac Newton Square West, Reston, will host a vacation bible school from 9 a.m.-noon, July 26-30. The camp is free and open to all children aged 2 to 10. To register or for more information, call Tracy Ferrante at 703-430-2048.
The Church of the Good Shepherd, a United Methodist Church, located at 2351 Hunter Mill Road in Vienna, invites all children ages 3 through rising sixth grade to Lava Lava Island, a Vacation Bible School, the week of Aug. 9-13. The Lava Lava Island program will provide Bible learning activities for all ages including singing songs, playing games, Bible learning adventures, eating tropical treats and creating Bible Point crafts, as well as a hands-on mission project for needy children. The Bible school begins at 9 a.m. on Aug. 9. The cost is $20 per child. Deadline for registration is July 11. For more information or to register, call the church office at 703-281-3987 or register online at www.GoodshepherdVA.com.
Free help is available for Spanish-speaking parents and guardians through the Nurturing Parenting Program, held at Saint TimothyÕs Episcopal Church in Herndon. These session are scheduled every Tuesday until Aug. 17. Each class is from 5:30-8 p.m. Dinner is served and free child care will be provided. These meetings will be conducted in Spanish and are designed to help families with children, newborns to age 4. The program is designed for the entire family. Saint Timothy's Episcopal Church is located at 432 Van Buren St., Herndon. Contact Krissa Slone at 703-324-7745 or via e-mail at Kslone@fairfaxcounty.gov or Vera Berrio Breton at 703-324-7737.
Join the Dranesville Church of the Brethren every Friday evening, at 7 p.m., during July and August. The church is located at 11500 Leesburg Pike, Herndon. Contact the church office by calling 703-430-787 or 703-437-4852 for more information.
The Herndon Ecumenical discussion group meets on the fourth Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.-noon, to study the unity and diversity of Christian heritage. Meetings are in room 213 at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, 750 Peachtree St., Herndon. All are welcome. For more information, call Betty at 703-437-1196.
Washington Plaza Baptist Church's "Monthly Forum: Discussion, Sharing and Action on Civil Rights/Civil Wrongs Past, Present and Future" will continue every fourth Sunday of the month, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., in the Plaza Room on the ground level of the church, located at Lake Anne in Reston. For more information, call 703-471-5225.