Send announcements to the connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to
herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
The Herndon Ecumenical Discussion Group, which meets the fourth Saturday of each month, will not be meeting at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in September. The next meeting will be Oct. 23, from 9 a.m.-noon, at St. Joseph's, 750 Peachtree St., Herndon, in room 213.
The Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (NVHC) will celebrate the installation of Rabbi Robert A. Nosanchuk as the congregation's third rabbi on Friday evening, Oct. 1. Nosanchuk, who was hired by NVHC after a year-long nationwide search, was formerly Associate Rabbi at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation in Maryland. Ordained in 2001 by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in N.Y., Nosanchuk previously earned Master's degrees in Jewish communal services and Hebrew literature.
The installation ceremony will take place during a special Shabbat evening worship service beginning at 7:30 p.m. and will include the participation of Rabbi Dannel I. Schwartz of Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield, Mich.; Rabbi Rex D. Perlmeter and Cantor Judith Kahan Rowland, both of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation; and Rabbi Rosalind A. Gold, D. Min., D.D., Rabbi Emerita of NVHC. Nosanchuk succeeds Gold, who retired in May after 23 years as NVHC's spiritual leader. Located in Reston, NVHC draws members from across Fairfax and Loudoun Counties as well as neighboring areas.
Harvest Christian Fellowship of Reston is hosting harvest fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 2 from 1-5 p.m. At the Temporary Road pavilion, intersection of North Shore Drive and Temporary Road, Reston. Everyone is invited for a day of games for the children, free hot dogs and lemonade, cotton-candy, helium balloons, a free clothing give away, sports and music. The whole event is free and is open to the public. For more information call the church at 703-834-8100.
Grace Chinese Christian Church of Herndon will be hosting a two-day conference on Oct. 2-3 on Asian-American history and theology. Dr. Jeffrey K. Jue, assistant professor of church history at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa., And himself a fourth-generation Chinese-American will be speaking on making a home one's own. Through this conference, the church hopes that it can become a place that reflects the diversity of the community, moving not only beyond Chinese to Asians in general, but also beyond Asians, to embrace people of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). This conference is just the first of many to come. For more information contact English minister Kenneth Woo at 571-217-7025. The church, a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church, is located at 898 Crestview Drive.
In commemoration of the festival of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Reston, will be holding a blessing of the animals service, Sunday, Oct. 3, beginning at 4 p.m. All are welcome, with or without pets. Meet outside the main entrance to the church, 2320 Hunters Woods Plaza. Includes refreshments after the service. Call 703-860-1757 for more information.
The United Christian Parish of Reston is sponsoring a golf tournament to aid orphans in Rwanda Oct. 6, at Reston National Golf Course, 11875 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Registration is from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. with tee time at 12:30. The $100 per player cost includes a round of golf and cart, beverages on the course, and an awards dinner. Funds raised by the golf tournament will help build an orphanage, school and clinic in Rwanda's capital city of Kigali. When finished, it will provide 300 children with food, shelter, medical care and the opportunity for an education. For more information, contact Tami and Bill Schwartz at 703-620-3389.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church will be hosting a "Coffeehouse Night" Friday, Oct. 8. This will be the first ever concert as a duo for mandolin icon Jimmy Gaudreau and famous flatpicker/funnyman Orrin Star. Gaudreau has played with a veritable "Who's Who" of bluegrass including Tony Rice, JD Crowe, Chesapeake and The Country Gentlemen. Star won the 1976 National Flatpicking Championship and is a highly regarded picker and entertainer in folk and bluegrass worlds. This will be a night of picking, sweet singing, dry humor and music that ranges from traditional bluegrass to little-known folk gems. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1090 Sterling Road, Herndon. Concert at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission $12. Information/reservations, call 703-437-1883 or 703-435-8377. Payment on concert night. Snack service available. Holy Cross is handicapped accessible.
Reston Presbyterian Church invites the community to an old-fashioned country fair Saturday, Oct. 9, 1-5 p.m. The fair offers activities for all ages, including classic carnival games, a demolition car, flea market, pony rides, moon bounce, clowns, local firefighters, a fire truck and food. There is no charge for admission or for most games. The fair will be
held rain or shine on the church grounds at 10610 Sunset Hills Road. Call 703-759-5515 or visit the Web site at www.rpcconnected.org for more information.
An Interfaith Trialogue will be held from 7-9 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 17, at St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church, 1421 Wiehle Ave, Reston. Speakers, Father Thomas P. Ferguson and Rabbi Robert A. Nosanchuk, who became leaders of their respective religious communities this past summer, will join Robert J. Marrro, representing the All Dulles Area Muslim Society.
The public is welcome and urged to attend. The presentations will address such topics as: religious views in the forefront of public issue discussions; public support for faith based organizations; the role of religion and religious commitment of the Presidential candidates, and other relevant subjects. The main presentations will be followed by a question and answer period. Refreshments will be served.
For additional information and/or directions, please call Nancy Dickson at 703-860-8843 or the St. Thomas a Becket parish office at 703-437-4113 or consult the parish Web site www.stthomasabecketparish.org.
First Baptist Church, 681 Elden St., Herndon, is holding a fall flea market/craft sale Oct. 23, in the parking lot behind the church, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Crafters and others interested in selling wares are welcome. Call the church office at 703-437-3620 for more details.
The Jewish Learning Institute, now at Chabad of Northern Virginia, presents "Finding Yourself in Genesis," a revolutionary concept in Jewish adult education. The program will be held eight consecutive Monday evenings beginning Nov. 1 at Chabad Community Campus, 3939 Prince William Drive, Fairfax. Visit myjli.com or call 703-426-1980 for dates and information on future programs.
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.