Evening Vespers in the Spirit of Taizé. All are welcome to this peaceful prayer of chant, scripture, and reflection at the Dominican Retreat, 7103 Old Dominion Drive. McLean. Sunday, June 12 from 7-8 p.m. Visit www.dominicanretreat.org or call 703-356-4243.
Redeemer Lutheran Church's annual Church Picnic will take place at noon on Sunday, June 12. The entire community is invited to this event. Guests are asked to bring a salad or dessert to share. Hamburgers, hot dogs and lemonade will be provided. The picnic will also feature games and a moon bounce. Dress casually and bring a blanket to sit on. The church is located at 1545 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Call 703-356-3346.
The third annual St. Thomas Music Festival will be held on the church grounds at at 8991 Brook Road, McLean, on Saturday, June 18 from noon-5 p.m. The festival is a celebration of music, food and family fun sponsored by the church for the benefit of the community. Everyone is welcome and admission is free.
The festival features a lineup of area musicians that includes a wide variety of music from pop/rock to blues, folk and jazz. The performers this year include rock musicians The Brindley Brothers; a blend of Texas-influenced blues, rock and soul from The Mary Shaver Band; and guitarist/vocalist Tom Principato, who combines a rich blues background with high-energy rock. Two local performers returning for a second year at the Festival include rock 'n' roll philosopher Anthony Fiacco and the eclectic sounds of Isabella.
In addition to music, the Festival will include food, provided by American Bar-B-Que and Catering. Call Michael Alexander at 703-225-0399 or visit www.stmf.org.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Blessings of God will be offered at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1545 Chain Bridge Road, on Sunday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring their pets to this service to celebrate the unique blessings that animals give to people. Ensure that pets are under control. The service will be held in the church's Sharon Keillor Wing. Call 703-356-3346.
St. John's Episcopal Church will feature a performance of Mozart's "Missa Brevis in C" at the morning services of Holy Eucharist on Sunday, June 26 at 9 and 11:15 a.m. sung by the choir with accompaniment by the Sunrise Quartet with organist Dr. John C. Wulff. St John's Church is located at 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Call 703-356-4902 or visit www.stjohnsmclean.org.
McLean Baptist Church's annual Bible Day Camp for children will run July 18-22, featuring a safari theme with various crafts, food and games to take children on a “journey through the Lord’s Prayer.” This year the church has added an afternoon session and scheduled activities based on the ages of the attendees. The morning session, which runs from 9 a.m.-noon, is for children 3 years old through fifth grade. Children who have completed kindergarten to fifth grade may attend camp for just the morning session, all day or just the special afternoon session. Those attending all day or the afternoon session must be picked up at 4:30 p.m. At each afternoon session, children will go on a different virtual adventure such as the zoo, the aquarium and other destinations. Each child is asked to bring a sack lunch. Drinks will be provided. Costs are $30 per child for the morning session, $45 per child for the afternoon session and $75 per child for the all-day sessions, but families with multiple children attending will pay no more than $80 total. Parents can register their children and pay the camp fee at www.mcleanbaptist.org. The deadline to register is June 1. Children are encouraged to attend regardless of their religious affiliation or church membership status.
Arlington Diocese Refugee Services, the largest refugee agency in Northern Virginia, will celebrate 30 years of service in Northern Virginia on Wednesday, June 22. In 30 years the Office has assisted over 16,000 refugees and asylees. Refugee Services invites the community of Northern Virginia to its 30th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner at Hilton McLean, Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean. Tickets are $75 each, or a table of 10 for $700. Reservations required. Funds raised will assist refugees on the road to self-sufficiency. Call 703-524-2154 or e-mail development@arlingtonrefugeeservices.com.
Great Falls United Methodist Church, 10100 Georgetown Pike, will hold Vacation Bible School from Monday, August 1 to Friday, August 5. Bible school begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Children aged 3-and-a-half up to those entering the fifth grade are welcome. The cost is $40 per child. The "Kingdom of the Son Safari"-themed week will include daily crafts, snacks and games and will conclude with a water festival for the whole family on Friday. For registration info, contact: Briana A. Senland, youth and program director, at 703-759-3137.
St. Athanasius Lutheran Church, 114 Kingsley Road in Vienna, member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, offers traditional worship in accordance with the historic liturgy of the church. The current Sunday schedule includes Bible study and Sunday school for all ages at 9 a.m. and worship at 10:15 a.m. A Lutheran book club is also offered twice a month. A midweek Bible study meets Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., preceded by "Ask the Pastor" time at 7 p.m. Call 703-455-4003 for more information or visit www.saint-athanasius.org.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church has a full range of education, music, worship and outreach programs. Traditional worship is at 8 and 11 a.m., in the rich Lutheran tradition of liturgical song mixed with music of the masters, spirituals and contemporary Christian music. Contemporary worship is at 9:30 a.m., with fresh liturgical song and contemporary Christian music led by Revelation. Christian education for all ages is 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon. Christian education is available for everyone from preschoolers through adults. Classes are always open to newcomers.
The church is located at 2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, on the Oakton side of Vienna near McDonald’s. Call 703-938-2119.
The Baha’i community of McLean holds a weekly fireside, a meeting of discussion, devotion and fellowship, at 7500 Box Elder Court in McLean, beginning at 8 p.m. every Friday. The fireside is an opportunity to learn about the Baha’i faith and why Baha’is find hope in a seemingly hopeless world. Call 703-556-3400.
Charles Wesley United Methodist Church, located at 6817 Dean Drive in McLean, holds Sunday School for all ages at 9 a.m., Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. and Communion and healing services Wednesdays at noon. Its motto is "A Place to Be and Believe, to Belong and Become." Call the office at 703-356-6336. Visit www.charleswesleyumc.org
Vienna Baptist Church offers numerous Christian worship, education, music and mission opportunities. Each Sunday begins with a high-energy VBPraise service at 8:45 a.m. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m., providing different programs to people of all ages. The traditional liturgical worship service takes place at 11 a.m. The church is located at 541 Marshall Road, Vienna. For more information, call 703-281-4400 or visit www.vbc-va.org.
Faith Baptist Church, located at 301 Center St. S., Vienna, offers Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. for all ages, 11 a.m. worship, and Bible Study on Sunday at 6 p.m. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., The Awana children's club for fourth- through sixth-graders takes place during the school year. Nursery school is provided for all services. The preschool and kindergarten program uses the abeka curriculum and serves ages 3, 4 and 5. Visit the Web site at www.FaithBaptistVienna.org or e-mail Faith@tidalwave.net. Call the church at 703-938-9688.
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer celebrates a contemporary service at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, supplementing its traditional worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Modern praise music is sung, accompanied by a band of nine musicians on electric keyboard, bass and acoustic guitars, trumpet and drums.
Concurrently at 9:45, adult Bible study and Sunday School for children age 3 through high school. Nursery is available at all services.
The church is located at 1545 Chain Bridge Road in McLean. For more information, visit www.redeemer-mclean.org or call the office at 703-356-3346.
Chabad at Tysons is holding a Shabbat educational service at the Embassy suites Hotel on Route 7 (next door to the Toys R Us, across from the Container store). Saturday morning service starts at 9:30 a.m., Torah discussion at 10:30 a.m., followed by a sit-down Kiddush. Call 703-356-3451, or e-mail ChabadTysons@aol.com.
The Great Falls United Methodist Church offers two services with different worship styles. The 8:30 a.m. service is traditional, and the 11 a.m. service is a blend of contemporary and traditional styles. The church is located at 10100 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, located at 1830 Kirby Road in McLean, invites all to come for the Third Sunday Service every month at 10:15 a.m. This service allows the children to play active roles during the service, particularly in the music and as greeters and ushers. In addition to the Third Sunday Service, traditional services take place every Sunday at 8:15 and 10:15 a.m. Nursery is available at the 10:15 a.m. service. Call the church office at 703-356-7533 with questions.