Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, 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.
"Jesus Loves Me Party" at Galilee United Methodist Church's contemporary worship service featuring Winding Road, Sunday, Aug. 27, 6 p.m., 45425 Winding Road in Sterling. Contact the church office at 703-430-2203.
Congregation Sha'are Shalom, Loudoun County's conservative synagogue, is holding its Annual Picnic Sunday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at Foxridge Park in Leesburg located at the west end of Catoctin Circle at ChildrenÕs Center Road next to the C.S. Monroe Vo-Tech School. Nonmembers welcome to join the event free. visit www.sha-areshalom.com or call 703-737-6500.
Celebrate the beginning of the new school year with a special "Blessing of Backpacks and Briefcases" during the 10 a.m. service, Sept. 3, at St. GabrielÕs Episcopal Church. Students of all ages can bring backpacks, briefcases, sports gear or other symbols of work.
St. Gabriel's worships at 10 a.m., on Sundays, at Belmont Ridge Middle School, 19045 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne. Visit www.saintgabriels.net or call 703-779-3616.
Registration for ESL classes at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Sterling Park, by Briar Patch Park, is Sept. 7. Come to the trailer between 7-8:30 p.m. to register and bring any other questions. Beginning classes are on Mondays and Thursdays with a cost of $25-$40 a year. A free computer literacy class for intermediate and advanced students is on Thursdays. Call Leanna Wilson at 703-421-7086. Se habla espa–ol.
Letters From Dad, Saturday, Sept. 9, 7:30-9 a.m., at St. MatthewÕs Episcopal Church, 201 East Frederick Drive, Sterling. Dads learn to write the things they have always wanted to say but just didn't know how. Contact Mark Vereb at 703-785-0468 or via e-mail at MensMinistry@StMatthewsSterling.org.
The Pleasant Valley United Methodist Women's 14th Annual Fall Festival is Sept. 9, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Pleasant Valley UMC, 43987 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly. Includes classic car show, craft show, breakfast adn lunch served, bake sale, silent auction, Lions Club sight and hearing van, live bands and children's activities. Rain date Sept. 16.
New Life Christian ChurchÕs teen outreach program is offering a 13-week program for sixth- through 12th-graders on how to deal with all the stuff that happens when families split. Groups run Sept. 10-Dec. 10, 9:30-11 a.m., Sundays at Westfield High School, 4700 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly. Contact Lucy Martinez at 703-220-5022.
Christian Fellowship Church MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) spring children's consignment sale will be Sept. 23, at Christian Fellowship Church, 21673 Beaumeade Circle, Ashburn, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Featuring gently used children's items including clothing, up to size 10, equipment, furniture, toys, layette, and maternity. A half-price sale runs from 1-2 p.m. on designated items. Complete sale information and directions to the sale are available at www.cfcmops.com. Proceeds from this sale fund CFC MOPS and its designated charities.
Congregation Sha'are Shalom, Loudoun County's Conservative Synagogue, holds Erev Shabbat services Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Shabbat morning services on the first and third Saturdays of the month at 9:30 a.m. Rabbinic intern Michael Ragozin will preside over services once a month. The congregation has an active Men's Club, Sisterhood and extensive gift shop. Call 703-737-6500, e-mail info@sha-areshalom.org or visit www.sha-areshalom.org. Congregation Sha'are Shalom is located at 19357 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg.
The Loudoun Church Alliance is a formal association of churches of many denominations, founded two years ago. It works in the areas of youth development, international missions, evangelism outreach, and is now working to develop relationships with government and business. Contact founder and missionary Jack Stagman at jackstagman@adelphia.net.
The Unitarian Universalists of Sterling meet on Sunday mornings, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 21355 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
St. GabrielÕs Episcopal Church of Lansdowne is extending an invitation to families that have children with autism spectrum, ADHD, bipolar disorder and similar conditions. St. Gabriel's has developed several programs to reach out to the community.
* The ÒChrysalisÓ Room is a safe space for children with autism spectrum, ADHD, bipolar disorder and similar conditions. Includes a trained professional staff that provides appropriate activities and lessons. It is available every Sunday during the regular 10 a.m. worship and for special events.
* Spiritual Support Group for families with special needs, on the first and third Thursdays of each month, from 7-8:30 p.m. This group is completely Òdrop-in.Ó
All programs held Belmont Ridge Middle School, 19045 Upper Belmont Place in Lansdowne. Visit www.saintgabriels.net or call 703-779-3616.
Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration follows regular services Sundays, at 10 a.m., at the Loudoun County Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Call the church office 571-434-0888 or contact Father Mike Evans by e-mail dean@ccott.com.
Riverside Presbyterian ChurchÕs Kenya CafŽ will be open, from 9:15-10:30 a.m., Sundays, at Potomac Falls High School. It offers a friendly, comfortable spot to grab a cup of coffee, chat with others or just relax and read the paper while the children are in small group. The cafŽ is also designed to raise awareness of RiversideÕs partnerships in Kenya and other parts of the world.
Feel free to join the church for worship at 10:35 a.m. Contact 703-444-3528 or www.riversidechurch.com.
Ashburn Presbyterian Church (APC) is offering its Stephen Ministry to people in the community. Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus' command to love one another.
Through one-to-one caring relationships those who are hurting and stressed receive a Stephen Minister to listen and pray with them. Although Stephen Ministry is not counseling per se, these caregivers walk with people through a variety of difficult life situations such as: divorce, grief, unemployment, relocation or just the stress of life. Anyone interested in being a care receiver, call the Rev. Mark Armstrong at 703-421-0511.
APC is located at 20962 Ashburn Road. Call the church offices at 703-729-2012 or visit the Web site at www.ashburnpresbyterian.org.