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.
Community Lutheran Church crafters group is holding a spring craft sale and dessert shop, Friday, March 3, from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 4, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., in the church fellowship hall, 21014 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Includes a drawing every half hour. Call 703-430-6095 or 703-729-8026.
Riverside Presbyterian Church will hold children's programs for fourth- and fifth-graders, at Dulles Town Center Mall, for a scavenger hunt Friday, March 3, 7-9 p.m. Look for the Riverside Sign in the food court, behind Ben and Jerry's. Cost is $10. Visit www.riversidechurch.com; call Holly, 703-444-3528; or e-mail Holly@riversidechurch.com.
On Friday, March 3, members of Loudoun County Jewish community will gather at Congregation ShaÕare Shalom in a display of Jewish revitalization and Jewish unity.
Conceived and organized by the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) since 1996, ÒShabbat Across America/CanadaÓ represents a united effort by the entire Jewish community to renew interest in the fourth of the Ten Commandments Ñ observing a weekly day of rest Ñ Shabbat in Hebrew.
Congregation ShaÕare Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, will be one of approximately 700 synagogues across the continent that will simultaneously open its doors to practicing and nonpracticing Jews alike, so they may join together to experience and rejoice in a traditional Shabbat service and festive meal. Attendees will experience an interactive Friday night beginnersÕ service and a traditional Shabbat dinner with all the rituals explained. The event will
take place from 6-8 p.m. Visit www.sha-areshalom.org.
Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 East Church Road, Sterling, will be holding a weekly Saturday night services n the Taize style of worship at 7:30 p.m., beginning March 4. The services will include scriptural readings, song and reflective silent moments. Free. Call 703-430-6455.
On Sunday, March 5, at the 10:30 a.m. service, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, the Rev. Matthew McNaught will deliver a sermon titled Islam and the West. The sermon addresses the cartoon in an obscure Danish newspaper that helped create a perfect storm between Islamic and Western values. UUS meets every Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road in Sterling. Call 703-406-3068.
Riverside Presbyterian ChurchÕs new Kenya CafŽ will be open, from 9:15-10:30 a.m., Sundays, at Potomac Falls High School, beginning March 5. 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.
Interfaith Trialogue in Northern Virginia, Sunday, March 5, 7-9 p.m., St. Thomas ˆ Becket Catholic Church, 1421 Wiehle Ave., Reston. "Religion and Human Rights: Conflict or Convergence?" will be discussed at the next interfaith trialogue sponsored by Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, St. Thomas ˆ Becket Catholic Church and All Dulles Area Muslim Society. The program will examine what Judaism, Catholicism and Islam teach about human rights, how the concepts converge and how they differ. Guest speakers: Rabbi David Forman, Father Gerry Creedon, Imam Daoud Nassimi. Visit http://nvhcreston.org or call 703-437-7733; http://www.stthomasabecketparish.org or 703-437-7113; and http://www.adamscenter.org or 703-433-1325.
A prayer service for healing for victims/survivors of sexual abuse will be held March 11, 10 a.m., at Christ the Redeemer Church, 46833 Harry Byrd Highway, Sterling. The Rev. Mark S. Mealey will preside.
On Sunday, March 12, at the 10:30 a.m. service, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, a "Rock 'n Roll Requiem" service will be led by "More of UUS," the church rock group. Paul Roche will provide the sermon on Life and our Response to Death, and he will be supported by a large group of church members and friends with live contemporary music appropriate to the occasion. Feel free to bring a picture or other memento of a loved one who has died and we will dedicate the service to those loved ones. UUS meets every Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oak Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road in Sterling. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
On Sunday, March 19, at the 10:30 a.m. service, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, the Rev. Matthew McNaught will present a service called: Work, Spirituality and Celebration. UUS meets every Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road in Sterling. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia is sponsoring a program for active retirees at Congregation Sha'are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, Monday, March 20, 11 a.m. Learn about "Orthodox Judaism and Contemporary Issues," with Rabbi Levi Deitsch. Bring a dairy lunch. Coffee and dessert will be provided. Cost: $2 members/$3 nonmembers.
On Sunday, March 26, the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling will enjoy the music of Divertimento, a group that plays Baroque music and other classical pieces. UUS meets every Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road in Sterling. Call 703-406-3068.
The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia is sponsoring a program for active retirees at Congregation Sha'are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, Monday, April 17, 11 a.m. Join Eric Rozenman, Washington, D.C., director, Commission for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America for "News Media Malpractice: Coverage of the Arab Conflict with Israel." Bring a dairy lunch. Coffee and dessert will be provided. Cost: $2 members/$3 nonmembers.
Potomac Falls Episcopal Church meets for Sunday services at 10 a.m., at Horizon Elementary School, 46665 Broadmore Drive, Sterling. Sunday school for children and nursery care for infants is provided each week.
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.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation will hold Sunday School every Sunday, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Boyd Montessori School in Ashburn. In addition to Sunday School, a second day of Hebrew School will be offered Tuesday evenings, from 7-8 p.m., at Sanders Corner Elementary School. Attendance is limited to fourth- through seventh-graders and adults interested in learning Hebrew. Contact Lisa Kimball at bradamk@aol.com or call 703-858-1999.
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.