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.
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.
Ed Wiley, a grandfather from West Virginia, is walking from Charlestown, W.Va., to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about unsafe conditions caused by mountain top removal mining and the second is to raise funds for a much needed new school in his community. Wiley will be making the following stops in Loudoun County: Sept. 8, Lucketts Community Center, 7-9 p.m., www.luckettscommunitycenter.org; Sept. 9, Tally Ho Theatre, Leesburg, 10-11 a.m., www.tallyhotheatre.com; and Sept. 10, Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, noon-2 p.m. www.uusterling.org.
Learn more about Pennies of Promise at the Web site, www.PenniesOfPromise.org.
Common Ground, a new faith community in Loudoun County and, David Shive, professor of Theology at Washington Bible College and author, are presenting four sessions on how to "Study Your Bible." These will be hands on sessions.
At Exeter Clubhouse, 350 Plaza St., Leesburg, Sept. 9, Oct. 21, Nov. 11, Dec. 9, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. A light continental breakfast will be at each session. Cost: $10 per session or $25 for all four sessions. Preregister by e-mailing, cg@ecommonground.org or by calling 571-223-6135.
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.
The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center, 46903 Sugarland Drive, Sterling, is holding two interfaith events.
* Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. ADAMS 5th Annual Interfaith Peace Gathering and Honoring of Local Police and Fire Departments, at the center.
* Sunday, Sept. 10. Co-Sponsored by ADAMS and hundreds of interfaith groups, Interfaith 9/11 Unity Walk for Peace, at 1:30 p.m., in Washington, D.C. Buses will leave the ADAMS Center at 12:30 p.m. and return at 7 p.m. More than 1,500 people are expected. The walkers will gather at 1:30 p.m., at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St., N.W.; walk begins at 2:15 p.m. sharp, stopping at the National Cathedral at 2:45 p.m. and at 3:30-4 p.m. at the Islamic Center, 2551 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., concluding at the Gandhi Memorial Statue, at 5:30- 6 p.m. Visit www.911unitywalk.org.
The Northern Virginia Ethical Society, a humanist congregation, begins it 2006-2007 season Sept. 10. Jone Johnson Lewis, NoVES leader, will open the year with a platform address on three key concepts behind the ethics of ethical culture: communication, the means by which we build relationships; commitment, the willingness to stick with relationships even when they're tough; and community, what we build, relationship by relationship. 11 a.m., at 225 Nutley St., N.W., Vienna. This event is free. Visit the Web site,
www.noves.org or call 703-437-3161.
The 10:30 a.m. service at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling Sunday, Sept. 10, will be the annual Ingathering and Water Communion, led by interim minister, the Rev. Matthew McNaught. The water ceremony is a hallowed tradition in UU churches. Attendees bring samples of water from the pools, ponds, lakes, rivers or oceans where they have traveled over the summer and pour them into a common bowl with shared thoughts, hopes and dreams. UUS meets every Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center located at 22135 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road in Sterling. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
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.
Registration for all English as a Second Language, computer and typing classes will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12 and Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., at Faith Bible Church, 21393 Potomac View Road, Sterling.
ESL classes will start Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 7:30-8:45 p.m. Classes meet every Tuesday and Thursday. ESL fees are $30 for the school year, September-May. Registration includes book.
Fee for computer or typing class is $30 each or $45 for both classes, book included. Class meet once a week. Starting date to be announced. Call church's office at 703-430-1345.
The 10:30 a.m. service at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling Sunday, Sept. 17, is "Religion, Spirituality, Faith and the Meaning of Life," led by interim minister, the Rev. Matthew McNaught. Distinctions among these four concepts are important if one is to avoid amorphous or sentimental thinking. The youth group will meet to plan their course of study for the year. UUS meets every Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center located at 22135 Davis Drive near Route 28 and Church Road in Sterling. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
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.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation holds traditional Shabbat services, family services, childrenÕs services and High Holiday services. The religious school features preschool through post confirmation, BÕnai Mitzvah, Hebrew High, adult Hebrew and adult education classes. Social activities include interfaith discussions, youth group, Sisterhood, MenÕs Club and Empty Nesters. Student Rabbi Jesse Gallop and Rabbi Randi Nagel, lead biweekly Shabbat services, help prepare BÕnai Mitzvah students, provide pastoral counseling and sick/bereavement visits and teach adult education classes at monthly pot-luck dinners before Shabbat services. Call 703-391-8669, visit Web site www.bethchaverim.org or e-mail chaverim18@aol.com.
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.