Send announcements to the Gazette, by e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with questions.
Mount Vernon Rotary Club will be holding a sunrise Easter Service on Sunday, April 8 at 7 a.m. at The Mount Vernon Estate Circle, southern end of the George Washington Parkway. 703-360-9162 or 703-360-1999.
Calvary Presbyterian, 6120 North Kings Highway, is holding Holy Week events and services. 703-768-8510.
* Maundy Thursday, April 5: Joint worship service, 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Presbyterian Church.
* Good Friday, April 6: "The Way of the Cross" bus tour, noon, meeting in the Mt. Vernon PC parking lot. Joint worship service, 7:30 p.m. at Calvary Presbyterian Church
* Easter Sunday, April 8: Easter Egg Hunt for Children, time is TBA, Calvary Lawn. Worship Service, 10 a.m. in the Calvary Sanctuary.
Convergence: A Creative Community of Faith at 1801 N. Quaker Lane, is a new community of followers of Christ hoping to explore new ways of living in community and using our creativity. Gather each Sunday at 5 p.m. for a worship gathering- all are welcome. Visit www.convergenceccf.net or 703-998-6260.
* Sunday, April 8: Easter Service. 5 p.m. at Convergence: a Creative Community of Faith at 1801 N. Quaker Lane. Visit www.convergenceccf.net or 703-998-6260.
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church is holding an Easter Sunrise Service at 6 a.m. at 6477 Lincolnia Road or at 10:30 a.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School , 6560 Braddock Road. Visit www.mtpleasantbc.org or 703-256-1268.
On Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. parishioners of All Saint/Sharon Chapel Episcopal Church, 3421 Franconia Road, together with members of other churches, neighbors and friends are going to put together 15,000 packets of salt rehydration packets which will then be shipped to a country where the need is greatest at the time. No experience is necessary. Youth 12 and above are welcome to fully participate. Children 8-11 would be working with a parent. There will be food and drinks provided. Call Jane or Dick at 703-960-9351 or the Church office at 703-960-4808.
Calvary Presbyterian, 6120 North Kings Highway, will be holding special Holy Week events and services. 703-768-8510.
* Palm/Passion Sunday, April 1: Worship Service, 10 a.m. in the Calvary Sanctuary
* Thursday, April 5: Joint worship service, 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Presbyterian Church
* Good Friday, April 6: The Way of the Cross Bus Tour, noon, meeting in the Mt. Vernon PC parking lot. Joint worship service, 7:30 p.m. at Calvary Presbyterian Church
* Easter Sunday, April 8: Easter Egg Hunt for Children, time is TBA, Calvary Lawn. Worship Service, 10 a.m. in the Calvary Sanctuary
Nativity Lutheran Church is holding Holy Week events. Call 703-768-1200.
*Palm Sunday, 10:30 a.m. service
*April 2-4, church open for prayer, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
*April 5, 7:30 p.m. service
*April 6, noon children's service, 7:30 p.m. service
*April 7, 10:30 a.m. service
Learn How to Meditate. Free lecture on Saturday, April 7 from 1-2 p.m. at Sacred Circle Books, 919 King St. Visit www.meditation-dc.org or call 202-331-2122.
Attend and participate in the Ventures in Community annual Easter Sunrise Service at 6:15 a.m. on April 8 at the Woodlawn Plantation. Gather at the Quaker Meeting House just south of Woodlawn if it should rain. Enjoy a pancake breakfast after the service at Wesley United Methodist Church on Richmond Avenue.
Celebrate Easter this year at Harvest Church, 7401 Beulah St. An early service will be held on the front lawn at 8 a.m. and the annual Resurrection Celebration at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. The 10:30 a.m. service will include uplifting music, both traditional and contemporary, as well as an inspiring message. Special guests, The Extreme Balloon Man and M & M the Clown will be in Kids Church for children 4years-6th grade. Early childhood classes will be available as well. 703-971-7070 or visit www.harvestchurchag.org.
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 3801 Buckman Road, Alexandria, is holding a variety of events at the church. E-mail ebchurch@verizon.net or 703-780-5530. All events are free.
* Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. on April 8
* Community Picnic at noon on May 19
* Vacation Bible School from July 8-13. Call to register.
Easter Sunrise Service at Riverside Park on April at at 6:30 a.m. Located at the intersection of Mount Vernon Parkway and Stratford Lane. Refreshments will be served after the service. 703-329-2990.
Ikebana workshop on Sunday, April 15 at 9:45 a.m. at Washington Street United Methodist Church, 115 S. Washington St. Madge Overly, who holds a professor's rank in three different schools of Ikebana, will offer a workshop on this beautiful Japanese art form of flower arrangement. Nursery care and Sunday School for children are available at the same time in the same building. 703-836-4324 or www.wsumc.com.
Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church, 8220 Russell Road, Alexandria, holds a weekly Sunday celebration service starting at 11 a.m. For more information on Rising Hope's programs call, 703-360-1976. All programs are free.
*"Kingdom of Living" Bible Study held each Monday evening from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The study is led by three members of Rising Hope and focused on understanding specific Bible chapters. Child care is available during each session.
*"Building a People of Power" Empowerment Series held each Tuesday from 6:45-8:30 p.m. A study led by Rev. Keary on Robert Linthicum's book on the Biblical foundation for advocacy and empowerment of people who may feel unable to affect change in systems.
* Celebrate Recovery-- a Christ-centered recovery program with groups for men and women follows the model developed by Saddleback Church, California. This is held each Friday with worship at 6:45 p.m., recovery groups at 7:30 p.m. and fellowship from 8:30-9 p.m. Child care is available, if requested in advance.
* Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study held from 9:30-10:45 a.m. each Sunday. Led by members of Rising Hope with various study guides used. Held at the same time as Rising Hope's Children's Sunday School.
The Vajrayogini Buddhist Center offers classes in Buddhist Meditation at the Meade Memorial Episcopal Church, 322 North Alfred St. in Alexandria. Classes are held on Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. Buddhist Nun Kelsang Varahi will be teaching. $10/class. For more information visit www.meditation-dc.org or call 202-331-2122.
Beth El Hebrew Congregation, 3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria, holds services at 8:15 p.m. on Fridays and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Religious school is on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Adult learning opportunities take place throughout the year. Tot Shabbat is at 11 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Kolot Shabbat (musical service) the first Friday of every month at 7:30 pm. For more information, call 703-370-9400 or visit www.bethelhebrew.org.
Good Shepherd Catholic Church on Mount Vernon Highway in Alexandria is offering a "Coming Home" process at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month to ask questions, get an update on the church, and to help decide if it's time to reconnect with parish life. Contact Rob Doerschner at 703-822-0523.
The Urban Passage Inc., a faith-based non-profit organization, seeks adult volunteers, 50 years and older, to mentor high-risk youth at the Northern Virginia Juvenile detention Home in Alexandria. Volunteers are also needed to serve as youth advisory council leaders and community service project leaders for a program that serves terminally and seriously ill children at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Call 703-924-9840.
The Christian Women In The Marketplace meets to study God's word at the Royal Restaurant in Old Town Alexandria. The CBWC meets every Wednesday at 7 a.m. for breakfast. Additional information contact Pamela Nilsen at 703-660-6759.
Meditation. Every weekday noon-1 p.m., Roberts Memorial Methodist Church, 606 South Washington St., is open to the public for meditation. Organ music is played during this time. 703-836-7332.
AWANA is an international, non-denominational, Bible centered youth organization providing weekly clubs and programs for ages three-year-old through high school. Engleside Baptist Church's, 8428 Highland Lane, AWANA club consists of three parts, Handbook Time, Council Time, and Game Time. Club meetings are held every Wednesday night during the school year from 7-8:30 p.m. Call 703-780-5410.
Up Where We Belong Family Ministry will hold its Northern Virginia's Super Church event, the third Sunday of every month starting at 10:40 a.m., at Mount Vernon High School's main auditorium. Bring the family and participate in their worship celebration and eligible families will receive free groceries. Pre-registration is necessary. Contact Bishop Robert Lewis Taylor at 703-878-2247.
The Catholic Diocese of Arlington Victim Assistance Coordinator in conjunction with Catholic Charities will offer a 10-week psychotherapy group for victims/survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Arlington and Fredericksburg. The groups are open to all victim/survivors of sexual abuse. Further information is available by calling Patricia Mudd, A.C.S.W. at 703-841-2530. Registration required.
The Victim Assistance Coordinator maintains a list of social workers and counselors, as well as local clergy available for counseling of victims. The office also facilitates counseling for any victims/survivors abused in other dioceses, but currently living in the Arlington diocese. Call Patricia Mudd, A.C.S.W. at 703-841-2530.
First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1509 Collingwood Road, Mount Vernon, is now holding Wednesday evening meetings at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. For more information call 703-768-2494.