<lst>Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, 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 Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
St. James United Church of Christ will host a series on the study of "The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity," Thursday evenings Feb. 15 and March 15, at 10 East Broad Way, Lovettsville, at 7:30 p.m. Books are available at cost for $10. Contact Pastor Don Prange at 540-869-6517 or David Weintraub at 540-822-4814.
The 10:30 a.m. service, Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling centers around the Rev. Matthew McNaught's sermon, "Buddhism, Suffering and Self-Awareness." UUS meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center, 22135 Davis Drive. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
Evergreen Church welcomes the Rev. Dr. David Forrest, former missionary to Sierra Leone, West Africa, and current United Methodist district superintendent, as a guest speaker Sunday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m., at Evergreen Mill Elementary school in Leesburg. Visit www.EvergreenChurch.net or call 703-737-7700.
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 201 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling, will have a pancake supper, Tuesday, Feb. 20. Sides include sausage, hash browns, applesauce including blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes. There are two seatings 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted to support St. Matthew's Youth Mission Team. Contact Leslie Tracy, lesliepattontracy@yahoo.com.
A special Ash Wednesday service will be held at Sterling United Methodist Church, 304 E. Church St., Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., in the sanctuary. Ashes will be bestowed. All are welcome. Call the church office at 703-430-6455.
Riverside Presbyterian Church is holding a trip for high schoolers to Seven Springs Friday, Feb. 23-25. Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and games. To sign up visit www.riversidechurch.com or call Daniel or Barb at 703-444-3528.
The 10:30 a.m. service, Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling will be conducted by the Rev. Amy DeBeck. Her sermon, "The Transcendentalists," invites all congregants to meet or get reacquainted with Thoreau, Emerson and Fuller, and evaluate their impact. UUS meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center, 22135 Davis Drive. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
Riverside Presbyterian Church invites middle schoolers on a trip to White Tale in Mercersburg, Pa., Friday, Feb. 26. Includes skiing, snowboarding, tubing, lots of games. Visit http://www.riversidechurch.com or call Daniel or Barb 703-444-3528.
The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), 46903 Sugarland Road, Sterling, will hold a mosque open house, Sunday, March 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Includes tours, Islamic art, refreshments, questions and answers. There will be a short talk about Islam, Muslims and the ADAMS Center. Visit www.adamscenter.org.
Riverside Presbyterian Church’s Kenya Café 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 café is also designed to raise awareness of Riverside’s 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. 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.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation holds traditional Shabbat services, family services, children’s services and High Holiday services. The religious school features preschool through post confirmation, B’nai Mitzvah, Hebrew High, adult Hebrew and adult education classes. Social activities include interfaith discussions, youth group, Sisterhood, Men’s Club and Empty Nesters. Student Rabbi Jesse Gallop and Rabbi Randi Nagel, lead biweekly Shabbat services, help prepare B’nai 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. 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.
Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling, invites the community to its evening contemporary worship service at 6 p.m., every Sunday, featuring the Winding Road praise band. Sunday school is available for children in kindergarten through third grade, and child care is available for the younger children. Visit www.GalileeUMC.org or contact the church office at 703-430-2203.
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.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun Web site now features some recorded sermons and transcripts on a number of topics to allow visitors to explore the UU faith from the comfort of home. Sermon topics range from Buddhism to Finding Common Ground and can be found by visiting www.uuloudoun.org and clicking on “Ministers & Sermons.”
Unitarian Universalist Sunday services are held, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., at the UUCL chapel, located at 20460 Gleedsville Road in Leesburg. UUCL is a welcoming congregation and invites everyone to attend Sunday services. Call the church at 703-737-7644.
St. Gabriel’s 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 “Chrysalis” 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 “drop-in.”
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.