Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation invites the community to its "House of Friends" for High Holiday Services in its new home at 21740 Beaumeade Circle, Ashburn. The New Year will be ushered in with Rosh Hashanah services Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Rosh Hashanah morning services Thursday, Sept. 13, begin at 10 a.m. followed by Tashlich. All children are welcomed for services at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, Kol Nidre services on Yom Kippur Eve begin at 7:30 p.m. Yom Kippur morning service Saturday, Sept. 22 will begin at 10 a.m. and continue through a congregation break-the-fast at 6:30 p.m. Children’s services will be 10:30-11:30 a.m. Contact 703-391-8669, chaverim18@aol.com or www.bethchaverim.org.
Congregation Sha'are Shalom announces its updated schedule of services for the High Holy Days for the Jewish new year 5768.
* The High Holy Days, also called the days of awe, mark the beginning of the Jewish new year. Services begin with Rosh Hashanah (head of the year) at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday,
Sept. 12. Services will be held the first and second days of the holiday on Thursday, Sept. 13 and Friday, Sept 14. Services each day begin at 9 a.m.
* Yom Kippur (day of atonement) begins with the Kol Nidrei (all vows) service at 6:15 p.m., Friday, Sept. 21 and continues with services at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 22. A break-the-fast will be held after the end of Yom Kippur services around 8 p.m.
All services and events are held at Congregation Sha’are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. Nonmembers can reserve tickets by calling the synagogue at 703-737-6500 or by downloading the reservation forms from www.sha-areshalom.org. Reservations and tickets are required for entry to all services and the break-the-fast.
The 10:30 a.m. service at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling Sunday, Sept. 16 is called "Pray For Me." The Rev. Anya Sammler will address the question, "where does prayer reside?" in the context of a searching faith, a searching mind and a searching heart. UUS meets every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive, Serling. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
Galilee United Methodist Church invites the community to an open house Sunday, Sept. 16, from 12-4 p.m. Food, fun and frolicking for all ages. Tour the facilities, make identification cards for children, sign up to be an organ donor or pick up information on Galilee and the many community groups that meet here. Galilee UMC is located at 45425 Winding Road, Broad Run Farms. For directions visit www.GalileeUMC.org or contact the church office at 703–430-2203.
Children's religious exploration classes begin for the new church year at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling congregation. The focus this year is on biblical literacy and social action. The kindergarten through third-grade class will introduce children to "super heroes" in Hebrew and Christian Bible stories. Contact Linda Weaver at 703-406-3068 to register. The Unitarian Universalists of Sterling is located at the Sterling Oaks Commerce Center at 22135 Davis Drive. Call 703-406-3068 or visit uusterling.org.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St., S.W., Leesburg, will hold a festival worship service to dedicate its newly completed addition, Sept. 23, 10 a.m. Officiants include Bishop Richard Graham, Washington, D.C., synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Free. Public invited. Call 703 777 4912.
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.
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.
Wat Yarnna Rangsee in Sterling will be offering free meditation classes every Sunday. Inquire and register at the temple at 21950 Shaw Road, Sterling, 703-406-8290/2509.
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 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.