New Hope Church Bluegrass Christmas Extravaganza with The Bluegrass Gospel Express, All4Hym, and Sonrise, Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. at 8905 Ox Road, Lorton. All proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity. 703-971-4673 or info@newhope.org.
"A Ceremony of Carols" by Benjamin Britten. Sunday, Dec. 14, at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. at Fairfax Presbyterian Church, 10723 Main St., Fairfax. 703-273-5300 or fpc@fairfaxpresby.com.
Christmas Tree Sales at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Road, Burke, on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Proceeds benefit the outreach mission of the Church. 703-323-5400. www-good-shepherd.net
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries is looking for volunteers to provide food baskets at Christmas. Western Fairfax Ministries will provide information about a family in need, and the volunteer will deliver the basket(s) directly to the sponsored family. Contact Pam Ryan at 703-988-9656 or volunteer@wfcmva.org.
Messiah United Methodist Church, 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-9862 or www.messiahumc.org.
* A Community of Contagious Joy. Sunday Worship 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Interactive praise and worship service, Sundays at 7 p.m.
* Girlfriends Night Out, Friday, Dec. 12, 7-9 p.m. Bring gifts and wrapping paper, listen to Christmas music.
* Singles Ministry Black-Tie-Optional Ball on Saturday, Dec. 13, 8-11:30 p.m. Admission is $8 with a dish of finger foods or $15 without. Prize drawings and more.
*Messiah’s Annual Handbell Concert on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. Admission is free, child care will be provided.
*Christmas Comfort Service - Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. Music, scripture, silence, reflection and prayer.
*Christmas Eve at Messiah, 5 p.m. children’s service, 7 p.m. service of lessons and carols, 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. worship with Holy Communion.
Chabad of Reston-Herndon is having several Chanukah events. Contact www.chabadva.org or 703 426 1980 for tickets and information.
* A Magical Chanukah at Fairfax Corner Chanukah World, on Sunday, Dec. 21 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Fairfax Corner, 4245 Summit Corner Drive, Fairfax. The Great Zuchini, Katie’s Balloons, magicians, giant Menorah lighting, Chanukah children's chorus and raffle. Free Chanukah refreshments, Dreidels and balloons. Paint-your-own Dreidel or Menorah. $5 per person.
* December 25th, What’s a Jew to Do? Thursday, Dec. 25 from 5:30 p.m., at 3939 Prince William Drive, Fairfax. $20 per person all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, a Jewish movie, Menorah lighting, latkes, Dreidels, and chocolate "gelt."
* Chanukah on Ice, on Sunday, Dec. 28 from 5:45-7:15 p.m. at the Fairfax Ice Arena, 3779 Picket Road, Fairfax. Menorah lighting, ice-skating to Chanukah music, hot latkes and donuts. Chanukah Crafts, $12 per person.
Ohev Yisrael Messianic Jewish Congregation Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Shabbat Services are on Saturdays at 10 a.m. at 8196 Terminal Rd. in Lorton. 703-550-0888 or www.ohevyisrael.org.
Fairfax Presbyterian Church will have three Christmas Eve Services 4:30 p.m. Worship for Children and Families; 7:30 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols and 10 p.m. Communion Service. The church is located at 10723 Main St., Fairfax. 703-273-5300 or fpc@fairfaxpresby.com.
Gan Israel Academy is a Montessori-influenced kindergarten and first grade that emphasizes Jewish elementary learning, located at Chabad of Fairfax, 3939 Prince William Drive, Fairfax. 703-426-1980 or ganisraelpreschool@gmail.com.
* Gan Israel Preschool Open House, Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m.
* Jewish Kindergarten Open House on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
JCCNV Mother’s Circle program, for women who are not Jewish but are raising Jewish children. Free education in Jewish rituals, practices and values, while respecting the participant’s choice to retain her own religious identity. Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike in Fairfax. Contact Laurie Albert, 703-537-3064 or LaurieA@jccnv.org.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for people interested in becoming Catholic or learning about the Catholic Church. A group meets Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 3704 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Sessions are in the Old Parish Hall. All are welcome. For more information call Martha Malloy at 703-273-5369.
The Jewish Social Services Agency, 3018 Javier Road, Fairfax, offers a variety of family programs. Call 703-204-9100 to register.
Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia, located on 10383 Democracy Lane, Fairfax, presents worship services on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and choir practice (open to all) on Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. Visit www.mccnova.com or call 703-691-0930.
Church of the Nativity offers a free general bereavement support group open to all adults on the first and third Thursday of each month 7:30-9 p.m. The church is located at 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke. Call 703-455-2400, ext. 17.
The Catholic Diocese of Arlington offers the USDA Special Milk Program to eligible children at St. Leo the Great School in Fairfax and St. Bernadette School in Springfield.
Arabic Bible Baptist Church is located at 5424 Ox Road in Fairfax Station. Pastor: Tony Ghareeb. Call 703-273-5599 or e-mail to Tghareeb@wmconnect.com.
The Fairfax Church of Christ sponsors a 16-week Divorce Recovery support group every Monday at 7 p.m. at the church. Call 703-631-2100 or visit www.fxcc.org. The Fairfax Church of Christ is located at 3901Rubgy Road, Fairfax.
A casual worship service with a praise band is at 9:45 a.m. at Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, 8508 Hooes Road in Springfield. Visit www.sumcdisciples.org or call 703-451-8223.
St. Matthew's United Methodist Church offers Crossroads, a new 'come as you are' worship service each Saturday evening at 5 p.m. at 8617 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Visit www.stmatthewsumc.org or call 703-978-3500.
Truro Church MOPS would like to invite all mothers of preschool-aged children to join MOPS for relevant speakers, small group time with other moms and food. The group meets the second Thursday of every month, at Truro Church, located at 10520 Main St., Fairfax, in the church fellowship hall on the lower level. Call Amanda Qreitem at 703-222-2332 or e-mail amandazubi@hotmail.com.
All are welcome to join the Fresh Fire congregation every Sunday for a service at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Sackey and his congregation invite all to participate in preaching and teaching, praise and worship, in a Christ-centered ministry. Fresh Fire International Center meets at the Chinese Martial Arts Building, 8426-B Lee Highway, Fairfax, opposite the BMW Fairfax; entrance is in the back. Call 703-815-8950.
Faith Communities in Action meets the first Wednesday of every other month from 2-4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, Conference Rooms 2 and 3, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.
The Baha'i of Fairfax County Southwest offers "Interfaith Devotions: World Peace and Unity" for the general public on Saturdays. These free devotional gatherings meet at the Pohick Regional Library, Room #1, located at 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke, 22015.
International Calvary Church is a Christ, Bible and Spirit- centered church. Sunday services are as follows: English services at 9:45 a.m., Korean services at 11:30 a.m. and youth services at 11:30 a.m. Sunday School is as follows: English classes at 11:30 a.m. and children's classes at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday Bible study and Youth Meeting are at 8 p.m. and Friday Prayer and Youth Meeting take place at 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-569-1918. The International Calvary Church is located at 5700 Hanover Ave., Springfield.
St. Leo the Great in Fairfax hosts "Night of Praise" the first Saturday of each month, featuring praise music and Eucharist adoration at 7 p.m. Located at 3704 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax.
The Immanuel Bible Church MOPS group meets every Monday 7-9 p.m., at Immanuel Bible Church, 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield. MOPS is a group for pregnant or parenting mothers of children from infancy to kindergarten. For more, call Michelle Wright at 703-922-4295 or visit www.MOPS.org.
The Church of the Nativity in Burke offers a Grief Support Group for all who have suffered the death of a loved one and are in need of the comfort that sharing can bring. Meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month, in the school building, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, and are open to all adults at no charge. For more, call Carol Mack at 703 533-2951.
The Shalem Institute is offering free monthly prayer opportunities in Fairfax. The time together will be devoted to relaxation, the presentation of different prayer practices, silence, journal keeping and small group sharing. No experience is required and participants may attend regularly or drop in. Donations are accepted. Meetings take place the third Monday of the month from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Providence Presbyterian Church, 9019 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. Ann Kulp, Kathy Spaar and Tad Wicker lead the meetings. To register for these events or for more information, visit www.shalem.org or call 301-897-7334.
The following is a list of various events taking place at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 4325 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax:
* Bible study and Prayer Service every Tuesday starting at 7 p.m.
* Sunday School at 9:30-10:45 a.m., except for the fourth Sunday of the month, when Sunday School is offered 9-10 a.m.
* Sunday morning service at 11 a.m.
* Commonwealth Care Center ministry every first and third Thursday night. Call 703-273-1455.
Congregation Adat Reyim offers services Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday at 7:40 p.m. Hebrew school is available on Sunday at 9 a.m. and Sunday and Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Preschool is Monday-Friday at 9:30 a.m. Located at 6500 Westerbury Oaks Court in Springfield. Call 703-569-7577 or visit www.adatreyim.org.
Beth El Hebrew Congregation has services on Fridays, 8:15 p.m. and on Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. The temple is located at 3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Religious school is on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Adult learning opportunities take place throughout the year. Tot Shabbat is on the first and third Saturdays. Kolot Shabbat, a musical service, is the first Friday of every month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 703-370-9400 or visit www.bethelhebrew.org.
First Baptist Church of Springfield has Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday school at 9:15 a.m., Hispanic worship service at 9 a.m., Korean worship service at 2 p.m., and an Ethiopian service at 12:15 p.m. The pastor is Jim Weaver. Church is located at 7300 Gary St., Springfield. 703-451-1500. For more, visit www.fbcspringfield.org.
Clifton Presbyterian Church, located at 12748 Richards Lane, Clifton, offers Sunday worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Call 703-830-3175.
St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, located at 6720 Union Mill Road, Clifton, conducts Sunday masses at 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. It also offers a Saturday vigil at 5:30 p.m. and a Wednesday Latin mass at 7 p.m. Call 703-817-1770 or visit www.st-andrew.org.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8304 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, offers casual worship services on Saturday evenings at 5:30 p.m. featuring contemporary music. More traditional services take place on Sunday mornings at 8:15 and 11 a.m. Sunday School is at 9:45-10:45 a.m. for children. The church also offers discussion groups for adults. Call 703-451-5855.
Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, located at 8336 Carrleigh Parkway in Springfield, supports a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) program on the first Wednesday of each month. Meetings are 9:30-11 a.m. at the church. All mothers and children are welcome. The program provides mothers an opportunity to get to know other mothers through discussions and craft activities. Adults in the MOPPET program will care for the children. Cost is $3 per session. Register by stopping by the church or calling 703-451-5320