Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church’s second location, 13421 Twin Lakes Drive, Clifton, is now open. Worship services are Sundays at 10 a.m. Call 703-323-9500 or visit www.lordoflifelutheran.com.
Summer Nights at Lord of Life Lutheran Church:
* Miss Cathy's Children's Productions. July 9, 7:30 p.m. An interactive storytelling evening where children dress up and act out stories. Cameras welcome. Clifton/ Centreville Location, 13421 Twin Lakes Drive.
* Christine and Aleko the Rescue Dog. Wednesday, July 16. Christine and her dog will demonstrate search and rescue techniques. They are part of Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S., an organization that provides canine search and rescue teams for emergencies. Clifton/ Centreville Location, 13421 Twin Lakes Drive.
* NOVA Bat Lady. July 23, 7:30 p.m. Bat World NOVA will use multimedia presentations, biofacts, and live bats to teach about these ecologically important creatures. Fairfax Location, 5114 Twinbrook Road.
* The Mad Science Workshop will present an interactive workshop that will spark the imagination of children of all ages and increase understanding of what science is really about. Wednesday, July 30, Fairfax Location, 5114 Twinbrook Road.
St. George’s United Methodist Church offers God’s Big Backyard vacation Bible school July 14-18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for children 4 through rising fifth graders. $20 per child; maximum of $40 per family. 4910 Ox Road, Fairfax. 703-385-4550 or www.stgumc.org.
Free car wash, July 19, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Journey Church is offering a free car wash at 6427 Franconia Road. Call 703-971-0277 ext. 100 or visit journeyoffice@verizon.net.
Finding financial peace: a short course on the Biblical way to master money. The Journey "Outfitters" ministry is sponsoring a free short course over four consecutive Sundays in Christian money management. The course will consider such matters as how saving is a biblical concept, the importance of budgeting, how to eliminate debt and the joy of giving and will place considerable emphasis on materials developed by Christian financial counselor Dave Ramsey, the author of "The Total Money Makeover" and host of a syndicated money management television series. The teacher and facilitator will be Chris Nelson. The course starts July 20, at 9:15 a.m. at the Journey, 6427 Franconia Road, Springfield. Child care is provided. Visit journeyoffice@verizon.net or call 703-971-0277, ext. 100.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church will offer a Rainforest Adventure Vacation Bible School July 27-31. Dinner at 5:30 p.m.; Bible school sessions 6-8 p.m. for age 3 through rising sixth grade, with crafts, music, games and outdoor fun. Take-home treats each night. Adult classes using Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5800 Backlick Road, Springfield. Call 703-451-4331 or visit www.stmarks-elca.org.
Lunch N' Life for people 50 or older, Thursday, July 17 from 12-2 p.m. at Burke Presbyterian Church, 5690 Oak Leather Drive, Burke. The program will be presented by Dr. Alan Merten, president of George Mason University, speaking on GMU and the community. For reservations, call Faye Quesenberry 703- 620-0161 by July 10. The cost is $8. If transportation is needed, call SCFB office 703- 323-4788. The summer Adventures in Learning program will be Wednesdays at the Movies, at Cinema Arts Theater, 9650 Main St,, Fairfax, starting Wednesday, July 23 at 2 p.m. for four consecutive weeks. $3.50 admission fee for each show. Call SCFB office to register. Visit www.fairfax-burkesc.org.
Power Lab Vacation Bible School for first through sixth graders. July 21-25, from 6:30-8:45 p.m., free. Music, games, wacky snacks, Bible adventures, amazing crafts and more. Pre-register by calling 703-971-7070; walk-ins accepted. Harvest Church, 7401 Beulah St., Springfield.
Community Covenant Church is about to set sail with The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales VBS. July 28-Aug. 1, 9 a.m.-12p.m. Free, refreshments will be served. This high seas adventure is for preschoolers ages 3-5; space is limited. Call Community Covenant Church, 7018 Sydenstricker Road, Springfield, or visit www.covenantchurchva.org/resources/registr.pdf.
New Jerusalem Temple, 8850 Cross Chase Circle, Fairfax Station, conducts Sunday services at 10 a.m. at Halley Elementary and Bible studies on Tuesdays. Contact Pastor Florine Murphy at 703-922-3791.
The Spiritual Parenting support group meets the first Sunday of every month, 12-1 p.m., at Washington Irving Middle School in Springfield. For more information, visit www.NewWorldUnity.org or call 703-690-7925. Childcare is available on request.
Burke Community Church offers a weekly group for men called Men's Fraternity to help discover authentic manhood as directed through the Word of God. Tuesdays, 6 a.m., at 9900 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield.
Divorce Care is a weekly Bible Study care group that helps those who are transitioning through a divorce. The group meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the church parlor at First Baptist Church of Springfield, 7300 Gary St., Springfield. Childcare and children's activities are provided. Call 703-451-1500.
Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia, located at 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.
Burke Presbyterian Church, located at 5690 Oak Leather Drive, Burke, offers a coffeehouse worship service on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m., for people who may be unavailable Sunday mornings or are seeking a break from a more traditional style of worship. The service offers the same lesson and sermon as the Sunday service, but in a less formal environment. A nursery is provided for young children. Burke Presbyterian Church is located at 5690 Oak Leather Drive, Burke.
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 3901 Rugby Road, Fairfax.
A new 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.
Fresh Fire International Center hosts a dress-down "Love Feast" on the second Sunday of every month at 10:30 a.m. at the Chinese Martial Arts Building, 8426-B Lee Highway, Fairfax, opposite the BMW Fairfax; entrance is in the back. Come meet new people, play games, enjoy a meal and hear the word. Call 703-815-8950.
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.
Jubilee Christian Center is offering free English classes as a second language during its Sunday School time, 10:10-10:50 a.m. on Sundays at 4650 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax. 703-383-1170.
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 Messiah United Methodist Church offers the following events and services. The church is located at 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield. For more, call 703-569-9862.
* A Community of Contagious Joy. Sunday Worship: 8:15, with Holy Communion every Sunday, 9:30 and 11 a.m., with Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month.
* Heartline is an interactive praise and worship service Sunday evenings at 7 p.m.
* P.o.L.O.s: Parents of Little Ones. Discussion group on the challenges and joys of young children. Meetings Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.; free childcare is available.
* Rising Hope Food Collection is experiencing an increase in food requests. Special requests are for pasta, tomato products, soup and canned meat, which can be delivered to Messiah United Methodist.
* Bazaar Vendors Sought. Application forms are available for crafters and vendors interested in displaying at Messiah’s Annual Fall Bazaar on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
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.
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.
Jubilee Christian Center is offering free English classes as a second language during its Sunday School time, 10:10-10:50 a.m. on Sundays at 4650 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax. 703-383-1170.