Outdoor music cafe at Episcopal Church of the Holy Presence
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Presence in DeLand will host an outdoor music cafe at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23.
DeLand’s very own Joyce DeLoach will be playing the keyboard. Come out for a relaxing evening! There is no admission charge.
The church is at 355 N. Kepler Road in DeLand, and has Sunday worship at 10 a.m., a Wednesday service at 11 a.m., and Bible study at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays.
Dr. Wendy Anderson to speak about the need for community cohesion
Dr. Wendy Anderson, professor of environmental science and studies at Stetson University, will present a program on how climate change and COVID make community cohesion increasingly important at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand on Sunday, Oct. 17.
People need spaces and places that nurture cohesion rather than inhibit it. In the face of the current rapid growth and development, and as property owners sell their land piecemeal to developers who just want to convert it for maximum profit, can we pull back on the reins long enough to gather as a community to affirm again what we value about each other and about the places on which we all depend?
Dr. Anderson is chair of the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
Zoom services continue until further notice. Virtual services begin at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. The Zoom ID for Sunday services is the same every week: Zoom ID: 927 1881 9188.
The church may be contacted through www.uudeland.org to learn more.
Fall Festival at St. Jude’s Episcopal in Orange City
St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Orange City is preparing for its annual Fall Festival, which will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. The entire event will be outdoors. Many themed gift baskets will be available to win. There will also be a crafter and vendor area, and lunch available for purchase at the grill area.
Vendors will have to bring their own tables; each space is approximately 10 feet by 10 feet, and rents for $25.
No food is to be sold unless packaged for home use.
Space will be designated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Consultants: Please call to reserve space so as not to duplicate brand-name businesses.
To register for your space, visit https://www.stjudescentralflorida.org. The church has announced that a Pumpkin Patch will be up and running beginning Saturday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 31. The hours are 3-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and noon-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Blessing of the Animals at Trinity United Methodist
Trinity United Methodist Church, at 306 W. Wisconsin Ave. in DeLand, is hosting a Blessing of the Animals, drive-in-style!
From 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, you can drive under the church’s portico to receive a blessing for your pet. If you are outside of your car, the church asks that your pet be either leashed or in a pet carrier.
In the past, Trinity has blessed dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, birds, fish, ferrets, turtles, lizards, snakes, spiders, chickens, horses, pigs, cows and donkeys. If you had a pet who has passed away, you may bring a photo, a collar, an old toy or even the animal’s ashes, and church members will give thanks to God for the pet’s presence in your life.
Your pet will receive a blessing, a special treat, and probably an extra rub or two from Pastor Todd Bardin.
Tell your friends to come out as Trinity United Methodist celebrates our connection to God through all creation. If you have questions, call the church office at 386-734-4425.
Kindness forever
At the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services at First Presbyterian Church of DeLand this Sunday, Oct. 17, Katie Rives will present the sermon “Kindness 4Ever.” Rives will explore the significant Scripture in Romans 12:9-21.
First Presbyterian Church of DeLand looks forward to promoting and celebrating both individual and communal acts of kindness through its campaign 40 Days of Kindness 4Ever, launching Saturday, Oct. 16, and going through Wednesday, Nov. 24.
The event aims to foster acts of kindness as simple as smiling at others and as concrete as serving others in new ways.
The City of DeLand will issue an official proclamation at the City Commission meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, to enact support for the kindness initiative on its social media platform using the hashtag #KindnessCountsDeLand.
First Presbyterian Church of DeLand charges all to participate in this goal and shout out to the world that our great community is known for its many days of Kindness 4Ever!
Free food distribution resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in the parking lot on the church campus. It will continue on the first and third Saturday of each month.
Also on Saturday, Oct. 16, the church will host its first outside contemporary service at 6:30 p.m. on the basketball court. You’re encouraged to bring your chairs for comfortable seating under the cool evening sky and to worship the Lord with music, fellowship and Scripture. The outdoor worship series will continue on the third Saturday of each month.
First Christian Church to celebrate the professional ministry
At 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand celebrates the “Week of the Ministry.” The professional ministry will be recognized: the Rev. Elizabeth Carrasquillo, First Christian’s minister; the Rev. David Cortes, retired Disciple minister; the Rev. Dr. Fernando Morales, hospice chaplain; and student minister and First Christian’s Timothy, Brenda Velazquez-Morales, under the care of the Florida Regional Disciples and enrolled at Lexington Theological Seminary.
In honor of this special week, the Rev. Dr. Betsy Goehring, regional minister for Florida Disciples, is the guest minister for the day, bringing the message.
Olga Palmer and Eddie Wachter, as elders of the day, present Communion in prepackaged elements.
Dorothy Ashton is planning the annual Trunk and Treat Event 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31.
‘In Our Weakness, He Is Strong’
Fall has arrived. Sometimes the subtle changes we experience in Central Florida make it difficult to detect this seasonal change, but the temperatures have been slightly moderated. Another telltale sign of fall’s arrival is the appearance of all things pumpkin. Here at First United Methodist Church of DeLand, members and friends get involved with fall celebrations by giving thanks for God’s bounties and blessings in the fall harvest, and also sponsor the youth group’s annual Pumpkin Patch. The Pumpkin Patch’s hours of operation are 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, and noon-7:30 p.m. Sundays. There will be games, photo opportunities and, of course, pumpkins of all sizes.
First Church’s sermon series “To the Ends of the Earth” will be continuing. On Sunday, Oct. 17, First Church will be exploring the subject “In Our Weakness, He Is Strong.”
Most of us lean toward self-sufficiency and independence, but the truth of the matter is that during the course of our lives, we all need help sometimes. And there is no source of strength, truth, hope or power that is more reliable than God.
First Church offices are open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office number is 386-734-5113.
EIRINN ABU
At 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, First United Methodist Church of DeLand, at 115 E. Howry Ave., will host a special dinner and concert event with saxophonist Eirinn Abu. The menu will be chicken piccata, mashed potatoes, green beans almondine, garden salad and dinner rolls, with a choice of either homemade peach or blackberry cobbler for dessert.Tickets cost $40 per person, and can be purchased by calling 386-734-5113, or by stopping by First United Methodist. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, Oct. 20. The proceeds will go toward music scholarships for Stetson University students.
‘Looking for the Ocean’
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation, while not meeting face-to-face, is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The title of the Oct. 17 service is “Looking for the Ocean.” What if we spent less of our energy pursuing the things we are told to do or want or be, and allowed ourselves simply to notice the joy and beauty in what we already have and already are?
The Rev. Tracy Lunquist explores this question in Sunday’s service, and the newest Mosaic members will be welcomed.
Judy Raymond will be the worship leader. All are welcome.
For more information on Mosaic, visit mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
All-Mozart concert in Ormond Beach
Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra is returning to live, in-person performances with the all-Mozart concert “Mozartiana” at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church, 1035 W. Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach.
Violinist and music director Susan Pitard Acree will lead the orchestra.
A $15 donation isrequested at the door. For more information, call 386-562-5423 or visit daytonasolisti.com.
