Trunk or Treat at Trinity United Methodist

Trinity United Methodist Church, at 306 W. Wisconsin Ave. in DeLand, is hosting a Trunk or Treat 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31.

Come to the portico side of the church, and trick or treat from car to car. This is a fun and safe way for all to enjoy Halloween. Everyone is welcome!

Trunk or Treat at St. Jude’s Episcopal

St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Orange City is hosting a Trunk or Treat 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28. There is no charge for the community to attend. You’re encouraged to bring the kids for some safe fun and goodies. The pumpkin patch will be open for pumpkin purchases.

The church is at 815 E. Graves Ave. in Orange City. Call 386-775-6200.

Trunk or Treat at Community United Methodist

Community United Methodist Church in DeBary is having two events for this Halloween season:

A Pumpkin Patch will be in operation through Sunday, Oct. 31. The hours are noon-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

There will also be a Trunk or Treat 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30.

The church is at 41 W. Highbanks Road in DeBary.

‘Living on a Mission’

The signs of the season are hard to notice in Central Florida. Our temperatures don’t dip dramatically, and there is very little seasonal coloring in our leaves. Many families make it their mission to head northward sometime during October, just to be awed by the artistic tapestry of fall foliage.

As October winds down, First United Methodist Church of DeLand will be continuing the sermon series “To the Ends of the Earth.” On Sunday, Oct. 24, the sermon will be “Living on a Mission.”

Similar to our mission to see fall leaves or a winter snow, we often embark on spiritual missions to accomplish set goals, plans or objectives. We will be exploring the idea of living our lives as an ongoing mission to accomplish those things that not only make us a better person, but also serve to improve the community and world around us.

Don’t forget to stop by First United Methodist’s Pumpkin Patch. This will be the final week to get your pictures, play the games and purchase your pumpkins for your fall decorations, pies and cakes. The hours of operation are 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and noon-7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Mission Sunday at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Sunday, Oct. 24, is Mission Sunday at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand. The Temple of God Church of DeLand, with the Rev. Resella Harper, Dr. Gwendolyn George, minister Chandra Kennedy and Youth Choir Director Voloria Manning, will provide music and speak about local mission work.

Dr. Janet Raney will speak about members of First Christian visiting the Garden of Eden Health Center in Jayuya, Puerto Rico, during the summer. Alicia Rodriguez Davila, chief executive officer of the center, will share about progress in Jayuya.

Brenda Velazquez Morales, part of the mission group to the center, will offer prayers and Scripture. Arianna Dutton and Shayla Kopsa, students on the mission trip to Jayuya, will read Scripture and tell of their part in the mission trip.

During the service, elders Edna Cortes and Olga Palmer, and the Rev. Elizabeth Carrasquillo of First Christian, will offer Communion to all believers in Jesus Christ.

The service is available live on Facebook, First Christian Church – DeLand Disciples or later by clicking on the “video” tab, or you can look at the news feed.

‘Faith, Science and the Common Good’

Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation, while not meeting face-to-face, is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The title of the Oct. 24 service is “Faith, Science and the Common Good.”

Brother Guy Consolmagno will discuss science as an exploration of the natural world based on logic and reason. And yet logic and reason must always start with assumptions, accepted on faith.

Our core beliefs not only determine how we expect the universe to work, but they also and just as importantly supply the motivation for the science we do and determine what counts as success. They also affect why we may choose to be scientists.

How do our core beliefs affect these choices?

Worship leader Tracy Lunquist will lead everyone through this service. All are welcome.

For more information on Mosaic, see the website at mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.

100-year anniversary Homecoming Celebration

First Baptist Church of DeLeon Springs, at 4995 Central Ave., is pleased to announce its 100-year anniversary. A Homecoming Celebration at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, will include guest speaker Glenn Rogers, associational mission strategist for the East Central Baptist Network. There will also be special music.

Refreshments will be served immediately following the service. The event is free and open to the public.

Since September 1921, this church has been a spiritual home to hundreds of families in the area. Members have shared many of life’s milestones together through baptisms, weddings and funerals, as well as various missions and service projects here locally and abroad.

Opposition

Under the leadership of Pastor Michael Bodger, First Presbyterian Church of DeLand continues its journey through the Book of Nehemiah on Sunday, Oct. 24. Titled “Re-Forming,” the eight-week sermon series focuses on the challenges of the restoration of decimated Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Pastor Bodger will share about the opposition to the project so successfully begun by Nehemiah.

In Chapter 4:1-9, Nehemiah has mobilized the people to progress in the enormous task of rebuilding the wall and 10 gates. The remnant and returned Jews have rallied to the cause; however, opposition rears its head. Enemies in the region surrounding Jerusalem, fearing an increased threat from a reformed city of Jews, oppose the strengthening spirit of the Jewish people. Their nervousness is growing from what had seemed no threat to a newly resurgent danger.

Even today, as God’s Kingdom work grows, we hear warnings of opposition. 1 Peter 5:9 tells us, “Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.” Nehemiah’s bedeviled enemies, liars and deceivers use intimidation, mockery, insult, threat, and trickery to end the work of God.

“40 Days Of Kindness 4Ever” has begun! Under guidance of Pastoral Assistant Katie Rives, the initiative, by formal proclamation from the City of DeLand, is giving First Pres the opportunity to lead our community into a common focus on acts of service. Help spread the message that our local culture exemplifies kindness and respectful care for all people.

“Kindness Crews” will form group activities and publish progress on Facebook and the church’s website. You’re encouraged to watch for the calendar of events and share a smile of God’s kindness with all you meet! Hope you are “caught being kind”! #KindnessCountsDeLand.

This Saturday, Oct. 23, God’s Bathhouse will open at 9 a.m. for showers, hygiene kits, clothing, and fellowship on the First Presbyterian Church basketball court, free to the public.

Also, Boy Scouts Troop 550 offers a carryout spaghetti supper in the church’s parking lot at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29. See Troop550deland.com for details about this annual fundraiser.

Sacred songs and chanting up the Gods

First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand will host Rick de Yampert, writer, musician, artist and former entertainment writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal, on Sunday, Oct. 24. He will present an exploration of how different cultures have used chant and singing to create communion with the divine. Attendees will hear recorded samples of Gregorian chant, Kenyan witchcraft ritual chant, Sufi vocalists, Native American powwow singing and more.

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.