Spiritual Side: All invited to Palm Sunday and Easter services

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first presbyterian deland giveaway
IN MEMORY OF CHRISTINE — Volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of DeLand stand in back of donated items to be given away to people in need. The mission is called “Christine’s Blankets,” in memory of Christine McCaleb, who in October 2019 lost her life in a dispute with another person about ownership of a blanket. These “Summer Packets” include gently used blankets, water, oral-hygiene items, flip-flops, sunscreen, visors, coats and sweaters — depending, of course, on local climate conditions. Michelle and Stanley Arel, Christine’s daughter and son-in-law, founded the organization. To become involved or contribute to this ongoing, quarterly mission, visit https://www.christinesblankets.org or call 386-290-5663.

Celebrating Palm Sunday at First United Methodist of DeLand

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” – John 12:13

The celebration of Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered triumphantly into Jerusalem to the adoration of the masses, is here. Members and friends of First United Methodist Church of DeLand are excited about this glorious time of celebration. Everyone is looking forward to what lies ahead, as the beginning of Easter Week dawns upon us. Yes, there will be sadness and challenges, but the victory that is ahead for us is a great time of celebration.

Everyone is invited to take part in this season of remembrance, thankfulness and celebration as we, too, join our voices with those of past generations to sing Hosanna, blessed is He who came in the name of the Lord.

Looking ahead to Easter Sunday, April 17, First United Methodist will add to the church’s regular schedule of worship services a Sunrise Service at Vo-LaSalle Farms in DeLeon Springs at 6:30 a.m. If you would like to be a part of this Easter Sunday experience and need directions, please call First United Methodist’s church office at 386-734- 5113.

Palm Sunday at First Christian Church of DeLand

To open Holy Week, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand celebrates Palm Sunday at 10:45 a.m. April 10 with a guest minister. Palms will be distributed by Charlotte Feldman, and the congregation is encouraged to wave the palms during praise music provided by Charlaine Free.

Sisters Donna Mozley and Lane Talton wi l l share special music as their gift during the service. The elders will deliver Communion to all attending.

Other activities during Holy Week include prayer at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 11. Those wanting prayer can attend or send a request to 386-734-6078 (answering machine).

Marge Jones delivers her last watercolor painting class 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, April 12, in the fellowship hall. Those attending can leave with a finished painting.

On Good Friday, April 15, the church sanctuary will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for individual prayer and meditation, with elder Eddie Wachter as the host.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, the youth group, with Arianna Dutton in charge, is providing an Easter-egg hunt, open to the public for toddlers through age 12. Those attending should register in the fellowship hall.

First Christian is participating in the Pageant of Crosses on Saturday, April 16.

Also, Easter worship is at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, April 17, and will include special music.

Activities prior to Holy Week include bingo in the fellowship hall at 7 p.m. Friday, April 8, with Essie Miller, Janet Raney and Sue Brague. The Disciple Men will have a breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at Hunter’s Restaurant in DeLand. A reservation is necessary by calling 386-734-6078.

Palm Sunday Family Fun Day at City Sanctuary Church

City Sanctuary Church in DeLand is presenting Palm Sunday Family Fun Day beginning at 10 a.m. April 10 with an outdoor church service.

This will be followed by an Easter-egg hunt for the kids, bounce houses, a rock-climbing wall, yard games, food, and other fun activities for the whole family. There is no charge to attend.

To participate in the free lunch and Easter-egg hunt, one must be present at the 10 a.m. service.

City Sanctuary Church is at 401 E. Taylor Road in DeLand.

Easter Eggstravaganza! at DaySpring Community Church

DaySpring Community Church in DeLand is presenting an Easter Eggstravaganza! 3-5 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 10.

The event will feature fun activities for children ages newborn through fifth grade. These activities will include an Easter-egg hunt, decorating eggs, bounce houses, face painting, and having some tasty free food.

This event is free and open to the community.

DaySpring Community Church is at 902 S. Spring Garden Ave. in DeLand. For more information, call 386- 736-4808.

‘The Elements and Us, a Love Story’

Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The title of the April 10 service is “The Elements and Us, a Love Story.”

Throughout the centuries, humans have considered the four elements to be not only sacred but also intrinsically linked to human health. At the April 10 service, the Rev. Mariela Pérez-Simons explores how the human nervous system has evolved with nature, how it’s a part of a larger ecosystem, and how we can reclaim this wisdom to heal ourselves and the planet.

Worship leader Sarah Mahler will guide everyone through the 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.

Learning about and fighting against antisemitism

At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 10, Bill Lazarus returns live to First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand for the first time since the pandemic began, to share information about antisemitism as Israel’s Independence Day approaches.

Masks are required at this time.

Zoom meetings for a repeat of last week’s program will also be at 10:30 a.m. with an invitation to join between 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. This second-chance meeting for Sunday service is the same every week: 927 1881 9188. ID: https://zoom.us/i/92718819188.

The church may be contacted through www.uudeland.org to learn more.

Coats we wear

First Presbyterian Church of DeLand begins its spiritual walk through Holy Week on Sunday, April 10, celebrating Palm Sunday at three services, each with open Holy Communion. Through a sermon titled “Coats We Wear,” Pastor Michael Bodger will lead the congregation to an understanding of the triumphant yet paradoxical entry by Jesus into Jerusalem on His journey to the cross.

As the churchwide study of Jill J. Duffield’s devotional Lent in Plain Sight draws to its closing pages, the author directs us to confront ourselves with coats, common to humans throughout the ages. Pastor Bodger will explore two Scriptures to focus on choices we make to either glorify or humble ourselves.

First, in Genesis 37:1-11, the story of Joseph and his “coat of many colors” presents God’s plan that happens despite human endeavor. Because their father blatantly favors Joseph, his older brothers hold heavy resentment, deepened when Joseph flaunts the richly ornamented coat given to him by their father. After the 17-year-old’s boastful sharing of dreams of Joseph’s power over them, the brothers’ hatred and jealousy spur them to sell Joseph into slavery!

Through Luke 19:29-40, we hear of the crowd that gleefully gathers to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem by waving palms, offering coats for the donkey’s bony back, and spreading other coats on Jesus’ path.

Holy Week gives us many opportunities to choose between wearing the coat of glorifying ourselves or of humbling ourselves. We know which Jesus chose — to wash the feet of his disciples, to serve bread to his betrayer, to decline to defend himself, and to accept a horribly painful and humiliating death. Which coat do we wear as we live our very own lives?

First Pres reaches out to members and visitors to join in the ultimate worshipful celebrations of the Christian liturgical year. At 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 14, the service will reverently treat the events of the Last Supper in the Upper Room and their deep spiritual and symbolic impact.

Then at 7 p.m. on Good Friday, April 15, First Pres will review, pray and teach about the Crucifixion of Jesus.

With color and glory and music, Easter services (Sunday, April 17) begin at 7 a.m. outdoors at sunrise; at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall for contemporary music; and at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary for traditional music.

God’s Bathhouse is 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, followed by Eggsperience 2:30-4:30 p.m. that same day. In Eggsperience, families can enjoy a petting zoo, bounce houses, arts and crafts, egg hunts, snacks and more fun near the pavilion.

Holy Week at St. Barnabas

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in DeLand opens its doors to the community for Holy Week services and events.

On Palm Sunday, April 10, at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., there will be The Blessing of the Procession with Palms, heralding the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.

From Monday, April 11, through Maundy Thursday, April 14, there will be a Daily Eucharist at noon.

Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m. begins the Triduum, the last three days of Jesus’ life. We remember the servanthood of Jesus, celebrate the Last Supper with Jesus and his disciples, and experience the agony of the garden and the heartbreak of betrayal. The service concludes in silence, and a prayer vigil continues through the night.

On Good Friday, April 15, from noon to 3 p.m., St. Barnabas will commemorate the time Jesus hung on the cross, with choir music, Stations of the Cross with choir and hymns and Communion. The day concludes with a liturgy.

On Holy Saturday, April 16, at 7 p.m., we can experience the wonder, glory and awe of the Great Easter Vigil with the retelling of the stories of God’s plan of salvation. The service begins with the Blessing of New Light.

There are three services on Easter Sunday, April 17, beginning with a sunrise service at 7:30 a.m., a 9 a.m. service followed by an egg hunt in the Canterbury garden, and an 11 a.m. service.

Holy Week at St. Peter

The Holy Week schedule at St. Peter Catholic Church in DeLand includes a Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 14, followed by Adoration until 10 p.m.

Good Friday, April 15, has a 3 p.m. celebration of the Stations of the Cross, followed by the Liturgy of the Passion at 3:30 p.m. A liturgy in Spanish will be at 7 p.m. A collection will be taken for the Holy Land Foundation.

At 11 a.m. Holy Saturday, April 16, there will be a Blessing of the Food Baskets. There will be no 4 p.m. Mass. An Easter Vigil Mass will be at 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday has five Masses — at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. in Spanish, and 5:30 p.m.

The church is at 359 W. New York Ave.

Holy Week at Emmaus Lutheran

Emmaus Lutheran Church, 2500 S. Volusia Ave. in Orange City, announces its Holy Week schedule:

On Palm Sunday, April 10, there will be services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The Maundy Thursday, April 14, and Good Friday, April 15, services are at 7 p.m.

The Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 16, has a 5 p.m. service in the sanctuary and a 6:30 p.m. service in the portico.

A Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday, April 17, will be at 7 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. service in the sanctuary.

Easter at Calvary Baptist Church

Have you ever said to yourself, Easter Sunday, April 17, will be the perfect day to get your questions answered.

Calvary Baptist Church in DeLand encourages you to attend at 11 a.m. Easter Sunday, to find answers to the questions “What is missing in my life?” “Why am I struggling?” “What should I do?”

The church is at 650 E. Michigan Ave. in DeLand.

Visit the website for more details at http://www.calvarybaptistdeland.org/index.html.

Good Friday Liturgy at Our Lady of the Lakes

Knights of Columbus Council 6584 invites the community to Good Friday Liturgy from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 15 at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, 1310 Maximilian St. in Deltona.

Easter Festival at Church of the Holy Presence

Church of the Holy Presence will have an Easter Festival at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16.

There will be an egg hunt, face painting, games, a crafts table, and dances and songs by the Orlando Japanese Baptist Church Praise Team.

Church of the Holy Presence is at 355 N. Kepler Road in DeLand.

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Margie Dykes
Raised in Miami Beach, Margie moved to DeLand after graduating from Florida State University. She has a master's degree in community mental-health counseling, and retired after 12 years in substance-abuse treatment. Having worked at the DeLand Sun News during the 1980s, Margie came to The Beacon in 2002 in search of a second career. She helps the reporters; compiles obituaries, the calendar of events and religion news; and deals with a mountain of emails each day. Margie is the proud Nana to two grandchildren, Sophia and Alex.

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