Easter at Conrad Park
Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand is hosting a community Easter celebration at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 17, at Melching Field at Conrad Park, 555 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. Arrive early to take advantage of special family photo opportunities.
There will be a family Easter service, bags for kids, and free refreshments. Admission is free. Visit www.stetson.church/easter.
‘Stones’
“… suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside [the three women] …. they said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
On Easter Sunday, April 17, at First Presbyterian Church of DeLand, Pastor Michael Bodger will celebrate this unimaginably joyful news after reading Luke 26:1-12. A Sunrise Service will be at 7 a.m. in the pavilion, and other services will be at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall and at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary.
To welcome all members and visitors to Easter services, the First Pres kitchen will share a light break fast between the end of the Sunrise Service and before the 9 a.m. worship. The meal will be served appropriately distanced by buffet and eaten in the outside courtyard.
The two earlier services include contemporary music, and the 11 a.m. traditional service features traditional, special music, including Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus.
All three services will share open Holy Communion.
In his sermon “Stones,” Pastor Bodger will ask listeners, “What is the heaviest thing you have ever tried to lift?” We imagine the stone sealing Jesus’ tomb as larger than a person, immovable if not for those angels who appeared to the women in the garden early that Easter morning. Those three who went to the tomb felt prepared to move it. Or, did they?
Of course, the real immovable stone lay in their sorrow, the weight of such grief and loss! How much lighter their hearts must have felt, learning that Jesus lives.
The miracle of Easter, more than a rock moved or even a body reanimated, stands in this Resurrection that means believers have no more immovable stones of sin. Yet, we still find ways to place them in our paths.
While death at first appears to have won on that fateful Good Friday weekend, it did not. Life and love always hold the last word!
On Monday, April 18, the church will close in recognition of Easter and offer an open door 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
God’s Bathhouse returns to the pavilion area at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 23, for showers, clean clothes, hygiene kits and fellowship.
1st United Methodist of DeLand to have sunrise service, other services, on Easter Sunday
“He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive and I’m forgiven; Heaven’s gates are opened wide. He’s alive!”
The words from the song “He’s Alive,” written by Don Francisco and sung by Dolly Parton, will resonate in churches near and far this Sunday, April 17, as congregations join their hearts and voices to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord.
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are past, the Crucifixion is behind us, and now we celebrate the Power of God that raised Jesus from the grave on the third day, just as the prophets had foretold.
You and your family are encouraged to join the congregation of First United Methodist Church of DeLand in celebrating the Risen King this Easter Sunday. In addition to the church’s regular schedule of worship services, at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., a Sunrise Service will be at 6:30 a.m. at Vo-LaSalle Farms, 601 Johnson Lake Road in DeLeon Springs.
For more information, call 386-734-5113.
Easter Sunday at 1st Christian Church
The Rev. Dr. Fernando Morales welcomes the congregation of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand at 10:45 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 17, at the front door as well as in the pulpit.
Kathy Porr will give a joyous welcome at the beginning of the Easter service to all attending.
Sisters Donna Mozley and Lane Talton rejoice in special music for the Easter celebration, while Charlaine Free provides the rest of the music for the service.
Elders Brenda Velazquez Morales and Olga Palmer will administer Communion to the congregants after the Rev. Morales’ message.
Sue Brague will furnish coffee and pastries before the service begins.
An Easter offering is received during the service to help college students in Disciple Leadership Development, and to form new congregations and support global missions.
The church sanctuary will be open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Good Friday, April 15, for prayer and meditation.
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, for children up to age 12.
That evening, members of the church will be decorating the assigned cross for the DeLand MainStreet Pageant of Crosses.
On Friday, April 22, Disciple Women Essie Miller, Dr. Janet Raney and Sue Brague will direct bingo in the fellowship hall to fund community outreach.
First Christian has reinstituted the 8:15 a.m. service “Coffee With God,” in the fellowship hall area. This is an informal gathering for Scripture discussion, prayer and Communion.
‘Resurrection’
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The title of the Easter Sunday service April 17 is “Resurrection.”
You’re encouraged to join Minister Teresa Leary as she explores the mythos of resurrection across cultures throughout the ages.
Worship leader Judy Raymond will guide everyone through the service. All are welcome.
For more information on Mosaic, visit the website at mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
Easter at Glenwood Presbyterian
Glenwood Presbyterian Church is celebrating Good Friday, April 15, by having the sanctuary open noon-3 p.m. for prayer and meditation.
There will be an Outdoor Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 17, followed by breakfast in the fellowship hall. A Traditional Worship Service will be at 10:30 a.m.
The church is at 3190 Grand Ave. in DeLand.
Counterfactual thinking with Dr. Kyle Dickey
At First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 17, Dr. Kyle Dickey, a visiting assistant professor of psychology at Stetson University, will discuss his research on counterfactual thinking, learning from mistakes, and what we can do to minimize our regrets.
Those attending in person are encouraged to join at 10:15 a.m. for greetings before the service begins. Masks are required at this time.
Zoom meetings for a repeat of last week’s program will be available at 927 1881 9188 ID: https://zoom.us/i/92718819188.
Unitarian Universalists are an open-minded, openhearted spiritual community, where all are welcomed as everyone learns and searches together.
The church may be contacted through www.uudeland.org to learn more.
