Gateway Center for the Arts in DeBary is hosting the concert series “You Satisfy: A Summer Celebration of Song.” At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, the genre will be gospel music.
This concert will dive deep into the history and beginnings of gospel music, and reflect on how far the genre has come today. Tickets cost $15.
Gateway Center for the Arts is at 880 North U.S. Highway 17-92 in DeBary. Call 386-668-5553.
‘Vulnerability’
You’re invited to journey into the wilderness online with Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation for the 2022 Summer Sharing Series based upon exploring the “Inward Journey” (from Jan Phillips’ Visionary Thought Series).
This Sunday, Aug. 21, during the roundtable-style service, facilitator Tracy Lunquist will present a discussion about “Vulnerability.”
If we want our lives to be passionate and purposeful, we must face our vulnerabilities and learn to feel our emotions. The reflection question for this Sunday: When you feel vulnerable, what emotions start to rise?
These services are designed to allow participants to share their thoughts if they choose to do so. Sharing is always voluntary; active listening is welcome too.
All are welcome. For more information, visit the website at mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
‘Sin’
Flip Wilson became famous for the line “The devil made me do it.” And often we, like Flip Wilson’s character Geraldine, like to pass on the responsibilities for our bad choices, indiscretions and evildoings. But the bottom line is that sin is sin, and we all are guilty of indulging in its guilty pleasures, probably more frequently than we want to acknowledge.
This week in the sermon series “Foundations” at First United Methodist Church of DeLand, the topic will be “Sin.” Sin began even before the Garden of Eden, when Lucifer and a third of the angels in Heaven rebelled, so to speak, against God.
But for us mere mortals, sin began with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
André Gide stated, “Sin is whatever obscures the soul.” Tragically, we all have more obscurities than we sometimes know what to do with. But God has a plan, a solution and enough mercy and grace to cover a multitude of sins.
You’re encouraged to attend a worship service, either in person or online, at First United Methodist this Sunday, Aug. 21, as the church explores the wickedly troublesome topic of sin.
In-person traditional worship services are at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, and there is an in-person contemporary worship service at 9:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center. All three services are streamed live on Facebook on the First Church DeLand page, or they can be accessed through the website at Firstchurchdeland.org.
Call the church office 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday at 386-734-5113.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have virtual convention in pursuit of peace
Against the tragic backdrop of a historic conflict in Europe, Jehovah’s Witnesses had their annual six-part global convention virtually in July and August, where millions around the globe, in 239 countries in more than 500 languages, gathered to promote the timely theme “Pursue Peace.”
The program’s first segment will be available for streaming through the end of September. All are invited to attend the program at no charge. It can be accessed through the free JW Library app or at jw.org.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been hosting global conventions for more than 100 years. Attendee and Deltona resident Aaron David had this to say about the 2022 program theme: “No matter where we reside on this Earth, we all long for peace, especially during these critical times. This year’s convention will not only help us find peace but also become peacemakers as we endeavor to pursue peace with everyone we meet.”
‘Poetry, Mary Oliver and Unitarian Universalism’
The 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, worship service at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand has the title “Poetry, Mary Oliver and Unitarian Universalism.”
During the 2006 Ware Lecture of the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, the Rev. William G. Sinkford, a past president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, introduced the poet Mary Oliver, noting that UUA worship services draw from many sources. UUA congregations use “none more effectively or more frequently than the work of Mary Oliver.” Her poems reflect a love of the natural world and the struggle to find peace and compassion.
She is “one of our most important liturgists,” Sinkford said. But he also noted that she probably didn’t plan that to happen.
In the Aug. 21 program, First Unitarian Universalist will celebrate poetry, Unitarian Universalism (U.U.) and the poet Mary Oliver, long considered the UU Poet Laureate.
Anyone attending in person is encouraged to join at 10:15 a.m. for greetings before the 10:30 a.m. service begins. Masks are discretionary, at this time.
The church’s services are also live-Zoomed, with access beginning at 10:30 a.m. and an invitation to join between 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Efforts continue to include anyone at home not ready to attend in person or unable to attend for any reason.
The Zoom Sunday service ID is the same every week: ID: https://zoom.us/i/92718819188. Feel free to contact the church for help in getting connected at www.uudeland.org.
Reverence and awe
On Sunday, Aug. 21, Pastor Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will continue to study the Book of Hebrews, with the focus on chapter 12, verses 18-29.
Last week in Hebrews 11, we were encouraged to lay aside every weight that clings to us. This week, the writer of Hebrews explains that God’s kingdom cannot be shaken and compels us to be thankful and to worship with reverence and awe.
You’re encouraged to come and worship!
Adding worship at First Pres to the family calendar this fall could include the Youth Group at 5 p.m. Sundays for middle- and high-school students, and/or Children’s Church on Sunday mornings for ages 4-10, complementing the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship services. The nursery for children age 2 and younger is open 8:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. every Sunday.
First Pres has a Family Camping Weekend coming up in September; a cookout at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, in the church’s new pavilion; and a monthly bingo game at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2. All are family-friendly and open to the community.
Registration is open for Divorce Care for Adults classes, with corresponding classes for children (Divorce Care 4 Kids) beginning Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Call the church office at 386-734-6212, or refer to First Pres’s website at fpcdeland.org, for more information and details.
1st Christian Church activities
The Rev. Patreza Newton, guest minister, brings her dynamic and spirit-filled message to First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand’s worship service at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21. The Rev. Newton is a native of Orlando and has spent her life involved in community action, especially getting women into the forefront in the Orlando area. She is now working through the church to bring unity to the community.
Church musician Barbara Polomsky, with Donna Mozley as the song leader, provide the inspirational music throughout the service.
Betty Davis and Sue Brague greet all congregants and guests starting at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and pastries. Olga Palmer and Janet Raney are the elders for the day, welcoming all to the table of the Lord as believers in Jesus Christ.
Several members gather at 3:30 p.m. every Monday for prayer in the church library. Prayer requests can be delivered by Sunday by calling 386-734-6078. Individuals are welcome to join the group.
Bingo is open to the public at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in the fellowship hall. The proceeds after expenses will be given to HOPE (Helpers of People Enslaved) during the month of August. Each month, a different group is designated for the proceeds. Bingo takes place every second and fourth Friday.
