Collective Church remains open for Sunday services at 5 p.m. at The Dreka Theater, 112 E. New York Ave. in Downtown DeLand, and everyone is welcome.
Formal religious services at Collective were discontinued in April with the expectation that the church would close. However, services continued in the form of a discussion group on living a spiritually focused life.
Recent discussions included conceptions of God, theological diversity, and the nature of worship. These began on Easter Sunday, so there was no interruption of services.
A weekly Eucharist potluck was also started.
These groups/events were merged July 24 into a new Collective service, which includes music, reading of the community statement, a reading, a period of silence, a presentation and discussion, and the Eucharist.
For more information, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/wearecollectivechurch, or email Jim Cain at bisonoak@gmail.com.
Bible conference at Liberty Independent Baptist Church
A Bible conference will be hosted Sept. 11-12 by Liberty Independent Baptist Church in DeLand, 1365 W. Plymouth Ave. It will be at 9:45 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, and at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. The theme is “Why we believe the King James Bible is the Word of God.”
Attendees will hear about the history of the King James Version, the accuracy of the King James Version, and why the King James Version is the standard-bearer in the English-speaking world.
The speaker will be Dr. David Sorenson, pastor emeritus of Northstar Baptist Church of Duluth, Minnesota, which he founded and which he pastored for more than 27 years.
Sorenson has been in the ministry for more than 50 years. He has read the Bible more than 300 times, has received a classical fundamental Baptist education from several institutions, and earned a doctorate from Pensacola Christian College and Seminary.
Sorenson is the author of the Independent Baptist Commentary, a commentary on the Bible, and 15 other independent Baptist books, with more than 80,000 copies in print.
Pastor Slade Rickels and the members of Liberty Independent Baptist Church invite the public to come to this educational and soul-stirring conference. There is no charge; however, a freewill offering will be received.
It is best to attend all four sessions, as they will be chronologically presented.
Transportation is being provided. Anyone needing a ride may call 386-717-2417.
Prospective senior minister to preach at 1st Christian
On Sunday, Sept. 11, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand welcomes the Rev. Carlos Perez to the pulpit as a prospective senior minister for the church. The Rev. Perez is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, and grew up in Puerto Rico as part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
He and his family came from Puerto Rico to Michigan in 2010, where his wife, Vanessa, completed her education to become a pediatric emergency-medicine physician at Nemours Children’s Hospital.
The 10:45 a.m. service with the Rev. Perez will include music by Barbara Polomsky as organist/pianist and Donna Mozley as song leader. The church has been blessed on many Sundays with John Parrish accompanying them on his violin.
As always, the elders and the Rev. Perez welcome all to the Table of the Lord for shared Communion.
Following the service, Sue Brague invites the congregation and visitors to the fellowship hall for a light luncheon and an opportunity to speak with the Rev. Perez informally.
The 8:15 a.m. Coffee With God group will meet as usual in the area outside the kitchen. The group will delve into Scripture, pray and have Communion.
At 9:30 a.m., the adult Sunday-school class meets in the library to study Genesis 25 “God Chooses the Younger Twin.”
At 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Dr. Janet Raney and Sue Brague meet with the youth for dinner and a program. They are developing plans for a prayer garden.
At 3:30 p.m. Mondays, a prayer group meets in the church library and welcomes prayer requests.
The Disciple Men’s Breakfast will be Saturday, Sept. 10, at Daisy’s Diner, 915 N. Spring Garden Ave. (off Plymouth Avenue) in DeLand. For reservations, call Lee Gartside at 386-734-6078.
Within reach
On Sunday, Sept. 11, Pastor Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will begin a seven-week series on the Letters to Timothy. These sermons will be at the three Sunday services. All are welcome to share the Lord’s Supper within the worship services.
Music at 8 a.m. involves traditional pieces; 9 a.m. offers a spirited praise band. During the 11 a.m. meeting, the Chancel Choir, made up of congregants and Stetson University scholars, will present Craig Courtney’s “I See, I Hear, I Know” as the anthem.
After focusing on New Testament teachings about forming our lives in God, Pastor Bodger will lead the congregation in exploring 1 and 2 Timothy, writings to Paul’s apostolic representative placed in Ephesus.
Known as “Pastoral Letters,” along with Paul’s single letter to Titus, 1 and 2 Timothy reveal Paul’s encouragement to the newly formed church. Clearly and decisively, Paul instructs in matters of belief, roles of leaders, challenges of Christian service, and difficulties of that service.
Titled “Within Reach,” this first sermon addresses Paul’s summary of the Good News (1 Timothy: 12-17), that everyone stands within reach of God’s love, leaving no sinner beyond the saving grace of Jesus.
The 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services will appear by livestreaming and recording on the church’s website, Facebook and YouTube pages for those people unable to attend in person. First Pres does welcome visitors to services and fellowship times!
First Pres’s God’s Bathhouse begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 and 24, in the pavilion. The twice-monthly event stands open to the community who want a shower, fresh clothing, hygiene kits, and fellowship. Usually ending by 11 a.m., the mission especially helps people living without secure housing.
Also, at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, the Single Women’s Group invites eligible women to bring a dish to share for its Second Sunday Potluck at a local member’s home. Call Alice at 386-734-6212 for details. This recently formed group has grown quickly due to its warm hospitality and meaningful conversations.
The annual First Pres Family Camping Weekend at Salt Springs Campground takes place Friday-Sunday, Sept. 23-25. You can reserve your site at Recreation.gov. Campers welcome non-camping members to join and bring a dish for Saturday’s potluck dinner at 5 p.m., with worship following.
‘Social Justice Goes to College’
Dan Gribbin, Unitarian Universalist and retired university professor, presents “Social Justice Goes to College” at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, service at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand.
When progressives took to the streets in the early decades of the 20th century on behalf of women’s suffrage and other causes, the marchers were predominantly mature adults. That demographic changed in the 1950s with the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley, and, in the 1960s, it was common to speak of progressive causes in terms of student movements.
Gribbin will look at how these changes came about and what organizations promoted the involvement of young people in the movement for social justice.
Unitarian Universalists are an open-minded, freethinking, openhearted spiritual community, where all are welcomed to learn together. If time allows, discussion may be included after every presentation.
Those attending in person are encouraged to join at 10:15 a.m. for greetings. Masks are discretionary, but encouraged at this time.
First Unitarian Universalist’s services are live-Zoomed, and all are invited. The Zoom Sunday service ID is the same every week: https://zoom.us/i/92718819188. Feel free to contact the church for help in getting connected at www.uudeland.org.
Regular group meetings continue on Zoom and in person.
Special educational programs for children are available at the 10:30 a.m. service. For more information about groups, attendance and church activities, contact the church at www.uudeland.org.
‘Walk to Emmaus’ Community Gathering
At 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, First United Methodist Church of DeLand will have a “Walk to Emmaus” Community Gathering for any and all who might be interested in learning more about this unique opportunity. The Walk to Emmaus is a nondenominational opportunity to experience an encounter with Christ in a way that will strengthen a relationship and the spiritual experience, learning to see life with Christ from a new and fresh perspective. The meeting will be in the Well in Building 2, at 115 E. Howry Ave.
The meeting will include a time of food and fellowship. Bringing potluck finger food to share would be greatly appreciated. For questions, call 386-734-5113.
The sermon for the Sunday, Sept. 11, service, still in the “Foundations” sermon series, will be “Remember Your Baptism.”
Rev. Ben Collins to speak at Mosaic UU
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation, while not meeting face to face, is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The Sept. 11 service is titled “Depression.”
Join the Rev. Ben Collins in examining the layers of relationship between depression and spirituality, or we might say between depression and the quest for meaning.
Far from simple, the congregation will explore the ways depression is contextual, intersectional and partial. Ultimately, participants will emerge with a message of hope in the face of real depression. They will emerge, as well, with practices for loving those experiencing depression, and even treating ourselves when depression comes.
Judy Raymond will lead everyone through the service. Everyone is welcome!
For information on Mosaic, visit the website at https://mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
