Erev Yom Kippur and Kol Nidre Service at Congregation Beth Shalom in Deltona will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, with the Yom Kippur Service following at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Yizkor will be at noon Oct. 5, and the N’eila and Havdalah will be at 6:30 p.m. A dairy “Breaking of the Fast” will follow.
Tickets are not required; donations will be gladly accepted.
Congregation Beth Shalom is at 1308 E. Normandy Blvd. in Deltona.
Stetson history professor to speak on war in Ukraine
Dr. Martin Blackwell, visiting professor of history at Stetson University, will be speaking for the first time at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand on Sunday, Oct. 2.
Blackwell has lived and worked in the Russian cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Volgograd, as well as Kyiv and Lviv in Ukraine. His important and timely presentation will give a very clear picture of the history, past conflicts, and results that have, in part, prompted the attacks on Ukraine today.
Those attending in person are encouraged to arrive by 10:15 a.m. for greetings before the 10:30 a.m. service begins. Masks are discretionary but encouraged at this time.
An ingathering breakfast is planned for Oct. 2 before the 10:30 a.m. service for members and friends to celebrate their returning to gathering in the church’s social room. On future Sundays, First Unitarian Universalist will be returning for the regular after-church coffee, tea and conversation hour.
Services are also live-Zoomed, and all are invited. This begins at 10:30 a.m., but you’re encouraged to come early for greetings.
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 — discussion groups, book club, a men’s group and conversation groups — continue on Zoom and in person.
Special educational programs for children are available at the 10:30 a.m. service.
‘You Are Welcome at the Table’
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” – lyrics by Hal David; music by Burt Bacharach
This Sunday, Oct. 2, First United Methodist Church of DeLand will be joining with churches around the world in celebrating “World Communion Sunday.” What a great opportunity to join hearts and faith with other believers as everyone celebrates the Lord’s Supper together.
As the new sermon series “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table” begins, the church will also celebrate the significance of uniting with the national community in Christ through the celebration at the Lord’s Table.
The sermon on Oct. 2 is “You Are Welcome at the Table.” Members and friends of First United Methodist hope you will consider joining them for this day of national unity in remembering all that God has done through the giving of His son, Christ Jesus.
First United Methodist has in-person traditional worship services at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, and a 9:30 a.m. in-person contemporary worship service 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.
There are small-group Bible studies at various times during the week: Young adults meet Sunday evenings, youth groups meet at different times during the week, and there is a Saturday-morning men’s Bible study. To get connected to a small group for fellowship and sharing, contact the church office for more details.
The Pumpkin Patch is opening this Sunday, Oct. 2. Hours of operation are noon-7 p.m. Sundays, and 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. The Pumpkin Patch, which is set up on the corner of East Howry and South Alabama avenues, will continue through Monday, Oct. 31, or when all the pumpkins are gone, whichever comes first.
Save the date of Saturday, Oct. 22, when First United Methodist will host its Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be a great day for family fun, including games, a petting zoo, bounce houses, face-painting, a train, food and more.
Admission to the Fall Festival is free, with activity tickets on sale in advance through the church office. Buy four tickets for $1, and get one ticket for free. There will be a redemption center with prizes for the tokens won playing the various games. There also will be photo opportunities in the Pumpkin Patch.
The church office is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 386-734-5113.
‘Rise Like a Phoenix’
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation, while not meeting face to face, is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The Oct. 2 service is titled “Rise Like a Phoenix.”
For those in the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Fest celebrations — held in many communities in September and October — are about emergence, taking the bold step to live openly and publicly as who they are. For many people, life after the pandemic is learning to emerge in the same way.
You’re encouraged to join Matt Pargeter-Villarreal for a sermon that discusses these two types of emerging, and how they can help us envision what the future can be like. Everyone is welcome!
For information on Mosaic, see the website at https://mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
‘Fan into flame!’
On Sunday, Oct. 2, Pastor Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will extend his series on the “Pastoral Letters,” primarily from Paul to Timothy, who leads the struggling church in Ephesus.
In 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Paul continues to encourage Timothy to grow the church, which is experiencing difficulty, both morally and spiritually. Knowing he faces imminent execution in a cold prison cell, Paul pens his last letter to Timothy to encourage and instruct him to field the overwhelming opposition, not only to his message but also to his leadership.
Paul reminds Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands (v. 6).” Paul advises Timothy that “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline (v. 7).”
Christ-followers, in the midst of modern lives, often face a threat that the God-given flame might wax cold due to overwhelming circumstances and challenges. Thus, Paul’s message tells Christians to not let their gifts grow dormant. They must not live as “shrinking violets” or “lukewarm” in their faith. They are encouraged to become bold and fiery for what the Lord has placed in their hearts!
The vision of First Presbyterian DeLand reaches in, up, and out to all in the community to join the church’s worship journey.
Men’s Bible Fellowship gathers weekly at 6:30 p.m. Mondays in the main sanctuary; the large group of about 100 men then breaks into smaller group studies campuswide.
First Pres welcomes new people at the church’s many Bible study and fellowship opportunities for all ages and interests.
“The Sacred Music of Franz Schubert” concert by the Chancel Choir, originally advertised for Sunday, Sept. 25, has been rescheduled to Sunday, Oct. 2. Admission to the concert is free and open to all at 1:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
First Pres has an energetic and fun family Bingo Night on the first Friday each month, and it’s free for the public and for church members. The next Bingo Night will be 7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, in the fellowship hall.
On Saturday, Oct. 8, and almost every second and fourth Saturday each month, First Pres invites community members to benefit from God’s Bathhouse in the church pavilion. Volunteers offer free showers, fresh clothing, hygiene kits, and fellowship from 9 to 11 a.m.
Beginning this Sunday, Oct. 2, for members of First Pres or visitors, the church has a “First Connections Class.” The four-week series of meetings will introduce the Presbyterian Church in general, along with its basic tenets — and First Pres in DeLand in particular — through group discussions led by the Rev. Donna McClellan and Elder Lynelle Tucker. Call the church office at 386-734-6212 for information about attending this class, which will be 10:10- 10:50 a.m. in the Eastminster Room.
Pumpkin Patch at Lake Helen United Methodist
This year, Lake Helen United Methodist Church will have a Pumpkin Patch beginning Saturday, Oct. 1, right after the pumpkins are unloaded at the church, at approximately 3 p.m. Church members welcome everyone to help them unload the pumpkins and make it a family day! Wagons and wheelbarrows are welcome.
The Pumpkin Patch will be open through the month of October, and hours will be noon-7 p.m. Sundays, 2-7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays.
Prices vary based on size. A number of sizes will be available, and some unique gourds.
There will also be a bubble machine, free coloring, a picture booth, and a picnic area. Carving kits will be available for a small donation.
Lake Helen United Methodist Church is at 121 W. Delaware Ave.
Cornerstone Pumpkin Patch
Cornerstone Church is hosting a Pumpkin Patch, which will be open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily Oct. 2-31, at 2813 Howland Blvd. in Deltona. Call 386-532-5100.
