Pierson United Methodist Women are hosting a mini-bazaar garage and bake sale 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. This is a rescheduled date due to Hurricane Nicole. It will take place at Pierson United Methodist Church, 136 W. Second Ave.
‘A Night of Wonder’ with magician Scott Humston
DeLand Church of the Nazarene is hosting the family event “A Night of Wonder” with magician Scott Humston Saturday, Nov. 19. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and the show starts at 6 p.m.
This is free and open to the public, but registration is necessary due to limited seating. The first 100 to sign up and attend will receive a free turkey at the end of the event.
Registration is online by texting the word “Turkey” to 833-347-8106. Questions can be emailed to delandnaz@gmail.com, or you can leave a message at 386-734-8281.
Child care is not provided, but children are welcome to enjoy this event with their families.
The church is at 913 E. New York Ave.
New Covenant Baptist to dedicate its new place of worship
New Covenant Baptist Church invites the public to a Dedication Service at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at its new place of worship, 1350 S. Blue Lake Ave. in DeLand.
Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Ministry Without Walls, a ministry of Greater Faith AME Church in Deltona, will host a free Community Thanksgiving Dinner 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Nov. 24, at Earl Brown Park, 750 S. Alabama Ave. in DeLand. Kneading Sweets will be donating the desserts.
Quaker activist George Lakey coming to DeLand
The DeLand Quakers are organizing a visit from George Lakey, a very well-known Quaker activist, as part of his national book tour. He’ll be the speaker at The Collective’s service at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, with a discussion afterward.
Lakey will also be meeting with DeLand Quakers, visiting Stetson University, and doing a book-signing and some other public events.
‘Soul and Body’
The Bible-based sermon “Soul and Body” will be presented at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, service at First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 111 E. New York Ave. in Downtown DeLand.
“Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?” (Matthew 6:25)
Testimony meetings are at 5 p.m. Wednesdays. All are welcome.
The Christian Science Reading Room, where literature is sold, is open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at the same address mentioned above.
For more information, call 386-734-6547 or check the church’s Facebook page.
‘In the Presence of Our Enemies’
It is often a difficult challenge to deal with individuals whom we perceive to be our enemies. Almost everyone has at least one or two. We might recognize not only the physical enemies of life, but we also know we have spiritual enemies as well.
At First United Methodist Church of DeLand, during the sermon series “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table,” the topic for Sunday, Nov. 20, “In the Presence of Our Enemies,” will look at the very idea of dealing with our enemies.
God gives many helpful ways to deal both with physical and spiritual enemies. Join the service this week to uncover ways to deal with enemies and learn how to put those techniques into play in our daily lives.
It is important to keep in mind that, “What the enemy brings into your life to shake you is oftentimes the very thing God uses to shape you.” – Elevation Church Pastor Steven Furtick
As the holiday season is approaching, the community is encouraged to save the dates for upcoming holiday events.
The DeLand High School Choir will present a special Christmas Concert at noon Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Life Enrichment Center. Lunch will be served. Reservations are required. The cost is $8 per person. Reservations can be made by calling the church office.
From 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, there will be a Soup/Chili Cook-Off coupled with a Make It/Bake It/Grow It Sale to raise funds for the church’s various missions. This is a ticketed event at the cost of $5 per person. Call the church office to get your tickets.
On Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17, a Combined Community Choir will present “Celebrate the Wonder,” a Christmas choral event.
On Saturday, Dec. 24, there will be three services for Christmas Eve: at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
More information will be upcoming as these events draw closer.
First Church offices are open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 386-734-5113 for more information on church happenings.
Bill Lazarus to speak about unusual founders of religions
First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand welcomes Bill Lazarus, a prolific author, educator and religious historian, at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, service, where he will talk about strange founders of religions.
Humans like religions. We now have 4,600 of them. Some have endured millennia; some have been initiated in the past few years. Founders of these faiths range from inspired to bizarre. This talk will explain the origins of some familiar religions as well as some you would be surprised to learn are still thriving. Lazarus shares his often enlightening, at times controversial, and always engaging finds in the religious world.
Members and guests will gather afterward for a social hour to share coffee, tea and conversation.
Those attending in person are encouraged to come to church at 10:15 a.m. or 10:25 a.m. for greetings before the 10:30 a.m. service begins.
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.
Unitarian Universalists are an open-minded, freethinking, openhearted, spiritual community where all are welcomed as everyone learns together. The congregation is committed to being a part of the community by helping at the Interfaith Kitchen, The Neighborhood Center and other community projects.
1st Christian Church activities
The Rev. Carlos Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand continues to provide the New Testament message of Jesus Christ during the 10:45 a.m. worship service Sunday, Nov. 20.
Organist/pianist Barbara Polomsky and song leader Donna Mozley enrich the service with music. Brenda Morales and Edna Cortes provide the elements of the Lord’s Supper during Communion that is open to all.
The Thanksgiving Offering will be received to support Disciple colleges, universities and theological institutions.
Nancy Jones will welcome and greet everyone during the fellowship time from 10:20 to 10:45 a.m. in the narthex.
The Disciple Women will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, to plan special activities during Advent.
Dr. Janet Raney and Sue Brague lead the youth at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Bingo will be played at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, with the proceeds after expenses going to Journey’s End Animal Sanctuary.
‘Christ, the King’
On Sunday, Nov. 20, the last Sunday of the church calendar, Pastor Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will lead the congregation to center on the risen Christ and again proclaim “Christ, the King.”
In recorded, streaming, or live form, the services will mark the fulfillment of the journey on which church members and friends embarked last Advent in 2021, embracing the Ascension, Easter and Transfiguration. Christ, the King Sunday points worshippers toward Christ’s coming again.
Reflecting Colossians 1:11-20, The Book of Common Worship Companion declares, “Christ reigns supreme. Christ rules in peace. As the Alpha and Omega … Christ is the center of the universe …. In the end, Christ will triumph over all the forces of evil.”
Given the ongoing tumult of modern life, Pastor Bodger will ask if we truly proclaim — in all we do and say — “Christ, the King” and all that means!
Traditionally, First Pres begins Advent preparation by “Hanging of the Greens,” following each service on Christ, the King, Day, on Nov. 20. First Pres invites all to share the fun of decorating the church with ornamentation of the season.
The Worship Committee has readied and organized materials to make quick and joyful work of Advent décor. Plan to join the spirited task after the 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services.
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 5 p.m. (instead of 5:30 p.m.), folks will gather for turkey, potatoes and gravy under the pavilion for the monthly Fourth Wednesday Cookout Conversations. Bring some fitting dishes to share, if you like, and enjoy an early food celebration of Thanksgiving.
At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, Thanksgiving Eve, elder Lynelle Tucker and the Rev. Donna McLelland will lead a Giving Thanks Gathering in the fellowship hall. This event promises to fill all ages with praise, song, testimony, and the sharing of the mercies and goodness of God.
The First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, brings the spiritual preparation for the arrival of “the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” First Pres welcomes all to attend at 10:30 a.m. (the only service that day) to enjoy the fruits of volunteers’ tasks on the precious Sunday by sharing the visual and spiritual beauty of Advent.
Following worship, the Advent Celebration, for all ages in the fellowship hall, will offer crafts for the interested and a potluck lunch. The church will provide lasagna and garlic bread; attendees are asked to bring a side dish to share. Members and visitors are welcome.
The congregation has created the 2022 Advent Devotional, available Nov. 20, so the community can get ready to meet The King. First Pres DeLand reaches out to you to come visit and discover the church’s mission to become Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
‘Ethical Non-Monogamy’
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation, while not meeting face to face, is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The Nov. 20 service is titled “Ethical Non-Monogamy.”
Humankind has made great strides in learning to accept and love people across a broad spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities. Yet even some of the most open-minded among us still struggle to understand and accept relationship and family structures beyond traditional dyad partnerships.
The Rev. Tracy Lunquist will shed some light on the topic of polyamory — what it is, what it is not, and what it has to do with ethics, morality, religion, spirituality, and beloved community.
Worship leader Teresa Leary will guide everyone through the service. All are 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.
