Spiritual Side: Super Bowl party: Food, fun, bunco and more on Saturday, Feb. 4

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St. Ann’s Council of Catholic Women is hosting another great night of food, fun and bunco at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Hot dogs, chili, drinks, and all the fixings will be available.

There will be fantastic raffle baskets valued at $100 or more, and 50/50 drawings.

The bunco party is limited to 80 players, and will be in the parish hall of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in DeBary.

Proceeds will benefit various CCW charities in Volusia County.

Tickets costing $15 will be available after the Jan. 21, 22, 28 and 29 Masses or at the parish office 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 8:30 a.m.-noon Fridays. For more information, call 386-668-1417.

St. Ann’s Catholic Church is at 26 Dogwood Trail in DeBary.

Truth

“Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord; let thy loving kindness and thy truth continually preserve me.” Psalms 40:11

This Bible lesson sermon for the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Jan. 22, at First Christian Church, Scientist, of DeLand, shows that eternal truth proves the nothingness of error. The sermon will include passages from the Book of Genesis about Adam being formed from the dust of the ground, and how the serpent tricked Eve into eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Christ Jesus’ perspective on the devil from the New Testament Book of John will also be discussed.

In addition, readings from the book Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy will give a fuller understanding of how truth can be applied to our daily lives.

Sunday school and child care are also available on Sundays at the same time.

Testimony meetings are at 5 p.m. Wednesdays.

The Christian Science Reading Room, at 111 E. New York Ave. in Downtown DeLand, where literature is sold, is open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information, call 386-734-6547. All are welcome.

‘A Dose of Courage’

The new year is already well underway, and challenges to our faith, courage and hopes for a better 2023 have already started to appear. To face these bumps in the road requires us to lean heavily on our faith. And it takes courage to walk in faith.

Nelson Mandela wrote, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

At First United Methodist Church of DeLand’s Sunday, Jan. 22, service, the story of the Three Hebrew Children will be examined, as part of the sermon series “A Dose of Courage,” to gain an understanding of how God’s help is needed to foster courage and to fuel faith.

In the story, three Hebrew children would not bow down to a golden idol that King Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, had built. Because of this, they were thrown into a fiery furnace. The children did not perish and were seen walking in the flames with a fourth figure, like the Son of God. In the book of Daniel, the story makes the point that God will deliver those who are faithful to Him.

This life-changing idea will be offered at the traditional in-person services at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, and at the 9:30 a.m. contemporary service in the Life Enrichment Center. A live online service can be seen on Facebook on the First Church DeLand page, or it can be accessed through the church’s website at Firstchurchdeland.org.

For more information, call 386-734-5113.

The power of welcome

On Sunday, Jan. 22, members of First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand will welcome Amanda Dever, executive director of community outreach and community engagement at the University of Central Florida, who will talk about the meaning of the power of welcome and what it can do for the community.

If time allows, discussion may be included after the presentation. Everyone, happily, will gather after the service for a social hour to share coffee, tea and conversation.

Those attending in person are encouraged to arrive by 10:15 a.m. for greetings before the 10:30 a.m. service begins. Services are Zoomed live at https://zoom.us/i/92718819188. For help in getting connected, visit www.uudeland.org.

Unitarian Universalists are an open-minded, freethinking, openhearted spiritual community where all are welcomed as everyone learns together.

1st Christian Church activities

The Rev. Carlos Perez, senior pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, welcomes all to the Lord’s Table each Sunday during the 10:45 a.m. worship service. He provides an inspirational sermon each week.

Janet Raney is the greeter for Sunday, Jan. 22, and Kathy Porr gives the welcome with special announcements. Barbara Polomsky presents professional music each Sunday, with Donna Mozley as the vocalist.

An informal gathering for worship and coffee will be at 8:15 a.m. Jan. 22. This includes prayer, Scripture and Communion.

Prayers are received in person or by notes each Monday at 3:30 p.m. in the church library.

Marge Jones is starting the second round of watercolor painting classes with the theme of “Animals.” The classes are 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, Jan. 24; Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28; and March 7. Registration and classes are on-site. A $10 registration fee covers minimal supplies; bringing personal supplies is welcomed.

Bingo will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in the fellowship hall. Proceeds after expenses help local nonprofits.

The Disciple Women are preparing for their Trash and Treasures Sale, which will take place 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 4.

Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown to speak on self-compassion and well-being

Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation is meeting online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The title of the Jan. 22 service is “Prioritizing Self-Compassion and Well-Being.”

This talk will explore the benefits of embracing and applying self-compassion, along with the importance of prioritizing our well-being.

Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown will weave together research, personal narratives, art, history, poetry and current events to illuminate how extending compassion to ourselves is critical to advancing well-being and to building beloved community.

Additionally, promising practices to incorporate in the new year will be shared.

Worship leader Jan Holloway will guide the service. All are welcome.

For more information on Mosaic, see the website at mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.

Women’s conference in Daytona Beach

Master’s Domain Church, at 511 Fremont Ave. in Daytona Beach, is hosting the “Women of God in Unity Working Together” conference 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. This inaugural conference will be hosting and honoring women worldwide with speakers, recording artists and others. There is no charge to attend.

The mistress of ceremonies will be Linda Stephens. Speakers include Pastor Tiffany Ware, Minister Pauletta Singleton, Susanne Wiggins, Minister Annette Jackson, Sandra Durham, Pastor Jean M. Brissey and Apostle Sherilyn Fletcher.

To get free tickets, visit https://womenofgodiuwt.com.

Division, proclamation and foolishness!

At First Presbyterian Church of DeLand this Sunday, Jan. 22, the Rev. Michael Bodger will consider the message of 1 Corinthians 10:10-18. In last week’s lesson, listeners learned that those called to be saints have requirements to fulfill in response to God’s call.

First, we belong to God, tossing aside worldly affiliations that can create division and quarreling.

Next, we stand unified in Christ crucified. Moreover, in our personal proclamation of Jesus Christ — not necessarily pretty or eloquent — we leave the results up to the Living God.

Seemingly more complicated, those perishing outside of God’s purview misconstrue words used to proclaim the Cross and deem them foolish. But, those being saved can consider those very words the power of God.

As saints, we cannot determine who lies in which group. Thus, we just proclaim Jesus Christ to all!

First Pres warmly welcomes interested individuals and families to share the church’s activities. Through Sunday-school classes for adults, teens and children, Bible studies and faith-based study groups, participants can take the opportunity to learn and grow in fellowship.

The church’s growing music programs, contemporary and classical, are expanding; feel free to inquire about participating.

The church relies on volunteers in many areas of service and worship. There’s a niche for everyone.

Next week, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, the monthly “Cookout Conversations” in the pavilion will begin. There will be heaters available if needed. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy church-provided hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and water, as well as any accompaniments volunteers bring to share. People young and old, individuals and families, are welcome to enjoy the fellowship until about 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, God’s Bathhouse begins at 9 a.m. in the courtyard. To support the homeless, the event provides hygiene kits, showers, fresh clothing and fellowship with church volunteers, and ends at about 11 a.m.

Next Sunday, Jan. 29, First Pres will have only one service, at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, which is what the church does when months have a fifth Sunday. This offers members special time to share worship that blends the contemporary and traditional. During that one service, there is no adult Sunday school or children’s church, but there is a nursery for children age 3 and younger.

On that Sunday, the church welcomes the Rev. John McCall, whom this church celebrates for long-standing friendship, as he visits stateside during his 20-year-long mission to Taiwan.

Save the date of Saturday, Feb. 4, when First Pres will once again serve as a Friend of ME STRONG to support the annual event to fight cancer. Reservations have begun at mestrong.net to select your spot on the church team. Or, if you do not choose to compete, you can staff the church water station in the parking lot.

Two other events to anticipate include food prep and service at The Bridge on Thursday, Feb. 2, and free family-friendly bingo 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, in the fellowship hall.

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Raised in Miami Beach, Margie moved to DeLand after graduating from Florida State University. She has a master's degree in community mental-health counseling, and retired after 12 years in substance-abuse treatment. Having worked at the DeLand Sun News during the 1980s, Margie came to The Beacon in 2002 in search of a second career. She helps the reporters; compiles obituaries, the calendar of events and religion news; and deals with a mountain of emails each day. Margie is the proud Nana to two grandchildren, Sophia and Alex.

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