Picnic to be Feb. 18 in Earl Brown Park
At 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, area Bahá’ís will host “Food for Body and Soul,” a community potluck picnic in the park, in the south shelter of Earl Brown Park, nearest the Wayne G. Sanborn Activity Center and the big parking lot, at 750 S. Alabama Ave. in DeLand.
Interfaith inspirational readings, prayers and an activity around the theme of “Love” will follow lunch.
Bahá’í scriptures include these two challenging verses about love: “Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty,” and “Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.”
All are invited to bring their favorite scriptures, treasured verses and poetry about love to share, as everyone explores this deep subject together. All are welcome.
Observing Ash Wednesday
Trinity United Methodist Church and First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand are together offering two opportunities to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22.
From 7:30 to 9 a.m., there is the “Ash and Dash.” This is an opportunity to drive under the portico, stay in the car, and receive ashes to start your day.
At 7 p.m., a joint worship and contemplation time using the Taize worship style takes place in the sanctuary. The service assists congregants from both churches, and anyone from the community, to spiritually prepare for one of the most sacred Christian seasons. This will be a special time of reflection as we enter the Lenten season.
Both churches meet at 1401 W. New York Ave. in DeLand, and all are welcome!
Lake Helen United Methodist Church activities
Lake Helen United Methodist Church is hosting Widow’s Might, a group for women who are navigating life without their spouse, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the first and third Thursday of each month. Call Betty Huber at 386-561-1942 with questions.
Other happenings at the church include Lunch and a Movie at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21. Following the potluck, the movie 5000 Blankets will run. It is based on a true story of a young boy’s desire to see the homeless warmed.
An Ash Wednesday service will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22. Ash Wednesday will be celebrated with a service of readings, hymns, Communion, and the imposition of ashes, if desired. Call the church office at 386-228-2345 for more information.
A Family Movie Night will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. Camp Cool Kids will be shown. The congregation and the community are welcome. Bring blankets or chairs. Free popcorn! Call Donna Rotondo at 407-451-4593 for more information.
An Evening of Praise and Worship will start at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. This will be an evening of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of encouragement and Scripture with Vickie Truett in the sanctuary.
The church is at 121 W. Delaware Ave. in Lake Helen.
‘The Forgotten Prophets’
On Sunday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. online, the service at Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation will be “The Forgotten Prophets.” In honor of Black History Month, join the Rev. Matthew Pargeter-Villarreal for a reflection on the story of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a Black Unitarian abolitionist, suffragist and women’s-rights advocate, whose incredible history and story are a reminder of the prophetic voices throughout history that call us to confront powers and structures of evil with compassion, justice, and the transforming power of love.
Kim Eddins will facilitate 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.
1st Christian Church activities
The Rev. Carlos J. Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand continues his sermon series “The Beatitudes.” At the 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, service, he will focus on the topic “The Meek,” from Matthew 5:1-10.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, the community is invited to attend the installation service for the Rev. Perez as minister. This service includes the Rev. Sandy Messick, regional minister of Florida for the Disciples of Christ, regional staff, numerous pastors, and the family and friends of Pastor Carlos. A fellowship meal will be served following the service to celebrate this commemorative event.
Regular events at First Christian throughout the week include the 8:15 a.m. Sunday “Coffee With God” in the kitchen foyer. The Disciple Women meet at 1 p.m. Monday in the library. There is a 3:30 p.m. Monday prayer group in the library, and a 7 p.m. Friday bingo game in the fellowship hall.
First Pres of DeLand to celebrate Jesus’ Transfiguration
This Sunday, Feb. 19, at a single service at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will celebrate two events, one biblical and one secular, but both spiritual.
First, on a mountaintop, described in Matthew 17:1-9, Peter, James and John behold Jesus “transformed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” This “exalting, glorifying or spiritual change” manifested to the apostles the true reflection of Jesus.
Jesus’ Transfiguration, Pastor Michael Bodger declares, assures us that Jesus remains the hope of all the ages, the One who fulfills the Law given to the Hebrews through Moses, the One of whom the Prophets dreamed so long before.
On that high peak, even Elijah, greatest of the prophets, appears. As a bright cloud envelops them, God’s voice says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Soon the disciples perceive the enormousness of the Transfiguration they were witnessing.
As Christians enter into Lenten preparation for the journey to the cross, this reminder serves to reassure us that despite all that prevails, Jesus will stand victorious!
Pastor Bodger will ask, “What about us? Do we reveal to others our ‘true reflection’ as we live life in the here and now?”
Second, First Pres will host its annual celebration “Over 90s” to mark the 42 members’ long and remarkable lives with a potluck lunch and program in fellowship hall. All attendees at the single service, whether contributing to the potluck or not, are welcome to move into the fellowship hall to honor these elders. The church kitchen will supply meatloaf as a main course, and asks attendees to bring a dish to share, delivering it to the kitchen before the service begins. The honorees and families will treasure the memory of this celebration with you as guests!
First Pres invites the community to “It’s a Party, a Mountaintop Experience!” fun fundraiser 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Buy a ticket in the church office for $10 per person or $25 per family to join the auction, fellowship, food, music, and trivia. The fundraiser is to support the 2023 mission trip to Nicaragua!
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, begins Lent with the annual joint fellowship with Bethel AME Church, which starts with a Pavilion Picnic at 5:30 p.m. There will be hot dogs, hamburgers and the fixin’s, along with potluck dishes to share. Then, the traditional Joint Ash Wednesday worship will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. What a spiritual way to begin the Lenten season together!
Farm Share, a drive-thru free food distribution event, starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.
‘A Faith Filled With Love and Justice for All’
At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand welcomes longtime member and Director of Religious Education Suzanne Southard as she presents “A Faith Filled With Love and Justice for All.” Southard will explore what Unitarian Universalists reveal about their faith, including the many facets of love and justice that are expressed daily by Unitarian Universalists around the world.
If time allows, discussion may be included after the presentation.
Those attending in person are encouraged to join between 10:15 and 10:25 a.m. for greetings before the service begins. Masks are discretionary but encouraged at this time.
Services are live and Zoomed, and all are invited. Zoom begins at 10:30 a.m. as well. The Zoom ID is https://zoom.us/i/92718819188. Feel free to contact the church for help in getting connected at www.uudeland.org.
Those attending will gather after the service for a social hour to share coffee, tea and conversation.
Unitarian Universalists are an open-minded, freethinking, openhearted spiritual community, where all are welcomed as everyone learns together. Church members are committed to being a part of the community; the congregation participates in helping at Interfaith Kitchen, The Neighborhood Center and other community projects.
Regular group meetings include a discussion group, a book club, a men’s group and the Conversation Covenant.
Special educational programs for children are available at the 10:30 a.m. service.
Mind
What is the connection among wisdom mentioned in the Book of Job, Christ Jesus healing the man who had been possessed by devils in the Book of Luke, and Peter being guided to talk with Cornelius in the Book of Acts? The Bible sermon “Mind,” at First Christian Church, Scientist, DeLand, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, will explore how we demonstrate the qualities of God, or Mind, such as wisdom, understanding and intelligence. Passages from the book Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy will further explain these correlations.
Sunday school and child care are also available on Sundays at the same time. 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 church location, 111 E. New York Ave. in Downtown DeLand. For more information, call 386-734-6547.
‘Loving Unashamedly’
Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote the song “What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love.” The lyrics continue, “It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” We all need to love and be loved, and without love, there is always something missing in our lives. At First United Methodist Church of DeLand, it is believed that God’s love for us is imperative and, as He loves us, we in turn need to love each other.
Mother Teresa said, “People who love each other fully and truly are the happiest people in the world. They may have little, they may have nothing, but they are happy people. Everything depends on how we love one another.”
In the current sermon series “Live Differently,” this week, Sunday, Feb. 19, the topic will be “Loving Unashamedly.”
Maya Angelou is quoted as saying, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Love is the foundation on which we need to approach our interactions and relationships with those around us. Learn how to be more effective at loving unashamedly.
In-person traditional worship takes place at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, and there is a contemporary service at 9:30 a.m. in the Life Enrichment Center.
Services are streamed live on Facebook on the First Church DeLand page, or they can be accessed through the website at Firstchurchdeland.org.
The church provides a variety of other opportunities to get connected with the church family throughout the week. There are youth, young adult, men’s and women’s ministries, Bible studies and prayer times throughout the week. For more details, call the church office at 386-734-5113.
