DaySpring Community Church, at 902 S. Spring Garden Ave. in DeLand, will have its Easter Eggstravaganza at 3 p.m. Palm Sunday, April 2.
The event will include Easter-egg hunts, bounce houses, face painting, games, and food. It’s all free and open to the community.
For more information, call 386-736-4808.
Holy Week
Holy Week at Glenwood Presbyterian Church, 3190 Grand Ave. in DeLand, will include the following:
On Palm Sunday, April 2, there will be a Palm Procession prior to the worship service at 10:30 a.m.
On Maundy Thursday, April 6, there will be a traditional Tenebrae service at 7 p.m.
On Good Friday, April 7, there will be a Meditation Service from noon to 1 p.m.
On Holy Saturday, April 8, there will be a community Easter Egg Hunt for the children at 10:30 a.m.
The Easter Sunday, April 9, Sunrise Service will be at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast. A traditional Easter Sunday service will be at 10:30 a.m.
IDignity event at First Presbyterian Church
On Friday, April 7, First Presbyterian Church of DeLand, at 724 N. Woodland Blvd., will host an IDignity Volusia event. Those attending will be provided assistance in obtaining Florida ID cards and driver’s licenses, birth certificates, Social Security cards, replacement immigration records and various other documents.
Lineup starts early, as intake begins at 9 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The event will end when maximum capacity is reached.
IDignity will try to assist you in obtaining missing documents, yet attendees must understand that this process may require you to attend multiple events and does not always work.
In order to obtain or replace a Florida ID, you will need the following proofs (if proofs have been submitted to the DMV since January 2010, you may not have to submit them again):
1. Proof of identity. You must bring one of the following documents: an original certified birth certificate from Vital Statistics with raised seal, or a valid U.S. passport, permanent resident card or immigration documents. (All name changes will require a marriage, divorce or other legal certificate.)
2. Proof of your Social Security number. You must bring one of the following documents: a Social Security card, a Medicare card, a tax form (W-2 or 1099) or a payment stub.
3. Proof of residency. You must bring two of the following documents: mail, a lease or a bill issued within the past three months with your name and address on it, a letter from a shelter or housing program claiming you as a resident, or a Certification of Address Form from the person allowing you to live with them, along with his/her two proofs of address (mail/lease/bill within the past three months).
Documents applied for at IDignity Volusia events should be available in about eight to 12 weeks.
For more information, email to idignityvolusia@idignity.org, or visit www.volusia.idignity.org.
‘Giving up popularity’
Popularity seems to be such a vital component of our youth. But does that desire to be popular or our need to feel like we are part of the in-crowd become any less significant in our adult years? Abraham Lincoln said, “Avoid popularity if you would have peace.”
As First United Methodist Church of DeLand continues the sermon series “Giving It Up,” the topic of the Sunday, April 2, service will be “Giving Up Popularity.”
Noted author Bryan Foster wrote, “Fame is fleeting. Popularity is temporary. But Character creates a legacy and Integrity is eternal. Seek the higher things.”
That is always the desire at FUMC, to seek from God’s Word, His wisdom to enable us to pursue the “Higher Things” of His Kingdom.
This Sunday, April 2, being Palm Sunday, will also, as a part of the service, include a special presentation including video, narration and special music from Jesus’ perspective as a real person on Earth and how He related with those He encountered on His journey to the cross.
On Easter Sunday, April 9, in addition to regular service times, there will be a Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. at Vo-LaSalle Farms, 601 Johnson Lake Road in DeLeon Springs.
Join in in-person or online at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. to celebrate this season together.
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.
Awe and Ah-ha
“Spirituality is an awareness of the gap between what you can experience and what you can describe.”
On this Sunday, April 2, at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand, George Crofts will give a presentation inspired by an article on spirituality and humanism that was written by Doug Muder in the UU World, the Unitarian Universalist magazine. He will ask, “Can we think of experiences that may provide examples of this concept?”
Crofts is a member of the congregation, as well as the leader of the twice-monthly discussion group that has explored a multitude of subjects on religion, spirituality, ethics, racism and more.
Those attending in person are encouraged to arrive between 10:15 a.m. and 10:25 a.m. for greetings before the 10:30 a.m. service.
Services can be joined through Zoom. The Zoom ID is the same every week: https://zoom.us/i/92718819188. Contact the church for help in getting connected at www.uudeland.org before Sunday’s worship time.
Unitarian Universalists are an open-minded, freethinking, openhearted, spiritual community, where all are welcomed as everyone learns together. If time allows, discussion may be included after every presentation. Everyone, happily, will gather after the service for a social hour to share coffee, tea and conversation.
Currently, the Volusia Buddhist Fellowship meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Collective Church will begin meeting at 5 p.m. April 2 in the church’s Social Room.
Regular UU group meetings continue: discussion, book club, men’s, poetry and two covenants in person and on Zoom. Special educational programs for children are available during the 10:30 a.m. service.
1st Christian Church activities
The Rev. Carlos Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, will lead the congregation in a celebration of Palm Sunday, April 2. All attending will receive palm branches.
The service will include inspirational music from Barbara Polomsky and Donna Mozley, prayers from the congregation, and the Rev. Perez’s sermon, with Scripture and open Communion for all believers from the elders, guided by Brenda Velazquez- Morales.
On April 2 and 9, an Easter Offering will be received in support of the General Ministry of the Church serving the United States, Canada and across the world.
In partnership with Trinity United Methodist Church, the sanctuary has been decorated for the Easter season.
The Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service is at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary on April 6. The gathering will move from light into darkness.
Good Friday, April 7, offers a self-guided prayer time and “Journey to the Cross” activity stations, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.
On Saturday, April 8, from 10 to 11 a.m., the youth of the church, with Dr. Janet Raney and Arianna Dutton directing, will have an Easter Egg Hunt, meeting first in the fellowship hall. The community is invited.
At 7 p.m. that day, representatives from the church will gather at Pioneer Park to decorate the church cross for the Downtown DeLand Easter Crosses display.
Alternative world
Holy Week begins with deeply spiritual significance on Sunday, April 2, known as Palm Sunday. It will be celebrated within the three services at First Presbyterian Church of DeLand. See the Religion Directory in this Beacon issue for times and livestreaming and recording information.
We observe Holy Week with Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. A humble donkey! Jesus has already demonstrated on his potent ministerial journey and now continues to turn the ways of the world on its head, as he offers an “Alternative World.”
Pastor Michael Bodger will focus on Romans 15:7-13, when the apostle Paul invites us to join that journey.
“Welcome one another, therefore as Christ has welcomed you, for the Glory of God.”
Into a world of individualism, rejection, anxiety, hostility, betrayal, and so much more depravity, come to us the words, “Welcome all!” By accepting this urgent call, we might reach out and cross divisive boundaries and cause the walls of hostility to come tumbling down, so that we might live in harmony and peace.
First Pres invites families to mark this season by visiting EGGSPERIENCE 2:30-5 p.m. Saturday, April 1. Without cost, both adults and children of all ages will relish various and well-supervised family-friendly experiences. There will be arts and crafts, snacks, a petting zoo, bounce houses, fellowship and music, in addition to the challenge of egg hunts. First Pres invites all to bring baskets for this traditional venture on the church campus!
Holy Week holds special services, open to the community. Maundy Thursday, April 6, worship, marking the first Lord’s Supper, begins at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary, with Scripture, prayer and traditional music by the choir.
At 7 p.m. on Good Friday, April 7, those attending will worship in light of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ to remember His sacrifice.
On Easter Sunday, April 9, First Pres welcomes everyone to honor the Resurrection of our Lord at three services with special music and joyful celebration. After Sunrise Worship at 7 a.m., breakfast will be served before services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
First Pres Church continues to reach in, up and out to seek fellow believers and inquirers to join in the walk through life. Church members and friends want to meet you!
Arts Camp-Collage at New Covenant Baptist
Arts Camp-Collage at New Covenant Baptist Church in DeLand will enhance your child’s creativity! For five fun mornings, children get to participate through classes in visual arts, music, movement and imagining old things as new.
The camp is not about developing professional artists. The goal is to give children the opportunity to explore their artistic talents and abilities.
Camp Collage 2023 will be 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, June 12, through Friday, June 16. At 6 p.m. June 16, there will be family time, followed by a hot dog supper!
Children who will be in grades one through five for the upcoming school year can express their imagination under the theme “Creating Joyfully.”
Registration begins online Saturday, April 1. Enrollment is limited. The cost is $40 per first child, with a discount of $25 for siblings.
Check out the camp at http://newcovenantbaptistchurch.org/events/artscampcollage.
Exploring Unitarian heritage and history
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation meets online at 11 a.m. Sundays. On Sunday, April 2, the Rev. Tracie Barrett will continue to explore Unitarian heritage and history. By looking back, we can find patterns that affect us today.
Jane Bradford will lead everyone through the service. All are welcome!
For information on Mosaic, visit the website at
For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
