• Glenwood Presbyterian Church is host ing a Community Easter Egg Hunt at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 8. All ages are welcome for fun and refreshments. The church is at 3190 Grand Ave. in DeLand. Call 386- 734-8617.
• Immanuel Presbyterian Church, at 811 Orange Camp Road in DeLand, invites the community to its Easter-morning worship at 10:30 a.m. A continental brunch will be served at 9:15 a.m.
• Lutheran Church of Providence, at 1696 Providence Blvd. in Deltona, will have its Easter Sunday service at 10:30 a.m.
• Faith Lutheran Church, at 509 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in DeLand, will have a blended/Communion service at 9:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 9. Food and a fellowship time will follow, with an Easter Egg Hunt and petting zoo for the children.
• Lake Helen Methodist Church, at 121 W. Delaware Ave., will have its Easter Sunday service at 10 a.m. The service will be filled with singing, reading God’s Word and a celebration of the great hope of the Gospel — The Lord has risen!
Churchwide Yard Sale
Save the date. DeLand Church of the Nazarene, at 913 E. New York Ave., is having a churchwide Yard Sale 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 15. In case of inclement weather, the sale will move to the fellowship hall.
Authorized for risk
“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” said Jesus to Thomas, the doubting apostle, in John 20:29. Then Thomas proclaims, “My Lord and My God!” But Christ-followers have known that Jesus had risen since we first read the Scriptures! On Easter Sunday, April 9, at First Presbyterian Church of DeLand, Pastor Michael Bodger will lead listeners to understand that this fact no longer stands as a surprise, but instead a source of joy and of life as we greet this Easter Day.
Does this assurance continue as our source of joy and life? Chapter 20 of John’s Gospel ends with these words, “Through believing you may have life in his name.”
Not following the tune of the world, but instead the rhythm of the life offered by Jesus, followers feel “Authorized for Risk,” as they go about living in this world.
When first seeing the disciples after the Resurrection, Jesus defines the rhythm of life when he says three times “Peace be with you.” He then “breathes on them,” giving peaceful new life through the Holy Spirit. Epitomized by forgiveness to breathe life not only into ourselves but also into others against the ways of the world, God’s authorized spirit reaches out. Will we take the risk?
As Easter morning arrives, First Pres reaches out to the community! Old or young, believer or seeker, the community is invited to celebrate its joy at a 7 a.m. Sunrise Worship in the pavilion, a 9 a.m. service in fellowship hall, and an 11 a.m. service in the sanctuary. Breakfast will be served after 7 a.m. worship, and special music will be heard at all three services.
In addition to regular activities in the coming week, God’s Bathhouse will take place 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, in the courtyard, offering showers, fresh clothing and towels, hygiene kits and fellowship.
‘Breakfast on the Beach’
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation meets online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The April 9 service is titled “Breakfast on the Beach.”
This Easter, you’re invited to join Mosaic for worship as the Rev. Benjamin Collins explores a less-popular version of the Easter story. Not the overwhelming light, the stone rolled back, the triumphal chorus — Christ Is Risen! In this story, Jesus cooks breakfast for his followers and asks the question raised by resurrection … Do you love?
Whatever we think, believe, or feel about Jesus, Christianity and resurrection, Easter is an invitation to trust that love is stronger than death.
Deanna Leary 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 Perez leads his congregation at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand into the celebration of the risen Savior, Easter Sunday, April 9, at the 10:45 a.m. service. Kathy Porr, host, enthusiastically guides the congregation into the celebration with the Rev. Perez. Barbara Polomsky and Donna Mozley will conduct music inspiring all in attendance to joyfully recognize that the Savior has risen.
The Rev. Perez will call for prayer needs from the congregation, indicating all will be prayed for at 3:30 p.m. Mondays. As the service nears conclusion, Brenda Velazquez-Morales will direct the elders of the day to administer Communion for all in attendance.
Throughout the service, Paul and Dorothy Ashton provide stimulating and meaningful video graphics to enhance the worship experience. Donations of flowers memorializing or honoring loved ones aesthetically add to the Easter worship experience in the sanctuary.
Adult Sunday School will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the church library. The topic will be “Disciples Believe the Resurrection,” citing Luke 24:13-27, 29-31. Fellowship time in the narthex is 9:30-10:45 a.m.
The Men’s Breakfast Group will meet at Big Rig 2 at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 8. Call 386-734-6078 to reserve a seat.
Also on Saturday, April 8, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt 10-11 a.m. at the church at 1401 W. New York Ave. in DeLand. And at 7 p.m. congregants will meet at Pioneer Park, on the corner of Rich Avenue and North Woodland Boulevard in Downtown DeLand, to decorate crosses that will adorn Downtown businesses’ windows on Easter Sunday.
‘Giving Up Death’
Easter is almost here.
American humorist Evan Esar tells us, “Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all your eggs in one basket.”
While this may be true for actual eggs, metaphorically speaking we are warned against such practices. However, spiritually speaking, it is always good to put all our eggs in God’s basket and trust Him for their care.
At First United Methodist Church of DeLand, Easter is a very special time, because it brings to life the fullness of God’s love for us.
In our sermon series “Giving It Up,” on Sunday, April 9, we will conclude with the topic “Giving Up Death.” Jesus gave up death by rising from the tomb on the third day. This Resurrection seals the Covenant of Grace that God desired to share with all humanity.
For us the death, burial and Resurrection of Christ established the gift of God’s grace, His salvation that allows us to give up the spiritual death of sin and enables us to walk in the newness of life.
Author Kate McGahan put it this way, “The very first Easter taught us that life never ends and love never dies.”
You’re invited to attend a service at First United Methodist this Easter Sunday as those attending embrace the victorious celebration of God’s gift of love through the Resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
On Easter Sunday, in addition to the regular service times, a Sunrise Service will take place at 6:30 a.m. at Vo-LaSalle Farms, 601 Johnson Lake Road, off U.S. Highway 17, in DeLeon Springs.
For more information, call 386-734-5113.
