Bahá’ís to host Picnic in the Park
At noon on Saturday, April 15, area Bahá’ís will host “Food for Body and Soul: A Community Potluck Picnic in the Park.” Interfaith inspirational readings, prayers and an activity around the theme of humility will follow lunch.
Among the teachings on humility in the Bahá’í Writings is, “Man’s greatness lieth in humility, and his abiding glory is found in lowliness, self-effacement, and servitude to the servants of the Lord.”
Participants in the April 15 picnic are invited to bring their favorite Scriptures, treasured verses and poetry about humility to share as we explore humility together.
Participants will gather in the east pavilion in Freedom Playground in Bill Dreggors Park, 230 N. Stone St., DeLand. The Food for Body and Soul picnic takes place at this location on the third Saturday of each month throughout the year. All are welcome.
Yard sale reminder
A quick reminder that DeLand Church of the Nazarene, at 913 E. New York Ave. in DeLand, is having a Yard Sale 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 15.
Easter celebration continues
Easter is past, but the celebration continues. At First Church DeLand, the congregation rejoices in the Victory of Easter year-round embracing the resurrection power and the promise of our living Savior 365 days a year.
Following the Lenten season and learning to “Give It Up,” we are beginning a new series titled “We Are the Church.”
This week, Sunday, April 16, the topic will be “Three Mindsets for a Better Church.” How can we become more of what God wants us to be: not only as individuals, but collectively as a church body. We want to reach out with God’s love to those in our community as effectively as we can.
The food of Mexico and the U.S.
First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia welcomes Dr. Nicole Mottier, from Stetson University, as she will present a program on the comparison and contrast of culinary and food justice between the U.S. and Mexico.
Dr. Mottier teaches various topics in Latin American history. Her courses focus on colonial and modern Latin America, the Mexican and Cuban revolutions, crime and drug cartels in the Americas, relations between Latin America and the U.S., food and the environment, early world civilizations and prehistory.
Dr. Mottier will speak at the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, April 16.
Everyone, happily, will gather after the service for a social hour to share coffee, tea and conversation.
To livestream the service, use the ID https://zoom.us/i/92718819188. Feel free to contact the church for help in getting connected at www.uudeland.org before Sunday’s worship time, or for more information.
Follow on Facebook
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand and Senior Pastor Carlos Perez encourage all who cannot attend the 10:45 a.m. service on-site to follow the service on Facebook at First Christian Church – DeLand Disciples. The service can be watched live; or, to watch later, click on the “video” tab or look on the newsfeed.
Those attending the service in person will be offered refreshments with fellowship at 10:30 a.m. in the narthex; Communion is part of every 10:45 a.m. service.
Prayers are lifted up, the music is joyful, and children leave the sanctuary after the Scripture reading for their own worship.
The Disciple Women will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, April 17, in the church library. This month, the group will sponsor bingo games at 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, and Friday, April 28, in the fellowship hall. Proceeds, after expenses, will be donated to an agreed-upon charity.
For April, the Disciple Women are providing Easter baskets for the children of all women in the Foundation for Freedom Empowerment House, along with two house baskets.
As part of the Earth Day observance Saturday, April 22, members and friends of the church, under the leadership of Paul Ashton, will be cleaning up the playground, landscaping and church interior 8 a.m.-1 p.m., with lunch provided.
Pastor Perez and the elders are providing a short service to patients at Villa Health and Rehab Center on second and fourth Thursdays.
Seeking in the story
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist’s congregation meets online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The April 16 service is titled “Seekers in the Story of the World.”
Join Matthew Pargeter-Villarreal for a discussion about the journeys we take on the road to finding our own personal spirituality, and how often it is the journeys that we embark upon that are more important than wherever we may arrive.
Jan Holloway 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.
Now what?
The furor of Easter still resonates; the tunes attesting to the fact that “Jesus is Risen, He is Risen indeed!” still echo around us.
Using the Bible’s Book of Ac t s, Chapter 2, Verses 14a, 22-32, Pastor Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will address “Now What?”
Peter finds himself on the streets of Jerusalem, having overcome the fear, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that confined the apostles in the upper room. Now what?
Peter proclaims, “Listen to what I have to say,” and he tells the story. He concludes with the following words, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.” He didn’t just mean himself and those with him, he meant us, too. Now what? Are we ready, are we willing, are we able?
First Pres DeLand welcomes new Associate Pastor Casey Riker this week. She comes to DeLand from Jamestown, North Carolina, and is looking forward to living in Central Florida and serving First Pres.
We have several community events in April, including the increasingly popular Fourth Wednesday Cookout in the church pavilion at 5:30 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and water are provided. Bring a side dish or dessert to share if you like, or just come enjoy the fellowship!
God’s Bathhouse will be on First Pres property beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 22, for all in need of a place to shower.
Boy Scouts Troop 550 is having a Garage Sale Saturday, April 29, in the pavilion behind the church building. Come check out the bargains, and support their summer-camp plans.
On Sunday, April 30, there will be one worship service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a potluck luncheon in celebration of Pastor Riker.
