The Emmaus Concert Series has a special concert set aside for Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, at 7 p.m. at Emmaus Lutheran Church, at 2500 S. Volusia Ave. in Orange City. Music-lovers will listen to Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, featuring violinist Lisa Ferrigno.
Ferrigno has been concertmaster of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra since 1999, along with being a solo performer and concertmaster at Walt Disney World since 1995.
As a child, Ferrigno studied at the New England Conservatory. She has degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Florida State University.
Ferrigno has been a featured soloist in concerts throughout the United States, Peru and Europe.
Also featured in this Earth Day concert wi l l be music from soprano Samantha Barnes Daniel, harpist Maddie Bryant, Tom Macklin on trumpet, Olga Ferroni on violin, Jenn Mueller on viola, Brenda Higgins on cello, and Joni Hanze on piano and violin.
No tickets are required. A freewill offering will be collected.
Open House and Yard Sale at Lutheran Church of Providence
Lutheran Church of Providence is having an Open House and churchwide Yard Sale 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 22. The church is at 1696 Providence Blvd. in Deltona.
There will be refreshments, church tours, and hearing aid and blood pressure tests at no cost to the community.
The yard sale will have amazing deals for everyone in the family. Join in for food, fun, fellowship and shopping!
Volusia Community Arts Symphony concert
Stetson Baptist Church, at 1025 W. Minnesota Ave. in DeLand, will host the Volusia Community Arts Symphony for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6.
Attendees will be entertained by an array of blockbuster hits from some crowd-pleasing movies.
There will be snacks and refreshments for all to enjoy. Tickets cost $15 plus a $2.85 processing fee. Go to www.volusiaarts.org for tickets.
Spring Music Festival at Lake Helen Methodist
Lake Helen Methodist Church has a couple of interesting events planned for the rest of April. The Unity Performing Arts Spring Music Festival will take place 2-8 p.m. Sunday, April 23. There will be live music, food and fun!
A Family Movie Night is planned for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29. The movie will be God’s Not Dead. All are welcome — the congregation and the community. Bring your blankets or chairs for comfortable seating. Enjoy free popcorn!
Third Sunday of Easter
On Sunday, April 23 (the third Sunday of Easter), Pastor Michael Bodger at First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will deliver a message titled “Jesus in Our Midst,” from the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35.
Two disciples walk dejectedly away from Jerusalem, and encounter a third person journeying along with them. They eventually come to know that it’s Jesus, but only after being in His company for many hours. The signal to them was the breaking of bread.
“Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.”
When, in the midst of life’s celebrations and tragedies, and anywhere in between, do we recognize the presence of Jesus? Do we recognize it or even acknowledge it at all? How do we show others the loving presence of Jesus as we live life?
All are welcome to come ponder these questions during the usual worship service times (as shown on the Beacon Church Directory page). Adults may want to attend one of the three Sunday-school classes at 10 a.m.: The Serendipity Class is studying the Book of Genesis; the Open Door Class is starting a new study this week on 1 Peter; and the popular Learning to Do Justice class continues.
Wednesday, April 26, is the monthly Fourth Wednesday Community Cookout at 5:30 p.m. in the pavilion behind the church (724 N. Woodland Blvd.). Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and water will be provided. Bring a side dish or dessert to share if you like, or just come and enjoy the fellowship.
On Sunday, April 30, the congregation will welcome new Associate Pastor Casey Riker. That day, everyone will worship at one service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a potluck luncheon celebration!
On Friday, May 7, is the free, fun-for-all-ages, bingo 7-8:30 p.m. Fun prizes and snacks are provided. The community is invited.
Celebrate the 53rd Earth Day
First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand will celebrate the 53rd Earth Day on Sunday, April 23, with the Unitarian Universalist Green Team presenting readings, special music and rituals to pay homage to our favorite Mother – Earth.
Dust off your Unitarian Universalist T-shirt for the occasion. The team hopes to welcome visitors to participate in this special presentation.
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 begins. Masks are discretionary and voluntary.
Services are also Zoomed. The April 23 service will begin at 10:30 a.m. as well. The Zoom Sunday-service ID is the same every week: 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.
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 program. Happily, everyone gathers after the service for a social hour to share coffee, tea and conversation.
Unitarian Universalists are committed to being a part of the community. The congregation participates in the Interfaith Kitchen, The Neighborhood Center and other community projects.
Regular UU group meetings continue: Discussion, Book Club, Men’s, Poetry and two Covenants (one in person and one on Zoom). Special educational programs for children are available at the 10:30 a.m. service.
For more information about groups, attendance and church activities, visit www.uudeland.org.
Currently, the Volusia Buddhist Fellowship meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays; Collective Church meets at 5 p.m. Sundays in the church’s Social Room.
‘We Are the Church’
“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” – Billy Sunday
We typically define church as a location, a building or set of buildings that are set aside for people to gather collectively for the purpose of the facilitation of a religious experience. However, this is not what the church is at all.
The facilities are just the brick and mortar, plywood and shingles; the real church is the people.
“We will never change the world by going to church. We will only change the world by being the church.” – Anonymous
At First Church DeLand, the three-part series titled “We Are the Church” continues.
William Temple, a former bishop in the Church of England in the 1800s, said, “The church is not a select circle of the immaculate, but a home where the outcast may come in. It is not a palace with gate attendants and challenging sentinels along the entrance ways holding off at arm’s length the stranger, but rather a hospital where the broken-hearted may be healed and where all the weary and troubled may find rest and take counsel together.”
Being the church is crucial to touching our community and world with God’s love and hope. Join one of the services this Sunday, April 23, to learn more about how to succeed at being God’s church in our current world.
First Church DeLand provides traditional in-person worship at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, and 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.
First Church DeLand provides a variety of other opportunities for you and your family 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.
1st Christian Church activities
Brenda Velazquez- Morales will deliver the sermon for the 10:45 a.m. worship service Sunday, April 23, at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand. The Rev. Carlos Perez, senior pastor of First Christian, is her mentor.
Velazquez-Morales, married to the Rev. Dr. Fernando Morales, has served in many ministries for the Disciples of Christ: as an officer in the Disciples of Christ Hispanic Women’s Ministry; translator and assistant for three years at the Garden of Eden Health Center in Jayapura, Puerto Rico; chairwoman of the elders for First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand; recipient of Disciple Women in DeLand Scholarship for two years; and assisting with various projects for the Disciple Women, most recently as chairwoman for Pastor Perez’s installation. She is enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary.
The April 23 service includes music provided by Barbara Polomsky, with song leader Donna Mozley. The Holy Communion and dedication of offering conclude the service.
Dr. Janet Raney, Kathy Porr and Bill McIntyre are continuing to meet and plan a Voluntary Pre- Kindergarten Class for August 2023.
At 3:30 p.m. Mondays, a prayer group meets in the church library. Prayer requests in writing or in person are welcomed.
On Friday, April 28, the Disciple Women host bingo at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Proceeds after expenses support local charities. April is Foundation to Freedom.
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist to discuss celebrating
Join the congregation of Mosaic Unitarian Universalist at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 23, at The Center at Deltona, 1640 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. This, as with every service, will occur virtually as well.
Why do we celebrate? When do we celebrate? How do we celebrate? What do we celebrate?
Celebration is an ancient human ritual that opens us to gratitude, that builds community and strengthens our sense of belonging, that lifts us in joy.
This Sunday, the Rev. Mariela Perez-Simons will explore how to celebrate well. Worship leader Teresa Leary will guide everyone through the service.
Congregation members arrive at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. Feel free to drop in! All are welcome.
For information on Mosaic, visit https://mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
