Lake Helen Methodist Church, at 121 W. Delaware Ave., will host Vacation Bible School 9 a.m.-noon June 26-30, for children ages 5-12. Snacks will be provided.
Registration is 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 10.
For information or questions, email Amy Bauchle at argodsgarden@yahoo.com.
Monday Munchers Potluck Lunch
A Monday Munchers Potluck Lunch is planned for noon June 12 at Community Methodist Church, 41 W. Highbanks Road in DeBary. It is open to all seniors. The speaker will be the Rev. Jack Richardson, who will offer a spiritual message.
Bring a dish to share and eating utensils, along with a friend. Call 386-218-4047.
Activities of the DeLand Quakers
On Sunday, June 11, the DeLand Quakers will not be meeting at the DeLand Garden Club. Instead, the meeting will be at the home of a Friend at 10:30 a.m. Look at the website at www.delandquakers.com for directions. All are welcome.
The book giveaway at the DeLand Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17, at Earl Brown Park is really gathering steam. Books have been received from New York, San Francisco, local professors, and amazingly generous local citizens. If you have books by Black authors or on Black history for children age 3 to adults that would like a new home, call 386-337-5204 to arrange pickup. The DeLand Quakers still need books to give away, and there are people who are hungry to learn!
DeLand Quakers have been studying “How to interact with difficult people” during the Tuesday-evening Zoom meetings. This topic is very critical in today’s environment. Those taking part have been developing personal tools to communicate with those who don’t always agree with us, but from whom we can learn a great deal.
Living intentionally
It has been said, “The road to life is paved with good intentions.” We all have good intentions, but do we follow through on them?
Author Peter Drucker wrote, “Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” Indeed, it often takes a great deal of concentrated effort to enable our intentions to become reality.
At First Church DeLand, as the sermon series “Living the Legacy” continues, the topic of the Sunday, June 11, service is “Living Intentionally in Light of the Gospel.”
Our efforts require God’s assistance to make them the most and best that they can be.
“With a good heart and good intentions, you can do almost anything you want in life.” – Anonymous
Intentionally plan to join a service this Sunday to be able to follow through on that “good intention.” Traditional in-person worship is at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. A contemporary service is at 9:30 a.m. in the Life Enrichment Center. Services are also streamed live on Facebook on the First Church DeLand page or can be accessed through the website at Firstchurchdeland.org.
Summer is here, and school is out. Looking for summer activities for the kids? Registration is open for this year’s Vacation Bible School. This year’s theme will be “Stellar ‘Shine Jesus Shine.’”
Registration forms are at the church office, or you can register online. Children need to be age 4 by June 26 through fifth grade.Vacation Bible School will be 9 a.m.-noon June 26-30.
There are a variety of opportunities for families to get connected with the church family throughout the week: youth, young adult, men’s and women’s ministries; Bible studies; and prayer times.
For more details, call the church office at 386-734-5113.
Collective Church’s Mysticism Series continues
Collective Church will host the third installment in its Mysticism Series with the Muslim Mystic Rumi at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 11.
The church meets at First UU Church of West Volusia in DeLand. Join in for fellowship and the presentation, followed by a group discussion.
Summer Day Camp at Glenwood Presbyterian
Glenwood Presbyterian Church, at 3190 Grand Ave. in DeLand, is hosting a Summer Day Camp 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, June 14-16, for children ages 6-12.
The cost is $10 for all three days. Campers will receive a T-shirt, drinks and snacks; however, they need to bring a sack lunch.
Activities include arts and crafts, sports, music and dance.
Preregistration is required. Call the church office at 386-734-8617 or email to office@glenwoodpc.org to register.
Southern Gospel Choir at Trinity UMC
The Southern Gospel Choir of Trinity United Methodist Church in DeLand will rehearse at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, and will sing during the worship service on Father’s Day, June 18.
This is a fun, toe-tapping group that rehearses once a month and sings once a month. If you like to sing Southern gospel music and want to be part of a choir, but are not sure about the time commitment, or just enjoy singing, the Southern Gospel Choir would love to have you! Call Conya Hartman, music director, at 386-734-4425 or email to trinitymusic@trinitydeland.org for more information.
Trinity United Methodist Church worships at 9 a.m. Sundays at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand at 1401 W. New York Ave. in DeLand.
A balanced life with Dr. Christopher Jordan
First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand welcomes Dr. Christopher Jordan, a chiropractic physician who has been in continuous practice in DeLand for 42 years, to present a chakra (energy center) meditation. The overall purpose of this exercise will be to experience the association of body, mind and spirit. A brief explanation will precede the guided event. A discussion will follow.
Dr. Jordan has stated, “It is my greatest goal to understand humanity, how we relate to our environment and to others, and how we can become our optimal selves.”
Those attending in person are encouraged to arrive 10:15-10:25 a.m. for greetings before the service begins at 10:30 a.m.
Services are in person as well as Zoomed. The Zoom will begin at 10:30 a.m. as well, and those individuals are encouraged to come early. The Zoom Sunday-service 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 program. The congregation happily gathers after the service for a social hour to share coffee, tea and conversation.
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 during the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service.
For more information about groups, attendance and church activities, visit www.uudeland.org.
Mercy and life
On Sunday, June 11, Pastor Michael Bodger will lead First Presbyterian Church of DeLand into an exploration of Matthew 9:9-13 and 18-26. Titled “Mercy and Life,” the sermon will first shed light on Jesus’ call to his apostle Matthew: “Follow me….and Matthew got up and followed him” from his seat at the tax collector’s booth.
Secondly, Matthew’s Gospel reveals Jesus’ healing of a bleeding woman, declaring that “your faith has healed you.”
Thirdly, Pastor Bodger will teach from the amazing miracle of the healing of a ruler’s daughter who had just died. “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep. … She got up,” and then the news of the revival “spread throughout all the region.”
Thus, Jesus shows the Pharisees that applying mercy counts — not the traditional superficial sacrifices they make.
Engaging with others shows mercy and in turn gives life. How do we engage with others?
As with many entities, First Pres DeLand will pare back on some activities in the summer; however, opportunities at the church continue to reach out to the DeLand community. First Pres invites everyone to consider joining the studies, services, classes, missions, and fellowship plans.
Please note the information in The Beacon’s weekly Religion Directory to learn of the church’s regularly scheduled events. YouTube and First Pres’s website connect to Sunday services by livestreaming and recorded services so you can stay in touch.
Both the musical groups at First Pres, the Chancel Choir and the Praise Band, will continue to enhance the summer at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services but with only Sunday-morning warm-ups. If you love to make music, summer offers a bonus chance for you to see if one of these groups would fit your talents and interests. Contact Joe DeGaetano or Jane Christeson through the church office or email.
Each Sunday, First Pres welcomes families to its services and offers Children’s Church for ages 4-10 in the art room and for those age 3 and under in the nursery during the 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Trained leaders will give these children insight into Christian beliefs as well as creative fun!
During the summer, First Pres also holds adult classes throughout the week to explore contemporary issues and various writings, including the Bible and publications by such authors as C.S. Lewis and Susan Carol McCarthy. The church invites people to join in learning through meaningful and stimulating discussions, questions and thinking.
First Pres’s mission into the community called God’s Bathhouse invites people needing a shower, clean clothing, hygiene kits, and fellowship to meet in the courtyard outside the mission room on Saturdays, June 10 and 24. Church volunteers will welcome and assist you from 9 to 11 a.m.
For summer focus, Associate Pastor Casey Riker is presenting a new study based on C.S. Lewis’ book The Problem of Pain. Contact the church office to register for this six-week exploration of how humans struggle with pains of this world and how God can allow pain to become a part of the human experience. This lively and timely class will meet on Wednesday evenings starting June 14, with location dependent on the number of RSVPs and registration.
Come join First Pres DeLand in its journey to reach out to this world!
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist activities
Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation meets online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. You’re encouraged to take part as the congregation begins the Summer Sharing Series, in which everyone will explore a variety of topics, including, but not limited to, the Unitarian Universalist Association’s proposed revision based on the Article II Study Report.
This report cites love as the glue that binds together UU’s shared values, stating specifically that “We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of love.”
This Sunday, June 11, the congregation will begin its roundtable-style services with “Love.”
The extensive list of subjects for the summer includes descriptions of the proposed changes: Love, Interdependence, Pluralism, Justice, Transformation, Generosity and Equity. This series of subjects will begin and end with a closer look at the perception of just what UUs mean by love.
These services are designed to allow participants to share their thoughts if they choose to do so. Sharing is always voluntary; active listening is welcome too.
Facilitator Belle Mendoza will guide everyone through the discussion. Everyone is welcome! For information on Mosaic, see the website at https://mosaicuuc.org. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email to mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
1st Christian Church activities
Kathy Porr calls the service to order at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, June 11. The Rev. Carlos Perez will give the invocation. The joyous celebration begins with musician Barbara Polomsky and song leader Donna Mozley.
Prayers from the congregation are offered up, Scripture is read, and a message is given by the Rev. Perez. Elder Brenda Velazquez-Morales guides the elders of the day in giving prayers for the elements, with all attending invited to participate.
Each Sunday, Dr. Janet Raney leads a modified worship service at 8:15 a.m. in the kitchen foyer, with coffee and pastries.
The congregation is collecting donations, for showers at The Bridge homeless shelter, of shampoo and conditioner, body wash, deodorant, foot powder, insect repellent and sunscreen. Donations can be given on Sundays or dropped at the church office 8 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday.
Other activities open to all include bingo at 7 p.m. Friday, June 9, with proceeds after expenses going to a community charity; the Disciple Men’s Breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Big Rig 2 restaurant (call 386-734-6078 for reservations); and the Open Prayer Group at 3:30 p.m. every Monday.
Sunday worship services are always available live online at Facebook: First Christian Church-DeLand Disciples. Services can be watched later by clicking on the “video” tab or looking on the news feed. This service is provided by Paul and Dorothy Ashton, assisted by Ray Farley Jr.
Summer BreakSpot and Temple Learning Camp (registration is necessary) continue Monday-Friday through Aug. 11. Breakfast is 8:15-8:45 a.m., and lunch is noon-1 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are open to all youth through age 18, with no registration.
