SHOE AND SOCK DRIVE — Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in DeLand is having a shoe and sock drive through July that is a service project as part of the church’s Vacation Bible School. Attending children will take over and continue the drive and decide to whom, when and where the shoes and socks will be donated. From left are Allison Groover, Elizabeth Groover, Thomas Groover, Maddax Peterson and Petouchka Rogers. Shoe and sock donations from the community are welcome. Call 386-734-2791, or drop shoes off in front of the church office at 509 E. Pennsylvania Ave.
Night of fun in Daytona Beach Shores
The Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church in Daytona Beach Shores is inviting the public to a night of fun beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, sponsored by Oceans Luxury Realty.
Attendees can view Minions: The Rise of Gru, enjoy an ice cream sundae bar, root beer and Coke floats, a photo booth with movie characters, face painting and more, all for free.
The church is at 3140 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores.
‘The Divine Legacy’
First Church DeLand invites the public to the last sermon in the “Living a Legacy” series on Sunday, June 25. Pastor Mark Bitner will speak about “The Divine Legacy,” which encourages us to build a firm foundation in our faith. Much like when Solomon built the temple to honor the Lord’s name, we, too, should strive to construct an enduring appreciation of the Divine.
Vacation Bible School registration has ended as the school is at its capacity. They’re not able to take any walk-ins.
Traditional worship services are at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. The contemporary service is at 9:30 a.m. in the Life Enrichment Center.
For those unable to attend in person, the services are streamed live on Facebook on the First Church DeLand page or accessed through the website at Firstchurchdeland.org.
There are a variety of opportunities for you and your family to connect with the church family. Throughout the week, First Church offers activities for the youth, young adults, men’s and women’s ministries, Bible studies and prayer times. Abundant volunteer opportunities are available as well, giving you a place to share your talents.
First Church DeLand offices are open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 386-734- 5113.
1st Christian Church youth heading to Junior Camp
The Rev. Carlos Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand is dedicating the youth attending the church’s Junior Camp on Sunday, June 25. The camp is at The Retreat in Silver Springs, and the theme is “Fruitful Faith: A Spirit-Filled Life.” For some of the youth in grades three through five, this will be their first experience at the Florida Disciples of Christ retreat. They are blessed to have their pastor going along for the first time as a counselor.
Jane Ashton and Sue Brague are the greeters for the 10:45 a.m. service. The service includes the camp dedication, as well as traditional parts of the service: joyful music, prayers, Scripture, message and Communion open for all, with Elders Dorothy Ashton and Sue Brague giving the Communion prayers.
The worship service and dedication are online, live or on Facebook at First Christian Church – Disciples of Christ. It can also be watched later by clicking on the “video” tab or looking on the news feed.
Other church activities include bingo at 7 p.m. Friday, June 23, in the fellowship hall; a prayer group at 3:30 p.m. Mondays in Conference Room 1; and BreakSpot Summer Food Program (children/youth through age 18), with breakfast 8:15-8:45 a.m. and lunch noon-1 p.m. Monday-Friday in the fellowship hall.
Holy Temple Summer Camp is 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Registration is required.
‘Visioning’
First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand invites you to attend the Sunday, June 25, service, when local educators Mitzi Dykes and Rowena Waters lead everyone through Part 2 of “Living in Community With Integrity.” This series focuses on examining oppressive structures of all kinds, internal and external.
Part 2, “Visioning,” is a theme from a dream by Mitzi about the potential for our community inspired by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he said, “Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”
Those attending in person are encouraged to arrive between 10:15 a.m. and 10:25 a.m. for greetings before the service begins at 10:30 a.m. Masks are discretionary and voluntary.
Services are in person as well as Zoomed. The Zoom will begin at 10:30 a.m. as well, and everyone is encouraged to arrive early. The Zoom Sunday service ID is the same every week: https://zoom.us/i/92718819188. Please 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. First UU is committed to being a part of the community, and the congregation participates in helping Interfaith Kitchen, The Neighborhood Center and other community projects.
At the church, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 25, people can pick up, drop off or sign petitions for placing a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution regarding abortion on the 2024 ballot.
With whom do we align ourselves?
In Matthew 10:32, Jesus says to his 12 disciples, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”
From this declaration, Pastor Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will pose a most significant and pertinent question, “Whom are we like?” Just whom do we align our very selfhood with? Whom do we follow, and with whom do we associate ourselves?
On Sunday, June 25, Pastor Bodger will remind listeners that our actions and the words we employ reveal our identity. They point to who we say we are!
This week, the First Pres congregation will gather at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary for the one Sunday service held on the last Sunday of each month. Both the Praise Band and Chancel Choir will enrich the worship. Sunday-school classes will not meet on this day. There is a nursery for children 3 years old and under. (See The Beacon’s Religion Directory for details of the church’s activities and schedule.)
First Pres invites attendees to enjoy a potluck lunch in the fellowship hall right after the service. If you can, bring a dish to share (drop off at kitchen before service), or simply come on out for fun, fellowship and food!
The outreach of First Pres includes several upcoming events. God’s Bathhouse will be open 9-11 a.m. Saturday, June 24, for showers, fresh clothing, towels and fellowship in the courtyard.
Consider joining either the summer Praise Band or Chancel Choir, which rehearse weekly before Sunday’s services.
Community Garden volunteers will upgrade the crops at 9 a.m. Monday, June 26.
At 5:30 p.m. June 28, as on every fourth Wednesday, First Pres invites all for a picnic meal of hot dogs, at the pavilion. Come join Cookout Conversations!
On Tuesday, July 4, the church office will take a holiday.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6, First Pres volunteers will prepare and serve dinners to more than 80 people at The Bridge at The Neighborhood Center on South Woodland Boulevard in DeLand. Please drop contributions of canned baked beans to Bridge baskets near the doors of First Pres or in the office for this hot dog/hamburger, salad, and fixin’s meal.
From 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 7, free bingo games will happen in the fellowship hall. There will be fun and snacks for all ages.
Remember: On fpcdeland.org, you can register your child, a rising kindergartner or rising fifth-grader, for the fabulous Vacation Bible School, “Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light.” This opportunity for youngsters begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon daily July 24-28 at First Presbyterian Church of DeLand. The annual superb VBS’s spiritual and creative growth will enrich your children!
‘Equity’
At the Sunday, June 25, service, Mosaic Unitarian Universalist will continue roundtable-style services with a discussion of equity, one of the subjects of the Unitarian Universalists’ Article II Study Report: We declare that every person has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness. We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.
These services are designed to allow participants to share their thoughts on this subject of equity if they choose to do so. Sharing is always voluntary; active listening is welcome too. Jane Bradford will facilitate the service. Everyone is welcome!
For information on Mosaic, see the website at https://mosaicuuc.org/. For instructions on how to join the virtual service, email mosaicuuc@gmail.com.
