The strawberries are in!

Come immerse yourself in all things strawberry at the annual Strawberry Festival 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Orange City.

Sweet and savory treats, all made with strawberries, will be available for purchase. These include pies, shortcakes and pizza!

There will also be arts and crafters, business info and strawberries by the flat from Plant City.

Concert at Emmaus Lutheran Church

The next concert in the Emmaus Concert Series at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Orange City will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23, featuring Michael Andrew and his orchestra, Swingerhead. Andrew is a nationally acclaimed singer and entertainer, who was the headline singer and bandleader at the world-famous Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center in New York City.

There is no charge to attend, and no tickets will be given out; however, a freewill offering will be collected.

Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorate Jesus Christ’s death

While the date Sunday, March 24, may pass imperceptibly for many, millions around the world will gather at sundown to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ.

Considered the most important day of the year for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Memorial is observed annually on Nisan 14 of the Jewish calendar in adherence to Jesus’ statement found at Luke 22:19, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”

“Every year, we invite those in our local communities to join us in remembering the death of Jesus Christ. Many who take the time to attend end up leaving with a renewed or even new sense of gratitude for his great sacrifice,” said Keith Barros, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Memorial, also known as the Lord’s Evening Meal or the Lord’s Supper, is a one-hour event March 24, at 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 170 Mercers Fernery Road in DeLand. It will feature a talk highlighting the significance of Jesus’ death and what it means for all of mankind.

A special public talk, “The Resurrection—Victory Over Death!” will be delivered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. the week before, Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17. This 30-minute, Bible-based public discourse will focus on the scriptural hope of a resurrection of the dead in the near future.

To learn more, visit jw.org.

Easter plans at Trinity United Methodist Church

On Sunday, March 17, at Trinity United Methodist Church in DeLand, there will be the monthly potluck after the 9 a.m. worship service. There is always plenty of delicious food and good fellowship.

On Saturday, March 23, don’t miss the Easter Event from 10 a.m. to noon at Trinity’s property at 1338 W. Plymouth Ave., DeLand. This is a free event! There will be an Easter egg hunt, a petting zoo, the Kona Ice truck, games, and more. Be sure to bring your basket for the egg hunt. This event is open to all ages.

On Maundy Thursday, March 28, there will be a joint worship service with First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 7 p.m. This will be a Tenebrae service.

On Good Friday, March 29, don’t miss the self-guided “Journey to the Cross” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This is a special and meaningful journey with different stations throughout the church that will help you reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross.

On Easter Sunday, March 31, Trinity will have two worship opportunities. The first will be a Sunrise Service starting at 6:45 a.m. at the property at 1338 W. Plymouth Ave. Bring a lawn chair, and enjoy this special Easter-morning service. After the service, there will be a potluck breakfast in the fellowship hall at the 1401 W. New York Ave. location. There will be another Easter worship service at 9 a.m. After worship, come to the next Fellowship Hour.

Rules to live by

At First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand, at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, March 17, Bill Payton, president of Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, will present “Rules to Live By.”

As our world grows smaller, it also grows more complex, more conflicted, and more in need. Navigating one’s way through this maze requires guidance — perhaps an internal GPS that we can follow automatically. A belief system that, like a GPS, recalculates and keeps us on the right path.

As Unitarian Universalists, we are provided a guide for living, but wrong turns seem inevitable.

Unitarian Universalists are an inclusive, freethinking, faith community, where all are welcome, as everyone learns and searches together for truth.

1st Christian Church activities

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, with the Rev. Carlos Perez, is preparing for the fifth Sunday in Lent on Sunday, March 17. Worship begins when Kathy Porr welcomes everyone; with music by Donna Mozley and Andrew Glennon; and a Scripture reading by the Elder of the Day. Communion is offered to all, with the dedication given by the Rev. Fernando Morales and Sue Brague.

Activities for the week that are open to all include Prayers in the Library at 3 p.m. Monday, March 18. On Wednesday, March 20, at 10 a.m., several church members will participate with HOPE (Helpers of People Enslaved) members for an awareness event at the corner of Woodland Boulevard and New York Avenue in Downtown DeLand.

On Wednesdays, at 2 p.m., at The Bridge shelter in DeLand, several members are providing an enrichment activity. On Thursday, March 21, at 10:30 a.m., worship will take place at the Villa Health and Rehab Center with the Rev. Perez and elders. And on Friday, March 22, at 7 p.m., bingo will be played in the fellowship hall, with the proceeds after expenses going to Second Harvest Food Bank.

‘Rahab as the Underdog’

You’re invited to First Church DeLand! On St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17, Pastor Mark Bitner will continue the sermon series “God and the Underdogs” with a sermon titled “Rahab as the Underdog.”

The town of Jericho was in fear, yet Rahab was fearless when she hid the spies who came to scout out their land. Pastor Bitner will show the significance of her actions that saved her family.

Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, March 29, will depict Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Twelve stations will ref lect His journey, through sacred art, prayers and reflections, followed by Communion. This is a self-guided individual tour beginning in Building 2 and ending in Building 1 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Journey to the Cross is a family Easter event. Experience Easter in a new way 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 30. Listen to eyewitnesses as they share their experiences. This takes place in the Life Enrichment Center, Building 4. An Easter Egg Hunt will follow.

Vacation Bible School is June 24-28. The theme is “Scuba Diving Into Friendship With God.” Volunteer registration is open on the website.

Collage Arts Camp at New Covenant Baptist Church

Collage Arts Camp is planned for 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 4-10 at New Covenant Baptist Church in DeLand. For five fun mornings, children get to participate through classes in visual arts, music, movement and imagining old things as new. The goal is to give children who will be in the first through fifth grades the opportunity to explore their artistic talents and abilities.

Register online at newcovenantbaptist.net. Enrollment is limited to 25 students. The cost is $40 for one child, with a discount of $25 for siblings. T-shirts and snacks are provided. Email CollageArtsCamp@newcovenantbaptist.net.

Waiting!

“Oh, no! We have to wait!” Oh, the inconvenience of it, while we have available so many of the things we want and supposedly need. What an alien concept is waiting.

At First Presbyterian Church of DeLand, Pastor Michael Bodger will challenge the congregation to wrestle with this typical attitude toward waiting by attending to Psalm 130 Sunday, March 17, marking the fifth week of Lenten preparation for Holy Week.

As considered in Pause by Elizabeth Caldwell, our communal devotional for Lent, the psalmist, rather than waiting forlornly, waits in hope and expectation of the wonderful celebration in Jerusalem.

One of the 15 “Songs of Ascent,” Psalm 130 reveals how Pilgrims would sing in hope and joy as they walked the dusty roads up the hill to Jerusalem. Pastor Bodger will query listeners to think, “How would life change if we chose to spend our waiting time — whatever that may be — with hope and anticipation?”

On Friday, March 22, IDignity will open at 9 a.m. and conclude when the agencies exhaust their resources for those needing to establish documentation for access to many governmental and community agencies, so essential for successful daily living.

At 9 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, March 23, God’s Bathhouse will open in the courtyard of the First Pres campus for private showers, clean clothes and towels for our friends who need this help. Volunteers will offer fellowship and assistance to all comers.

The annual Eggsperience is nearing! From 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 23, First Pres invites families to join in the fun of celebrating spring and the Easter season. The free and age-appropriately organized time of bouncy houses, arts and crafts, egg hunts, and refreshments asks you to bring family and friends with Easter baskets for the happy event.

First Pres reaches out to all members and visitors to share the spiritual enrichment of Holy Week beginning Palm Sunday, March 24, continuing with Maundy Thursday’s marking of the first Lord’s Supper, Good Friday’s Passion of Jesus Christ, and culminating with His joyous Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday will observe the usual schedule, while Thursday and Friday events will begin at 6 p.m. Easter Sunday will offer a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m., with an open breakfast at 8 a.m., contemporary worship at 9 a.m., and traditional worship at 11 a.m.

First Pres says, “We hope you will celebrate this amazing gift of Redemption with your brothers and sisters.”

Palm Sunday and Easter services at Lutheran Church of Providence

Lutheran Church of Providence in Deltona announces its upcoming holiday services. Holy Week begins with a Palm Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. March 24, celebrating Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the Blessing of the Palms and Holy Communion.

Maundy Thursday, the night when our Lord was betrayed, is observed on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m. This service includes the Stripping of the Altar and Holy Communion.

Good Friday is a solemn service, which commemorates Our Lord dying on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins for all of mankind, fulfilling Scripture. This service is Friday, March 29, at 7 p.m. and includes the Procession of the Holy Cross, the Bidding Prayer and the Tenebrae Sequence.

We celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior on Easter morning at 10:30 a.m., preceded by a complimentary breakfast at 9:15 a.m. The joyous service is complete with hymns of praise and Holy Communion.

Easter weekend at Church of the Holy Presence

Church of the Holy Presence in DeLand announces plans for Easter weekend. On Good Friday, March 29, at 10 a.m. everyone is invited to “Stations of the Cross on the Path” outdoors. This event takes place on a meditation path in the woods at the church at 355 N. Kepler Road. Good Friday Service follows at 11 a.m.

An Easter Egg Hunt in the Woods will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30. An Easter Day Service will be at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 31.

Come experience the spirit of renewal, hope and community as people gather to commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Bingo at Our Lady of the Lakes

Every Wednesday Bingo has begun at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Deltona. Doors open at 10 a.m. Warmups start at noon. There are free coffee, tea and doughnuts, with a mini menu available for a modest price.

‘The Quest for Truth Is Our Sacrament’

The congregation of Mosaic Unitarian Universalist meets online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The March 17 service is titled “The Quest for Truth Is Our Sacrament.”

The second line of the UU Affirmation Statement is another statement that could serve as a motto for our congregations — and its words are one of the things that we are known for at other churches.

But it is also a statement that comes with its own host of questions: Is it the quest for truth, or the quest of truth? What does it mean that this is our “sacrament”? What does this look like for us as UUs?

Join the Rev. Matthew Pargeter-Villarreal for a continuing discussion around the words of our affirmation, and what the words mean for us in our daily lives. Everyone is welcome!

— For church locations, worship times, group meetings and contact information, check out the Religion Directory on Page 2B. Send weekly church news and sermon information to margie@beacononlinenews.com.