*Deltona Alliance Church has two campuses, with Christmas Eve Carols and Candles services at both locations at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24. The Deltona campus is at 921 Deltona Blvd. The DeLand campus is at 402 W. New York Ave. Go to bragonjesus.org for more information.
*A Christmas Eve Family Candlelighting Service at Faith Lutheran Church in DeLand will have pre-service music at 7 p.m. and the worship service at 7:30 p.m.
*Traditional Christmas Eve Services at First Church DeLand will be 3:30-4:30 p.m. and 9:30-10:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.
The Family Christmas Eve Services in the Life Enrichment Center will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. and 7:30-8:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Building Christmas, the Christmas Story told by the Lego City Characters.” This is sure to be a delightful, joyous event!
*First Presbyterian Church of DeLand offers two ways to worship Christmas Eve, by candlelight in the pavilion at 4 p.m. or in the sanctuary at 6:15 p.m. At both worship times, congregants will listen to and sing gloriously special music. Also, the church presents the traditional White Christmas, with offerings in white envelopes or white-wrapped nonperishable food items.
*Glenwood Presbyterian Church will have a live outdoor Nativity Scene 6:30-7 p.m. Christmas Eve, followed by a traditional candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. All are welcome.
*Immanuel Presbyterian Church in DeLand is having its Christmas Eve Worship Service at 5 p.m. The service of Lessons and Carols will include Christmas carols, Scripture readings and a Christmas message from Pastor Deren Harper.
*A Christmas Eve service at Lake Helen Methodist Church will be at 5 p.m. This will be a joyful service of traditional Christmas carols and a mixture of music styles, with biblical Scriptures for the season, and highlighted by a candlelighting service as everyone sings “Silent Night.” An awesome celebration of our Lord and Savior’s birth!
*Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church in DeLand will be celebrated at four services: 3 p.m.; 4:45 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Come for this beautiful and sacred liturgy, as everyone comes together in faith to honor the Nativity of our Lord. Let the joy and hope of this holy night fill your heart, as we worship with reverence and gratitude. All are welcome to share in this special celebration of Christmas!
Christmas Day Mass will also be celebrated at three services: 9 a.m.; 11 a.m.; and 12:45 p.m. Let us gather as a faith community to honor the true meaning of Christmas and share the hope and peace of this blessed season. All are welcome!
Celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, at a Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, as we honor Mary’s role in the mystery of salvation and begin the New Year with gratitude and hope. Let us come together in faith to seek her intercession and reflect on her example of trust and devotion to God. All are welcome!
*There will be two opportunities to worship on Christmas Eve at Trinity United Methodist Church in DeLand. At 5 p.m., there will be a Children’s Christmas Eve service that is geared toward children, but all are welcome to attend. There will be refreshments after the service.
At 6:30 p.m., there will be a Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve service shared with First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, with whom they share a campus. Both congregations will bring the Christmas message through Scripture and song. There will also be Communion and candlelighting during the service. All ages are welcome!
Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Luncheon: ‘Courage in the Face of Danger’
The luncheon will be noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at New Hope Church, 2855 Lake Helen Osteen Road in Deltona. The hosting organizations are the West Volusia Branch NAACP and the African American Association of Deltona. This event is in remembrance of the Moores, who were murdered when their house was bombed Christmas night 1951 because of their civil rights activism.
The guest speaker will be Florida Memorial University Interim President William Cullen McCormick Jr.
“The Ballad of Harry T. Moore” by Langston Hughes will be recited by Elijah Whitaker, and the Chisholm Legacy Choir of New Smyrna Beach will perform a selection of uplifting songs.
Tickets cost $25 and must be purchased in advance; call Mike Williams at 386-804-6136.
Kwanzaa Celebration
All are invited to the Kwanzaa Celebration noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Dr. Noble “Thin Man” Watts Amphitheater, 322 S. Clara Ave. in DeLand. Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration honoring family, community, work and responsibility.
There will be a libation ceremony, a candlelighting ceremony, guest speakers, traditional food, drummers, dancers and more.
The event is free and open to the public. It is hosted by the African American Museum of the Arts.
A broken hallelujah
On Sunday, Dec. 22, at 10:30 a.m., the congregation and friends of Unitarian Universalists of DeLand will gather to listen to the group’s musicians, who will showcase beautiful music for this season of hallelujah. Patti Rausch will be the service leader.
Performing will be Carol Dries, Les Figueroa, Paul Garfinkel, Martha Jess, Bruce McDermott and Jody Williams.
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” will be performed and will be the theme for the service. With several biblical references, Cohen’s song celebrates love and hope, while it also unapologetically recognizes humanity’s propensity for hate and harm. Thus, he wrote, “It’s a cold, and it’s a broken hallelujah.” Given our country’s current climate of divisiveness, we will acknowledge the hurt, while striving for hope.
‘Guides Born, Heroes Made’
The congregation of Mosaic Unitarian Universalist meets online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The Dec. 22 service is titled “Guides Born. Heroes Made.”
This last week before Christmas, the congregation will be joined by the Rev. Ben Collins to explore the conflicting religious expectations surrounding the birth of Jesus which persist today. We’ll reimagine the birth of a controversial figure, who offers a compelling way to live to anyone, regardless of religion or belief. Christmas invites us to have faith that the embrace of this way to live is a practice of God born in us and among us.
Judy Raymond will be the service leader. Everyone is welcome!
‘Experience the Gift of Peace’
“Experience the Gifts of Christmas” is First Church DeLand’s series during Advent. This Sunday, Dec. 22, Pastor Mark Bitner’s sermon title is “Experience the Gift of Peace.”
Through Christ’s demonstrations of love for others written about in the Bible, we are able to experience many things, such as peace. The love He gave so freely is to be shared by us to all whom we meet. In so doing, we will know peace every day.
1st Christian Church activities
The Rev. Carlos Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand invites those looking for a church to the 10:45 a.m. Sunday worship, Dec. 22. A Christmas offering will be received to support ministries in 31 regions across the U.S. and Canada. This offering assists camps, conferences and assemblies within the region.
Other church activities are Adult Sunday School “Savior’s Birth” from Luke 2:1-16 at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 22.
The Disciple Women’s Christmas Market is open 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, for those wanting a last-minute look during the holiday season before it is all put away.
The Longest Night Service
Glenwood Presbyterian Church is hosting a Longest Night Service at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, for those whose holidays are difficult. It’s a service held on the day of the year that has the least number of hours of daylight, in recognition that for some of us, emotionally, there are many long nights during the holiday season.
Join us for a service of remembrance, healing and uplifting.
Can they hear us singing?
On Sunday, Dec. 22, Pastor Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent by exploring “Mary’s Song,” as she sings her joy in God’s favor after the angel Gabriel’s visit to reveal she is carrying in her womb the Son of God.
Can others hear us singing — in voice or action — as we marvel and magnify God’s presence?
God’s Bathhouse, offering fellowship, manna bags, fresh clothing and snacks, will take place 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, in the courtyard. Many needy friends have found help and a welcome at this twice-monthly happening at First Pres.
Also, the church will meet at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, for its monthly Combined Service in the sanctuary. A Potluck Lunch will follow, with attendees bringing a side or dessert to accompany the kitchen’s main dish, if they can.
Pre-Christmas celebration at Faith Lutheran Church
A pre-Christmas celebration around a campfire will take place 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at Faith Lutheran Church in DeLand.
Attendees will sing favorite carols while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments.
