Fish Fry Fundraiser
St. Peter Catholic Church in DeLand is hosting a Fish Fry Fundraiser 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays, beginning March 14 and continuing through April 11. Hosted by the Knights of Columbus, the menu includes mild white cod that can be prepared fried, blackened or grilled, served with Tater Tots, hush puppies, coleslaw and applesauce, unsweet tea, sweet tea, lemonade or water.
The cost is a donation of $12 per meal and $3 for beer or sangria. All proceeds will go to the church.
Deltona Health Expo & Blood Drive
Deltona Seventh-day Adventist Church will host the Deltona Health Expo & Blood Drive, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 30, on their campus at 1717 Catalina Blvd. There will be free health screenings and giveaways. Attendees wanting to donate blood will receive a $10 Publix gift card, a T-shirt, hand sanitizer and a pen!
Information will be available from representatives from AdventHealth and Harmony Clinic Medical & Chiropractic. Learn about dental options, natural healing and essential oils and more. A Volusia County fire truck and a sheriff’s deputy vehicle will be there for everyone to explore.
There is no charge to attend. Email WellnessForHisGlory@Gmail.com for more details!
Seeking religious freedom
The congregation of Mosaic Unitarian Universalist meets online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The March 16 service is titled “Into the Unknown, Seeking Truth.”
From Michael Servetus and Francis David, to William Ellery Channing and Theodore Parker, many of our forebears risked their reputation — and often their lives — in pursuit of a religious freedom they would never see in their lifetimes, but would hopefully be enjoyed by future generations.
Join the Rev. Matthew Pargeter-Villarreal for a discussion of how we arrived at the religious freedom that we enjoy in Unitarian Universalist churches — and what it took to get us here.
Jan Holloway will be the service leader. Everyone is welcome!
Greater is He!
“. . . the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
Coming at us in many manifestations, the evils of the world, some subtle and others not so subtle, remain enormously challenging to overcome.
On Sunday, March 16, the Rev. Michael Bodger of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will address the parable Jesus provides in Mark’s Gospel (3:19-27), when the teachers of the law accuse Jesus of being possessed by the devil Beelzebub. Christ does not succumb, but rather declares that Satan would be fighting against himself. Ultimately, by way of the cross, Jesus defeats Satan. We, too, can defeat the evil of Satan with the self-giving and crucified love of Jesus!
In this liturgical season of Lent, we continue to prepare for Easter by studying Hudson’s Pauses for Lent, in worship services, small groups and individually. Copies can be purchased in the church office or the welcome cart Sundays.
Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m., a free food distribution event from Farm Share will begin near the church pavilion. Volunteers will load bags into cars lined up from West Pennsylvania Avenue. Designed to provide a week’s food for a family of four, each container will supply both fresh and preserved items of healthy nourishment.
The First Pres annual Women’s Retreat, “Bee-attitudes,” still has limited space available. Day students need to register immediately to plan sufficient food for all! Email Cathy Campbell at ccampbell@fpcdstaff.org for more details.
The event will be at the San Pedro Center in Winter Park Friday-Sunday, April 4-6. Overnight and day transportation are available.
DeLand Quakers’ activities
DeLand Quakers have formed a Social Justice Committee to deal with the current turmoil created by the new regime in the United States. This committee feels it is wise to focus on a few areas of concern, rather than respond to every breach of social justice that occurs.
After careful discernment, the following areas were chosen as the focus of the committee: banned books, the book giveaway, and providing banned books to those without access to them; homelessness; saving democracy; gender issues, including women’s and LGBTQ+ issues; and immigration.
The committee will be working closely with Black and Hispanic churches in the West Volusia area, The Neighborhood Center, the Farmworkers Association, Volusia Pride and FAITH.
On Tuesday, March 18, Friends will discuss Native American Spirituality at 7 p.m. via Zoom only.
For more information about these events or the DeLand Quakers, email delandquakers@gmail.com or call 386-337-5204.
1st Christian Church activities
The Rev. Carlos Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand invites everyone to go on a Lenten Journey. The theme for the Sunday, March 16, service is “Be Genuine” from Matthew 6:1-18.
Jesus reminded His followers that charitable deeds are to be done to please God not to be recognized for honor to the one doing. When praying, it should be done in secret for only your Father in Heaven to hear. When fasting, anoint your head and wash your face so only your Father will know what you are doing. By following Matthew Chapter 6, our behavior can be genuine.
The theme this week for the 9:30 a.m. March 16 adult Sunday-school class is “The Ordination of Priests” from Exodus 29. This passage helps readers understand the obligation of priesthood and Jesus’ sacrifice as an atonement for our sins.
Heaven
“Famous Last Words” is the series title Pastor Mark Bitner will draw from when he speaks at First Church DeLand Sunday, March 16. His sermon title will be “Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise.”
When Jesus spoke those words, He was not referring to Margaritaville or a tropical island that we’ve always wanted to visit. Jesus promised everlasting life in paradise, with all the bells and whistles, if we believe that Christ died for our sins, rose from the dead, and will be in heaven to welcome us after our death.
Financial Peace University begins Wednesday, March 26, and continues weekly through Wednesday, May 21. Learn how to manage your money in this nine-week class that teaches God’s ways of handling money.
CATALYST
The 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, March 16, at Unitarian Universalists of DeLand will feature CEO Felicia Benzo of CATALYST (Children and Adults Together Achieving Leadership, Inspiration, Success and Trust).
Benzo founded the CATALYST Global Youth Initiative Inc. as a 501(c)(3) organization in June 2010 to create programs and initiatives that mobilize adults to inspire children and youth to greatness. Benzo will provide an update on the program, with a review of its 15-year history of mentoring and youth development. We will see the results of our community’s support of our youth, as she will bring a college grad, a high-school student and/or a middle-school student.
