Spiritual Side: Celebrate Holy Week and Palm Sunday at West Volusia churches

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Spiritual Side: Celebrate Holy Week and Palm Sunday at West Volusia churches
PHOTO COURTESY TERESA SMITH; ANOTHER GREAT GIVEAWAY — Members of Volusia County Women Who Care gathered with others for their quarterly check donation presentation. At the far right are members of 1 Ohana 1 Community holding a check for a record-breaking donation of $33,247.95. This local nonprofit is dedicated to supporting foster children and families. Also in the photo are members of The Hub on Canal and Volusia Free Clinic, who received check donations of $1,000. Following the check presentation, members were invited to tour 1 Ohana 1 Community’s headquarters, as 80 volunteers gathered to assemble Easter baskets for foster children and prepare care packages for a family of four entering foster care this week.

Holy Week at New Covenant Baptist Church

Sunday, April 13, marks the beginning of Holy Week, which remembers Jesus’ last week of life and commemorates His death and Resurrection. Sunday, April 13, is also Palm/Passion Sunday.

New Covenant Baptist Church will begin worship with a procession with palms. The Rev. Abby Thornton Haley will lead those gathered in the theme “Abundant Voices” ending the service with a dramatic reading of the story of Jesus’ passion.

At 6 p.m. on Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, April 17, New Covenant will join in Table Worship during a simple shared meal around tables to remember Jesus’ final meal with his friends. “Maundy” comes from the word “mandate,” when Jesus gave us the mandate to “Love one another as I have loved you.”

April 18 is Good Friday, a day to remember Jesus’ Crucifixion and death. New Covenant Baptist Church, at 1350 S. Blue Lake Ave. in DeLand, will be open 10 a.m.-noon for quiet reflection. A guide for individual meditation will be available.

Celebrating Palm Sunday at 1st Christian Church

The Rev. Carlos Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand invites all to celebrate Palm Sunday, April 13, with the church at 10:45 a.m. All in attendance receive a palm at the beginning of the service, distributed by youth.

Communion elements will be offered by Elders Chairman Brenda Velazquez-Morales. Coffee and sweets will welcome those attending in the narthex before the service begins.

Palms symbolize Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. In the Christian Church today, Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week.

First Christian will have the sanctuary open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Good

Friday, April 18, for a time of prayer, meditation and atonement.

The Adult Sunday School class is available to all at 9:30 a.m., with the topic for April 13, “Christ the Atoning Sacrifice,” based on 1 John 2 and 4, as the Scripture. On Good Friday, the topic will be

“Christ Dies and Rises to New Life” from Matthew 27 and 28.

Those wanting to give prayer requests or receive prayer are welcomed at 3 p.m. Monday in the library.

Citizen of God’s Kingdom 

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  (Mark 11:1-11) shout the people of Jerusalem, who celebrate the palm-strewed path of Jesus on the colt of a common donkey. Christ-Followers around this world will join those exultant voices of long ago this Palm Sunday.

First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will joyfully sing those words Sunday, April 13, at three services. Pastor Michael Bodger will teach about the event in a sermon titled “Citizen of God’s Kingdom.” The citizens of Jerusalem’s world received the Saviour exultantly even though the world did not yet clearly comprehend the identity and implication of that man.

Trevor Hudson’s Lenten devotional Pauses for Lent has focused the First Pres DeLand family’s studies on the words serve, money, body, temptation and pray, and will this week. Pastor Bodger will ask listeners whether others perceive that we are citizens of God’s kingdom when they encounter us. We portend to live, in all we do, as God’s followers. When they observe each of us, however, will others say, “There goes a Child of God?”

As Holy Week follows Palm Sunday, First Presbyterian of DeLand invites all of our community to the ultimate Holy Days of the liturgical year. In addition to the on-site worship opportunities this week, you will find livestreaming and recordings available for  worship:

Sunday, April 13: Palm Sunday at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Thursday, April 17: Maundy Thursday at 6 p.m.

Friday, April 18: Good Friday at 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 20: Easter at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. (Come share breakfast after sunrise.)

EGGSPERIENCE, First Pres’s annual springtime Easter family fun day, begins at 2 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 12, on the First Pres campus.

Adults, gather your children together with Easter baskets or similar containers to hunt for hidden eggs within their age groups.  Also, families will enjoy good times with face painting, arts and crafts, carnival games and a dunk tank. Admission is free, however, there is a cost for the rides, games and food.

God’s Bathhouse is 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, in the church courtyard.

Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown to discuss Tagore

The congregation of Mosaic Unitarian Universalist meets online at 11 a.m. every Sunday. The April 13 service is titled “Prolific Polymath and Poetic Luminary: Rabindranath Tagore.”

Rabindranath Tagore, the famous Indian poet born in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), was a true renaissance man. In this presentation, internationally renowned educator and poet Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown will discuss Tagore’s inspiring life, spiritual wisdom, and lasting contributions to our world.

Tagore was a polymath and gifted creative genius — a poet, philosopher, painter, playwright, prolific musical composer, performer, and promoter of social reform and justice. In 1913, Tagore became the first Asian writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his collection of poetry Gitanjali, which when translated from Bengali to English means “Song Offerings.” He also composed India’s national anthem.

To honor Tagore’s legacy and to celebrate April being National Poetry Month, Dr. Shankar-Brown will also share some of her favorite verses from his timeless poetry and one of her original poems that gives thanks to Rabindranath Tagore.

Judy Raymond will lead the service. Everyone is welcome! 

Beloved community: Seeking refuge in troubled times

All are invited to Unitarian Universalists of DeLand’s 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, April 13, when Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan will talk about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a beloved community and the path toward a society where poverty, war and discrimination give way to universal goodwill. Our world is now increasingly defined by greed, oppression and misinformation. Could we turn the crisis of 2025 into a step toward that vision?

Sullivan, who has spoken regularly to UU congregations in Florida for many years, is the spiritual head of Volusia Buddhist Fellowship in DeLand, and president of the leadership council of Bright Dawn, a Buddhist seminary in Coarsegold, California. He now lives in Massachusetts, where he leads meditation and serves on the worship committee at a UU church that was founded (as Puritan) in 1630.

‘It is finished’

First Church DeLand continues with the series “Famous Last Words.” Pastor Mark Bitner’s sermon title is “It is finished.” John 19:30

In his last moments on the cross, Jesus says, “It is finished.” Bowing His head, He submits to the fulfillment of God’s plan. Christ chose to follow God’s path even during the most grueling time in His life in order to save us from our sin. God, in his infinite wisdom, calls us to also make a choice. Do we follow our own path or the path of the Lord?

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-4

Don’t miss out on an interactive Easter experience, with fun and inviting activities about the first Easter. Rise Up With Jesus is at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 19. There will also be a children’s egg hunt and refreshments. Sign up to attend or volunteer on the website www.firstchurchdeland.org.

The Stations of the Cross will be presented 4-6 p.m. Friday, April 18, in Building 1. This is a unique self-guided tour depicting Jesus’ passion and death through art, prayer and reflection, ending with Communion.

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Raised in Miami Beach, Margie moved to DeLand after graduating from Florida State University. She has a master's degree in community mental-health counseling, and retired after 12 years in substance-abuse treatment. Having worked at the DeLand Sun News during the 1980s, Margie came to The Beacon in 2002 in search of a second career. She helps the reporters; compiles obituaries, the calendar of events and religion news; and deals with a mountain of emails each day. Margie is the proud Nana to two grandchildren, Sophia and Alex.

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