West Volusia churches invite you to Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday events and more

PHOTO COURTESY DELAND GARDEN CLUB
Viewing the pageant — Sam Foersster, holding his son, Isaac, takes in the DeLand Garden Club's 2008 Pageant of Crosses exhibit. This year's event, a display of floral arrangements all featuring crosses, will be open to the public 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 5, in the DeLand Garden Club clubhouse, 865 S. Alabama Ave., DeLand. Admission is free. This will be the Garden Club's 44th Pageant of Crosses.

Sunrise services another tradition

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Mar 31, 2009 - 8:14:55pm

Celebrate events that changed the world!

Glenwood Presbyterian Church invites the community to a full calendar of Easter celebrations.

On Palm Sunday, April 5, the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship services will begin with the procession of children carrying palms, marking Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Pastor John will preach on “Palm Sunday: God’s Pageant and Passion."

For Maundy Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m., the congregation and guests will mark Jesus’ institution of the Sacrament of Communion during his last supper with his disciples.

On Good Friday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the sanctuary will be open for reflection and prayer, allowing all who come to think on what it means that Jesus died for us. At noon, Pastor John will read the Scriptures for the day. Participants may come and go anytime they wish.

On Easter Sunday, April 12, at 7 a.m., the Sunrise Service will be held in the church parking lot facing the rising sun. Guitars will accompany the singing parts of the service. Following the Sunrise Service, a light breakfast will be served in the Barnes Building. At 8:30 a.m., the glory of Easter will be celebrated at the Contemporary Worship Service. The Praise Team “Redeemed” will lead in the joyful music. Pastor John will preach on “Easter: What Does It Mean?"

An Easter Egg Hunt for the children, which will replace the children's Sunday school, will be at 9:45 a.m. At 11 a.m., the Traditional Service will celebrate Easter with organ, piano, and choral music.

For more information, call (386) 734-8617 or check the church Web site at www.glenwoodpc.org.

Sunrise service open to all

First Baptist Church of Barberville invites all to its Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. Sunday, April 12, on the lake at 5921 Barnhill Lane in DeLeon Springs.

Coffee and doughnuts will be served.

Holy Week happenings

Breakfast will be served at First United Methodist Church of DeLand each morning during Holy Week. The Ecumenical Breakfasts will be served daily at 7 a.m. April 6-10, in the Life Enrichment Center. The breakfast menu will vary each morning, and will be prepared by First United Methodist Church volunteers. At 7:30 a.m., there will be special music, and pastors from the community will share a brief devotional. The program will be concluded at or before 8 a.m. There is no charge to attend, although a love offering will be accepted.

Monday, the Rev. Wendell Raulerson of Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church will speak; Tuesday will have Father Thomas Connery of St. Peter Catholic Church; Wednesday will have the Rev. John Hope of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Thursday, Samba Johnson from Stetson University will speak; and Friday, the Rev. Jimmy Howard of Bethel AME Church will speak. The public is invited.

On Thursday evening, April 9, a special program will be held at Trinity Methodist Church in DeLand — the re-enactment and portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci's painting The Last Supper. This is a joint effort by Trinity United Methodist and First United Methodist, as it will feature participants from both churches in the program. This moving portrayal, directed by Conya Hartman of Trinity, focuses on the moment during The Last Supper when Jesus reveals that one of his chosen 12 disciples will betray him. Each costumed disciple in turn speaks his thoughts and feelings and asks, "Is it I?" The music during the 6 p.m. performance will be provided by a combined choir from both churches, directed by Barbara Anderson. They will sing "Is It I, Lord?" written by Ruth Elaine Schram. The music for the 8 p.m. service will be provided by the Praise Band from Trinity, directed by Hartman. Holy Communion will be served at both services. Free tickets for specific performances are available at both churches; call (386) 734-5113.

Celebrate Earth Day

"Earth Day, Every Day: Environmental Issues and Individual Action" will be the program presented by Cathy Lowenstein at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 5, service at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand.

A member of the congregation, Lowenstein serves as the forestry resource administrator with the Florida Division of Forestry, coordinating management of five state forests within the Bunnell District.

For more information, call (386) 734-6499.

Come to Seder

Congregation Beth Shalom in Deltona invites everyone to celebrate Passover on its first night, Wednesday, April 8, at a Kosher for Passover Seder.

The Seder will be in the Social Hall of Our Lady of Lakes in Deltona.

For more information, call Rabbi Winston Weilheimer at (386) 804-8283.

A musical Easter

LifePoint Community Church in DeLand extends an invitation to friends in the community to join in a beautiful Easter Service, highlighting music offered by Music Pastors Robert and Kathy Hinckley, and the LifePoint Choir and Orchestra.

Easter Services will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 11, and at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 12, and will be presided over by Senior Pastor Keith Johnson. Seating is limited.

For more information, call (386) 738-5000 or (386) 822-7829.

Holy Week schedule

St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Orange City will have Palm Sunday services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 5.

A Tenebrae Service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8.

Maundy Service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9.

Good Friday Services will be at noon and 7 p.m. Friday, April 10.

And the Holy Week will culminate with Easter Sunday Services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. April 12.

Churches unite for Easter

On Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m., the choirs of Orange City United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church of Deltona will present "The Stations of the Cross" at the Orange City church. The object of this presentation is to help the faithful make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, through meditating upon the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death.

The presentation will incorporate narration, congregational response, prayers, the Eucharist, and a video presentation to make this an evening of inspired worship. The event is free and open to the public.

The same program will be held at First United Methodist Church of Deltona on Friday, April 10.

On Easter Sunday, April 12, the public is invited to the Relaxed Fit worship services at 9 a.m. or the 11 a.m. traditional service. Nursery for infants and toddlers is available at both services.

At 10 a.m., there will be an Egg Hunt for the children, who will gather in the Fellowship Hall for a Bible story before the hunt begins.

All of these events are free and open to the public. For more information about any of these events, call (386) 775-3068.

Holy Week in Lake Helen

Maundy Thursday Service at First Congregational United Church of Christ of Lake Helen will be at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. The service will include the Lord's Supper, as the congregation remembers the night the Lord was betrayed, with music, prayer and the pastor's message "An Action-Packed Faith," which is based on John 13:1-17.

A Community Good Friday Service will be at 1 p.m. at Lake Helen United Methodist Church. The message will be given by the Rev. Wayne Neller, teaching pastor at New Wine Fellowship. The offering will go to Church World Service to aid in disaster relief around the world. Music will be presented by a joint choir of area churches. The Rev. Kathy Boyles is the host pastor.

A Community Easter Sunrise Service will be at 7:02 a.m. at Royal Park on East Michigan Street in Lake Helen. The Rev. Reginald Johnson, pastor of Mount Olive AME Church, will bring the message. An offering will be received for the Outside the Gates Food Ministry at Lake Helen United Methodist Church.

Easter Sunday Worship will be at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Earl M. Smith will preach on the topic "The Easter Story Is Our Story," based on John 20:1-9.

All are welcome at this open and affirming congregation.

First Christian celebrates with the community

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand will celebrate Holy Week, and invites everyone to participate in the many services.

At the 10:45 a.m. April 5, Palm Sunday Service, there will be a procession of palms, with children of the church and community involved.

Pastor John Hope will bring the Holy Week meditation at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, at First United Methodist Church of DeLand. There will be no youth-group activities.

On Thursday, April 9, there will be a Maundy Thursday covered-dish meal and service at 6:30 p.m.

At 6 p.m. April 10, there will be a special Good Friday Service, and at midnight, the Chain of Prayer will begin.

Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m., there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children up to fifth grade. The event will include craft activities, the Easter Story, the egg hunt, and lunch.

At 6:30 a.m. Sunday, April 12, there will be a Sunrise Service in front of the church, followed by a continental breakfast. The traditional 10:45 a.m. service will include special music.

Church of Holy Presence celebrates Holy Week

The Church of the Holy Presence in DeLand invites the community to join in experiencing the Journey of Holy Week.

The Palm Sunday Service, at 10 a.m., will begin with the Blessing of the Palms, with fellowship following the service. Sunday school and a nursery will be provided for children.

Maundy Thursday will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. with a foot-washing ceremony, followed by Holy Eucharist and the Stripping of the Altar. All attendees will be asked to leave the church in silence, while a prayer vigil continues through the night. A nursery will be provided during the service.

Good Friday will be celebrated at noon with Eucharist from the Reserved Sacraments.

The Celebration of Easter, beginning at 10 a.m. will conclude the events. Families are invited to attend, and children will be able to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt following the service.

For more information, call (386) 734-5228 or visit www.holypresencedeland.org.

A Jerusalem marketplace

Dr. Radford Rader and elders of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will serve the sacraments at a Service of Wholeness for Lent at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the sanctuary.

Palm Sunday, April 5, will begin with the re-creation of a Jerusalem Marketplace opening at 10 a.m. in the circle drive, followed by a combined worship service in the sanctuary.

A Maundy Thursday Worship Service will be at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. A live re-creation of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper will be a meaningful time of worship, when the congregation receives Communion directly from the Lord’s Table. A nursery will be provided, so you're encouraged to invite your family and friends to attend this wonderful service.

An Easter Egg Hunt and Bunny Lunch will be 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 11, with a morning filled with fun, food and crafts. Hannah the Clown will make balloon animals and entertain guests. All children age 10 and under and their parents are welcome. Youths are needed to assist; call Gil Livesay at (386) 734-6212 to volunteer.

The Easter worship schedule Sunday, April 12, will begin with a Sunrise Service on the front lawn at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. A contemporary service will begin at 9 a.m. The Sunday-school time will be 10-10:45 a.m., and then the Sanctuary Service will be at 11 a.m. With breakfast being served, there will not be any refreshments served following the 11 a.m. service.

Sunrise Service almost 50 years old

The 49th annual Easter Sunrise Service at Hidden Valley will begin at 7 a.m., and will include pastors from DeLeon Springs churches.

Pastor Troy Ray, interim pastor of DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church, will be host minister.

Robin McWilliams, lay representative of Mount Zion AME Church in DeLeon Springs, will read the Scripture.

Victor Paulino, pastor of The Fountain of Salvation Church of DeLeon Springs, will give the sermon.

Hidden Valley is 1.3 miles east of U.S. Highway 17 on Reynolds Road. The public is invited to attend.

Community breakfast

Enjoy a great breakfast and good fellowship at the Community Breakfast 7:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church. The breakfast will be served by the United Methodist Men, and will include biscuits, eggs, sausage and sausage gravy, omelets, pancakes, bacon, grits, orange juice, milk, coffee and tea.

Palm Sunday Service will be at 11 a.m. April 5.

The Maundy Thursday Service will be 10-11 a.m. April 9.

Easter Sunday service will be at 11 a.m. April 12.

Join in the long walk

Westminster Presbyterian Church in DeLand will celebrate its 45-year Long Walk With Christ 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, April 5. Anyone who has attended the church in the past and would like to be a witness to the walk is invited to join in.

How to live your beliefs

"Living Your Beliefs: Is It Easy or Hard?" will be the topic of the Rev. Dr. Angeline E.M. Theisen’s homily at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 5, service at Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Church in Orange City. Rev. Angie, as she likes to be called, says the degree of difficulty depends on your perspective.

Theisen is a Unitarian Universalist minister, who, after working for 10 years in advertising and public relations, received her master's degree in divinity and her doctorate in ministry from Meadville Lombard Theological School and the University of Chicago, and set out to save the world. It is taking a bit longer than she imagined.

This year, she completed her first book, Seasons Readings, a collection of 28 original essays on our common human experience. She is now working on her second book, and was recently invited to compose the lyrics for two rock songs!

At 3 p.m. April 5, the informal small-group worship and discussion Mosaic in the Afternoon will be about "Passover and the Seders." If you want an opportunity to experience Unitarian Universalism and meet members, this is an excellent opportunity. All are welcome. For more information, call (386) 228-3130, or visit www.mosaicuu.org.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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