Dinner and an inspirational movie for Valentine’s Day

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Celebrating Kwanzaa — Eric Bynes, right, lights a candle at a Kwanzaa celebration Dec. 29 at the Dr. Noble “Thin Man” Watts Amphitheater on South Clara Avenue in DeLand, while Ruby Archie looks on. Each of the seven candles reflects one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa — unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jan 21, 2012 - 9:54:30am

A movie for two

Plymouth Avenue Christian Church in DeLand has scheduled a pre-Valentine’s Day movie date night at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

Couples will begin the evening with an Italian dinner from Angelina’s, and will then watch the movie Courageous.

The cost of the event is $15 per couple. Child care will be available, with donations gladly accepted.

Reservations will be accepted until Feb. 5, and can be made by paying for tickets through the church office. For more information, call 386-734-9141.

‘God Texting,’ a new sermon series

Pastor Owen Stricklin of First United Methodist Church of DeLand will begin a new Sunday-morning sermon series titled “God Texting,” based on some of the common texting terms, but with a scriptural twist.

Dr. Bob Mulkey will lead a “Grief Group” at 9:30 a.m. each Thursday beginning Feb. 2. This group is for persons who have suffered the recent loss of a loved one. Anyone is welcome to attend. The group will meet in the parlor of the Life Enrichment Center.

A study series for adults meeting at 6:15 p.m. during the Wednesday-night Impact session is based on the book Come Thirsty — Receive What Your Soul Longs For by Max Lucado. The theme is “We are all busy, burdened, burned-out people, and need to take a walk by the still waters and drink deeply of the Lord’s comfort, rest and refreshment.” A video is shown, followed by discussion from a study guide. There is no charge to attend, but the dinner, preceding it at 5:30 p.m., costs $4 per adult and $3 for children, with no family paying more than $15. Reservations for the dinner are required.

Sunday, Jan. 22, is Brown Bag Sunday. Those attending services are encouraged to bring canned and paper goods and staple food items. These will be distributed to various food pantries in the DeLand area and to families in need.

All services and activities at the church are open to the public. Call the office at 386-734-5113 to make reservations and for more information.

Register early

Antioch Freewill Baptist Church in DeLand will host the annual Kingdom Builder’s Conference at 7:30 p.m. March 5-10.

The cost of early registration will be $30 through Jan. 31. After that date, registration will cost $40. A registration package includes a ticket for a nightly drawing, a T-shirt and brunch on Saturday, March 10.

There will be a different speaker each night, with Tuesday night’s speaker being Donnie McClurkin at Southwestern Middle School.

For more information, call AnDrea Howell at 386-747-5504.

Sermon series planned

A sermon series on Renewal is planned at New Hope United Church of Christ in DeLand during January and February.

The Rev. Karen Curtis-Weakley said, “I thought it was the perfect time to get back on track after all our holiday celebrations. Everyone is thinking about their New Year’s resolutions and how to be a better person in 2012. In January, people are joining gyms in droves to exercise their bodies — why not their minds and spirits, too?!”

Topics will be “Renewal of Identity” on Jan. 15, “Renewal of Energy” on Jan. 22, “Renewal of Hope” on Jan. 29, “Renewal of Service” on Feb. 5, “Renewal of Health” on Feb. 12, and “Renewal of Spirit” on Feb. 19. The church meets in the chapel at Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home in DeLand.

For more information about the series and the church, visit www.newhopeuccdeland.com.

New members welcomed

The Rev. Jack Higgins will present “The Right Hand of Fellowship” at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Jan. 22, at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand.

This presentation is part of a very joyous and special service in which new members are welcomed into the congregation.

Since Unitarian Universalism is founded upon a rich and diverse heritage of spiritual traditions, UUs especially value and welcome new members, who enrich the community as they share their unique perspectives and join in the search for truth and meaning.

Religious education for children of all ages is provided. For more information, visit www.uudeland.org or call 386-734-6499.

Another healthful theme

“Healthy Living” is the theme for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, service at Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Orange City. The lay leader for this service will be Tracy Lunquist. The Unitarian Universalist principles of respect for the worth and dignity of all people and respect for the interconnected web of which we are all a part will be the basis for this service.

This week, the topic for Mosaic in the Afternoon will be “Decriminalization of Abortion,” led by Rob Field. This informal service is held at 3 p.m. in Suite F of the Mosaic Center, and includes time for discussion and fellowship. All are welcome.

For more information, call 386-228-3130 or visit www.mosaicuuc.org.

‘The Call Goes Forth’

Dr. David Felty, pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, will have as his sermon topic “The Call Goes Forth” on Sunday, Jan. 22. It is based on 1 Samuel 3:1-11, John 1:43-51, and Mark 1:14-20.

On the Mondays preceding Dr. Felty’s sermons, he has a study group at 10:30 a.m. in the church library to engage the participants in the Scripture to be used the next Sunday.

The Wednesday-night Youth Group will have a special Winter Festival 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Those who do not attend regularly should make a reservation for dinner by Monday, Jan. 23, by calling 386-734-0677. There will be sock-skating, bobbing for blue ice, snow-making, the building of snowmen, and snow cones.

The Disciple Women are preparing for their annual Trash and Treasures sale 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Fellowship Hall.

— We value your religious group’s news items. Please submit information one week before the publication date by fax at 386-734-4641 or by e-mail at margie@beacononlinenews.com.

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