Spiritual Side: ’Tis the season for fall festivals and bazaars

PHOTO COURTESY TANNA GARTSIDE
Practicing — First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand students Monica Chavez-Matias and Kaley Gunsallus show their winning form at an apple-dunking contest. The girls were trying out one of several activities planned for the church’s Trunk or Treat event Oct. 31.

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Oct 6, 2012 - 8:43:14am

Annual fall festivals are on tap, as we wait for temperatures to cool.

St. Ann’s Catholic Church’s annual Arts and Crafts Festival is 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, in DeBary. Festivalgoers will find crafts galore; holiday décor, jewelry and live plants for sale; a bake shop; and attic treasures. There will be a drawing, and a yummy Oktoberfest luncheon for sale on Saturday.

Trinity United Methodist Church in DeLand will have its annual Fall Festival 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. There will be crafts, baked goods, food and drinks for sale, toys, books, a silent auction, antiques, plants and jewelry. Proceeds from the festival will go to local and national outreach programs.

St. Jude’s Episcopal Church’s Fall Bazaar is scheduled 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The event kicks off 7-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, however, with a wine-tasting and jazz music, and a silent auction that extends from Friday night through Saturday at 2 p.m.

The bazaar will have a great kids’ zone, with laser tag, a hamster ball and other games. Part of the festivities include spaces for vendors to sell their merchandise. (Tables are not furnished by the church.) Each space is approximately 10 feet by 10 feet. The donation for each space is $25. Call the church at 386-775-6200 to obtain an application, email to stjudeschurch@embarqmail.com, or visit the website at www.stjudescentralflorida.org.

The youth of First Baptist Church of DeLand will have a Craft Fair 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, in the Family Life Center. There will be vendors, crafters and concessions.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Deltona opened its Pumpkin Patch Sept. 29, with scavenger hunts, pony rides, hayrides, face-painting and pumpkin-painting. Find your perfect pumpkin and enjoy the extras 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, and noon-8 p.m. Sundays.

Super Sermon Sunday

On Sunday, Oct. 7, at 10:30 a.m., First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand will have Super Sermon Sunday, when an outstanding sermon taken from the Unitarian Universalist archives is presented.

The chosen sermon by the Rev. Mark Ward is titled “Justice, Equity and Compassion: Our 2nd Principle.”

These special services provide perspective and insight into the Unitarian Universalist faith, traditions and values.

Religious education for children of all ages is provided during the service.

For more information about the church, visit www.uudeland.org or call 386-734-6499. To learn more about Unitarian Universalism, visit www.uua.org.

The sharing of hobbies

Share Your Hobby Day will be held at Glenwood Presbyterian Church Sunday, Oct. 7, in conjunction with the church’s Bring a Friend Sunday. Everyone is encouraged to bring friends to worship, and to explore the hobbies of the church’s talented members.

Informal worship begins at 8:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. At 9:30 a.m., hobbies will be on exhibit in the Barnes Building until 10 a.m.; Sunday-school classes will be 10-10:45 a.m.; traditional worship begins at 11 a.m.; and when worship ends at noon, talented members of the congregation will be back in the Barnes Building to once again share their hobbies.

The church’s members paint, hook rugs, build airplanes, and do origami, stained glass and woodworking.

Younger members do Lego and duct-tape art, and older members bowl. There will be fiber arts and needlework, as well as radio-controlled airplanes. Gardeners, orchid-growers and photographers will round out the displays.

Not only are Glenwood Presbyterian Church’s members talented, they are also friendly. Come and see! For more information, call 386-734-8617 or go to the church’s website at www.glenwoodpc.org.

Accepting of all

Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Orange City will acknowledge National Coming Out Day, which is Oct. 11, at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Oct. 7.

The Rev. Mark Spivey will present “I Am What I Am,” an exploration of individual identity in the context of collective expectations. The Rev. Spivey says, “In the quest for civil rights, being labeled ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ can be both a burden and a blessing.”

This service will uphold the Unitarian Universalist principles of affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in uu congregations.

Unitarian Universalism is widely known for its commitment to welcome and work for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and families. It is one of the few religions that ordain openly LGBTQ people, and work for marriage equality in our communities. Everyone is invited and welcome.

Mosaic has recently earned the Welcoming Congregation Certification from the Unitarian Universalist Association for their work toward becoming more welcoming and inclusive of people with marginalized sexual orientations and gender identities.

The 1:30 p.m. Mosaic in the Afternoon service will not be held this week, and will be on hiatus until Nov. 11.

Check the website for more information at www.mosaicuuc.org or visit the congregation on Facebook — Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

Rosary march

Catholics in the Sanford area have announced plans to participate in the International Rosary March, a worldwide celebration of peace and reconciliation, beginning at noon Sunday, Oct. 7, at Veterans Park, next to Sanford City Hall. All faiths and denominations are invited to participate.

The Rosary March is held each year on every continent to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast that dates back to the early 1200s.

Participants in the march will walk while reciting the Holy Rosary along the newly developed RiverWalk in downtown Sanford. At the conclusion, there will be some final prayers from the organizers.

For more information, call 386-439-1427, or visit an international website to learn more about the Rosary March at www.rosarymarch.com.

Using the chalice

Dr. David Felty, pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, will observe World Communion Sunday, Oct. 7. At both the 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services, there will be open Communion using a full-scale replica of the Antioch chalice, along with several other chalices. Many believe that the Antioch chalice was used by Jesus at the Last Supper.

The stewardship theme for the week is “Giving to God My Spiritual Gifts.”

Rainbow Child Care Center, a ministry of First Christian Church, will have a Trike-A-Thon Fundraiser at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Kathy Porr, director of Rainbow, will be leading the group, while Pastor Felty will be stamping the trikers for each round.

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