Spiritual Side: Cookie walk set for Saturday, Dec. 8, in Lake Helen

Hope Street— The musical group Hope Street will present “A Cappella Christmas” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at DeLand Seventh-day Adventist Church. Group members are, from left, Darlene Clemens, John Clemens and Jonni Helper, all from Ormond Beach. There is no charge to attend. For more information, call 386-717-2186.

PHOTO COURTESY LONA ELBERT
Thank you, all! — Glenwood Presbyterian Church members Lois Smyth, Cindi Winkle and Patti Thackeray check out the dessert table at the church’s annual bazaar Nov. 10. More funds were raised this year than last, and church members heartily thank the community for their support.

PHOTO COURTESY WAYNE STRUBLE
Armor of God — Children attending Children’s Church at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in DeLand craft their own set of armor after spending several weeks learning about the Armor of God and how it will protect them from harm. The helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, which protects Christians, and the Spirit Sword, which is the Word of God, are the tools Christians use to fight if conditions warrant.

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Dec 1, 2012 - 11:33:11pm

Cookie walk

It’s time for Christmas cookies!

The women of Lake Helen First Congregational United Church of Christ want to make your Christmas baking easier by sponsoring a Cookie Walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the church’s parish house on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Main Street in Lake Helen.

Participants can buy decorated tins to fill with the cookies. Come early to get the best selection of cookies before they are gone!

For a less hectic celebration of the holidays, the women of Lake Helen are invited to join the women of the church for a potluck Christmas luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, also at the parish house. Bring a dish to share and a small wrapped gift of less than $5 to exchange. Call Caryn Long at 386-228-2646 by Monday, Dec. 17, to reserve a seat.

First Sunday in Advent celebrated

Dr. David Felty, pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, will lead the congregation in a “Hanging of the Greens” service to celebrate the first Sunday in Advent at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. The service will include eight readers and lighting of the candle of hope in the Advent Wreath.

Disciple Women will have their annual bazaar 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1. Baked goods, fresh vegetables, craft items, vintage Christmas decorations, and a $5 barbecue-pork dinner will be available on both days. Barbara Fain is the bazaar chairwoman.

First Christian will serve at Interfaith Kitchen Tuesday, Dec. 4.

The youth are starting rehearsal Wednesday, Dec. 5, for the Living Nativity that will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, and Sunday, Dec.23. Lajunta Francis will direct.

Tunes for toys

The third annual Tunes for Toys Christmas Concert takes place 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Family Life Center of Deltona Presbyterian Church. Newly signed recording artist All Things New and eight local artists will perform.

The concert is produced by Saturday Night Alive, a nonprofit organization that offers free concerts throughout the year to give youth a safe place to have fun and meet others.

Admission to the concert is free with a donation of a new unwrapped toy. Collected toys and food donations will be given to families who are screened through the Student Reach Out Program, a program for students and families in need.

For more information, call 1-800-982-8629.

Christmas bazaar

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Deltona will have a Christmas Bazaar 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

There will be vendors selling purses, jewelry, clothes, hair accessories, cosmetics, tote bags, arts and crafts, and more. There will also be snacks and prizes.

Questioning faith

The Rev. Mark Spivey and worship leader Tracy Lunquist will present a “Faith-Based Service” at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Dec. 2, at Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Orange City.

The Bible defines faith, in part, as “the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). The Rev. Spivey says much in our lives is “unseen” — from air to electricity to love — and their existence is never questioned. He says it is no “leap of faith” to extend this notion to an “Other Being.”

Congregants will also light an Advent candle for faith.

A children’s program is available during the service. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, go to www.mosaicuuc.org or call 386-228-3130 and leave a message.

Predicting the end

Bill Lazarus will speak on “End of the World?” at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Dec. 2, at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand.

He will discuss the numerous predictions that have been made about this apocalyptic event.

Lazarus is a historian, renowned religious scholar, and one of the most popular speakers at the church. He offers thoughtful insights on religion and the world, always accentuated with humor.

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.

Lunch Bunch meets

The December “Lunch Bunch” will meet at noon Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Life Enrichment Center of First United Methodist Church of DeLand. This is strictly a social time, beginning with a delicious meal and fellowship, followed by entertainment. The program will be a special Christmas concert by the DeLand High School Chorus. The cost is $6 per person, and reservations are required.

That same evening will be the Mission/Dessert Auction. Some of the items to be auctioned include rocking chairs, handmade Adirondack chairs, original oil paintings, custom-framed prints, a guided fishing trip, gift baskets, and wonderful desserts. The proceeds will benefit the compassionate ministries of the church and the planned mission trips.

In addition to another trip to Costa Rica, a group will also be going to the Red Bird Mission in Appalachia.

The dinner, at 5:30 p.m. preceding the auction, will be what is typically served in Appalachia. The cost of the dinner is $4.50 per person, with no family paying more than $15. Reservations are required for the dinner. There is no cost to attend the auction at 6:15 p.m.

For reservations, call the church office at 386-734-5113.

Christmas poinsettias may now be ordered through the church office at $5.25 each. They will be placed during Christmas week on the altar in the sanctuary and in the Life Enrichment Center in honor or memory of a loved one. The plants may be picked up after the last Christmas Eve service. The deadline for ordering is Dec. 3.

For more information, call the church office at 386-734-5113.

Advent begins

Church of the Holy Presence in DeLand will begin the Advent season each Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

The Rev. Dawn McDonald will conduct the services, with the first Sunday of each month an Ecumenical and Charismatic service at 6:30 p.m.

The first Tuesday of the month, Daughters of the King meet at 6:30 p.m., and 12:15-12:45 p.m. every Wednesday, there is a Eucharist. A Bible study “Journey With Apostle John” will be 6:45-8 p.m. Wednesdays.

— 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 email at margie@beacononlinenews.com.

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