Spiritual Side: Holiday events continue through week

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Celebrating Christmas — Members of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in DeLand take part in the DeLand Jaycees Christmas Parade Dec. 1 with a float celebrating the birth of Jesus. In the photo are Erika Peterson as Mary, Justin Folsom as Joseph, newborn Emmie Peterson as the baby Jesus, Courtney Folsom as an angel, and Joshua Folsom as a lamb.

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Dec 8, 2012 - 7:56:57am

Holiday bazaar and yard sale

Bethel AME Church in DeLand invites the community to a Holiday Bazaar and Yard Sale 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

Beautiful items in good condition, some with price tags still on them, will be available for purchase! All proceeds benefit the Bethel Empowerment Center Inc., a nonprofit organization seeking to empower the Greater DeLand community through various programs. Email the church with any questions, at betheldeland@gmail.com.

Concert performance

First Baptist Church of Barberville will present a Southern gospel concert featuring The Telestials at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

Admission is free; a love offering will be collected.

Church bazaar

Greater Faith AME Church in Deltona is having a Church Bazaar 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

There will be a carwash, a yard sale and a bake sale. Barbecue and fish dinners and sandwiches will be available for purchase, and health and wellness tips will be demonstrated.

Advent’s second Sunday

To observe the second Sunday in Advent, Dec. 9, Dr. David Felty, pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, will have as his sermon topic “Shout Out.”

The second candle in the Advent wreath will be lighted for peace during the service, which starts at 10:45 a.m.

From 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, the church will celebrate Jerri Wilson’s 100th birthday in the Fellowship Hall. Jerri came to DeLand from Charleston, S.C., to be close to her daughter Barbara Bowen and son-in-law Bob Bowen, who are members of First Christian.

Lee Gartside will be leading a “Greeters Workshop” after the 10:45 a.m. service Dec. 9, with lunch provided.

The Disciples Men will meet 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Fellowship Hall for lunch and a program.

New church

Members of Christ United Fellowship, a newly founded nondenominational church in the DeLand area, have decided to sponsor the Angel Tree Project of Prison Fellowship during this Christmas season.

The ministry serves the children of prisoners by giving them gifts on behalf of their incarcerated parents. Prison chaplains receive requests from prisoners and pass them to the Angel Tree processing center. The center then assigns the requests to participating churches and nonprofit organizations. Each child is given one gift valued between $15 and $25. Also, children receive age-appropriate Gospel materials, provided free of charge from Angel Tree.

If you would like to help with this effort, call Christ United Fellowship at 386-523-6317.

Heart House

At the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Dec. 9, Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Orange City will welcome Ann Colwell of The Neighborhood Center in DeLand as she speaks about the needs of the larger community for shelter for homeless families.

Named “Heart House,” a home recently purchased in DeLand is in the process of being renovated to serve displaced families. Learn about the house itself, what needs to be done, how soon it will be open for residents, and ways in which the community can help The Neighborhood Center meet their needs.

Cary Ragsdale will be the service leader. All are invited to attend. A children’s program is offered during the service. For more information, visit www.mosaicuuc.org.

Interfaith Kitchen

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in DeLand will host Interfaith Kitchen Tuesday, Dec. 11, at First United Methodist Church of DeLand. Children’s House Montessori School will be providing the hands to feed an estimated 100 homeless individuals a warm and nourishing meal.

Food service begins at 5:45 p.m., and volunteers are always welcome. Call Faith’s church office at 386-734-2791 for more information.

Friday, Dec. 7, is Pizza Hut Day for Faith. Pizza Hut will donate 20 percent of receipts for that day to the church’s Sunday School Fund. Eating in and ordering out count. A coupon needs to be presented to Pizza Hut, and can be obtained at the church office at 509 E. Pennsylvania Ave. or on the church’s Web page at www.FaithLutheranDeLand.org.

Christmas concert

The Raintree Chamber Players will perform at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, service at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand. The quartet will perform a medley of Christmas music, including classical and traditional holiday selections.

Raintree is a gifted and experienced group of professional classically trained musicians who have been performing together since 1992. Holding advanced degrees in music performance and originally members of the Florida Symphony Orchestra, the musicians of Raintree now perform in the Orlando Philharmonic and Bach Festival Orchestras at Disney World for the Christmas Candlelight Processional.

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.

Weekly discussions

Church of the Holy Presence is holding weekly discussions on the Gospel of John during Advent and into the new year. The sessions are 6:45-8 p.m. Wednesdays in the church parish hall.

In addition to the Gospel, discussions will include the three letters John wrote on Christianity. The Rev. Dawn McDonald, vicar at Holy Presence, will lead the discussions.

Inspirational artist

Artist Carol Bertrand will exhibit “Voices of Inspiration” Dec. 5-Jan. 2 in the Rose Room Gallery at Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. A book-signing and artist reception will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12.

Bertrand has advanced degrees in pastoral ministry, and has spent years teaching spiritual formation and leading retreats.

She began creating art in 2000, and hopes her meditative drawings and inspirational paintings will help the viewers to find their own quiet spaces. She also has created a book, Meditative Drawings, which is full of pen and ink designs.

Visitors are asked to enter the gallery through the patio gates of Peabody on Wild Olive Avenue. There is no admission fee, and parking is free on Wild Olive and in the rear parking lot.

Daytona Beach festival

The annual Home for the Holidays Festivities on Beach Street in Downtown Daytona Beach will take place 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, in Riverfront Park, between Magnolia Avenue and International Speedway Boulevard.

The festival opens with the Warner Christian Academy Velvet Blues Marching Band, followed by the 14th annual Downtown Opry Christmas Reunion, featuring Linda Cole, Michael Leone, Shari Frink, Joey Miller, Eddie Uzzle, SASS, and other local performers. The Calvary Christian Praise Band and Choir will perform at 5 p.m.

Progressive dinner

The youth at First Presbyterian Church of DeLand will celebrate Advent with a Youth Progressive Dinner that begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at 729 N. Florida Ave. To reserve a spot, call Cara Wendorph at the church office at 386-734-6212.

A Children’s Story Night will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. Christmas stories will be read beside the fireplace in the fellowship hall, and hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Again, call the church office at the number above for more information and to reserve a seat.

Musical for senior choirs

First Congregational United Church of Christ of Orange City will present “The Colors of Christmas,” a musical for senior adult choirs, during the 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday, Dec. 9. The performance was created and arranged by Marty Parks.

On Sunday, Dec. 16, the children, youth and choir will present “Remembering the Night That Changed the World” at the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

Comedy night

Don’t forget Plymouth Avenue Christian Church’s Comedy Club Night at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. The special guest is Christian comedian Tony Wolf. The church will host a catered dinner from Brian’s Bar-B-Que. This is an event for everyone: families, singles, couples and seniors.

The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. A freewill offering will be taken for Tony Wolf Ministries.

For more information, call 386-734-9141.

Special service

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in DeLand will have an Advent Lessons and Carols service at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16.

Men’s breakfast

Glenwood Presbyterian Church is having a Men’s Breakfast and Fellowship Meeting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

The annual Christmas program, with a light lunch following, will start at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9.

Monday-night Bible study begins at 5 p.m. Libby Lusk leads the group the first and third weeks of the month in the parlor, and Andrew Gilhooley leads on the second and fourth weeks in the sanctuary.

For more information, call the church at 386-734-8617.

Bazaar and auctions

DeLand-area residents are invited to two auctions and two days of bazaar shopping to help raise money for DeLand Open Bible Ministry Center to build a youth center.

The church’s neighbors in the Rolling Acres neighborhood have pitched in to help, and a two-day fundraiser is the result. Rolling Acres resident Carol Brown said the neighbors are doing their part to help Open Bible Pastor Tom Avinger and his wife, Sharon.

“He does a lot of wonderful things, and we’re trying to help him,” Brown said.

The action will begin at 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, with a bazaar featuring crafted items, baked goods and gently used clothing.

At the bazaar, until 4 p.m., visitors will also have the opportunity for a sneak preview of items that will be for sale in an auction set for Friday evening. That auction will feature furniture, including complete dining sets and other retro and antique furniture, as well as a full-length retro mink coat and matching hat.

The shopping continues 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, when a combination bazaar and auction gets under way. The Saturday sale will feature brand-new designer clothing, jewelry, watches, colognes, perfume and other items ideal for holiday gift-giving.

All the merchandise was donated to help build the youth center.

Children’s program

Christ Community Church in DeLand invites children to Toddler Church and Kidz Church Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday in Advent.

A Ladies’ Christmas Tea will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. RSVP to 386-734-4646.

New concert series

LifePoint Community Church is starting a new series of musical concerts beginning at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, with the Brass Band of Central Florida.

The band, which plays in the British brass band style, is under the direction of Chad Shoopman, and was named national champion in a 2010 band competition, one of many in which it competes.

There is no charge to attend, and the concert series is open to the public.

Children’s choir performs

The Children of David, the children’s choir at First Assembly-DeLand, will present “A King Is Coming to Town” during the 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services Sunday, Dec. 16.

This musical focuses on the little town of Rumor’s Mill, USA, where the town has gathered in anticipation.

Come and enjoy the fun as the townspeople, led by reporter Greta Van Popcorn, Mayor Big Wheel, Sheriff Badge and Barbara Booster, all weigh in on who this King might be.

The program is free. Call 386-736-2948 for more information.

— 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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