Spiritual Side: Weekend events celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

2012 MLK Day march in DeLand.

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jan 19, 2013 - 8:53:27am

Remembering MLK

Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Orange City will remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Jan. 20.

Mosaic member Rob Field will deliver the homily, “What Martin Luther King Jr. would say if he were alive today.”

Judy Raymond is the worship leader. A program for children is offered concurrent with the service.

Mosaic is a Welcoming Congregation, open to visitors of all races, colors, creeds, and sexual orientations. Visit at the website at www.mosaicuuc.org.

King Weekend Celebration

The Deltona DreamKeepers will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration beginning with the annual Breakfast Celebration at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at New Hope Baptist Church, 2855 Lake Helen-Osteen Road in Deltona. The breakfast will feature an inspirational speech by Arvia Shanell Hall, a Volusia County native and DeLand High School’s first black valedictorian. Tickets, which cost $10, will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance by calling Mike Williams at 386-804-6136.

A Gospel Program will follow at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at Deltona Alliance Church, 921 Deltona Blvd., and will be followed by a candlelight vigil.

The 2013 theme is “What Would Dr. King Say If He Were Here Today?”

Celebrate justice

On Sunday, Jan. 20, churches all over the United States will be remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. New Hope United Church of Christ in DeLand, with its emphasis on justice, is one of them.

New Hope’s celebration, at 10 a.m., will be interactive readings of King’s actual words from his books and news coverage. We will see a part of his “I Have a Dream” speech from original footage and with music of the day, including the moving “Lift Up Your Hearts and Sing.” Everyone is welcome.

The church remains committed to social justice.

The Rev. Karen Curtis-Weakly reminds the community about the work church members have done in support of domestic-partners registration in DeLand. “One of the couples registering told me that when they saw our banner from a distance, they thought they were in for trouble from one of the anti-gay groups. But they soon found that our sign said they were welcome at New Hope. That support meant justice to them — and to us,” said Curtis-Weakly.

Florida Minister for Farmworkers and New Hope member Bert Perry said, “Along with the work I do in the ministry during the week, I bring the congregation along with me to support our farmworkers ministry.”

Spaghetti-supper fundraisers

A spaghetti-dinner fundraiser served by DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19.

The menu is spaghetti with your choice of meat sauce or meatless sauce, salad, garlic bread, iced tea or lemonade and homemade desserts.

The cost is an $8 donation, with children eating for free.

Call 386-985-4325 for more information.

Proceeds will benefit the church’s outreach programs.

Another spaghetti-supper fundraiser will be 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, in the Fellowship Hall of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Orange City. All proceeds benefit the program for Native American children on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota.

Tickets cost $5 in advance or $6 at the door, and may be purchased at the church office, 201 W. University Ave., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The menu includes salad, bread, spaghetti with or without meatballs, homemade dessert, and coffee, tea or water.

There will be a raffle of numerous items, including an original 32-inch-by-48-inch acrylic painting King of the Plains, which was painted and donated by a church member. Winners need not be present.

Quinn Moss, church music director and Stetson University senior piano-performance major, will perform throughout the evening.

For more information, call the church office at 386-775-2462.

David Teems to visit

Author and contemporary musician David Teems will be the guest artist and speaker for a Healing Service at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in DeLand at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27. Father Brian Garrison, rector, welcomes all in the community, and there is no charge.

Teems has recorded several albums. His latest book is Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice.

For more information about David Teems, visit his website at www.davidteems.com. For more information about St. Barnabas Church, visit www.stbarnabaschurchdeland.org.

New Bible study

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand is offering a new Bible study “Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit” by Beth Moore in the church library. The study starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, and runs through May 14. The leader is Marge Jones. Registration costs $15, and is due by Jan. 31.

Dr. Joseph Risse, guest minister at First Christian, will have as his sermon topic Sunday, Jan. 20, “The Great Separation” based on Matthew 25:31-46, at the 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services.

The Disciple Women will meet at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21.

The youth will have a Winter Festival 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Fellowship Hall. It will include snow cones, snowmen crafts, sock-skating and snow games. The festival is open to children in kindergarten-12th grade.

Starting in March, the church will be “Going Greener.” Those wanting to receive the monthly newsletter must email their email address to fccofdeland@att.net.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Along with many churches across the country, Christ United Fellowship will observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday at its worship service Jan. 20.

This year is particularly notable since it has been 40 years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in its Roe v. Wade decision. It is estimated that 55 million babies have been aborted in that period of time.

Christ United Fellowship’s pastor the Rev. Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff will use Psalm 139 as his text for the morning. His focus will be on the words “For it was You who formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” These words indicate the preciousness of life and the value of human life, initiated by God.

The church, an independent family of faith, was formed in September 2012, and is now meeting at the Clarion Hotel, 350 E. International Speedway Blvd. in DeLand. Worship services are at 10:30 a.m. Sundays; Adult Bible Study is at 9 a.m., with fellowship at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome! For more information, call 386-523-6317.

Mark Twain’s spiritual perspectives

Jerry Pasquale will speak at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20.

Jerry is a member of the church, and will be presenting the evolution of Mark Twain’s spiritual perspectives. Twain had strong opinions on religion, but was not one to be swayed by religious propaganda or sermons. However, he was not considered a disbeliever.

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.

ACTS Mentoring Program

ACTS Mentoring Program continues to register girls ages 8-18 for the 2012-13 program. This faith-based mentoring program helps girls see themselves in a more positive way, while providing them opportunities to serve their community and grow in their relationships.

The program meets for two hours two Saturdays a month in Orange City.

The girls are supervised as they engage in activities that encourage them to explore their world and identify where they fit in most comfortably.

A faith-based perspective on key life issues is provided, which encourages young ladies to make healthy choices for their life.

Couples Connection is a fun couples group designed to strengthen marriages. The group meets 7-9 p.m. Fridays.

Both groups meet at Building a Caring Community Inc. at 2425 SW Volusia Ave., Suite B-4, in Orange City.

Building a Caring Community Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation that provides faith-based programs and activities for the whole family. For more information or to register, call 386-873-1772.

PowerPoint presentation on dinosaurs

Liberty Independent Baptist Church in DeLand will present a special PowerPoint presentation on “Dinosaurs” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27.

Some topics covered will be “Dinosaur Legends — Fact or Fiction,” “Dinosaurs in History — True Stories of Sightings,” “Dinosaurs and Man — Did They Co-Exist?” and “The Bible and Dinosaurs — Are They Mentioned in the Scriptures?”

Everyone is welcome; there is no charge to attend.

Call 386-736-7412 for more information.

Tim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass

Tim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at Deltona Alliance Church.

The musical group features three trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, percussion and keyboards, presenting hymn classics with a contemporary flair.

The group formed three decades ago, and is composed of professional musicians from across the country who desire to use the instruments they love to lead others in praise and worship.

Foster care

Open Hearts Family Services, a ministry of Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, will have an informational session “Pondering Foster Care” for those interested in becoming foster parents, at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at Deltona Presbyterian Church.

There will be a panel of people from all aspects of foster care who will be present to answer all your questions.

For more information, call John Gill, community-development coordinator for Open Hearts Family Services, at 386-299-8142 or email him at john.gill@fumch.org,

Gospel radio program

WYND AM Radio 1310 in DeLand will broadcast the Farley Gospel Radio Program live at 3:30 p.m. Saturdays.

Caroll and Brenda Farley are residents of Maine, who winter locally until April.

Check out their websites at www.ourchurch.com/member/f/farleygospel or www.ourchurch.com/member/g/gospelsongs.

— 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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