Gospel concert in DeBary Thursday, Feb. 21

BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Lots of food — First Presbyterian Church of DeLand Pastor Patrick Wrisley and Associate Pastor Michael Bodger show just some of the food collected at the church’s “Super Bowl Sunday Food Collection” event Feb. 3. An anonymous church member challenged the group that if a ton of food was collected, the church member would match it. The food just kept pouring in. Collected were 2,200 pounds of food, which was matched with 2,000 pounds. All of the food was delivered to The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia in DeLand

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 16, 2013 - 11:47:32am

The Thurston Family

A gospel concert featuring the Thurston Family from Michigan will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at First Presbyterian Church of DeBary. A love offering will be taken and light refreshments will be served following the concert.

For more information, call 386-532-4220 after noon.

Talk will be similar to Luther nailing theses on church door

Frank Machovec will speak on “Sins of Unitarians” at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, service at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand.

This talk will be the equivalent of Luther nailing 95 theses on the cathedral door, but it may be 9-and-a-half theses, not 95, and may be just Scotch-taped to the church door.

As a psychologist, Frank has applied that expertise to analyzing “Unitarianism” as he would an individual’s personality. He’ll share his “diagnosis” and will suggest a “treatment plan” for improvement.

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 http://www.uua.org.

A Journey to Redemption

A return performance of Andre Darby’s A Journey to Redemption will be at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Athens Theatre, 124 N. Florida Ave. in DeLand.

The story is about a backsliding preacher who lost his son to sickle cell and finds himself in a battle with his faith, alcohol and domestic violence before finding redemption.

Advance tickets cost $20 for preferred seating, $15 for adults, $13 for senior citizens and $10 students. Tickets at the door will cost $22 for preferred, $17 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and $10 students.

Call the Athens box office at 386-736-1500 for tickets.

Allen Jubilee Week

Greater Faith AME Church in Deltona will celebrate Allen Jubilee Week Feb. 18-24 in honor of Bishop Richard Allen (1760-1831), the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC). Beginning Feb. 18, the church will hold services at 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The presiding elder of the Daytona Beach District, the Rev. James O. Williams, will bring the message Feb. 24.

In addition, the church is having a Church Bazaar 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. There will be a yard sale, a bake sale, and food for purchase, along with health and wellness tips.

Bishop Allen was born a slave and taught himself to read and write. He worked as a day laborer and a brick-maker, and was a businessman who owned a chimney-sweeping business, and was a teamster. He was able to purchase his own freedom for $2,000 in continental dollars.

Bishop Allen served in the Revolutionary War as a wagon driver, and later rose to become a minister, a theologian and a humanitarian.

After becoming a widower during his early ministry, he married Sarah Allen, who established the charitable organization for women known today as the AMEC Women’s Missionary Society, of which she was the first female missionary. She aided runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad, mended clothing for ministers, and donated clothing to the needy. Through her leadership and labors, the missionaries formed children’s day care schools and helped organize adult classes to help educate their church members.

The Allens purchased the land and building rights of an abandoned blacksmith shop, converting it into a church. The blacksmith shop grew too small within 12 years, and was replaced in 1805 by another structure, which was replaced by a brick-and-stone church 10 years after Richard Allen’s death. The new sanctuary is currently referred to as “Mother Bethel” church. Other black churches joined together with Allen to form the AME Church in 1816, the first independent black church in the United States.

The art of listening

The video offering at the Lifetree Cafe, a ministry of Episcopal Church of the Holy Presence in DeLand, will be The Art of Listening — An Act of Love.

Fashion Show Luncheon

A Fashion Show Luncheon featuring Easter and spring fashions for the whole family will be 1:30-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Deltona.

A donation of $12 per person includes a light lunch.

The event is sponsored by Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary No. 6584, and is dedicated in memory of President Yolanda Caldwell.

For tickets or more information, call Margarita at 386-574-3719.

The healing ministry of Jesus

Guest minister Art Bakewell will have a series of sermons on the healing ministry of Jesus Christ for First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, starting at the 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services Sunday, Feb. 17. The first sermon will be about the paralyzed man in Mark 2:1-5. A congregational meeting will be held after the 10:45 a.m. worship service.

An all-church Sunday breakfast will be served by Bob and Jane Bennett at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 17 in the Fellowship Hall. The breakfasts will continue on the third Sunday of each month.

On Friday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m., the church will begin a 24-hour Chain of Prayer. Since World War II, beginning on New Year’s Day and ending on Easter, there has been a Christian Church somewhere in the U.S. praying for peace.

On Friday, Feb. 15, Rainbow Child Care Center is sponsoring a Spaghetti Dinner. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and $1.50 for preschoolers, for takeout or to eat in.

Prayer and praise

Christ United Fellowship is visiting Savannah Court Assisted Living Facility again this month to bring a program of prayer and praise to the residents there. Since February is Heart Month and includes Valentine’s Day, the program is based on love — God’s love for us and our love for each other.

Colorful red hearts with photos of residents are being given out to each person attending, along with cookies and hot chocolate. Gail Ogden is coordinating the visit and presentation.

In March, the program will remind the residents of St. Patrick’s Day.

If you are interested in assisting with this ministry of visitation, you are welcome. To volunteer, call the church at 386-523-6317.

Christ United Fellowship seeks to glorify the God of the Bible through worship and service. The church, an independent family of faith, was formed in September 2012, and is pastored by the Rev. Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff. It is now meeting at the Clarion Hotel, 350 E. International Speedway Blvd. in DeLand. Worship services are held at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday, Adult Bible Study is at 9 a.m., and fellowship is at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

For more information about the church, call 386-523-6317 or see the church’s website at sites.google.com/site/christunitedfellowshipdeland.

Masks people wear

Sensei Morris Sullivan of the Volusia Buddhist Fellowship will consider “The Masks We Wear” Sunday, Feb. 17, at Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Orange City.

There is a Japanese koan that says, “Show the face you wore before your parents were born.” Its underlying question is, “What is your true self?” Sensei Sullivan will offer guidance on seeking one’s true self. Judy Raymond is the worship leader.

A children’s program is offered during the service. Visit the website at www.mosaicuuc.org.

— 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.

— margie@beacononlinenews.com

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