Spiritual Side: Celebrate Holy Week — special services

By Margie Dykes
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Mar 16, 2013 - 8:18:06am

Holy Week schedules

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in DeLand will celebrate Holy Week with special services.

Palm Sunday, March 24, will be observed with three services, the 8 a.m. traditional service, a 9:30 a.m. contemporary service with Children’s Church, and the 11 a.m. traditional service.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be at 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday services are scheduled at 7 a.m. with an Easter Vigil, at 9 a.m. for a contemporary service, and at 11 a.m. for a Festive Easter service.

Call the church office for more information at 386-734-2791, or check out the church’s website at www.faithlutherandeland.org or on facebook.com/faithlutherandeland.

It started one Easter

First Congregational United Church of Christ of Lake Helen is still going at 125 years!

On Easter Sunday of 1888, the newly built church on the corner of Main Street and Euclid Avenue in Lake Helen opened its doors for its first service.

This Easter season, the Women’s Fellowship will have a Spring Bake Sale 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 23, featuring fresh baked goods for your Easter holidays.

On Palm Sunday, March 24, the church will have a Communion service with the palms at 10:30 a.m.

More information about services at Easter will be reported in the next column.

Lots of trucks

Emmaus Lutheran Preschool is having a “Touch a Truck” event 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at 2500 S. Volusia Ave. in Orange City.

Admission costs $7 for all. It was incorrectly reported as a free event.

There will be a large variety of transportation vehicles on hand. Free Hot Wheels will be given to the first 100 children, and there will be a giveaway of two Big Wheels.

St. Patty’s Day celebration

Glenwood Presbyterian Church will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day during fellowship time Sunday, March 17, for the children and the young at heart.

Lunch and devotionals will be at noon each Tuesday during Lent.

The Monday-evening Bible study “An Invitation to the Psalms” has been changed to Wednesday evening. It will still be held in the Barnes Building from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

An Easter party for all the neighborhood children will be Saturday, March 30. A small luncheon will be served, and there will be crafts and the traditional Easter egg hunt on the grounds.

To that end, there will be a Work Day Saturday, March 16, to get the building and grounds cleaned up for Easter Sunday. Volunteers are appreciated.

Palm Sonday plans

Westminster Presbyterian Church in DeLand will observe Holy Week beginning with the 10:30 a.m. service Palm Sonday, March 24. The Processional of Palms and the singing of “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” will begin the service. The choir will sing “The King Is Coming.”

The pastor, the Rev. Joseph J. Gasper, will present the message “A Ride in Majesty.” The organist will be Kay Manning, and the choir members are Fran Hirst, Caylyn Gunby and Richard Marchetti. The ushers are Judy Hudson and Joanne Spurgeon.

On Maundy Thursday, March 28, at 4 p.m., Communion and the presentation of “Objects of His Passion” will be led by the pastor and the elders of the church. The choir will sing “An Upper Room Our Lord Prepared,” with the solo praise “Watch the Lamb” sung by guest elder Nick Pizza.

The week will climax with a Resurrection Day Service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 31. The choir will sing “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary,” and the solo praise “The Holy City” will be sung by Caylyn Gunby, following the sermon “This IS the Day” by the pastor.

All are invited to attend these services. Call 386-532-5536 for more information.

CROP Walk successful

The 25th annual CROP Walk against world hunger was sponsored by the Interfaith Caregivers of West Volusia Inc. on March 10.

There were 143 walkers and seven workers during the walk, with First United Methodist Church of DeLand having the most walkers with 52.

Other participating churches and groups were the Christian Church at DeLeon Springs, First Congregational Church of Orange City, Trinity United Methodist Church in DeLand, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in DeLand, First Presbyterian Church of DeLand, Plymouth Avenue Christian Church in DeLand, and St. Peter Catholic School in DeLand.

CROP Walk Chairman Pastor Arthur Wuertz dedicated the walk to Dorothy Dedlow, who for many years was in charge. She passed away recently.

Kathy Porr, director of Rainbow Child Care Center and a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has walked in all 25 CROP Walks. For the past three years, she has organized a mini walk at Rainbow Child Care Center the Friday before the communitywide Walk.

Those who have collected money are to turn it in to Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church during office hours. Call 386-734-3421.

Barbara Parslow is the CROP Walk treasurer. Amy Killgallon, local director of Church World Service, provides assistance to the local CROP Walk Committee and helped throughout the walk.

The authority of Christ vs. the power of man

Visiting Pastor Art Bakewell will have as his sermon topic the authority of Christ vs. the power of man, with the title being “A Raging Peace,” Sunday, March 17. Pastor Bakewell will deliver the sermon for both the 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services, with open Communion at both services.

Sue Brague and Ethel Bland will serve as elders at the 10:45 a.m. service, and Chris Drooker will be serving at the 8:15 a.m. service.

The church will sadly say goodbye to Virginia and Reuben Turner at a noon fellowship dinner today, Thursday, March 14.

Bill Devine is in charge of the Church Breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 17.

Sue Brague has called for a church workday at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 16.

The Disciple Women’s groups will be meeting at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday, March 18. All women of the church are welcome to attend.

The Beth Moore Bible Study is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, in the library, with Marge Jones leading the group.

Gribbin to speak

Dan Gribbin will present “Universalism, the Other U in UU” at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, March 17, at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand.

Gribbin retired from college teaching after 37 years. He spent the bulk of his career as a professor of English at Ferrum College in Virginia, teaching writing, film, and a variety of literature courses.

During the past decade, he has taught African-American literature and American literature at the University of Central Florida. He and his wife live in Daytona Beach Shores and are members of the UUSDBA in Ormond Beach, where he serves as program chair.

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.

Passover meal

Temple Israel of DeLand will have a traditional Passover Seder at 6 p.m. Monday, March 25, the holiday’s first night.

Norma and David Weinstein will cater a kosher meal.

Tickets cost $36 for adults, $25 for students, and $18 for children under age 12, and are free for children under age 3.

Reservations and payment must be completed by March 18.

Call the temple at 386-736-1646.

Lots of strawberries

Don’t forget about the annual Strawberry Festival 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Orange City.

Strawberry flats, strawberry jams, lemonades, shortcake and even strawberry pizza will be available for purchase, along with traditional fare of hamburgers, hot dogs and fries.

There will be drawings and prizes, and arts-and-crafts displays and vendors.

Banquet for the yet-to-be-born

Grace House Pregnancy Resource Center is hosting a Miracle of Life Banquet 7-9 p.m. Monday, March 18, in the Stetson Baptist Church Family Life Center in DeLand.

Andy Merritt, an early leader in the pregnancy-center movement, will speak.

In 1981, Merritt, who has served as a pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga., for more than 35 years, led his church to establish the nation’s first church-sponsored pregnancy center.

Easterfest

DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church will have its third annual Easterfest Saturday, March 23.

A bake sale will be held 9-11 a.m., with games 9:30-10 a.m. The Easter egg hunt will be at 10 a.m.

Proceeds from the bake sale will go toward the church’s food pantry.

For more information, call the church at 386-985-4325.

Corned-beef dinner

The United Methodist Women of Orange City United Methodist Church will have a Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16.

The cost is $8 per person or $25 for a family.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at the church office. For more information, call 386-775-3068 or 386-774-7438.

Women meet

The DeBary Women’s Connection monthly luncheon will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at the DeBary Golf and Country Club, 300 Plantation Club Drive.

Delicious food, networking, and a fun and inspirational program will be on tap.

The group’s motto is “Connecting women with God, each other, and their community,” and all women are welcome.

Admission costs $15 in cash or check at door.

Call Kathy at 386-747-5077 or email debarywc@gmail.com for information and registration.

Pet blessing

Pastor Drew Dancey of Orange City United Methodist Church will host a pet blessing at the Waggin’ Trail Park, 1201 S. Leavitt Ave. in Orange City, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 23, starting off with a brief nondenominational service.

All animals are welcome, but must be kept on a leash. Those with aggressive animals are encouraged to leave those pooches at home and bring a photo to be blessed.

There will be a low-cost pet-shot clinic, Petco will sponsor giveaways, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will have animals available for adoption.

Fashions and tea

Westminster-by-the-Sea Presbyterian Church in Daytona Beach Shores is hosting its first High Tea and Fashion Show at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 19.

There will be a basket raffle and a silent auction.

Fashions will be provided by Fashion Safari of Port Orange.

Tickets cost $10. Proceeds from the event will support the missions of the Westminster-by-the-Sea Presbyterian Women.

Call 386-767-8342 for more information.

Video for March 21

The next video presentation at the Lifetree Cafe at Episcopal Church of the Holy Presence in DeLand, “They Hijacked My Life!” will be 7:15-8:15 p.m. Thursday, March 21.

A timely discussion about identity theft will follow.

— 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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