Spiritual Side: All invited to annual fish fry, Friday, Feb. 28

West Volusia Beacon110 W. New York Ave.DeLand, FL 32720386-734-4622

By Margie DykesBEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Feb 17, 2014 - 9:04:54am

Annual fish fry

All are invited to the Friday, Feb. 28, annual Fish Fry at First United Methodist Church of DeLand. The event will be 5-7 p.m. in the Life Enrichment Center (LEC), and is sponsored by the United Methodist Men. A complete fish dinner with beans, tater tots, coleslaw, beverages, and an assortment of desserts will be served for $7 per person, with a family paying no more than $22. Children under age 6 eat for free. The proceeds will go toward scholarships.

On Sunday, Feb. 16, Pastor Owen Stricklin will continue his sermon series 'Christians Under Construction.' The focus is on building a solid foundation of intentional spiritual growth. The message at all services Sunday will be 'Furnishing It With Love,' based on 1 John 4:7-18.

Feb. 16, is also 'Undies Sunday.' Those attending services that day are urged to contribute new underwear and socks, which will be given to Tuesday Mercy Hour guests after they shower. Other needed items for use during the hour are body washes, shampoos and conditioners, razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, hairbrushes and hair dryers.

The Wednesday Music Club of Central Florida will present Dr. Michael Rickman in a special piano concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 2, in the LEC parlor. A $10 donation will be taken at the door, with the proceeds funding the club's Music Scholarship Awards.

All are welcome to attend the services and activities of the church. Call the church office for tickets and additional information at 386-734-5113.

God and gays

God and homosexuality will be explored at Lifetree Café at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. The program titled 'God and Gays: An Hour of Civil Conversation' features the filmed stories of Jeff Chu, author of Does Jesus Really Love Me? A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America, and Christopher Yuan, author of Out of a Far Country. Lifetree Café is a ministry of Episcopal Church of the Holy Presence in DeLand.

Yuan, now HIV-positive and a professor at Moody Bible Institute, shares his story of finding a Christian faith and wrestling with his sexuality as a gay man.

Chu, after crisscrossing America speaking with a wide range of Christian groups, says, 'I'd be lying if I said faith was easy for me now. There are days I believe Jesus loves me, and every single part of me. And there are days when I doubt that.'

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available.

Lifetree Café is at 355 N. Kepler Road in DeLand.

Rummage sale

Glenwood Presbyterian Women met this past Sunday after the service for a light luncheon and to discuss plans for a rummage sale to take place 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 29, at Glenwood Presbyterian Church. In addition to housewares and clothing, there will be a bake sale.

Members of the Glenwood church extend their condolences to the Schnell family for the loss of their loved one Bill Schnell.

Renovation of the sanctuary that was vandalized is moving along rapidly, and the space will soon be ready for occupancy again.

Put on your good-luck hats, and turn out for a night of fun playing bingo 6:30-9 p.m. the first and third Friday of each month in Fellowship Hall.

Bakewell becomes pulpit minister

The board of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand has accepted Pastor Arthur Bakewell as their pulpit minister. He will be serving at the 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday services, as well as at special services at other times of the year.

The youth are having a Valentine Social for the members of the church 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. There will be refreshments, music, dancing, and a trivia game or two.

Southwestern Middle School will have its yard sale 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, on the church grounds to raise money for the students' annual trip to Washington, D.C.

The Week of Compassion offering will be taken Feb. 16 and 23. The funds provide relief in times of emergencies worldwide.

Lunch with bingo is at noon Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Rainbow Child Care Center, 1401 W. New York Ave. in DeLand, will have a benefit Spaghetti Dinner 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, in the Fellowship Hall of the church.

Dinners may be eaten in the hall or taken out. The price is $5 for an adult dinner and $2 for children's dinners; all include salad, bread, spaghetti with meat sauce, and a brownie. Proceeds will go to the Scholarship Fund. Director Kathy Porr may be called for reservations at 386-736-3768.

Trunk and yard sale

St. Ann's Catholic Council of Women is having its annual Huge Trunk and Yard Sale 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 22, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in DeBary. Come shop for treasures from vendors and crafters. Coffee, soda, hot dogs and doughnuts will be available for sale.

Call the parish office at 386-668-8270 to reserve your double-wide parking space for $20. Space rentals are limited, so reserve early! Tables are not provided.

All proceeds from this sale will benefit St. Ann's sister diocese in the Dominican Republic for a clean-water project.

The church is also hosting a community and health fair 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, in the Parish Hall. The fair will feature a number of community and health-care services that are available to the public. There is no admission fee.

Tax help

AARP Tax-Aide will be provided for free for folks needing help with this year's income-tax preparation during Orange City United Methodist Church's Third Saturday Community Connection 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 15. There will also be a food pantry, a limited clothing distribution, lunch, children's activities and basic health screenings.

This monthly event is held in the Community Connection Center on the church campus at 396 E. University Ave. For more information, call 386-775-3068 or visit the website at www.ocumc.org.

Education forum offered

An educational forum 'Walking With G-d' will begin 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Temple Israel of DeLand, with Rabbi Amy Mayer guiding the group for a six-week session. The course costs $50 per person for the six-week course, and, if you bring your spouse, there is a $20 discount for the couple.

Challenge your thinking on how you conceive of G-d, and energize your faith without blinders. This forum was developed by the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies of the American Jewish University, in conjunction with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Send your check now to save your spot, made out to Temple Israel of DeLand, c/o 'Walking With G-d' Seminar, 1001 E. New York Ave., DeLand, FL 32724.

All faiths, welcome!

Evensong course

For eight Monday nights beginning Feb. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m., Mosaic Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Orange City will offer 'Evensong,' a course designed to help participants explore their spirituality in the company of other seekers in a nonjudgmental and dogma-free atmosphere.

Everyone is welcome to experience 'Evensong' at Pilgrim Community Chapel, 1725 S. Volusia Ave. in Orange City. John DuPree and Jane Bradford will facilitate the class.

For more information, call 386-228-3130 or see the website at mosaicuuc.org.

On the road again

In order to expand its ministry in DeLand, New Hope United Church of Christ (UCC) has moved to the chapel at Good Samaritan Florida Lutheran Retirement Center at 450 N. McDonald Ave. in DeLand, a few blocks north of New York Avenue.

The church has opened its services to residents of the retirement center and their families, and to all members of the community.

'It is our hope that families of residents will want to worship together with us. It's a unique ministry to serve people of all ages, including grandkids,' said the Rev. Karen Curtis-Weakley. New Hope has an emphasis on peace and justice issues, and its members are known as the people of extravagant welcome.

Enter the retirement center at the main entrance, where there is plenty of parking. Sunday service is at 10 a.m. See the church's Facebook page at New Hope UCC DeLand, or visit the website at http://ift.tt/1gAges5.

The Adamses, great Unitarians

Orlando actors David McElroy and Marylin McGinnis will present 'Great Unitarians: John and Abigail Adams' at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Feb. 16, at First Unitarian Universalist Church of West Volusia in DeLand. This will be a dramatic dialogue between the second president of the United States and his wife. Authentic costumes and musical elements will accentuate the presentation.

Religious education for children of all ages is provided during the service. For more information about the church, visit http://ift.tt/1j8gbUL or the website at www.uudeland.org, or call 386-734-6499. To learn more about Unitarian Universalism, visit www.uua.org.

Movies and chili

Pastor Lisa Degrenia of Community United Methodist Church in DeBary invites the community to a free Movie Night and Chili Cook-Off Saturday, Feb. 15. Dinner will be at 4:30 p.m., with a PG-13 movie about a beloved comic-book hero following at 6 p.m.

Bring a big pot of soup or chili. The chilis will be judged by local firefighters.

Women's connection

The DeBary Women's Connection monthly luncheon will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at DeBary Golf & Country Club, 300 Plantation Club Drive. Attendees may enjoy delicious food, networking, and a fun and inspirational program. 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 the door. Call Susan at 386-668-1169 or Kathy at 386-747-5079, email to debarywc@gmail.com, or visit debarywomensconnection.com for information and registration.

Spaghetti dinner

DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church invites the community to its monthly Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15.

The menu includes spaghetti with meat or marinara sauce, salad, garlic bread, iced tea and lemonade, and homemade desserts.

The cost is an $8 donation for adults, and children eat free. The church uses the funds raised for outreach work.

-

Reader Comments

The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The West Volusia Beacon to read more stories by Margie Dykes, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!