Deltona United Church of Christ "Judgement Free Zone"
We Welcome All
Login
July 4, 2009


1649 Providence Blvd.
Deltona, Florida 32725
office@deltona-ucc.org
Phone :386-574-1821
FAX :386-574-7554

Sunday Service Begins at 10:00 a.m.


July 1,2009

 Dear Beloved of God,

 First let me say that by this address, I begin with my base of belief.  You and I are loved by God. I believe in a God of love. God loves what God has created.  God does not forget what God has created.  Since God is the creator of the good we therefore are not only good basically, but we are loved by God.  I would hope, that like me, this gives you an aura that is both unique and secure.

  I write this because I want to thank all of you at Deltona United Church of Christ for a chance to serve you  The interim installation that as a congregation and I,as your pastor affirmed, is that I would pray for you, I would pray with you, I would love you, and minister unto you.  In addition as an ordained minister I have my covenant with God to give you the very best that I could. Then, this covenant is between you and me and God.

  All of that being said, I see my task with the church to be minister.  So including "serving the sacraments, and preaching the word rightly" I take on another role in helping you to heal the hurts, to see what you and I can do to make Deltona United Church of Christ a safe and comfortable place for people who are located in different places on their journey of faith. 

 I have been attempting in this first month ( June) to help you to see that  you and I must journey together  In addition although our locales may be different, we may even be on different paths of that journey.  I would pray that you and I are aware that this is right wise for us to do. I would pray that you and I respect each other, and hence expect the same respect from others.

  I do want to make clear to you that  YOU are the body of Christ.  It is therefore up to all of us to spread the word of love of God. Sermons this past month have been meanings for Beacon on a Hill, In this Boat Together, and Healing. 

  What I really seek as a part of our responsibility as a church that follows Jesus, is that you and I preach the gospel, and "when necessary use words". You and I are faced with problems new and yet old to the Church.  People since Antioch have been attempting to bring people to see the love of God as expressed in the life and ways of Jesus of Nazareth.  And perhaps what is newest is that we have more generations ... which have grown up different, which have moved quicker,  whch have more access to both good and evil, that has ever been in the history of the world.  How tough is it -- I suggest you mention to any recent school attendee 45, 78 or 331/3 record... try to see   their reaction, or  what their explanation for such a record.

  You and I as church are attempting to appeal  across the  generations, and at the same time be true to what we know... or at least what we think know... and not to betray our own belief system. nor to put a period where God put a comma on our own faith journey.

 Does it sound like a daunting task? I believe it sounds very daunting..  But someone once said, if a group of dedicated Christian begin to move... don't get in their way.

 I take that to mean, that not only are we to love God who loves us, but we are to risk loving neighbor even when we are not sure that the neighbor will or is able to love us.

 Again I thank you for this opportunity to serve.  But I feel I must ask you what it is that you are ready to do  to strengthen, to 'grow' this church and thus the Church universal.

In  shalom,

Jim Reilly a fellow pilgrim

 






That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" John 17:21

He Qi Gallery Portal


  more...





UCC launches new weekly e-zine called 'Keeping You e-Posted'

Written by Staff Reports
October 27, 2008

Tired of ever-bulging e-mail inboxes and lackluster messages? The UCC is trying to help.

In an effort to better coordinate the UCC's electronic communication with its members, the denomination has launched a new weekly electronic publication that will be mailed to its entire database each Tuesday morning.

Called "Keeping You e-Posted," the coordinated graphic e-mail will include minimal text but multiple links to UCC news stories, resources, events, prayers, action alerts and liturgical aids.

"Our long-term goal is to reduce the amount of e-mails that come to you from the UCC's national setting, while underscoring timely material and delivering it to our readers in an attractive and coordinated format," said the Rev. J. Bennett Guess, the UCC's director of communications. "We also want to substantially increase the number of people who receive their news and information from us electronically."
 
About 60,000 people, initially, will receive the weekly e-zine, Guess said, but persons can
manage their subscriptions or even unsubscribe if they would prefer not to receive it. Readers can also forward the e-mail to friends and fellow church members.

"Many of our pastors will recall a time when they once received a monthly two-sided sheet of paper called 'Keeping You Posted' that contained a lot of short, helpful information that pastors and churches needed to know," Guess said. "In many respects we've come full circle by reintroducing a familiar title, but employing new technology to deliver concise bits of news."

An archived list of Keeping You e-Posted editions will be available at <ucc.org/keeping-you-eposted>.




Oxfam America banner


Welcome Rev. Jim Reilly

Several months ago, the council entrusted the Search Committee with the responsibility of prayerfully selecting a candidate to serve as Interim Pastor.  With the council’s unanimous approval, we are pleased to announce the hiring of Rev. James E. Reilly to the position of Part-Time Interim Minister. 

We are overjoyed that Rev. Reilly has accepted this position to guide us as we minister in the name of Jesus Christ.  Rev. Reilly is a retired UCC minister and teacher from Indiana who resides here in Deltona with his wife, Patricia.  Although “retired”, he and Pat keep quite busy.  They both volunteer at the Interfaith Kitchen of Deland serving meals to the homeless.  Rev. Reilly teaches a weekly Bible class at the Cloisters and  Pat leads a Sunday worship service.  Jim is always up for a round of golf and Pat sews.  They both enjoy reading and writing.

 

While Rev. Reilly officially joined our church family on June 1, 2009, he has already been involved at DUCC.  We have been privileged, over the last six months, to have him preach and instruct intriguing Bible study lessons. 

We also hope that you will visit us soon to meet and hear Rev. Reilly for yourself.  And then join us for coffee and fellowship so that WE can get to know YOU.  


Dance Like No One's Watching

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.

Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough
and we'll be more content when they are.

After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.

If not now ... when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D Souza ...

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin.
But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time ... and remember that time waits for no one ...

So stop waiting until you finish school ... until you go back to school ... until you lose ten pounds ... until you gain ten pounds ... until you have kids ... until your kids leave the house ... until you start work ... until you retire ... until you get married ... until you get divorced ... until Friday night ... until Sunday morning ... until you get a new car or home ... until your car or home is paid off ... until spring, until summer ... until fall ... until winter ... until you are off welfare ... until the first or fifteenth ... until your song comes on ... until you've had a drink ... until you've sobered up ... until you die ... until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy ...

Happiness is a journey ... not a destination!!

Thought for the day:

"Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching."

Author:
Crystal Boyd


Help 4 Breast Cancer Portal



















Deltona United Church of Christ "Judgement Free Zone"
top

American Bible Society
Web tools and hosting powered by ForMinistry, a service of the American Bible Society.
The content of this website is the responsibility of this website's editor and
does not necessarily reflect the views of the American Bible Society.
© 2006

Home Advanced Bible Search Deltona-UCC By-Laws FLCUCC United Church of Christ Disclaimer Policy UCC-EarthCare Community

Progress