The annual Pumpkin Patch at Cason United Methodist Church, 342 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach, opens with hundreds of the orange orbs for sale beginning Oct. 10.
But the highlight of the event is the Family Fun Fest from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18, when the church will have crafts, story time, a petting zoo, the UWF bake sale, music, the God Squad Lemonade Stand and Popcorn Stand, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit. The Delray Beach Police Department will also have its ice cream truck on site.
Pumpkins are for sale daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday and 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays Oct. 10-30. Sponsors and volunteers are also needed. Call 561-276-5302.
Shelves stocked for annual opening of Holly House
Every year the women at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach devote thousands of hours to preparations for the annual Holly House Holiday Gift Shop Grand Opening that takes place 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 17-18, at 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach.
The shelves are stocked, and this festive wonderland is bursting with handcrafted treasures, seasonal décor and one-of-a-kind gifts that showcase the creativity and skill of dedicated volunteers who do the heavy lifting. The shop will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 18 and 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20. For more info, call 561-276-6338 or visit firstdelray.com.
’American Spirit’ concert at First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian Church, 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach, will present a concert, The American Spirit, at 4 p.m. Oct. 26. Pianist Don Cannarozzi and the choir will showcase music of faith, hope and courage featuring folk songs and spiritual pieces that reflect our passion. Tickets are $20. Reserve at firstdelray.com/concerts/reserve-concert-tickets.
Plenty to do at Radiant City Church annual Fall Festival
Radiant City Church hosts its annual Fall Festival 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the church, 251 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. Bounce houses, food and trunk-or-treating are planned. Two years ago, the church moved into its current home. It has a strong campus ministry at Florida Atlantic University, which is just 1.3 miles away. Call 561-600-0567 or visit radiantcitychurch.org.
St. Jude offering Family Western Night
St. Jude Catholic Church, 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton, is hosting Family Western Night at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 in its Mount Carmel Hall. Food, drink, line dancing lessons, country music and games are planned. Dress is western attire. Tickets are $40 adults, $20 for children, free for those younger than age 5. Call 561-392-8172 or visit stjudeboca.org and click on News & Events.
St. Jude annual Fall Fest returns bigger than ever
St. Jude Catholic Church Fall Fest is back and bigger than ever, its flyer boasts. The four-day event takes place Nov. 6-9 at the church, 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton, and features carnival rides, games, Bingo, a cornhole tournament, a rummage sale and food and drinks. Festival hours are 5-10 p.m. Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and 1-8 p.m. Sunday. Four-day wristbands for unlimited rides are $94.17. Single-day wristbands are $47.60. Call 561-392-8172 or visit stjudeboca.org and click on News & Events.
Journey Church set to host reception, kids festival
The Journey Church, 2200 NW Second Ave., Boca Raton, is hosting newcomers receptions after the 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Oct. 12. These short gatherings are a chance to meet Pastor Jason Hatley and the Journey team and to connect with other newcomers.
On Oct. 26, the church will host the Journey Kids Fall Festival during both services. This community event for kids in fifth grade and younger invites them to come dressed in costumes (no violent or scary masks) and to bring a friend for games and prizes, bounce houses and obstacle courses, candy and treats, and even a Bible lesson. Call 561-420-0606 or visit bocajourney.com/events.
St. Gregory’s offering new yoga, movement class
Yoga and Sacred Movement is a new monthly class offered by St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. It combines gentle stretching and strengthening exercises with a Christian focus.
Led by parishioner and yoga instructor Daphne Lombardo under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Robyn Neville, the program meets on the third Thursday of the month, with the next at 4 p.m. Oct. 16. Bring your own yoga mat and be prepared to reflect on scripture and prayer while you perform sacred movements including breath work.
Yoga Mass, with prayers and poses, is offered this month from 4-5 p.m. Oct. 25 in St. Mary’s Chapel. The Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren and Father Andrew Sherman lead. Call 561-395-8285 or email rneville@st-gregorys.com.
Lon Chaney’s ’Phantom’ coming to St. Gregory’s
St. Gregory’s will host the return of its popular silent film presentation of The Phantom of the Opera, the 1925 classic starring Lon Chaney, with live accompaniment by Tim Brumfield, St. Gregory’s director of music ministries, on the church’s Austin pipe organ.
The show takes place at 7 p.m. Oct. 29, and admission is free.
Brumfield will offer a rare behind-the curtain experience beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a champagne reception. He provides an in-depth exploration into how he created the musical score for the film, plus he’ll show off the magnificent pipe organ.
Tickets are $75 and reservations are required. Guests may dress in costume for the pre-Halloween event.
St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Call 561-395-8285.
St. Lucy Church event honors Blessed Mother
St. Lucy Church in Highland Beach celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a special Mass followed by a birthday celebration with cake on Sept. 8. Father Brian Horgan shared his boundless love for the Blessed Mother in a talk about her life following a Holy Mass commemorating her birth. He blessed Marian statues and paintings brought by the St. Lucy parishioners, then the guests enjoyed lunch catered by The Grille on Congress followed by prosecco and cake.
This was the first event hosted by the St. Lucy Sisterhood, a new women’s group whose motto is “Doing awesomely good things in God’s name.” For information, contact Marisa Acocella at sls@stlucy.net or call 561-278-1280.
’Spiritual Symphony’ at B’nai Torah Congregation
B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton hosted a special Selichot Service or “Spiritual Symphony” on Sept. 14 where special prayers were recited in anticipation of the High Holy Days.
Yair Keydar, Cantor Magda Fishman, Rabbi Hector Epelbaum, Interim Senior Rabbi Jack Moline and Rabbi Evan Susman performed for the congregation.
Fishman said, “Selichot has always been a time when I feel deeply connected to the prayers, to our heritage and tradition.”
B’nai Torah Congregation, a conservative synagogue with more than 1,300 membership families, is at 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton. Call 561-392-8566 or visit btcboca.org.
Newest saint is the patron of computer programmers
Think (computer) science and religion don’t mix? Or that you need to be old to be a saint?
Carlo Acutis, an Italian teen who had an abiding faith and killer tech skills, became a saint on Sept. 7. The curly-haired youth has been called the Millennial Saint and the patron saint of the internet.
Born in London and raised in Milan, the self-taught programmer did projects such as creating a website that catalogued Eucharistic miracles.
A young man full of compassion for the poor, St. Carlo worked to lighten the burden of the marginalized in his community even as he fought leukemia. He died at age 15 in 2006 and was beatified in 2020.
Two miracles were recognized by the Catholic Church and attributed to his intercession. The church says that in Brazil, a boy was cured of pancreatic disease, and in Costa Rica, a woman recovered from a head injury after her mother prayed to Acutis.
The distinction of youngest saint goes to Jacinta and Francisco Marto, ages 9 and 10, who were canonized in 2017, 100 years after they and their cousin told of seeing the apparition of the Virgin Mary now known as Our Lady of Fatima.
— Janis Fontaine
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