Events and Activities

Whether in-person or virtual, our goal is to engage with each other and God. We typically have events throughout the year including Easter egg hunts, Trick or Treating, Rummage Sales, and the Christmas play, in partnership with our drama club. The Christmas Bazaar also has a dedicated room full of crafts and cookies for the kids to make and decorate. We are looking forward to continuing these events and connecting with each other and God. You can also keep up with the church events and meetings using our calendar view.

On this Page: Upcoming and Current Recurring Past
(click to jump to section on page)

Upcoming and Current

You can view our weekly announcements, events, and ongoing ways to be of service (food drives, volunteer opportunities in the church, etc.) in our Spirit Newsletter.

Register and get more information for our free 2023 Vacation Bible School at the top of our 2023 Hero Hotline Website, June 19-23, 6-8:15pm. Free dinner for the whole family at 5:15 (must stay with kids).

Presentation of the Bibles to 3rd Graders – June 4th (during both church services)

Graduate Recognition and Congratulations – June 18th (during both church services)

Recurring

Seekers Class – Adult Bible Studies – Classes meet between services (9:45 – 10:45am) in the Conference Room. Please join us, bring your coffee, and attend as often as you can! Check our Spirit newsletter or our Learning Page for summer and winter break periods.

Children’s Christian Education Classes – Children from 2 years to high school age enjoy the warm and inviting atmosphere. Children actively participate in learning about Christianity interactively with messages, Bible games, and songs. From 9:45AM to 10:45AM.

Children’s Plays/Skits – Regularly scheduled children’s events especially at Easter and Christmas where children of all ages perform, recite, and sing the glory of God’s Word.

Country Christmas Bazaar – Fall and Christmas crafts sold along with food. Craft vendors display their handiwork also. Lots of fun for the entire family — including pictures with Santa and children’s Christmas gift buying room. Free admission and church crafts are tax-free.

Fall Fest/Trunk-or Treat – Family fun day full of activities for kids and adults alike along with a truck-or-treat.

Flea Market/Yard Sale – Held on the lawns of the church in the spring. Tables are available for anyone who wishes to participate. Breakfast, lunch, and bake table are available.

Rummage Sale – Held every year in October. The congregation gets a chance to clean out their closets and donate treasures to the church to sell. There is glassware, holiday decorations, dishes, clothes, etc., etc., — anything goes. Delicious homemade soups and sweets are sold for lunch.

Pastor’s Weekly Study – Weekly Bible Study, Wednesdays at 1:00pm

Praise & Play Drama Group – Meets as needed for planning and rehearsals. We praise the Lord with skits, both humorous and serious. No experience necessary! For more information or to join contact Joy Grimm: joyg1@comcast.net. Check out our past events for some of the fun we have!

Vacation Bible School – Children from pre-school to 12 years learn about special topics each year. Children go from one creative center to the next – Bible lesson, storytelling, music, arts and crafts, snacks, outside activities — each activity follows the theme of that year.

Past

2023 Events (Click to expand)

CELEBRATE EASTER WITH US

Palm Sunday 4/2 8:30am and 11:00am in the sanctuary. The Praise & Play Drama Group will be presenting a short skit with the Children’s Sunday School
Holy Thursday 4/6 7pm
Good Friday 4/7 7pm
Easter Celebrations 4/9
6:30am Sunrise service in the Deer Park Church Pavilion with Trinity Lutheran, includes Holy Communion (bring a flashlight).
8:30am and 11:00am services in the sanctuary

Easter Egg Hunt 2023 (open to all) 4/9, 9:45am
Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt, open to the community, at 9:45 am on Easter Sunday, April 9th. We will be starting in the sanctuary with a quick Easter Video while the bunnies hide the eggs outside (or inside if needed due to weather). After the hunt hang out with crafts, coloring, and the playground until the 11am service.

SOUPerBowl – January 22 through February 12th

“SOUPER” BOWL XIII – final: “Organ” side: 646 / “Screen” side: 671

What an exciting quarter, the “Screen” side took back the lead in the final quarter that produced a total of 440 containers of soup. The Soup just kept “pouring in” all morning. It was an exciting game with outstanding efforts from players on both sides. Although we did not break the all-time high of “Souper” Bowl IX, 1580 containers of soup set in 2019, the combined total of 1317 containers of soup makes “Souper” Bowl XIII the fourth highest scoring game.

There is no way to pick an MVP for this game as all players put in exceptional efforts. A special “thank you” goes to Lions: Ron Kafchinski, Norman Ravenscroft and Dave Hopkins for loading and delivering all the soup to Carroll County Food Sunday.

All players are reminded that they cannot rest on their “SOUPER” Bowl achievements and should begin practicing right away for next year’s SOUPER Bowl XIV by bringing non-perishable food items to the narthex each Sunday for the Carroll County Food Sunday program. Here is a special exercise to help keep you in shape – Carroll County Food Sunday would like to have Pancake mixes (complete) and Syrup in time to give out for Shrove Tuesday (February 21). Pancake mixes and Syrup are some of the items they do not get very often.

Before signing off we have a message from the folks at Carroll County Food Sunday who say “THANK YOU” and they can’t wait for next year’s game.

This final report brought to you by Deer Park Soup Central – see you next year for “SOUPER” BOWL XVI.

3^rd Quarter Score: “Organ” Side: 467 “Screen” Side: 410
Today is the final quarter and the “Organ” side has taken back the lead, but it’s still anyone’s game. Check back here next Sunday to find out which side brought the most soup. If you forgot your soup today it can still be dropped off tomorrow. Remember every bowl of soup counts. Of course, the real winner is CARROLL COUNTY FOOD SUNDAY
where all the donations go, to help provide warm food for our neighbors in need.

2^nd Quarter Score Update: “Organ” Side: 202 “Screen” Side: 268
We begin the 3^rd quarter with the “Screen” side leading. Both sides are urged to go for
a TOUCHDOWN by putting “SOUPER” BOWL on your shopping lists and bringing in soup (can or dry) and placing it on your side of the altar to help your team win! Remember every bowl of soup counts. All contributions go to CARROLL COUNTY FOOD SUNDAY to help provide warm food for our neighbors in need.

1^st Quarter Update

At the end of the 1^st quarter, the score is “Organ” side: 116 / “Screen” side: 79. A pretty good start to our game. The “Organ” may have the early lead, but it’s only the 1^st quarter and there’s still lots of game left. The “players” on both sides will need to really “bring the soup” this week to put their team on top. This reporter expects to see an even higher score by the end of the 2^nd quarter. Each team member is urged to go for a TOUCHDOWN by putting “SOUPER” BOWL SUNDAY on your shopping list and bringing in as much soup (can or dry) as you can. Tune in Sunday, January 29 for continuing coverage of the 2^nd quarter of SOUPER BOWL XIII. At this point, it’s definitely anyone’s game.

This update brought to you by Deer Park Soup Central. (Reminder: All contributions go to Carroll County Food Sunday)

Westminster Rescue Mission – Food Giveaway on 2/16, 3/16, and 4/20. See flyer for compete details and dates.

Trinity Lutheran Community Education – Heart Health Lunch N’ Learn 2/22. See flyer for compete details and dates.

2022 Events (Click to expand)

Wreaths Across America – December 17th, Noon

Wreath sponsors needed for this year’s ceremony. Sponsor a wreath today for a chance at great prizes. Use the website, https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/43676/Overview/?relatedid=0, select MENU, look for Deer Park United Methodist Cemetery in participating locations. Order forms are also on the table in the narthex. wreaths are $15 each for this event.

Fundraiser

Cindy Saylor at csaylor@dpumc.net or Mel Blizzard mblizzardjr@outlook.com.

Praise and Play Drama Group, Adult and Children’s Choir

“What is Christmas?” by Faith Schott – December 18th, 2022. See full production.

: Praise and Play

: Praise and Play

: Praise and Play

: Joy to the World

: Praise and Play

: Frosty the Snowman

: Frosty the Snowman

: Away in a Manager

: Emmanuel, God is with Us

: Children’s Sunday School

: Adult Choir

: Children’s Choir and Praise and Play

: Children greeting Frosty

Christmas Bazaar – December 3rd, 8am-1pm, See a Quick Video

: Bake Table Getting Set-up

: Church Craft Room

: Cookie Decorating for kids

: Silent Auction Items

: A few of the great shopping options

: A few more of the great shopping options

Salem Bottom Boys – November 13th, 10AM Church Service

: Salem Bottom Boys with Full Church

: Salem Bottom Boys Bluegrass Gospel

: Salem Bottom Boys Worship Service

Fall Fest and Truck-or-Treat – October 30th, Noon-2

Family fun day full of activities for kids and adults alike along with a truck-or-treat. Open to the community.

: Welcome table with church information

: Playground fun

: Wetting up trunks

: Great grilling volunteers getting ready!

: Hot dogs were a hit!

: Excited for the popcorn

: Fresh delicious popcorn

: Happy Harvest Trunk

: Hess Toy Truck Trunk

: A trunk with a magnetic dart game!

: A trunk with a magnetic dart game!

: A trunk with a magnetic dart game!

: Nightmare before elm trunk

: Spider man trunk

: Cute candy corn dog trunk

: Welcoming Fall trunk

: Pumpkin Trunk

: Crafting their own pumpkin faces and rainbow scratch Halloween ornaments

: Eating and crafting in the pavilion

: Crafting and coloring in the pavilion

: Bounce house up and ready for the first cusomters

: The bounce house was a hit!

: More bounce house fun

: Sarah Sanderson headed into the unicorn forest . . .

: Unicorn forest, follow the unicorn path to find a treat

: Entering the unicorn forest trail

: following the unicorns in the trees

Blessing of the Animals – October 9th, 8:30 Service

All creatures great and small — furry, finned, scaled, or shelled! The service will be in the pavilion. Bring your pet for a hands-on, personal blessing or a picture of the pet if he/she does not travel well.

Blessing of the Back Packs – September 11th, Both Church Services

Wishing the children well as they head back to school. Bring your backpack for a special blessing.

Speaker Barbara Zeigler Markland “Tell Me About the Cross”

The DPUMC sisterhood is happy to present noted Christian author and teacher on Saturday, September 24, 8:30AM until 2:30PM. The cost is $10 which includes continental breakfast and lunch. Reservations need to be made by September 18. Please make your check payable to the Deer Park Sisterhood, Any questions, see Helen Redding or email the church.

Vacation Bible School – June 20-24th, 6-8:15pm

VBS is back in-person this year. For details on the theme, mission each day, free dinner beforehand, and more see the VBS page and welcome letter. The theme will be knights of the North Castle.

Pictures on the VBS page and our closing performance.

Easter 2022 (Click to expand)

CELEBRATE EASTER WITH US

Palm Sunday 4/10 8:30am and 11:00am in the sanctuary
Holy Thursday 4/14 7pm
Good Friday 4/15 7pm
Easter Celebrations 4/17
6am Sunrise service in the outside pavilion
8:30am and 11:00am services in the sanctuary

Easter Egg Hunt 2022 (open to all)
Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt, open to the community, at 9:45 am on Easter Sunday, April 17th. We will be starting in the sanctuary with a quick Easter Quiz while the bunnies hide the eggs outside (or inside if needed due to weather). You can donate individually wrapped Easter Candy to stuff the eggs with in the box in the Narthex.

DPUMC “Souper” Bowl XII (1/23-2/13) (Click to expand)

Final: “Organ” side: 726 / “Screen” side: 707

Our 12th annual “Souper” Bowl starts Sunday, January 23 and runs through Super Bowl Sunday, February 13. This friendly competition is between the “Screen” side and the “Organ” side to see which side can bring in the most soup for the needy by Super Bowl Sunday. So please bring soup (canned or dry) each week and place it at the altar rail on “your” side to help your team win! All contributions go to Carroll County Food Sunday.

Game Update brought to you by Deer Park Soup Central 2/13/22:

What a quarter, the “Organ” side held on to the lead in the 4^th quarter that produced a total of 455 containers of soup. The Soup just kept “pouring in” all morning. It was an exciting game with outstanding efforts from players on both sides. Although we did not break the all-time high of “Souper” Bowl IX, 1580 containers of soup, the combined total of 1433 containers of soup makes “Souper” Bowl XII the second highest scoring game, especially considering the circumstances.

There is a 3-way tie for the MVP for the game: Keith Bryan, Gary Saylor and Pastor John share the honor for loading and delivering all the soup to Carroll County Food Sunday.

All players are reminded that they cannot rest on their “SOUPER” Bowl achievements and should begin practicing right away for next year’s SOUPER Bowl XIII by bringing non-perishable food items to the narthex each Sunday for the Carroll County Food Sunday program. Here is a special exercise to help keep you in shape – Carroll County Food Sunday would like to have Pancake mixes (complete) and Syrup in time to give out for Shrove Tuesday (March 1). Pancake mixes and Syrup are some of the items they do not get very often.

Before signing off we have a message from the folks at Carroll County Food Sunday who say “THANK YOU” and they can’t wait for next year’s game.

Soup will be taken to CCFS on Tuesday 2/15.

2021 Christmas Bazaar (Click to expand)

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

Saturday, December 4 8AM – 1PM

2021 Wreaths Across America (Click to expand)

Wreaths Across America

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Donation form (Click here)

2021 Trunk or Treat (Click to expand)

Children’s Trunk or Treat

Sunday, October 31 9:45AM – 10:45AM

different carton jack-o-lantern pumpkins with various religious messages, such as shine God's light Sunday, October 31 instead of Sunday school kids are invited to dress up and come to the parking lot (social hall in case of rain) to enjoy decorations, treats, crafts, and fun!