
“Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me.” Matthew 25:34-36 (NIV)
Changing Lives, That’s Our Church’s Wider Mission, is more than a slogan or phrase; it is the lifeblood of ministry and mission in the United Church of Christ. Your contribution to this offering of our covenant together provides financial support for many local and global ministries.

Out Our Missions For 2022

Grace House Pregnancy Center

Childrens Home Society
Comfort Kit Drive CHS care kits for Local youth coming into foster care, homeless and underprivileged families.

Volusia County Schools
Food/Grocery cards for underprivileged local kids/ families
Contact the church office on ways to help.

UNICEF Ukraine
War in Ukraine poses an immediate threat to children.
UNICEF is working to scale up life-saving support for children and their families.
Additional information on these projects and all supplies can be picked up in the Sanctuary or Church office.
Or any donations can be sent directly to the church. 201 West University Ave, Orange City FL 32763
Many thanks for considering these much-needed Missions!
Additional information on these projects and all supplies can be picked up in the Sanctuary or Church office.
Or any donations can be sent directly to the church. 201 West University Ave, Orange City FL 32763
Many thanks for considering these much-needed Missions!
What The Neighborhood Center Does For The Community...
EMERGENCY FOOD BANK
Donations the Neighborhood Center (NCWV) receives are packaged into bags for the hungry of our community – DeLand and its neighboring cities. Bags consist of meals for three days, including fruits, vegetables, meats, rice, or pasta.
DAILY FOOD PANTRY
The NCWV’s daily food pantry is available to serve the hungry on a daily basis and requires current ID cards and Social Security cards of all individuals in the household. We also distribute for those in need by request hygiene products, including shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorants, and lotions. Additionally, we can provide items for children such as we will diapers, formula, and baby food. This is all dependent upon donations.
At peak need, we distribute 250 bags of food per week to individuals in need.
We are always in need of these nonperishable food items for our emergency and daily food pantries, and welcome your donations:
Peanut butter and jelly Canned soup Canned meat, such as tuna, chicken Dry pasta Tomato sauce Macaroni and cheese
EMERGENCY BILL ASSISTANCE
The Neighborhood Center also assists with utility bills — electric, gas, and water. At the present time, we are only able to help with a utility payment once every six months.
EMERGENCY HOUSING
The Neighborhood Center in DeLand has an emergency shelter with 10 beds (six males and four females). Clients are able to stay for a maximum of 30 days, with room and board supplied at no cost. In recent years, we have housed more than 240 clients and served 2,700 meals.
EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
The Heart House! Opening June 2013.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
The Neighborhood Center also offers transitional housing. We have 16 beds for males and four available for single women. Also, we offer housing for two single women with children (sheltering up to four children). We have one family house with space for parents and up to two children, per parent.
OTHER SERVICES
Other services we provide at The Neighborhood Center are crisis counseling, referral services, and living skills groups.
What The Neighborhood Center Does For The Community...
EMERGENCY FOOD BANK
Donations the Neighborhood Center (NCWV) receives are packaged into bags for the hungry of our community – DeLand and its neighboring cities. Bags consist of meals for three days, including fruits, vegetables, meats, rice, or pasta.
DAILY FOOD PANTRY
The NCWV’s daily food pantry is available to serve the hungry on a daily basis and requires current ID cards and Social Security cards of all individuals in the household. We also distribute for those in need by request hygiene products, including shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorants, and lotions. Additionally, we can provide items for children such as we will diapers, formula, and baby food. This is all dependent upon donations.
At peak need, we distribute 250 bags of food per week to individuals in need.
We are always in need of these nonperishable food items for our emergency and daily food pantries, and welcome your donations:
Peanut butter and jelly Canned soup Canned meat, such as tuna, chicken Dry pasta Tomato sauce Macaroni and cheese
EMERGENCY BILL ASSISTANCE
The Neighborhood Center also assists with utility bills — electric, gas, and water. At the present time, we are only able to help with a utility payment once every six months.
EMERGENCY HOUSING
The Neighborhood Center in DeLand has an emergency shelter with 10 beds (six males and four females). Clients are able to stay for a maximum of 30 days, with room and board supplied at no cost. In recent years, we have housed more than 240 clients and served 2,700 meals.
EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
The Heart House! Opening June 2013.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
The Neighborhood Center also offers transitional housing. We have 16 beds for males and four available for single women. Also, we offer housing for two single women with children (sheltering up to four children). We have one family house with space for parents and up to two children, per parent.
OTHER SERVICES
Other services we provide at The Neighborhood Center are crisis counseling, referral services, and living skills groups.
WE ARE A 5 FOR 5 CONGREGATION!
That means we provide basic support for OCWM (Our Church’s Wider Mission) and fully supports all four special mission offerings of the UCC. We are one of 1,200 UCC churches that are 5 for 5 (there are approximately 5,500 UCC churches in total). Providing UCC basic support means that we give to OCWM which funds conferences and national ministries of the UCC, which include Wider Church Ministries, Local Church Ministries, Justice and Witness Ministries, General Ministries, and Pension Boards.
Part of OCWM, the following four special offerings sponsor vital ministries that bring hope to people in the U.S. and around the world:
One Great Hour of Sharing
Channels resources for international programs in health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response, administered by Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources.
Strengthen the Church
Grows the UCC’s future by funding The StillSpeaking Ministry, new and renewing churches, youth and young adult ministries, and lay and pastoral leadership formation—especially among women and people of color; administered by our church’s Conference, Local Church Ministries, and The Stillspeaking Ministry.
Neighbors In Need
Support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Witness Ministries.
The Christmas Fund
Helps provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income, retired church workers, emergency assistance to clergy families in need, and Christmas checks to hundreds of annuitants, as administered by the Pension Board.
Thank you for your support!
WE ARE A 5 FOR 5 CONGREGATION!
That means we provide basic support for OCWM (Our Church’s Wider Mission) and fully supports all four special mission offerings of the UCC. We are one of 1,200 UCC churches that are 5 for 5 (there are approximately 5,500 UCC churches in total). Providing UCC basic support means that we give to OCWM which funds conferences and national ministries of the UCC, which include Wider Church Ministries, Local Church Ministries, Justice and Witness Ministries, General Ministries, and Pension Boards.
Part of OCWM, the following four special offerings sponsor vital ministries that bring hope to people in the U.S. and around the world:
One Great Hour of Sharing
Channels resources for international programs in health, education and agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee ministries, and both international and domestic disaster response, administered by Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources.
Strengthen the Church
Grows the UCC’s future by funding The StillSpeaking Ministry, new and renewing churches, youth and young adult ministries, and lay and pastoral leadership formation—especially among women and people of color; administered by our church’s Conference, Local Church Ministries, and The Stillspeaking Ministry.
Neighbors In Need
Support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM), justice and advocacy, and direct service projects supported by Justice and Witness Ministries.
The Christmas Fund
Helps provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income, retired church workers, emergency assistance to clergy families in need, and Christmas checks to hundreds of annuitants, as administered by the Pension Board.
Thank you for your support!
God Is Still Speaking Ministry
Will you help spread God’s extravagant Welcome? Will you invest in changing the lives of the many who don’t know a church like ours exists? Please join members of other UCC churches in communicating that no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome in the United Church of Christ and at First Congregational Church of Orange City, United Church of Christ!

How Can One Person Change The World?
Sponsor a child . . .
Plant a tree . . .
Rebuild a home . . .
Visit a prisoner . . .
Be a mentor . . .
Teach . . .
Serve a meal . . .
Bring water to the thirsty…
Pray…
Donate . . .
The opportunities are endless. And they’re all right here. What part of our world is waiting for you to make a difference?
Visit UCC.org for more ways to help!

CHALLENGE — FILL THE FOOD BIN EVERY SUNDAY
The Neighborhood Center is experiencing a severe food shortage and needs to restock its shelves. Demand continues to increase. The Mission Board is challenging all of us—individual members and families—to bring one food item each month, each time we grocery shop or weekly to fill the food bin. The nonperishable food items needed include canned fruits, vegetables and meats; rice, pasta and sauce, breakfast foods, and peanut butter and jelly. Will you accept the challenge and do your part to fill the food bin?
