Prince of Peace hosts interfaith ‘Battle of Church Bands’

A mostly–family band representing the Church of the United Brethren in Christ of Holly Hill compete at the “Battle of the Church Bands” Oct. 8 at Prince of Peace Parish. The group won top honors for their performance which was part of the parish’s 41st annual Octoberfest.

JENNIFER SURGENT | FC
A band representing the Church of the United Brethren in Christ of Holly Hill competes at the “Battle of the Church Bands” Oct. 8 at Prince of Peace Parish. The group won top honors for their performance which was part of the parish’s 41st annual Octoberfest.

JENNIFER SURGENT | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Posted: 10.15.09

ORMOND BEACH | When the committee members of the Prince of Peace Octoberfest were planning this year’s activities, the idea of a “Battle of the Church Bands” was introduced. Prince of Peace youth minister Michael Buckler jumped on the idea and immediately called his friends at Tomoka United Methodist Church of Ormond Beach for help.

“We have a great relationship with Tomoka,” Buckler said. Together they arranged for the first Battle of the Church Bands on Oct. 8. The four bands in the ecumenical battle came from Tomoka United Methodist Church, Church of the United Brethren in Christ of Holly Hill, First United Methodist Church of Port Orange and Prince of Peace Parish here.

“Anytime that we can get together with our Protestant brothers and sisters is a very good thing. We played together and prayed together. And the reality is we got to praise God and speak of God’s love to hundreds of people.”

The top prize of $400 went to an almost all-family praise band from the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. A second-place award of $200 went to the youngsters of the First United Methodist Church – a group of seventh- through 11th-grade students.

This year marked the 41st annual Prince of Peace Octoberfest – and a new tradition was born.