National Back to Church Sunday - This Weekend!

Hope is excited to be participating in this year's National Back to Church Sunday on September 18! This is a national campaign to bring old and new faces back into church after the summer months. As we return to our pre-COVID activities, this is the best time to invite friends to church or encourage members to return to worship.

We hope to see you with guests at worship this weekend!

Dine to Donate at Texas Roadhouse

September 18 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Hope Lutheran Church is once again partnering with Texas Roadhouse for a Dine to Donate afternoon!

If you dine at Texas Roadhouse's Lady Lake location on September 18 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, they will donate 10% of your total food purchases to Hope Lutheran Church!

Invitations are available at each Hope campus. Click here for the invitation.

Mary Jo Vitale In Concert - To Benefit Angel Wigs of Hope

A must-see show is coming to Hope Lutheran Church in October!

Mary Jo Vitale presents "I Feel Pretty!", a musical event to benefit Angel Wigs of Hope.

The show happens on Sunday, October 16 at 6:00pm at Hope Central Campus. Mary Jo is sure to wow us with an unforgettable night of music!

Tickets are on sale TODAY! Admission is $15 per person and all proceeds go to benefit wigs for cancer patients in our local area.

Fun and Games (and Sandwiches, too!)

You're invited to Hope's first ever Game Night, hosted by the CIA (Christians in Action)! We'll have games, laughs, and delicious sub sandwiches. It all happens on Friday, September 30 at 5:00pm at Hope Central Campus.

This will be an event for everyone - whether you are young, older, or have limitations of some kind. There will be table game activities of various kinds, such as "Fact or Fiction" and "Who Said It", where teams work together at each table to answer questions and solve riddles. Prizes will be awarded. Invite your friends and neighbors for a time of fun and fellowship. You could even put together a group of six to fill your table!

Registration is required and will take place online. Deadline for registration is Monday, September 26 at Noon. The cost is $5.00 per person, plus canned food item(s) for the Hope Lake Weir Campus Food Pantry (suggested items include pasta sauce, canned fruit or vegetables, peanut butter & jelly, etc.) Dinner will be served with various soft drinks and coffee available. Questions? Contact Virginia Robertson, CIA Committee Member, at (612) 619-0220.

Hope's Next New Member Orientation

Ready to make Hope your new church home? We invite you to participate in the next step of the membership process by attending Hope’s New Member Orientation.

Orientation will be held on two consecutive Thursdays in the Hope Central Campus in the Fellowship Hall from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. 

September 22 - Day One of Orientation. Light snacks will be served.

September 29 - Day Two of Orientation. This will be a potluck. We ask that you bring a dish to share. Fried chicken and beverages will be provided. 

We have three levels of membership for full-time, part-time, and seasonal residents. If you have questions about which level of membership is best for you, visit our website at hope4all.church/become-a-member or call the church office at (352) 750-2321.

Why become a church member? Becoming a church member gives you the ability to vote on important church matters and to run for a church leadership position. Only full-time and seasonal members can vote.

Ready to get started? Direct all questions and RSVP to Jeff Dunfee at (352) 750-2321 or via email at jeff@hope4all.church.

Mission Moments Shared by Women of Hope

Thank you for your assistance in purchasing the much needed supplies to fill the 80 bags of Lutheran World Relief School Kits that will be shipped to communities overseas.

Also, thank you for your donations that continue to make this ministry of the U.S. Lutheran Church possible. Education is one of the strongest tools a community has for breaking the cycle of poverty.

For Quilters: Meet the first, third, and fifth Wednesday of the month at 12:00pm at Hope Central Campus in Room 205 for quilting. Bring your lunch as we eat around 1:00pm and enjoy fellowship together. The quilts made are sent through Lutheran World Relief to countries in need across the globe. Some of the quilts are also shared with local agencies in the Tri-County area. These quilts are used in many ways by the recipient and are appreciated by those who receive them. Contact Karen O’Brien at (352) 250-3809.

We welcome anyone to join us. Just stop by to check out what we are working on that day. We love to share with you our accomplishments.

Blessing of the Animals 2022

October 8 at 8:30am

Hope Central Campus

Bring your pet to this cherished yearly event and let them receive a special blessing from Hope's pastors. We'll have vendors, music, and photo opportunities. Invite your friends and help us make this a true community event. Registration begins at 8:30am.

Blessing of the Animals Team Seeking Volunteers & Pet Stories

To make this event a success, we need volunteers! Your help is vital and greatly appreciated. We will be having a Volunteer Meeting on September 27 at 9:00am in the Fellowship Hall at Hope Central Campus. Additionally, we will be having our preliminary setup for the event on Friday, October 7 after the annual picnic (including moving chairs, taking down tables, etc.)

Volunteers are asked to wear red shirts and will be given a volunteer badge on the day of the event. Ready to volunteer? Please contact Pam Caudill at pamc@hope4all.church if you would like to help with this event.

We are also collecting Pet Stories to be shared during Blessing of the Animals! If you have been blessed by a pet in your life, share their information (including a photo and a few brief words about their life) with our team. You can submit your Pet Story through the link below.

DeSoto Food Drive for Hope Food Pantry

Residents of the Village of DeSoto are holding a Food Drive on September 17 to benefit the Hope Lake Weir Campus Food Pantry. Food will be collected at Ednas' on the Green restaurant from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

Specific requested donations include: canned tuna, canned chicken, pasta, rice, canned fruit, canned veggies, tomato sauce, cereal, ramen noodles, and other pantry staples.

Anyone who donates food will also receive a 10% off coupon from Ednas'.

90+ Birthday Party

We have missed Hope's annual 90+ Birthday Party! The event has been cancelled for the last two years because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but now, we are excited to announce that the party will return this year!

The 90+ Birthday Party will be held in person on Sunday, October 2 from 11:15am to 12:30pm at Hope Central Campus. This is a special day to honor all Hope members over the age of 90 years old.

The congregation is invited to attend to greet our Guests of Honor during the party.

Our 90+ members will be receiving an invitation soon.

If you have a friend that is 90+ years old (born in 1932 or before) and you think they would like to receive an invitation to attend, please email Karen O'Brien at  fredandkaren@mpinet.net and include their name, address and birth date in the email.

Grief Support Group

It is very difficult to lose a loved one. The loss and loneliness are very overwhelming. There are times when it takes all of your strength just to get through the day.

The support group is a time to be able to share your sorrows with others in a safe environment. It is also a time to learn about the grieving process and how to move through it. The group will meet for 4 weeks starting on October 4 at 1:00pm at Hope Central Campus. All are welcome. If you have questions, call Ruth Jenkins at (352) 205-8181.

Stephen Minister Training Coming in October

Thinking of how to know Christ and make Christ known in your life? You might consider becoming a Stephen Minister. Stephen Ministers are caring people who care for people. They are members of our congregation who meet one-to-one with someone dealing with life challenges such as grief, terminal illness, other medical diagnosis, pending surgery, family concerns, relocation difficulties, forgiveness issues, or a questioning faith.

No matter what the challenge is, one does not need to make the journey alone. Stephen Ministers usually meet with a care receiver for 1 hour weekly to listen, care, encourage, support and pray with and for the care receiver.

Training is required. The next training opportunity begins Saturday October 1 at Hope Central Campus. For more information on how to put God’s love into action as a Stephen Minister call the church office or contact Kathy Smith at smithkath@aol.com or (352) 399-5103.

Back to School with H.O.P.E. University!

H.O.P.E. University is happy to announce a new discipline at church. Donna Fox, a certified Dr. Lam Tai Chi instructor, who is affiliated with our church on many levels and a member of LOCC, will be teaching Tai Chi on Wednesday afternoons at 2:30pm to 3:30pm beginning on October 5, 2022, in Room 203 at Hope Central Campus.

Donna will be teaching this discipline and offering it with a Christian perspective. If you need help with balance and body movement, this is a fantastic and proven discipline for you. Questions? Please contact Pastor John at pastorjohn@hope4all.church.

New season, new great classes! We are excited to begin our next season of H.O.P.E. University and introduce a new variety of educational courses. This time, classes will be held at all Hope campuses. Each campus will have at least one opportunity to offer.

Click the link below for a full description of class offerings. As you scroll through the classes you'll find a registration tab for each course, as well as a Zoom link if the course is offered with Zoom in addition to in-person. 

Walk to Emmaus 2022

Do you seek...Spiritual Renewal; New understanding of God's grace and love; Worship and community with other believers? 

THE WALK TO EMMAUS IS FOR YOU! 

Men's Walk to Emmaus

October 13-16, 2022 

Women's Walk to Emmaus

October 20-23, 2022 

For information about this life-changing opportunity, contact Kathy Langley at (352) 753-8557 or cklangley97@embarqmail.com

Worship Attendance for September 10-11 2022

Hope Central Campus:

4:00pm = 152

6:00pm = 42

8:00am = 124

10:00am = 279

Hope Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 67

Hope at the Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 77

10:00am = 102

In Memoriam

Roger Fink passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. Roger was born on October 26, 1936. He and his wife, Mabe, were married on August 23, 1958. They joined Hope Lutheran Church on February 25, 2007. Arrangements are pending at this time.

Please keep Mabe and their family in your hearts and prayers during this time of grief.

Flowers for the Week Given By...

Jim & Jean Mecham, in honor of their 71^st wedding anniversary.

Darlene Briest, in loving memory of Bob Briest.

Submit a Prayer Request

Need Prayer? Submit a prayer request via our hope4all.church website.