March 4, 2022

Celebrating New Members

This weekend, Hope is pleased to receive 29 new members throughout our three campuses.

New members will be wearing gold star stickers on their name badges. If you see a new member, be sure to welcome them to the family of Hope!

Ways to Help Ukraine Through Lutheran World Relief

Lutheran World Relief has established a program and network for distribution of aid to the Ukraine. In addition, a Ukraine relief matching fund up to $100,000 established.

Your gifts will deliver urgent support and care like:

• Food, shelter and other critically needed items
• Mission Quilts and Kits for families
• Medicine and supplies for clinics

You may go to lwr.org/match, or send a check through Hope with Ukraine Match in the memo line.

LWR Statement on Ukraine

A Message from Lutheran World Relief:

"We are all horrified by the Russian attack on Ukraine. There is no doubt that there will be terrible and widespread suffering in Ukraine and in neighboring countries. It is a heartbreaking and desperate situation.  

Our teams are exploring all possible options so we can get to work as soon as we are needed — but we can’t do it without your help. Your congregation can share God’s love with our most vulnerable neighbors right now.  

Please pray for families in Ukraine and others in crisis around the world, and please help care for them with a lifesaving gift today. Your congregation’s gift to our World of Good emergency fund ensures we are ready to respond to the most pressing needs with food, clean water, safe shelter, medical supplies and more."

Important! Building Project Town Hall Meeting

March 20^th at Hope Central Campus

Refreshments beginning at 11:00am

Discussion beginning at 12:00pm

Save the date! Be sure to join us on March 20^th at Hope Central Campus for an important Town Hall Meeting regarding the ongoing Hope South Campus Building Project.

We will have refreshments and a viewing of drawings from 11:00am to noon, followed by the introduction and discussion of our building plans at 12:00pm in the Sanctuary.

This is a time for you to learn more about Hope South Campus, share your ideas, and ask questions.

Plus, we will be giving away limited edition Hope Lutheran Church merchandise. You won't want to miss this!

Journey Through Lent with Hope

Hope will begin our Lenten journey together with audio devotions and readings brought to you by Luther Seminary and Pastor John LeCain.

Each day during Lent, you will be guided through a reassuring and thought-provoking devotion focused on the ever-present love of God. Pastor John has also provided a video from our Hope Lake Weir Campus Prayer Labyrinth.

Use the buttons above or below to access the special Lenten calendar page of our website. You will be able to access today's devotion, as well as any you may have missed.

Tenebrae Singers Needed for Annual Easter Program

This April, we will once again convene the Combined Choirs of Hope. On the evening of Good Friday, we will mark the return of Hope Lutheran Church’s annual Tenebrae service. We’d love for you to consider joining the choir, again, or for the first time. Tenebrae will take place on Friday, April 15^th at 7:30pm.

We ask that interested singers do not call the church office to convey your participation. Digital competency with cloud-based file storage, downloading files, sending and receiving emails is a “must” for us to be able to accommodate everyone equally. The cut-off for RSVP-ing is Monday, March 7^th at 5:00pm. If you’d like to join us in this tradition, please email musicupdate@hope4all.church.

World Hunger Lenten Boxes Still Available

If you did not pick up your Lenten Box on Ash Wednesday, you can still find them at all Hope campuses for you to take home and use throughout Lent. This little box has a big impact on World Hunger by helping us raise money to benefit those suffering from food insecurity around the world.

Our ELCA World Hunger program makes food available to those who are hungry through our donations. Our Lenten Boxes serve as a reminder that hunger is an everyday occurance and you can help those in desperate need.

It's easy to get involved. Simply fill the Lenten box with money or a check during your Lenten journey. Please make checks payable to Hope Lutheran Church and include World Hunger on the memo line.

We will be collecting the boxes starting on Palm Sunday, April 10^th. Thank you for your participation.

Explore The Chosen with Pastor

Jon-Marc MacLean

Join Pastor Jon-Marc for a viewing and discussion of The Chosen television series. The group meets Tuesdays from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at Hope Central Campus upstairs.

All are invited! Fans of the show and those who have never watched are all welcome to attend.

Learn to Use Our New AEDs

Automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, are life-saving tools used to treat those in sudden cardiac arrest. Hope has two AEDs located around Hope Central Campus, and one at Hope Lake Weir Campus. This week, we will be receiving new units to replace our older models, ensuring that we can continue to offer quality medical equipment in case of an emergency. 

A manager from AED Brands will be at Hope Central Campus on Wednesday, March 9^th at 11:00am to demonstrate how we use the unit. All are welcome to attend the demonstration. This valuable knowledge could save the life of a church member or loved one...or maybe even your own.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about AED technology and use. Join us on March 9^th at 11:00am.

Card Drive for Hope Member's Milestone Birthday

You might have known that Hope’s first worship service was held on Sunday, October 25, 1998 with 203 in attendance. But do you know what lead up to that event?

One month before, September 23, 1998 - Hope Lutheran Church was named and a site for the church placed under contract. Two months before, July 15, 1998 - the Rev. P. Barry Hunteman came to us from Grace Lutheran Church, Tampa FL. Four months before, March 10, 1998 - the ELCA approved establishment of a mission in The Villages to be started in the summer.

All of these events would not have happened if not for Tom & Pearl Langevin and Duain & Donna Vierow. They lived in the Villages and were instrumental in starting an ELCA Church in The Villages.

Four months before on November 20, 1997 - Tom & Duain announced a meeting for those in the area interested in forming a new mission congregation scheduled for December 2, 1997 at La Hacienda Center in the Villages. The rest is history!

The reason for this history lesson is to inform you that Tom Langevin will be having his 100^th birthday on March 20, 2022.

Hope Lutheran has been blessed by Tom and his desire to start a mission church. Now we would like to help celebrate his milestone birthday!

If you would like to send him a card with your congratulations, you can mail it to:

Tom Langevin

Village on the Isle MH 318

900 Tamiami Trail S

Venice FL 34285

Women of Hope Monthly Breakfast

Thursday, March 17^th at 9:00am at Hope Central Campus

The March breakfast will highlight Charlie Kantor, Seniors vs. Crimes and Lt. Robert Siemer, Sumter County Sheriff Department. This topic will cover identifying scam, fraud and identity theft and how to avoid them.

All women and men are encouraged to attend and bring a friend. Registration is opened until noon on Monday, March 14^th. The cost of breakfast is $7.00. Our menu will be a hearty breakfast. 

SAVE THE DATES: 

• March 19, 2022 - Pinelands Conference WELCA Spring Gathering, 8:00am
• April 7, 2022 - Breakfast Meeting, Program Faith, Family and Country by Irving Locker, WWII Veteran, 9:00am
• April 19-21, 2022 - Retreat at Luther Springs, Pastor Sarah Locke
• May 19, 2022 - Breakfast Meeting, Program Fashion Show by Ms. Maxine from Fashion Labels, Leesburg, Florida, 9:00am

Pinelands Conference WELCA Spring Gathering

March 19^th from 8:00am to 2:00pm - Hope Central Campus

All ladies are invited to the annual Pinelands Conference WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Spring Gathering on March 19^th from 8:00am to 2:00pm at Hope Lutheran Church Central Campus.

The Women of Hope will host 7 other regional ELCA churches for fellowship, worship, and sharing of information and ideas. The cost for this conference is $10.00 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch, materials, and a donation for the Synodical Women's Organization (SWO).  

Sozo Kids, a charity that supports the children living in the Ocala National Forest, has been selected as the Love Offering recipient for all WELCA Units in the whole Florida Bahamas Synod for 2022-23. Pastor Dave Houck, the CEO of Sozo Kids, will be the guest speaker at the WELCA Spring Gathering. He and his family reside and minister in the Ocala National Forest.

Ann Storan, the new SWO President, will bring us all up-to-date on the current projects and initiatives for our Synod's umbrella organization for WELCA Units.

Sign-in will begin at 8:00am on March 19^th. The conference will conclude with a communion worship service in the sanctuary. For more information, contact Annie Schaedel at annielou1113@gmail.com or (352) 259-8683. 

Come to learn more about Sozo Kids, who literally "live in our backyard," and to enjoy a day of fellowship and sharing with our sisters in Christ! Click on the button below to register today. The registration deadline is Wednesday, March 9^th at noon.

Dine to Donate at Texas Roadhouse

March 20^th 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 March 20^th 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. You can also print a copy by clicking here. You must have your invitation at the restaurant in order for your donation to count!

Come on out and enjoy some great food for a good cause! Proceeds from our Hope Dine to Donate at Texas Roadhouse will benefit Palms Deaf Church.

Endowment Fund Grant Announcement

In thanksgiving to God, Hope has established an endowment fund where funds live on as a legacy of lasting love. The Hope Endowment Legacy Program permits existing programs to be expanded and new mission and outreach programs to be developed.

Only the earnings from these funds are provided in the form of grants for scholarships for enabling students to grow in Christian faith and service, outreach into the community, missions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and capital improvements for Hope Lutheran Church. 

The Endowment Team has provided a $500 grant to each of the three members of Hope now studying under the diakonia program of the Florida Bahamas Synod. The diakonia program is a two-year program to certify students who wish to become Deacons.

Southern Congregation Social Night

Join your friends down South for a social group meeting on the second Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The next gathering will be Tuesday, March 8^th at the Everglades Rec Center.

You are invited to bring your own beverage, though water and coffee will be available. You are encouraged to bring a simple finger snack to share, and of course, remember your Villages ID!

For more information, please contact Sandy Dorman at sandyjdorman@gmail.com.

H.O.P.E. University - Wednesdays at 10:00am

Pastor John LeCain will lead us on a Lenten educational series covering the Book of Acts and following Paul’s footsteps through some major historical sites.

Acts Odyssey, using the book written by Rene Schlaepfer, will retrace the journeys of the apostles as told in the Book of Acts. As he visits ancient sites in Israel, Greece, Italy and several Aegean Islands, Rene meets with archaeological experts - and encounters modern thieves, rioting mobs, and nests of serpents. His adventures are enlightening, entertaining, and inspiring.

The special Lenten class will cover one chapter per week and will include videos. Books are necessary for class. No registration is required. To receive a physical book at no cost, please contact the church office at (352) 750-2321. You can also find the book available for purchase on your Amazon Kindle device. Simply search for ‘Acts Odyssey’ by Rene Schlaepfer.

Come to the Music



Presented by Brothers in Song, The Villages Men’s Chorus

Friday, March 25^th at 6:00pm

Hope Central Campus

Join the Brothers in song for their annual Spring concert at Hope Lutheran Church!

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased online at brothersinsong.eventbrite.com. Tickets may also be purchased from any Brothers in Song member. Please note: The church office does not have tickets.

Worship Attendance for February 26-27, 2022

Central Campus:

4:00pm = 199

6:00pm = 66

8:00am = 189

10:00am = 417

Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 98

Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 92

10:00am = 115

In Memoriam

We mourn the loss of our member, William (Bill) Carson on Sunday, February 27. Bill was born on December 20, 1936. He joined Hope Lutheran Church on July 7, 2001. He was widowed in 2017.

A service is being planned to be held at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home on Wedgewood Lane, The Villages, on Wednesday, March 9 at 11:00am.

Please keep Bill’s family in your hearts and prayers during their time of grief.

We also mourn the death of our member, William (Bill) Jensen on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Bill was born on December 31, 1932. He and his wife, Roberta (Bobbi) were married on October 1, 1960. They joined Hope Lutheran Church on October 30, 2005.

A service is being planned to be held in May.

Please keep Bobbi and their family in your hearts and prayers.

Flowers For This Week Given By...

Don & Janet Voelke in honor of Lynn Voelke