January 6, 2022

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Upcoming Events

Seasonal Undecorating at Hope Central Campus

January 9 at 9:00am at Hope Central Campus

Seasonal Undecorating at Hope Lake Weir Campus

January 10 at 10:00am at Hope Central Campus

VBS Child Protection Training

January 11 at 3:00pm at Hope Central Campus

Men's Breakfast

January 12 at 8:30am at Hope Central Campus

New Member Orientation 1 January 12 at 5:30pm at Hope Central Campus

Dine to Donate at Texas Roadhouse

January 15 from Noon to 4:00pm at Texas Roadhouse in Lady Lake

Women of Hope Breakfast

January 19 at 9:00am at Hope Central Campus

Christian Unity Prayer Service

January 19 at 7:00pm at Hope Lake Weir Campus

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.


If you previously made your intention to join known, you should have received any email from the office.

 

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

 

January 12 - Day One of Orientation. Light snacks will be served.



January 19 - 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 office at (352) 750-2321.

 

Direct all questions and RSVP to Jeff Dunfee at (352) 750-2321 or via email at jeff@hope4all.church. Deadline to RSVP is Tuesday, January 10.

Christian Unity Prayer Service


The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins Wednesday, January 18. During this time, we reflect on the prayer of our Lord Jesus, recorded in John 17:21, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” 


You are invited to join us on Thursday, January 19 at 7:00pm at Hope Lake Weir Campus for a Christian Unity Prayer Service.

diakonia Graduation


Hope is excited to welcome Bishop Pedro Suárez and representatives from the Florida-Bahamas Synod for the 2023 diakonia Graduation on January 21.


The graduation will take place during our Saturday 4:00pm worship service at Hope Central Campus. Please be prepared for worship to be somewhat different.


As part of his visit, Bishop Suárez will also be our special guest at Hope at the Everglades Rec Center on January 22. He will preside over both southern services on that Sunday.

Second Annual Chili Cook-Off

to benefit Camp E-Nini-Hassee 

 

It's time to spice things up! Join your friends at Hope on Wednesday, January 25 at 4:30pm at Hope Central Campus for our second annual Chili Cook-Off Contest.


This year, we are supporting Camp E-Nini-Hassee. Camp E-Nini-Hassee was established in Floral City in 1969 by Jack and Ruth Eckerd to provide an outdoor therapeutic program for troubled teenage girls (ages 12-18).

 

Are you interested in participating in the contest? If you would like to participate and enter your favorite chili recipe/crock pot dinner, email Debbie Bennett at debbie@hope4all.church before January 20. Provide your name and phone number and state if your recipe is mild, medium, or hot chili. If you participate in the contest, the $5.00 will be waived.

 

Ready to chow down on some delicious chili? The cost for dinner is $5.00. Additionally, we encourage you to either make a monetary donation to Camp E-Nini-Hassee or to donate the following items: shampoo (full size), body wash (full size), bug spray, sanitary pads and tampons, adult coloring books and colored pens and pencils, and composition books (no rings). Donations can be brought to Hope Central Campus.

 

Registration to attend the cookoff will be done like social suppers via our website hope4all.church. Registration will open on Thursday, January 19 and the deadline will be January 23 at Noon.

Learn More About E-Nini-Hassee

Dine to Donate at Texas Roadhouse


January 15 - 12:00pm to 4:00pm

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


If you dine at Texas Roadhouse's Lady Lake location on January 15 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.

Hope's Monthly Men's Breakfast

The January Men's Breakfast and Bible Study will be held in the Fellowship Hall at Hope Central Campus on Thursday, January 12, 2023 beginning at 8:30am.


The cost of the breakfast is $7. During this breakfast, Allen Christensen will lead discussion.


To register, please visit our website and pay online. If you need assistance, please contact the church office at (352) 750-2321.

Click Here to Register

Women of Hope Breakfast Meeting

January 19 at 9:00am - Hope Lutheran Central Campus

 

We welcome all women to join us on Thursday, January 19 for an exciting breakfast meeting at 9:00am. Our guest speaker will be Judy Flickinger who has spent part of her extensive nursing career as a Hospice nurse.


Judy has been a guest lecturer at various colleges and has documented her extensive care in her book "Spirit Matters: How to Remain Fully Alive with a Life-Limiting Illness." Judy Flickinger was a registered nurse for more than four decades, working in hospitals. She will share her experiences with all of us. We encourage you to invite a friend or neighbor. 


Cost is $5.00 per person. Registration deadline is January 16 at Noon. Questions? Contact Margaret Furlong at (352) 430-5092 or Laura Hultmark at (352) 753-9463.

Click Here to Register

Mustard Seeds with Pastor John LeCain


For the last three months, Pastor John LeCain has been recording Mustard Seeds - short videos of reflective thoughts for the week.


These have been shared on our Hope Facebook page; however, recognizing that many individuals do not use Facebook, H.O.P.E. University will now be uploading the Mustard Seeds weekly through its YouTube channel.


You can access the channel through the learn tab on the church website.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast Tickets

Tickets for the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast on Saturday, January 14, 2023 are available at the front desk at Hope Central Campus. Tickets are FREE! Six tickets are currently available.


Hope Lutheran Church, along with other churches in The Villages, has been a regular supporter of the scholarship program that has been providing scholarships to students from the high schools in the tri-county area.

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New Creations at Hope Lutheran Church


Get ready for a brand new experience at your church! H.O.P.E. University presents "New Creations," a multi-generational one-day Vacation Bible School at Hope Lake Weir Campus!


Remember enjoying VBS as a child? Now you have the opportunity to connect with new friends of all ages for a day of learning, service, and fun!


New Creations will include food, games, a time of holiness, and a service project - creating a new Painted Rock Garden and a Butterfly Garden at Hope Lake Weir Campus.


It all happens on February 11 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Hope Lake Weir Campus.

What is Your Relationship with Food?

If you are looking for a spiritual approach to help change your eating habits, try Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous at Hope Lutheran Church Central Campus every Tuesday from 9:30am to 11:00am. Join people who understand your story.

Child Protection Training at Hope Central Campus


We are planning an all ages VBS on February 11 at Hope Lake Weir Campus and then a traditional VBS July 17-21 also at Hope Lake Weir Campus. 


All volunteers interacting with children are required to have an insurance training dealing with the Child Protection Policy, as required by our insurance. This training will be held January 11 at Hope Central Campus Room 203, from 3:00pm to 4:30pm.  


If you have questions, please contact Pastor John at pastorjohn@hope4all.church.

Giving Statement 2022 Information


It is once again time for Hope Lutheran Church to distribute giving statements for the year 2022. Our goal is to distribute Giving Statements via email by the end of the month.


The preferred method of distribution of giving statements is email. You will receive your giving statement via email in a format that makes it easy for you to download, reference, and use as needed.


If you would like to request a physical mailed copy of your giving statement, please contact the church office at (352) 750-2321 or email pamc@hope4all.church. Please note that arrival dates will depend on the USPS. We hope physical copies will arrive by mid February.


You must request a mailed copy of your giving statement if you would like one. Otherwise, you will only receive your giving statement via email. Please note: If you requested a mailed copy of your Giving Statement last year, you must request it again this year.

Calling All Guitarists!


Are you a picker or a strummer? If you're a guitarist, even if you only know a few chords, we'd love to gather all our six-string Hope friends for a very special service to be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 4:00pm.


On that day, the latest class of Diakonia students will graduate on behalf of the Florida-Bahamas Synod and their ceremony will take place as a part of Hope's Saturday service. All the music we'll be using will be presented from the guitar, led by Ken Wood.


If you think you'd like to join the group for this special day (even for just one song) then you need to email ken@hope4all.church. We'll get together and rehearse the tunes a few times before then to organize everything and get as many people playing together as we can fit up on stage. The more guitar players the better. (And if you strum something else besides guitar, we may have a place for you too!) 


Can't wait to hear from you! 


- Ken Wood, Director of Music Ministries 

Lake Weir Ladies Bible Study Circle 


Ever wonder about the "Liturgy"? What is it? Why do we do it? Is each Sunday different? What is the "Liturgical Calendar"? 


Please join us for answers as Susan Krohn presents on January 10 at 1:00pm at the Hope Lake Weir Campus. 


We are now meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 1:00pm for study and on the fourth Tuesday of the month for lunch at 11:30am at First Watch.


Please call Judy Withers at (352) 245-3624 for information.

New Location for Gluten-Free / Alcohol-Free Communion Station

Please be aware that the gluten-free/alcohol-free communion station is no longer located in the back of the church. It has been moved to the front of the church in front of the pulpit at the communion station on the far left (Station 1).


Communicants wanting to receive either of those special elements should move to that aisle. That station will continue to operate as a regular communion station, but gluten-free hosts and grape juice will be available there. If you have questions, please contact Kristina Giffin at (803) 439-2787.

Summer Smiles Program Coming to Hope

After the success of our Angel Tree program, Hope has decided to embark on a new initiative to bless local children during the summer months.


This new program is called Summer Smiles. This will be a summer version of our Angel Tree program, where our Hope family will be able to purchase donations for local children in need.


Interested in getting involved? There will be a meeting of the Summer Angels Team on January 23 at 1:30pm at Hope Central Campus.

Seasonal Decorating Team Seeking Volunteers

We have all been enjoying the beautiful Christmas decorations, but now it is time to take them down and store them for next year.


The Seasonal Decorating Team is seeking volunteers to help.


We will be undecorating Hope Central Campus on Monday, January 9 at 9:00am, and Hope Lake Weir Campus on Tuesday, January 10 at 10:00am.


If you could help, your efforts would be greatly appreciate. Many hands make the task much easier!


Please contact Team Leader Nancy Shephard at (352) 750-9642 (call) or (269) 598-0445 (text).

Hope Southern Neighbors Social Night

Join your friends down South for a social night on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The next gathering will be on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 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. Please remember your Village ID. 


For more information, contact Kathy Beekman at (813) 415-1910 or katherine.beekman@verizon.net.

Hope University

H.O.P.E. University Winter Classes


H.O.P.E. University winter classes are about to begin. Here are the course offerings:


What Paul and Luther said about Women in the Bible

With Pastor John LeCain and Peg Piper

Wednesdays from 10:00am to 11:30am - January 11, 2023 to February 15, 2023

Hope Central Campus Room 203 - Registration requested. Zoom available.  


Heritage Series Winter - Your Church: Where We Came From & How Do We Do It With David A. Withers

8 Wednesdays from 3:30pm to 5:00pm - January 18, 2023 to March 8, 2023

Hope Central Campus Room 200 - Registration Requested.


Moving Mountains

With Pastor John LeCain

Thursdays from 11:00am to 12:30pm - January 12, 2023 to March 2, 2023

Hope Central Campus Room 203 - Registration requested. Zoom available.

*Book needed. 


Luther’s Solas

With the Pastoral Team

Wednesdays from 10:00am to 11:30am - March 1, 2023 to April 5, 2023

Hope Central Campus Room 203 - Registration requested. 


Continuing Bible Study at Hope Lake Weir Campus

With Pastor John LeCain

Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 4:30pm - January 3, 2023 and continuing

Hope Lake Weir Campus Fellowship Hall - Registration requested. Bible needed. 


For more information on each of these classes, please click the button below. If you have questions, please contact Pastor John at pastorjohn@hope4all.church.

Full Course Listing

Attention Team Leaders:

Ministry Info for Annual Report


We are now collecting information from our Ministry Teams to be included in the 2022 Annual Report.

 

Ministry team leaders should submit a short article regarding their team.

 

The article should include:

  • Your team's mission and purpose
  • Your recent accomplishments
  • Notable stories or highlights from this year

 

Submissions should be between 200 and 300 words. Pictures are also encouraged.

 

Please submit ministry reports via email to Marina Ernst at marina@hope4all.church. Reports are due by January 13, 2023.

Team Leaders: Renew Room Requests for 2023

Do you have a regular room at a Hope campus for your ministry or group? Do you wish to continue your group meetings in 2023, or discontinue meeting?


If you are a team leader, please make sure you have updated your room request for 2023. Room requests will not be automatically carried into the new year.


To renew or update your room request, use our online form at hope4all.church/room-request or contact Jeff by email at jeff@hope4all.church.


Please also inform the office of any changes to your meeting times or locations in the new year.

Meet the Candidates for Hope Lutheran Church Council



The following individuals are running for positions on Hope's Church Council in 2023.


Voting will take place during our Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 5 at 12:30pm at Hope Central Campus. These biographies have been shortened for space. To read the candidates' full biographies, please click here.

Nominees for Council President

Katherine (Kathy) Beekman


Kathy is a former has Director of Operations, Budget & Financial Officer, Business Manager, and Project Manager. All of her career paths have included an element of service, specifically to the United States federal government and military.


Kathy previously taught Sunday School in Ketchikan, Alaska, and is an active member of H.O.P.E. University, On Our Own, the Hope Southern Neighbors Social Group, and more here at Hope Lutheran Church. She is currently a Hope Council Member-at-Large and has served as liaison for the Hope Lake Weir Campus Food Pantry, On Our Own, and Women of Hope. Kathy was a delegate to the 2022 Synod Conference.

Kristina Giffin


As a former Human Resource Director, Kristina managed the hiring, termination, compensation, benefits, and training of 500 exempt and non-exempt corporate employees.


At Hope Lutheran Church, Kristina serves as a Worship Assistant, Communion Server, Narthex Server, and a current Hope Council Member-at-Large. She also served at her previous church in South Carolina, where she was on the Church Council, the Mutual Ministry Team, and the Evangelism Committee. In the past, Kristina has served as a Prayer Leader, Reader, and Leader of a Youth Group. She has also facilitated and participated in Bible Study groups both in The Villages and her previous town.

Nominee for Council Vice-President

Richard Gal


Richard is a former Manufacturing Engineer who worked in Senior Leadership at several private companies and retired as a civil servant at Eglin AFB, Florida. His areas of expertise include Strategic Planning, Manufacturing and Quality Engineering, and Management.


Previously, he served as President of the Church Council at St. Paul Lutheran Church, as well as Deacon and leader of a call committee at the same church. He was on the endowment committee at Advent Lutheran Church in Ohio and served as Elder at Faith Lutheran Church in Florida.

Nominee for Council Member-at-Large

Patrick Sawler


Patrick is a Realtor with Exit Realty. Previously, he was a Financial Associate for Thrivent Financial. He was also the Director of Technical Support for Unipress/Numara/BMC Software for 29 years.


As a life-long Lutheran, Patrick has worn many hats. He has served as Sunday School teacher, Youth Advisor, Call Committee member, church member liaison, President, Vice-President, and Property Manager on Council at his previous church, Zion Lutheran Church in Rahway, NJ. He is presently a member of the A/V set-up team at Hope at the Everglades Rec Center and works at the Hope Lake Weir Campus Food Pantry.

Gatherings of Hope

Pastor Rani is leading Gatherings of Hope on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays in Room 204 at Hope Central Campus from 11:00am to 12:30pm.


This is a place to come and "just be". Plan to come and experience a wonderful community of support that cares for you no matter what you are going through. You are welcome to bring your lunch if you choose. Water, coffee/tea is provided.


Pastor Rani is currently leading us in the book of Psalms. 


All are welcome, including non-Hope members, so please invite your friends to join us.

Join Us for Faith & Fellowship

Faith & Fellowship is now meeting at all Hope campuses! However, if you are unable to join in person, you can still be a part of Faith & Fellowship online.


All are welcome, including non-Hope members, so please invite your friends to join the fun.


The Zoom link is active on Mondays at 9:30am every week, so those who cannot attend in person can use the link below to join the conversations online. Meeting ID: 952 5901 4615. Join by phone: (929) 205-6099. ID: 95259014615# 

Click Here to Access the Zoom Link

Worship Attendance for December 31 - January 1 2022

Hope Central Campus:

4:00pm = 149

6:00pm = 56

8:00am = 123

10:00am = 257

Hope Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 105


Hope at the Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = No Service

10:00am = No Service

Scripture Reading for

January 8

First Sunday after Epiphany


Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

Scripture Reading for

January 15

Second Sunday after Epiphany


1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Psalm 40:1-11; John 1:29-42

Submit a Prayer Request

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

Click Here to Submit a Prayer Request

Hope Lutheran Church Office Hours

Monday to Thursday - 8:00am to 4:00pm Friday - 8:00am to 1:00pm

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