March 25, 2022

Missed the Town Hall Meeting?

It is not too late! Visit hope4all.church to see: 

• Site Plan 
• Activity Center Floor Plan & Rendering 
• Worship Center Floor Plan & Rendering 
• Presentation explaining the Building Plan 

Drawings are on display at all three Hope campuses on March 26 & 27 and April 2 & 3. 

Comment sheets available at each campus, or you can send an email to  South@Hope4all.church.

The Feasibility Study

We are excited with where the Spirit has led us and we look forward to an intentional period of listening to our members to determine our next steps.

We would like you to participate in sharing your opinion. We will host cottage gatherings at Hope Central Campus on the following days:

• Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 5:30pm
• Monday, April 4, 2022 at 1:30pm

The cottage gatherings will feature a presentation with questions and answers. We will ask you to fill out a survey at the conclusion of the gathering.

For those that can’t attend, there will be Zoom meeting on Monday, April 11, 2022, at 7:00pm. To ensure that we have seating for everyone, we ask that you register online for the session you wish to attend.

Return Your Lenten Boxes April 9 & 10

Lenten Boxes will be collected on April 9 and 10 at all Hope campuses. Boxes may be heavy; if you fear your box may buckle or open, you can adhere the sides using tape to make it more secure.

You are also encouraged to write a check instead, if your donation is too large for the box. Make your check out to Hope Lutheran Church and write Lenten World Hunger on the memo line.

The Mission Outreach Team wants to thank all who are generously giving to help people worldwide who struggle with food insecurity. Thank you! We also know that many prayers are being sent along with your donations. Thank you, thank you!

Golf Cart Parade to Support Ukraine

There will be a special golf cart parade to show support for the people of Ukraine on March 31 at 2:00pm. Participants will gather at the Everglades Rec Center and will travel together to Brownwood Square, once around the square, and back to Everglades.

Anyone wishing to participate is asked to decorate their golf carts with sunflowers (the Ukrainian National Flower) as well as the colors blue and yellow to represent the flag of Ukraine. A suggested donation of $5.00 per cart is encouraged. All donations will benefit Lutheran World Relief.

Ways to Help Ukraine Through Lutheran World Relief

So far, Hope Lutheran Church has contributed $46,526.45 to help the people in Ukraine. We are sending the money to Lutheran World Relief weekly.

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

New Offering Boxes at All Hope Campuses

Worshipers at all Hope campuses will notice the beautiful new offering boxes now in use. These wooden boxes offer more privacy and security, and have a stylish, classic look.

If you have difficulty locating the boxes, please ask an usher and they will assist you.

Thank you!

Dads on Duty at Lake Weir Middle School

There is a tremendous need for positive male role models in the lives of students at Lake Weir Middle School. As you may know, the situation at the school is difficult. Some learners live in the forest. Some come from broken homes. Some are facing family drug problems. There is a lack of positive role models.

Every year, 3 or 4 girls attempt suicide. 30% of the school is failing. 35% of the school has discipline issues.

We are currently seeking volunteers interested in being part of the Dads on Duty initiative, which would place "Dads" in accessible spots around the school to help support, encourage, and calm learners.

Any time you could give for these students would make a world of difference. Just an hour or two a couple times a month would be impactful. Volunteers will be able to schedule themselves when they are available.

Having just a few dads in the cafeteria having lunch would have a calming and positive effect. A few dads to greet learners in the morning as they arrive, be in the hallways during class changes and wish them well as they leave the building. Many students need adult role models. 

Please contact Fred O'Brien at fobrien@gate.net or by mobile at (352) 250-3814 if you would like to volunteer or have more questions.

Blessing Bag Items Needed

Our Blessing Bag ministry provides care packages for homeless individuals and those in need. Blessing Bags are available for anyone to take and distribute. These bags are a great way to connect and assist those who too often go without basic items.

We are in need of donations for our Blessing Bags to help this ministry continue to serve our community. We are seeking:

• Water bottles (flat type)
• Protein bars
• Combs
• Socks
• Shampoo

These items will be added to existing bags. Donations can be left at Hope Central Campus.

Supporting Students Through Hope Community Scholarships

For many local students, scholarships are the difference between college or ending their educational careers after high school. In 2021, 11 scholarships were presented to students at Belleview High School, Lake Weir High School, and The Villages Charter School. This year, Wildwood Middle and High School students have been added, and 12 scholarships will be awarded. Students that received a scholarship last year can re-apply for a second year.

The scholarship fund is supported by donations from congregation members. 

If you are interested in being part of something that can help shape the future of a student by serving as a mentor, by joining the Scholarship Committee, or by making a monetary gift to the fund, please contact Pastor Rani. 

Scholarships will be presented at Hope Central Campus on Friday, April 29^th at 6:00pm. Please join us and witness the achievements of these students.

Click the video to the right to watch a special message from one of our Hope Community Scholarship recipients.

Women of Hope Retreat 2022

April 19-21, 2022 at Luther Springs

This year, our Women of Hope Retreat will be held on April 19 to 21, 2022 at Luther Springs Retreat Center in Hawthorne, Florida. The special speaker for this retreat will be Pastor Sarah Locke, Pastor for the Jacksonville Campus Ministry, which serves universities and young people in this area. Pastor Sarah is passionate about the work of the church, interfaith relationships, and helping people reflect on the awe and wonder of what God is doing in their lives. 

We encourage you to sign up early. You can find the registration form with further information by clicking the link below. Questions? Contact June Cook at frankjunecook@gmail.com or call (cell) 352-430-5025 or (h) 352-751-1968. If you complete a paper registration form, please leave completed forms and payment in the Women of Hope box located in the Information Hallway at Hope Central Campus.

Why We Developed an Estate Plan: Part I

I'm Pastor Frank Livingston. My wife, Bea, and I moved to The Villages in 1999 and became charter members of Hope. Bea had taught fourth grade in Roseau, MN, and I had served a three point Lutheran parish there for twenty years. Roseau is where Polaris snowmobiles were invented and are make. It's 70 miles from a McDonald's, and can be -40 degrees air temperature in Winter.

It wasn't the end of the world, but we could see it from there. We had always lived in a parsonage. For health reasons we retired early, and moved here because it was one of the most reasonably priced places we could live. Remember, that was a millennium ago!

We expected to use up our savings by the time we started Social Security. We never thought that we would have an estate to leave to anyone. We have always lived thriftily. In Roseau we had used cars, used boats, used snowmobiles, and we used coupons. But like the parable of the lefsa and the lutefisk (ask a Norwegian ), over the years, since retirement, we have been blessed in ways we could never imagine. Our two boys are both in successful vocations and have loving families, our grandson was married this summer, has a good career, and our granddaughter is in college.

I had the privilege and blessing of being a visitation pastor, preaching once a month, at Hope from 2004-2009. Long enough ago that most of you have no idea who I am. Well a few years ago, Bea and I were shocked to realize we probably wouldn't be buried with a maxed out credit card as a headstone!

So as many of you may have already done, and others will in the future, we thanked God, stared at each other, and asked each other, what do we do now? To be continued...

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

Pastor John LeCain is leading 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.

Worship Attendance for March 19-20 2022

Central Campus:

4:00pm = 197

6:00pm = 63

8:00am = 134

10:00am = 450

Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 89

Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 72

10:00am = 133

Flowers For This Week Given By...

Carl & Pat Endres, in honor of their 66^th wedding anniversary.

Larry & Bev VanDenEinde, in honor of their 59^th wedding anniversary.