March 18, 2022

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.

Fish Fry at Hope Central Campus

April 1^st at 4:30pm or 6:00pm

It's time for a Fish Fry! Join us on April 1^st for this Hope favorite fellowship meal. There will be 2 seatings - 4:30pm and 6:00pm. Please note that there will be NO Social Supper on Wednesday, March 30^th.

Menu will include: Fish, hush puppies, French fries, Cole slaw, beverages, and dessert. The cost is $12 per person.

Reservations will open March 21^st and will close on March 28^th. No payment will be accepted after the registration deadline.

Angel Wigs of Hope, INC.

I am so very pleased and grateful to introduce “Angel Wigs of Hope”, a non-profit ministry to the Hope Lutheran Church community. AWOH offers women who are or will be experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy FREE NEW WIGS and accessories.

This service is offered to women in Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. We are located at Hope Lutheran Church Central Campus in the office wing, Room 209. 

Please call (352) 888-3637 for an appointment. Our hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00am to 2:00pm to schedule a wig fitting. Trained, compassionate and caring volunteers are here to help. 

A special THANK YOU to Pastor Jon-Marc MacLean, the Church Council, and staff for their support and generosity. AWOH ministry would not be possible without your warm welcome. 

Thank you, 

Marie Hulsizer, President of Angel Wigs of Hope

Website: angelwigsofhope.com Email: angelwigsofhope@gmail.com or call

(352) 888-3637.

Ways to Help Ukraine Through Lutheran World Relief

The speed at which congregations are sharing God’s love with our neighbors suffering in the Ukraine crisis is astonishing. Thank you for your swift and faithful generosity.  

All congregational gifts will now be doubled up to $422,000 for our neighbors suffering in the Ukraine crisis.

We also have a powerful story for you to share with your congregation about how their love is reaching a group of women and children fleeing Ukraine to Poland. Read about how Lutheran World Relief is partnering with a congregation in Krakow to provide necessities and a safe haven for mothers and their children in a renovated church basement.

So far, Hope Lutheran Church has contributed $26,151.45 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 Match in the memo line.

Be Sure to Click "See More" on Long Newsletters

Due to the high volume of newsletter articles we receive per week, the News in the Pews newsletter may continue onto a second page on some devices. If this is the case, you will see a "See More" option at the bottom of your screen while reading the newsletter.

Please be sure to select "See More" to see more of the newsletter. The "See More" button is found at the bottom of the webpage, similar to how a "Page Two" button may be seen on other documents or websites.

Dads on Duty at Lake Weir Middle School

A Message from Fred O'Brien, Team Leader for The Rock:

Your support of The Rock is helping many children at Lake Weir Middle School. As you may know, the situation at Lake Weir Middle 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.

I recently made a presentation to the Men of Hope concerning Dads on Duty. Pastor Jon-Marc has given me permission to share the video below with all of the members of Hope to determine if there is an interest in starting this program at Lake Weir Middle School. I have a few volunteers already!

I have shared the video and talked to Principal North and the head of the discipline office at the school and they would appreciate any help that we can give them. Next, we would like to see how much interest in this program exists at Hope Lutheran Church. We would also like to establish some volunteers, including parents of students if possible. We then plan to meet with the school staff to establish expectations and guidelines, and finally, we will do background checks, schedule volunteers, and start making a difference in the lives of these children.

Some questions:

How big would the time commitment be?

• Whatever you could give. Just an hour or two a couple times a month would make a difference. Volunteers will be able to schedule themselves when they are available.

What would "Dads" do?

• Just having 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. 

Is there violence in the school?

• There have not been fights, but there is bullying, foul language, and horse play. Many students need an external conscience because they haven't fully developed their own yet. Usually a stern look or an "excuse me" is enough to calm the moment.

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.

Volunteers Needed for the Funeral Reception Team

The Funeral Reception Team (FRT) is looking for volunteers to bring food to the church for funeral lunches as needed. We also need assistance to help set up, serve, and clean up.

There are five teams in this ministry. Team 1 has a list of volunteers to help with the set up, serving, and clean up. Teams 2-5 are asked to provide specific food items, salads, veggie and cheese trays, and cookies or brownies. These teams rotate and members are asked to bring something different every time. The amount of time spent working on the team will vary depending on the number of funeral lunches planned. 

If you would like to help with this team, please call or text Karen O'Brien at

(352) 250-3809 or email her at fredandkaren@mpinet.net

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.

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.

Seven Open Slots Available for March 24^th Walking Tour of Christian Care Center in Leesburg 

Interested Hope congregants are invited to participate in a tour of the Christian Care Center (CCC) in Leesburg, which could be a nice volunteer outreach mission near the Hope South Campus geographical area. The tour can accommodate a maximum of 12 persons. Five persons from Hope have signed up, leaving 7 open slots to be filled on a first-come first-serve basis. 

The tour will take place on Thursday, March 24^th at 10:00am to 11:30am. If interested, reserve your slot with Laney Waller no later than noon on March 23^rd by calling

(301) 471-8479 (M). 

The CCC is a corporation comprising 7 different ministries linked to the Leesburg community. Information is available at https://www.christiancarecenter.org/.

Be Part of Journey INC

Life transformation. What is it? How does it happen? 

We invite you to come explore Journey In the Name of Christ. Journey INC is walking with people in highly relational ways that point them to Christ and life transformation. Whether you are called to walk alongside adults, teenagers, children or simply as support, let’s explore together the place for you. 

Join Love INC on March 22^nd at 10:00am in the Love INC Conference Room at Love INC of the Heart of Florida, 15797 South Highway 441 Summerfield, FL 34491 to learn about what God is doing at Journey INC.

A new Journey INC class starts Tuesday evenings April 2022. 

Worship Attendance for March 12-13 2022

Central Campus:

4:00pm = 189

6:00pm = 79

8:00am = 126

10:00am = 358

Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 93

Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 52

10:00am = 131

In Memoriam

Carole J. Schroeder passed away on Monday, March 14, 2022. Carole was born on September 28, 1942. She joined Hope Lutheran Church on April 4, 2005. Arrangements for a memorial service are pending at this time.

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

Flowers For This Week Given...

In memory of Carol & Tom Furlong.