April 19, 2024

Low Country Boil at Hope Lake Weir Campus

Join your friends at Hope for a classic Low Country Boil on Friday, May 10 at Hope Lake Weir Campus! Enjoy this delicious meal on the shores of Lake Weir with your friends and neighbors.

A “Low Country Boil” is a popular dish that originated in the southern coastal regions of the U.S. The main ingredients are sausage, large shrimp, small red skinned potatoes, and corn on the cob. Dessert will be key lime pie.

We will dine under the pavilion. Tables and chairs will be provided, or you may bring your own lawn chair.

Registration is open online now for two seatings, 4:00pm and 6:00pm. Cost is $12.00 per person. Registration deadline is Monday, May 6 at noon. Reservations are not available by telephone.

Hope Welcomes Vicar Kjell Bakken in June

Hope will be joined by a new intern - Vicar Kjell Bakken - in June 2024. We are so excited to welcome him to the Hope family!

Vicar Kjell (pronounced shell) Bakken was born to Revs. Eric and Ramie Bakken in Morris, MN and grew up in Black River Falls, WI. His father currently serves as pastor of West Koshkonong Lutheran Church in Stoughton, WI, while his mother works for ELCA churchwide as the Region 5 Candidacy and Leadership Manager. He has 4 older sisters, his oldest Jessica, is also a pastor and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Dodge Center, MN.

After high school, Kjell attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where he earned degrees in Religion and Management. Kjell began working at Sugar Creek Bible Camp near La Crosse, WI during college, and after graduating worked there as Program Director for the next four years. It was during his time at Sugar Creek when he began to deeply discern the call to ordained ministry.

His discernment brought him to visit Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC, where he met his wife, Macy. After dating long-distance for a little over a year they became engaged in the same room they met and this past February tied the knot, right here in Marion County! Macy is an ordained Minister for Word and Service (Deacon) and serves her call as the Assistant Program Director at Luther Springs Camp and Conference Center in Hawthorne. Macy grew up in Cape Coral, FL with her parents and older sister.

Along with his M.Div., Kjell is pursuing a concentration in Biblical Studies. His favorite classes so far in seminary have included Greek and Hebrew languages, Paul’s letter to the Romans, and Preaching. In his free time, Kjell likes to play golf, watch sports and sitcoms, play guitar, and spoil his dog Kyu. He and Macy enjoy spending time in nature together and look forward to kayaking, biking, and hiking The Villages and the surrounding areas.

Hope Lutheran Church First Quarter Financial Highlights 2024

In the past two years, contributions to the General Fund for the first quarter of the year have exceeded expenses by $74,461 and $100,000 respectively, However, the excess over expenses for the first quarter of 2024 was only $40,681.

Current and Benevolent offerings were 91% of budget compared to 105% at this time in 2023. This may be the first year in the last 25 years (excluding the covid years) that we have not seen an increase in year to year giving for Current and Benevolence donations. Not only did we not meet the projected 7% increase in the approved budget, we had a 4% decrease from last years first quarter donations. This is especially concerning since the first three months and the last three months of the year typically have over budget donations to compensate for the summer months when we typically have under budget donations.

We have managed to keep the General Fund expenses at 86% of budget in order to maintain a surplus for the first quarter. It will be hard to maintain this level of expenses reduction since we are weighted more heavily for expenses in the last half of the year with the planned addition of another Pastor.

Donations to the Debt Service Fund fell short of budget by $22,293, but were adequate to make monthly payments. The mortgage loan was paid down to $1,555,173 as of March 31.

Capital contributions to the South Site Fund were $270,045 for the quarter, bringing the balance in the South Site Fund to $1,888,164.

Retirement of Dennis Kienitz

Our friend Dennis Kienitz, the Hope Lake Weir Campus Music Director, has announced his retirement from his position, effective following the first weekend in May. Dennis is expecting two new grandchildren (twins!) this summer and desires to spend more time with his family. 

Dennis has been an invaluable asset to the growth of the music program at Hope Lake Weir Campus. He also led the Hope Central Campus contemporary services (formerly SCB) for an extended period after his predecessor moved on from Hope.

Dennis' experience and competency have been unmatched and we are so grateful for all his fantastic work at Hope. We will soon begin the process of hiring a replacement for Dennis. In the interim, a long-time contributor to departmental ministries and the Director of Spirit Ringers, Jeen Harper, has agreed to step in and assist with the transition.

We wish Dennis all the best in his retirement and thank him for his years of wonderful service at Hope.

Blessings,

Ken Wood

Director of Music Ministries

"MY Stuff" - A Message from the Endowment Committee

Some questions that we ponder as we grow older: 

1. "When we die and go to heaven, where will our stuff go? How can I make sure my stuff goes to whom and where I want? Can I really continue to give my offering when I'm in heaven? 
2. How can I increase my income so I may increase my current giving? Is this possible at my age? 
3. What are the best gifts to leave to family or friends? What are the best gifts to leave to charity? 
4. Do I really need a will? How can I make sure my legacy plans won't fail? 
5. I want to leave something to my church but I'm not sure about the best way to do it. 

The Endowment Committee has the resources to help you sort out these answers. The size of your estate doesn't matter - it's what you want to accomplish with what you have to give that matters. Please call the church office or reach out to a member of the Endowment Committee for help with these nagging thoughts. 



Peg Winters, Committee Chair

Worship Attendance for April 13-14, 2024

Hope Central Campus:

4:00pm - 227

6:00pm - 80

8:00am - 189

10:00am - 430

Online:

4:00pm - 107

10:00am - 325

Hope Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am - 110

Hope at the Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am - 109

10:00am - 161

Flowers on the Altar Given By...

• The family of Tom Bloom, in his memory.

• Betty Massare, in memory of Tony's 95^th birthday.

In Memoriam

Janet Ann Small died on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Janet was born on January 9, 1948. She and her husband, Roger, were married on January 18, 1969. Janet joined Hope Lutheran Church in our most recent new member class.

Arrangements are pending at this time.

Please keep Roger and their family in your hearts and prayers during this time.

Patricia (Pat) Koch passed away on April 15, 2024. Pat was born on July 7, 1947. She joined Hope Lutheran Church on December 14, 2008. Pat was widowed. Her daughter Megan is also a Hope member.

Arrangements are pending at this time.

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

Howard K. Wood, Jr. (Woody) passed away on April 16, 2024. Woody was born on February 9, 1948. He and his wife, Brenda, were married on August 15, 1970. They joined Hope Lutheran Church on April 29, 2012. Woody's son Ken Wood is Hope's Director of Music Ministries.

A celebration of life will be held at Hope Central Campus on Monday, May 6 at 10:00am. A luncheon will follow.

Please keep Brenda, Ken, and their family in your hearts and prayers during their time of grief.

Irene Belpulsi died on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Irene was born on April 28, 1932. She joined Hope Lutheran Church on October 27, 2002. Irene was widowed.

Arrangements are pending at this time.

Please keep her family in your hearts and prayers during this time.

This Weekend's Worship Bulletin

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