April 21, 2023

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Upcoming Events

Game Night

April 21 at 5:00pm at Hope Central Campus

Dine to Donate at Texas Roadhouse

April 23 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm at Texas Roadhouse in Lady Lake

Fish Fry

April 28 at 4:30pm and 6:00pm at Hope Central Campus

Rotary Club Food Drive to Benefit the Hope Food Pantry

April 29 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Winn-Dixie in Lake Sumter Landing

Hope for the Future Scholarship Award Ceremony

May 5 at 6:00pm at Hope Central Campus

Passing of Plates Returns

May 6 & 7 at all Hope campuses

Last Chance to Register for Hope's Next Fish Fry

Our next Fish Fry will be on April 28 at Hope Central Campus. Once again, you can choose between 4:30pm and 6:00pm seatings.

Our menu will include haddock, French fries, cole slaw, hush puppies, beverages, and root beer floats.

Registration is open now! Tickets will be $12 per person. Because of the Fish Fry, please note that there will be NO Social Supper on April 26.

Click Here to Register for the 4:30pm Seating

Click Here to Register for the 6:00pm Seating

Weekly Capital Campaign Update

We are making great strides in our Making Abundant Life Known capital campaign! A total of more than $1.7 million in commitments has been given toward our base goal of $5.5 million and our challenge goal of $9 million.

This is a strong start, but we need your help to meet our goals! Please join your family of Hope in this important mission by bringing your Statement of Intent to worship this weekend. You could also mail it in or fill out our online form by clicking the link below. Every pledge moves us one step closer to our goal!

Click Here to Make Your Pledge Online

Groundbreaking & Golf Cart Parade Postponed

The Hope South Campus Groundbreaking event planned for May 28 has been postponed. The Golf Cart Parade has also been postponed. Stay tuned to News in the Pews for information on when these events will be rescheduled.

New Chairs in Hope Central Campus Fellowship Hall

The Fellowship Hall at Hope Central Campus is more welcoming than ever, thanks to the hard work of our volunteers. Our maintenance staff and a group of volunteers replaced the chair pads on all the chairs earlier this week. We hope you'll enjoy these comfy new chairs during our Fish Fry or the next Social Supper!

Return to Passing the Collection Plates

Hope is reinstituting the tradition of passing collection plates at all services at all Hope campuses, beginning the weekend of May 6 and 7.

If you'd like to help by signing up to be an usher, please reach out to Kristina Giffin at (803) 439-2787, or to Sara Lush in the Hope office at (352) 750-2321.

Dine to Donate at Texas Roadhouse

April 23 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm

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

Please note the new start time and extended hours.

If you dine at Texas Roadhouse's Lady Lake location on April 23 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm, they will donate 10% of your total food purchases to Hope Lutheran Church! This offer now applies to carry out as well.

Invitations are available at each Hope campus. Click here for the invitation.

Rotary Club to Host Food Drive

The Rotary Club of The Villages will be hosting a food drive to benefit the Hope Lake Weir Campus Food Pantry!

The drive will happen on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the Winn Dixie store in Lake Sumter Landing.

All donations are greatly appreciated!

Last Chance to Give to April Showers

We are now collecting items to benefit the April Showers summer angel program. Items collected will go to folks in need in local care facilities.

The last weekend to donate items is April 29 & 30. Items can be dropped off in the marked donation bins at any Hope campus. For a list of items being collected, please pick up a brochure at any Hope campus or click the link below.

Click Here to View The Brochure

A Message from the Funeral Reception Team

Are you missing your favorite salad bowl, or maybe that pretty plate you put your cookies on for guests?

There are several bowls, plates, and other items left from previous funeral luncheons in the hallway beside the kitchen at Hope Central Campus.

Please check to see if you have left an item there before May 7. Otherwise, these items will be discarded.

For convenience, we ask that the next time you contribute a salad or cookies for a funeral lunch, please use a disposable bowl or plate.

Thank you for helping the Funeral Reception Team in the past and your willingness to help in the future!

Hope Lutheran Church First Quarter Financial Highlights 2023

Contributions to the General Fund exceeded expenses by $74,000 for the first three months of 2023, and were 103% of budget.This is slightly less than the $100,000 excess in the first quarter of 2022.

Donations to the Debt Service Fund fell short of budget by $13,000, but were more than adequate to make monthly payments. The mortgage loan was paid down to $1,729,355 as of March 31.

Capital contributions to the South Site Fund were $258,911 for the quarter, bringing the balance in the South Site Fund to $617,491.

The costs for construction of the Hope Lake Weir Campus Pavillion currently exceed the contributions by $25,452 with only the electrical work yet to be paid. The Council has authorized the use of capital campaign funds to pay for any shortfall left after payment of the final invoices.

Click on the button below for more details.

Click Here to View the Full Report

VBS Volunteers Needed

Are you ready for VBS?!

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is coming to Hope Lake Weir Campus this summer, and we need volunteers to help make it a success.

Monumental VBS will be held from July 17-21 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at Hope Lake Weir Campus. Kids in grades 1-5 will learn about God’s great love by participating in memorable Bible-learning activities.

To volunteer, you must have a history with Hope Lutheran Church for at least 6 months, complete a volunteer application, have a background check through Hope, and participate in an online training through Hope’s insurance company. Once these are completed, then you need to be available for an on-site training at Hope Lake Weir Campus.

For questions, contact Pastor John at pastorjohn@hope4all.church. Volunteer position descriptions can be located online at hope4all.church/vbs.

Click Here to Learn More & Volunteer

The Chosen Returns to Two Hope Campuses

Ready to watch The Chosen together?

Our Hope Central Campus group has resumed. They watch the show together every Tuesday at 2:00pm at Hope Central Campus.

Our Hope Lake Weir Campus group has also resumed. The group meets every Tuesday at 1:00pm at Hope Lake Weir Campus.

March Golf Scramble results from Amberwood

First Place - 27

Cindy Polster, Steve Atkinson, Jane Prell, and Doug Atkinson.

Second Place - 28 (3 teams tied)

Phil Walker, Brian Sawyer, and Sid & Nancy Fosheim.

Drew & Sue Furuness and Mike & Diane Laracuente.

Greg & Mary Inwood and Phil & Pat McLeod.

Winners can claim their winnings at the front desk at Hope Central Campus. At the end of the month, all winnings not picked up will be donated.

Hope for the Future Scholarship Award Celebration

Fifteen local high school seniors have been chosen to receive our Hope for the Future Scholarships this year!

Investing in the life and the education of the youth attending schools in The Villages and its surrounding communities is yet another way for Hope Lutheran Church to share God's love by offering encouragement and support to high school seniors.

Hope For The Future Scholarship is a ministry that does just that. Hope Lutheran Church offered scholarships to seniors at area high schools and students planning to further their education at a college, university or trade school were invited to apply.

Hope's scholarship program is unique in that it provides an opportunity for each recipient to have access to a mentor to help them adjust to the next phase of their education with regular discussions about any concerns and issues they may be facing. Our objective is to maximize the opportunities for student success through this as an ongoing ministry of Hope.

Please join us in celebrating the scholarship awardees on Friday, May 5 at 6:00pm at Hope Central Campus. Everyone is invited to attend.

Gatherings of Hope

Pastor Rani is leading Gatherings of Hope on the 2^nd and 4^thTuesdays 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.

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.

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 April 15 & 16

Hope Central Campus:

4:00pm = 176

6:00pm = 73

8:00am = 185

10:00am = 433

Hope Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 136

Hope at the Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 112

10:00am = 152

Flowers for This Week Given By...

David & Sue Otis in memory of Doris Otis

Linda Schille in memory of Gene for their 55^th wedding anniversary

David & Hope Renton, in honor of their 52^nd wedding anniversary

Scripture Reading for

April 23

Third Sunday of Easter

1 Peter 1:17-23; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; Luke 24:13-35

Scripture Reading for

April 30

Fourth Sunday of Easter

1 Peter 2:19-25; Psalm 23; John 10:1-10

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

Have news to share? Please fill out the Newsletter Article Request Form for inclusion in a future edition!

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