March 21, 2025

The Practice of Discipleship: Week 2

As a parent of two school-age children, there’s a lot of studying that happens in our home. Perhaps it's the lens of “the good old days” but I don’t remember having anywhere near as much homework as kids receive today. What I do remember is wondering why studying was so important when I was their age. 

Sometimes, the struggle is the subject we’re studying and our interest in it, or other times it’s the desire to do other things rather than studying. Often, the importance of study was understood only after we saw how it achieved something or became a means to an end. But for me, at least, it became a joy unto itself as I better understood myself and the world. 

The practice of study in discipleship is not just about information but relationship. When I studied German, I was struck by the two words Wissen and Kennen. Wissen means to have knowledge about facts and figures, perhaps data on a sports star’s career. Kennen is familiarity by having a relationship with them. When we speak of studying as a part of our discipleship journey, it is not just to learn about our faith, but to better know the One who creates, redeems, sustains, and sanctifies us. 

In his book “The Walk,” Adam Hamilton reminds us that God reveals Himself to us in many ways. Nature, the arts, our conscience, and through other people. But there are more specific and direct ways - what we call special revelation - which God keeps to us to help us know and grow our faith. The Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. 

Here are a few bullet point answers to frequent questions on studying scripture: 

• Which translation should I use: Pick a translation you engage with easily. 
• How/where should I start? The gospels are a great place to start, but commit to a plan of reading, be it one chapter a day, a book a week, or a cultivated plan (HOPE university, Biblehub.com, and other sources offer countless options).  
• Read passages in context (within the chapter, book, testament, and whole bible) and let it inform your life rather than searching for a passage to make a point. Understanding setting historically, culturally, and textually helps us understand and apply what we learn. 
• Reflect on scripture with others in small groups, classes, or using a study guide. 

Remember that the written word of God is all about drawing us into faithful, vibrant, enriching relationship with the Living Word, Jesus Christ. 

Until next time, I bid you peace, 

Pr. JM

Spring Cleaning at the Labyrinth

The Labyrinth at Hope Lake Weir Campus needs a good Spring Cleaning!

We are looking for volunteers to help with the light weed pulling and cleaning up of the walkway. We will meet at 10:00am on Friday, April 4. The more the merrier!

If you can, please bring a rake or a battery-operated or gas leaf blower. Although that isn't necessary - just come with a smile and willingness to help. You don't have to sign up - just show up!! If you have questions, please contact Jeff Bixler at (419) 420-2356.

Food Pantry Saturday Food Distribution Idea

The Hope Lake Weir Campus Food Pantry has an opportunity to do a mobile food distribution. At this time, this is only in the planning stages. Below are some of the details:

This will take place once a month at Hope Lake Weir Campus. If we can get enough volunteers, the first distribution will be in May. If it is a success, we hope to do this every month October to May, taking the summer months off due to the heat.

On that Saturday, Second Harvest will deliver 9 pallets of food early morning (around 7:00am). The pallets will be placed along the edges of the Hope Lake Weir Campus parking lot. Two to three volunteers will be at each pallet to place the items into the vehicles. The drive-thru distribution will be from 9:00am to 11:00am.

We will need parking attendants to line up the cars and keep the flow going. I need at least 30 volunteers for the distribution and at least 6 parking attendants. Here's the exciting news - the 9 pallets of food are completely FREE! There is no charge for all the food, only a lot of manpower and volunteer participation.

Can you imagine how many families we could feed with 9 pallets of food?! If you are interested in becoming a Saturday volunteer, please email me. Once I know we can physically do it, I will confirm the date and time with you.

My email is debs@hope4all.church. Thank you!

Debbie Schuettler, Hope Lake Weir Campus Food Pantry Operations Manager

Bach with a Beat Spring Concert

Bach with a Beat presents...

A Grand Night for Singing

Friday, April 4 at 6:00pm

Hope Central Campus

Tickets are $20. Doors open at 5:30pm.

Tickets can be purchased from any Bach with a Beat chorus member, at Saddlebrook Rec Center on Thursdays from 9:00am to 11:45am, by clicking the link below, or at the door on concert night.

Creation Celebration

Join Vicar Kjell on April 22 for a day of celebration and communion with God's creation at beautiful Luther Springs Camp and Conference Center.

This one-day retreat will include a Bible study and workshop, a presentation from the Luther Springs staff, a short nature walk led by Paul Trunk from the Clearwater Audubon Society, lunch and worship with a special offering to benefit Luther Springs Nature Education Program.

If you wish to give a donation as part of the offering during service, please make checks out to Luther Springs and in the memo write Living Lab.

The $20 registration fee covers the cost of program, lunch, and service fees. Deadline to register is April 15.

This event is part of Vicar Kjell's Internship project, and he hopes to see many of you there!

Pastor Bruce Continues Study on Worship

Pastor Bruce continues his 3-year study on worship as found in our "Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW)," the book of liturgical rites used by the ELCA. Last year we studied our first sacrament of Holy Communion.

This year, we will study our second sacrament of Baptism and its many related rites. Over the course of the first six weeks, we will examine the theology and Lutheran understanding of Baptism and the rites of confession and forgiveness. The last three weeks we will examine three rites that, although not sacraments in our Lutheran understanding, are firmly rooted in our understanding of Baptism: rites of healing, funeral, and marriage.

Please note the dates of each class since we will not be meeting for 9 consecutive weeks. The schedule for this course is at 10:00am each Wednesday as follows:

• Welcome to Baptism (April 2)
• Affirmation of Baptism (April 9)
• Corporate and Individual Confession and Forgiveness (April 16)
• Life Passages: Healing (April 30)
• Life Passages: Funeral (May 7)
• Life Passages: Marriage (May 21)

All classes meet at Hope Central Campus. For more information, please email Pastor Bruce at pastorbruce@hope4all.church.

Lent & Easter at Hope!

Wednesday Midweek Worship on The Lives of the Apostles

Every Wednesday during Lent at Hope Central Campus at 6:00pm

Maundy Thursday - April 17, 2025

Worship at Hope Lake Weir Campus at 11:00am and Hope Central Campus at 7:00pm

Good Friday - April 18, 2025

Worship at Hope Central Campus at 7:00pm - Theme: Stations of the Cross

The Vigil of Easter - April 19, 2025

Worship at Hope Central Campus at 7:00pm



Easter Sunday Worship at All Campuses - Sunday, April 20 

Hope Central Campus

6:00am*, 8:00am, 10:00am, & 11:45am

Hope Lake Weir Campus

6:30am* & 10:00am

Hope at Everglades Rec Center

6:00am*, 8:00am, & 10:00am

*Sunrise worship services are held outdoors. Please bring a folding chair and dress for outdoor conditions.

**Please note: Due to the Easter Vigil, there will be no regular Saturday services at Hope Central Campus on April 19. Both the 4:00pm and 6:00pm worship service have been cancelled.

Worship Attendance for March 15-16, 2025

Hope Central Campus:

4:00pm - 234

6:00pm - 76

8:00am - 158

10:00am - 425

Online:

4:00pm - 210

10:00am - 280

10:00am (HLWC) - 14

Hope Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am - 145

Hope at the Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am - 104

10:00am - 169

Flowers on the Altar Given By...

• Mary Jane Bloom, in memory of Tom Bloom

This Weekend's Worship Bulletin

Click the button to view this weekend's worship bulletin for traditional services.

Inform the Church of Visitation Needs

Do you know of someone who needs a visit from a Hope pastor? Please call the church office at (352) 750-2321 and let us know. Our Pastoral Care Team would love to visit with you or your loved one.

Submit a Prayer Request

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