Spiritual Reflection

 “While the cross seems to cancel Jesus’ Messiahship, the resurrection confirms it. It is then possible to interpret the cross as the central event of God’s salvation history.” 

Douglas Hare

Blessing of the Animals

A Special Morning for Our Furry Friends

Saturday, April 18 from 9 AM – 10:30 AM

Join us for one of our newest heartwarming traditions – the Blessing of the Animals! This special event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the joy our pets bring to our lives and to ask God’s blessing over them. Our pastors will be present to offer individual blessings for your beloved pets.

Who’s Invited? All pets — and their humans!

Come enjoy a relaxed and joyful atmosphere as we gather together. We’ll have pigs in blankets, donut holes, beverages and other tasty treats for everyone to enjoy. Furry or not!

Be sure to bring a chair so you can sit comfortably, visit with friends, and watch all the adorable pets receive their blessings. 

Whether your companion has fur, feathers, or whiskers, we can’t wait to celebrate them with you. Invite a friend or neighbor to join us for this sweet time of fellowship and gratitude of God’s creation!

We ask that you please bring an item for a local shelter to help out our other furry friends in need. 

Registration is not required. We look forward to seeing you, and your pets!

Men's Breakfast with Dr. Buck Blodgett

Tuesday, April 7 from 7:30 AM – 9 AM in the Fellowship Center

Dr. Blodgett will present, “Fruitfulness,” part three on his “F Words” series. If you missed part one and two, you are still welcome to join him. He returns for part four on Tuesday May, 5.

Registration is not required for Men's Breakfast. You may pay at the door ($7).

Lunch and Learn with Dr. Buck Blodgett

Tuesday, April 7 from 12 – 1 PM in the Fellowship Center

Dr. Blodgett will present part three of his “F Words” series on “Fruitfulness” at this month's Lunch and Learn. He returns for part four the first Tuesday of May. If you missed part one and two, you are still welcome to join him.

He continues to expand on his theme of “The LOVE>hate Project” message. “The F Words” include Forgiveness, Faith, Fruitfulness, and Fortitude. These study sessions are designed for all groups to hear about the transformative force of love!

Dr. Buck’s book will be available for $20, benefitting the LOVE>hate Project.

All are welcome to join. There is no charge for this event, but we do ask that you preregister. At each session, you're invited to bring a sack lunch.

Our final date will be May 5 and will require a separate registration.

Women’s Gathering (April) with Pastor Marilyn Anell and the Strummin’ Sisters Ukulele Group

Thursday, April 16 from 10 AM – 11:30 AM (with lunch to follow)

If someone tells you about a problem, you can offer to pray later, or you can pray right now, out loud!  Which is better? Both! If you are not comfortable praying out loud, Pastor Marilyn will teach you a technique designed as an easy way to help you do this — using your hand! 

With the help of a diagram, prayer examples, scripture, and jokes, you will leave with concrete knowledge of how to pray out loud. In the future, you will be very comfortable doing this with friends, or even strangers.

Praising God can happen in two ways: prayer and singing. Following Pastor Marilyn’s prayer message, we will sing and praise God with a “Singspiration.”

We will sing the songs you choose, accompanied by Cheryl Steinborn, pianist and the Strummin’ Sisters ukulele group. Harmony Sisters will also share a song and there will be a fun surprise for everyone. It will be a great time for all.

This month's mission will be Beds & Blankets presented by Pam Brown, Ministry Leader.

Menu: Chicken Parmesan, Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Tossed Salad, Roll and Dessert

Registration is required ($12) and closes at 12 noon on Monday, April 13. If you have any questions or need help with registration, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator - Discipleship.

New Covenant Spring Concert Series

Join us for a vibrant lineup of special musical programs featuring many of your favorite ensembles, each bringing their own unique sound and style to the stage. From uplifting melodies to inspiring performances, these concerts promise something for everyone. Come experience the joy, beauty, and energy of live music—you won’t want to miss a single moment of this unforgettable spring series!

The Villages Concert Band

Friday, April 10 at 7 PM 

The Villages Symphonic Winds

Sunday, April 12 at 6 PM

Horns Aplenty

Thursday April 16 at 6 PM

Village Ringers

Sunday, April 19 at 6 PM

The Villages Flute Choir

Tuesday, April 21 at 7 PM

The Bands of the Villages Ensemble Concert

Wednesday, April 29 at 7 PM

The Choralettes

Tuesday, May 5 at 6 PM

Tithing

So, let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Tithing should be looked upon as a foundation of our faith. As we look at the Scriptures we find that the tithe is not a law but rather a principle. It is a principle that if followed will do two things for us. First, it is a physical, measurable evidence of our belief in God’s ownership of all we have. Also, tithing gives God some seed to multiply.

Legacy Giving

Celebrate your gift of eternal life from our Risen Lord and Savior.

If you would like to know more about Legacy Giving, please contact Linda Stubits in our church office or click the link below. Thank you for considering our Legacy Giving Ministry.

Holiday Closures

The Administration Office will close at 1 PM today (Thursday, April 2), and remain closed Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6. We will reopen on Tuesday, April 7 at 9 AM.

Bargains & Blessings will be closed Thursday, April 2 (at 1 PM), Friday, April 3, and Monday, April 6. The store will be open on Saturday, April 4 from 10 AM to 3 PM, but will not accept donations.

The church will be open for the Holy Week services listed below.

From the staff at New Covenant, we wish you a very Happy Easter!

Holy Week Worship Services

Maundy Thursday, April 2 at 6 PM

Holy Communion with Rev. Ellen Pollock and the Chancel Choir

Good Friday, April 3 at 12 PM

Service of Darkness — readings and music

Contemporary Easter Worship, Saturday, April 4 at 5 PM

Worship Band with Rev. Harold Hendren

Easter Sunrise Worship, Sunday, April 5 at 6:30 AM

Simple outdoor worship with Rev. Harold Hendren

Easter Sunday Worship, Sunday, April 5 at 9 AM & 11 AM

Festival Worship — Chancel Choir, Praise Ringers, Brass & Organ with Rev. Harold Hendren

Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 5 at 9 AM and 11 AM

On our playground for children 4^th grade and under

The Flowering Cross: From Death to Life

On Easter weekend, you are invited to take part in a simple but powerful act of worship. The flowering cross stands as a visual proclamation of the resurrection—what was once an instrument of death is transformed into a sign of life, beauty, and hope.

As you arrive, you’ll find crosses at both the East and West entrances. Flowers will be available for you to place into the cross. You are also welcome to bring a flower from your own garden as an offering.

Throughout the weekend, the cross will gradually be covered in blooms — a living witness to the movement from Good Friday to Easter morning, from sorrow to resurrection.

If you have ordered Easter plants, they may be picked up following the 11 AM worship service on Easter Sunday.

Easter Weekend Invitation — Let’s be Welcoming!

As we approach Holy Week, we are excited to welcome many friends and guests who may not attend regularly. We want every person who walks through our doors to feel seen, valued, and warmly welcomed. Our guest parking areas are intentionally located near the west entrance to make visiting as easy and convenient as possible. We kindly ask our regular attendees to leave guest and handicap parking spaces available for those who truly need them.

Also, we know holidays are special times to sit with friends and family, and fellowship is an important part of worship. However, offering our guests easy access to comfortable seating helps them feel prepared to fully participate in worship and encourages them to return again. This includes leaving aisle seats open to our guests coming in so they don’t feel disruptive or uncomfortable.

Easter Sunday Education Classes

All Sunday School Classes will be cancelled on Easter Sunday so we can all enjoy our wonderful Easter Services together as a church family.

“Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear”

Just watch the news at 6 PM or read the daily headlines on a morning news app, and fear can easily get a grip on us.

Max Lucado writes in his Fearless book, “We fear of being sued, finishing last, going broke, the mole on the back, and the sound of the clock as it ticks closer to the grave. Every season seems to bring fresh reasons for fear. And it feels dreadful. Fear sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment. Wouldn’t it be great to escape it? What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? According to Jesus, this is possible. The one statement He made more than any other was this: ‘Don’t be afraid.’”

Next weekend (April 11 & 12), Pastor Harold will begin a brand-new sermon series titled, “Fearless...Imagine Your Life Without Fear.” During the weeks of this series in worship, we will consider how to address our fears and find comfort in the Scriptures.

We invite you to join us for worship during this sermon series as we follow the example of Jesus when He says, “Don't be afraid.”

“The Great Awakening”

Wednesday, April 8 at either 11 AM or 1:45 PM

Old Mill Playhouse Theater at Lake Sumter Landing

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, had a more famous contemporary pastor in the United States — George Whitefield. Whitefield played a key role in the American Revolution through his evangelical movement.

With the colonies on the brink of collapse, the Reverend George Whitefield sparks the first Great Awakening, uniting an entire generation with his thundering proclamation of liberty in Christ. In a miraculous turn of events, one of Whitefield’s closest friends and greatest promoters becomes none other than Benjamin Franklin. With the nation’s freedom hanging in the balance, Franklin discovers true liberty cannot only be written into law — it must be awakened in the hearts of the people.

The film, “The Great Awakening,” produced by Sight and Sound Theaters, will be playing just before and after Easter. The Men’s Ministry is inviting all who are interested to join us and watch the movie together.

For more information, please contact Randy Cooke, Teaching Pastor.

The Villages Concert Band

Friday, April 10 at 7 PM in the Christian Life Center

The Villages Concert Band closes its season with a thrilling musical adventure that spans nearly seven decades of exploration and imagination. JOURNEY – From Sputnik to SpaceX traces humanity’s fascination with the skies—from the historic 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite, to the groundbreaking innovations of SpaceX, which continue to redefine space travel today.

It’s a concert filled with imagination, nostalgia, adventure, and heart —celebrating both where we’ve been and where we’re headed next. So fasten your seatbelts and prepare for liftoff. Come fly with us on a journey that reaches for the stars!

Bargains & Blessings Truck

Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12

The Bargains & Blessings truck will be on the church campus to accept donations before worship services next week (the second weekend), due to Easter services the first weekend.

We appreciate your ongoing support of this important ministry. Each item donated and sold helps to support children and families in our community.  If you are interested in volunteering or have large items to donate, please call the Bargains & Blessings Store at (352) 330-3333 for information about donation pick-up.

New Bible Study — Starting Point, A Conversation About Faith

Begins Saturday, April 11 from 3:30 – 4:45 PM

Welcome to “Starting Point” – an 8-session video-based study by Andy Stanley based on conversations about faith. Whether you’re new or old to faith, curious about God, or coming back to God after sometime away, it’s a place where your opinions and beliefs are valued, and no question is off limits.

Everything has a starting point – your life, your relationships, your education, your career — and sometimes we forget that faith has a starting point as well.

For some of us, our faith journey begins in childhood, or maybe you developed a framework of faith based on personal experience…or maybe you have no faith at all. But what if you could find a new starting point for faith?

Come as you are and build relationships with others as you discover your “starting point.” This class will be facilitated by Lee Williams.

Registration is required, but there is no cost for the class. We ask that you prepurchase the book. If you have any questions or need help with registration, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator - Discipleship.

Love Your Neighbor Day

Sunday, April 12 from 11 AM – 12 PM at Banyan Residence 

We are excited to offer a Love Your Neighbor Day to all students fifth grade and older to volunteer at our Banyan Resident neighbors on County Rd 101. Please arrive at the church by 11 AM. Donna Hendren, Fresh Expressions Pastor, will lead an engaging and meaningful activity with the residents. 

Please register your student for this event. This is a wonderful opportunity to help our neighbors and be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus.

The Villages Symphonic Winds

Sunday, April 12 at 6 PM

The Villages Symphonic Winds presents “The Vibrant Colors of Wind Music” featuring some of the finest works ever written for concert band, and two beautiful pieces originally written for other groups first and later transcribed for band including conductor Lewis Buckley’s own transcription for the band of a new Carmen Suite. This will be a classic concert band concert, made up of both original band music and transcriptions from other media, and it will beautifully display the remarkable talents of the musicians who make up the Symphonic Winds.

Horns Aplenty

Thursday April 16 at 6 PM

Horns Aplenty present a concert celebrating the noble, golden voice of the French horn in all its warmth, brilliance, and depth. This exciting program will feature music written especially for horns alongside beautifully crafted arrangements that showcase the instrument’s extraordinary range and character. Audiences will enjoy selections by composers from both Europe and the United States, highlighting the horn’s rich heritage and global artistry. We’re especially proud to present an arrangement by our very own Don Daily, adding a personal and homegrown touch to the evening. As a special highlight, Cornucopia — a horn quartet that grew out of Horns Aplenty, will return to the stage promising an unforgettable evening celebrating the rich, dynamic, and unmistakable sound of the French horn.

New Sunday Morning Study on Artificial Intelligence

Begins Sunday, April 19 at 8 AM and 10:10 AM in the Chapel

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved quickly from a novelty to something that shows up in nearly every part of our lives. What once felt like small conveniences now shapes how we work, connect, learn, and even worship. For many Christians, AI can still feel like something out of a sci-fi movie, stirring up worry, confusion, or distrust.

We are called to examine our faith as our world changes yet again. We will be using a study titled, “God and the Machine.” God and the Machine speaks to anyone who is unsure, curious, or somewhere in between. Ignoring AI is no longer an option, yet we are still called to approach every new tool with care and discernment. United Methodist pastor, Nathan Webb, guides readers through what AI means for the church — offering clarity, honesty, and hope. Along the way, you will explore how to welcome new possibilities without letting go of your values and how God may be opening surprising, grace-filled opportunities in this emerging world.

This six-week study Bible study will be led by Randy Cooke, Teaching Pastor. All who are interested are welcome to attend. If he does not know the answer to your question, Randy may be able to ask AI.

The Village Ringers

Sunday, April 19 at 6 PM in the Fellowship Center

Village Ringers, under the direction of Bonnie Fisher, and Village Ringers TOO, directed by Cathy Bullock invite you to an unforgettable evening of music with their concert, “Ringing Reflections.”

Experience the shimmering sound of handbells paired with stunning visuals as you journey through iconic hits by The Beatles, thrilling music from Star Wars by John Williams, beloved American classics celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday, the electric joy of Mr. Blue Sky, the sly charm of The Pink Panther, and so much more. Join us for an evening of nostalgia, celebration, and breathtaking musical color — where every ring tells a story.

The Villages Flute Choir

Tuesday, April 21 at 7 PM

The Villages Flute Choir invites you to “Animals, Legends and Whimsy,” a delightful concert celebrating music inspired by imagination, storytelling, and the natural world. This enchanting program brings together elegance, humor, and a touch of mystery as the beautiful voices of the flute family bring beloved favorites to life. Join us for a captivating musical journey filled with color, character, and whimsical sound. 

The Chosen Season 3

Begins Wednesday, April 22 from 2 PM – 4 PM

The next season of The Chosen will run for 8 weeks – one episode per week. Each session starts in the Chapel where we watch the episode together and then continues in breakout sessions where we discuss the messages we glean from the program. Each episode stands alone, so feel free to drop in and join us as you are able. 

Season 3 of "The Chosen" explores transformative encounters with Jesus, focusing on themes of forgiveness, faith, and community, while following the disciples' growth and challenges. The third season portrays the increasing popularity of Jesus, which troubles different societal and political groups, including the Romans and the Pharisees. Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sends His Twelve Apostles, two by two, to preach and perform miracles, leading to the disciples facing their greatest challenge. Jesus then returns to His hometown, Nazareth, which results in a shift to the ministry in the year of His popularity. After multiple miraculous occurrences, the season closes at the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus feeds thousands with loaves and fish and then walks on the water.

If you have any questions, please contact Randy Cooke, Teaching Pastor.

The Bands of the Villages Ensemble Concert

Wednesday, April 29 at 7 PM



Join us for a delightful evening of music as the Bands of The Villages present a special Ensemble Concert showcasing some of our most talented small groups. Featured ensembles include Flute Fanatics, Clarinet Connextions, Saxsations, Horns a Plenty, and The Villages Flute Choir, each bringing their own unique sound and style to the stage. Enjoy an entertaining and relaxed evening filled with variety, musical color, and the wonderful artistry of these outstanding ensembles. 

New Bible Study for Women — Epic of Eden: Ruth

Begins Wednesday, May 6 from 10 AM – 11:30 AM in Classroom 6/7

Ruth is a 6-week, video-based study by Sandra Richter set during one of the most corrupt eras of Israelite history and is a story about three compelling characters. Naomi is an elderly widow who has lost everything and returns to her homeland empty and bitter just hoping to survive. Ruth is Noami’s young daughter-in-law, also a widow and a foreigner, who at great personal sacrifice refuses to let Noami face the future alone. Boaz, a man of wealth and influence is given the opportunity to do the right thing, even though the right thing may not be the obvious thing.

In Epic of Eden: Ruth, each of these characters comes alive. Here is real life, lived out by real people with real fears, real struggles, real hope, and real faith.

The book is available through Amazon.  Facilitated by Charlene English, the class size is limited to 20 participants.

Registration is required. If you have any questions or need help with registration, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator - Discipleship.

The Choralettes

Tuesday, May 5 at 6 PM

Join The Choralettes for an uplifting evening of music as they present “Broadway Revue,” a lively celebration of beloved Broadway hits.

Featuring special guest, Janice Swartz, and the returning chorus, The Wonderlands, this entertaining program invites audiences on a nostalgic journey through favorite musical selections, with opportunities to sing along to some of the most cherished songs.

This free concert offers a joyful community experience, with a love offering collected to support church missions.

Visit Our ZOE Groups in Africa

September 9 to 18, 2026

ZOE Empowers has a trip available to Zimbabwe, Africa, in September. The purpose of the trip is to visit our ZOE groups that are in various stages of their three-year training program. The training includes basic healthcare, food security, and information on how to move out of poverty. 

For more information, please contact Janine Rogers, Director of Missions & Outreach.

Weekly Prayer Concerns

Our prayers, love, and sympathy are extended to...

Pat Townsend, family and friends on the passing of her husband, Jerry Townsend.

Chancel Flowers

To place an order for Chancel flowers, please use the button below. For any questions about Chancel flowers, please contact Sharon Weimert, Care Coordinator. Flower orders must be received by noon on Monday for flowers to be delivered that weekend.