Message in a Minute

Click the image above to hear from Pastor Harold and to learn about the three Key Announcements for this week!

Spiritual Reflection

“First of all, I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream that once felt a world away.”

Fernando Mendoza (2025 Heisman Trophy Winner) 

Christmas Eve Worship Services

Wednesday, December 24 at 4:30 PM and 7 PM

Christmas Eve at New Covenant is one of the most meaningful nights of the year — and one of the easiest, most beautiful times to invite someone to church. If you have neighbors, family, or friends who don’t usually attend worship, this is the perfect moment to say, “Come with us.” The service is welcoming, familiar, and full of hope.

Celebrate the wonder of Christ’s birth through traditional Gospel readings that bring the nativity story to life, along with inspiring music led by the Chancel Choir, brass quintet, organ, and timpani. Special music will also be offered by soloists Angie Rose, Mark Steven Schmidt, and Janice Swartz.

Rev. Harold Hendren will share a special Christmas Eve message, proclaiming the light of Christ that still shines into our world today. The evening culminates in candlelight carols, as we lift our voices together in the peace and beauty of Christmas.

Nursery will be available for children ages 6 years and under during worship services. Activity bags will be available for older children who attend worship with their family.

Holy Communion from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the Chapel

If you’re looking for a quieter Christmas Eve moment, Communion will be offered in the Chapel during this hour. Come for prayer, reflection, and a guided Christmas Eve meditation—drop in as you’re able.

Christmas Eve Love Offering Benefits Students in Wildwood

The Love Offering collected on Christmas Eve at both services will go towards the scholarship program established for our Wildwood Middle High School mentees. We currently have 42 students in our program who work with mentors from New Covenant United Methodist Church and the community. These mentors visit their mentees weekly. The goal of our program has been to provide students with ongoing encouragement, support, and love. Your generosity is funding scholarships for each graduating class. We are proud of our upcoming graduates and their commitment to their education. This is our twelfth year mentoring students at Wildwood Middle High School.

Additionally, we are preparing for our eleventh year of providing school supplies for students at Wildwood Elementary, Wildwood Intermediate, and Wildwood Middle High School. Each year we get a list of requests from teachers and administrators as to what the students need, and we have been able to fulfill those requests each year. Last year, over 1800 students were served.

Thank you for helping us continue to bless the students in our Wildwood schools and our mentor program.

New Covenant App Experience

We invite you to check out the New Covenant App Experience.

In the church app, you can find links to the email newsletter and online giving, ways to connect through social media, a sermon library, the Bible, and more!

To download the New Covenant App, simply type “New Covenant UMC” into the Search Bar of the App Store on your iPhone or the Google Play Store on your Android device, and then tap the button to download.

When downloading, please be sure to choose for the app that matches the New Covenant Logo and Branding!

Collingsworth Family Classics Hymns Tour

Monday, March 16, 2026 at 7 PM in the Christian Life Center

Mark your calendar for a powerful night of worship and musical excellence as the award-winning Collingsworth Family brings their beloved Classics & Hymns Tour to New Covenant. This Spring 2026 tour is all about what we love most: timeless hymns, cherished gospel classics, and worship straight from the heart—delivered with the Collingsworth Family’s signature blend of artistry, spiritual depth, and family-centered ministry. If you’ve seen them before, you already know: it’s not just a concert. It’s a room full of people singing, listening, remembering, and being lifted up together.

Founded by Phil and Kim Collingsworth in 1986, this full-time touring ministry now includes their four children—Brooklyn, Courtney, Phillip Jr., and Olivia —and has inspired audiences nationwide through music that honors the heritage of gospel worship. Along the way, they’ve earned major recognition (including Grammy and Dove Award nominations and Singing News Fan Awards) and have performed at iconic venues like the Grand Ole Opry and the Billy Graham Library.

This is a perfect night to invite a friend, bring your family, and share the story —because music like this is meant to be experienced together.

I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

I'm gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

Good stewardship is about devoting our whole selves to God’s service – through our living, our giving, our working, our praying, and our singing – all that we have and all that we are.

Legacy Giving

Your gift is a vessel of joy — delivering God’s love to children across the globe.

“A Quiet Christmas” with Angie Rose & Ryan Loeckel

Friday, December 19 at 3 PM & 7 PM

Angie Rose and Ryan Loeckel return for their beloved annual performance of “A Quiet Christmas,” a cherished tradition for returning audiences and newcomers alike. This intimate holiday experience, with beautiful music and stunning visuals, is crafted to quiet your heart, warm your spirit, and leave you touched by the magic of the season.

Best friends and longtime collaborators Angie Rose (piano/vocals) and Ryan Loeckel (violin/vocals) blend their talents seamlessly, now joined by a full band featuring guitar, bass, and drums. Enjoy an evening of timeless Christmas melodies, thoughtfully arranged, including the show’s title song, A Quiet Christmas, written and performed by Angie Rose. You’ll hear all of your favorites, with newly added songs each year, including a very special addition to this year’s program.

Step away from the holiday rush and let this experience envelop, inspire, and move you. Leave the evening with a quiet heart, an uplifted spirit, and the joy and warmth of Christmas lingering long after the final note.

Make A Quiet Christmas part of your own holiday tradition. Take home a CD of the music and visit www.aquietchristmas.org for more information.

Tickets are available at the door.

Christmas Yard Signs

We have a limited number of Christmas yard signs available for sale in the Administration Office. Each sign comes with the metal frame. We ask a donation of $5 per sign.

Signs will also be available for purchase at the Computer Center on Sunday, December 21 between Worship Services.

Holiday Closures

The church administration office will be closed from Wednesday, December 24 though Friday, December 26. We will reopen Monday, December 29 at 9 AM. We will be open for Christmas Eve Worship Services.

Bargains & Blessings Resale Store will be closed from Monday, December 22 through Thursday, January 1, 2026. No donations will be accepted.

The store will reopen on Friday, January 2 at 9:30 AM.

We wish you a blessed Christmas.

Blood Drive

Monday, December 29 from 12 PM – 6 PM in the West Parking Lot

New Covenant is hosting an upcoming Blood Drive with OneBlood.

Donors receive a $20 eGift card and a sweatshirt. You will also have a wellness check, which includes blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and cholesterol screening.

Facts:

• Approximately 62% of the population is eligible to donate blood.
• Every two seconds of every day, someone needs blood.
• Only 3% of those who are eligible actually donate blood.

Appointments are encouraged!

Men's Breakfast

We will not have Men's Breakfast on Tuesday, December 23 or December 30. Please join us again on Tuesday, January 6 at 7:30 AM. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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

The Beloved Community Sunday Class Reads the Bible Over the Course of the Upcoming Year

Sundays at 10:15 AM (following the 9 AM Worship Service)

Knowing the Bible is a wonderful way to grow closer to God! But, are you the type to sit down and read the entire Bible? Our goal is to read the whole Bible in a year, but think about it in terms of smaller, daily goals. Think about a commitment to read a short selection from the Bible plus a concise devotional every day. You can do that – especially since “The Bible Year” has it all mapped out for you day by day. 

At the end of each week, we will have a video lesson and discussion on the week's readings to help you better digest and understand what you read. So, you're not just reading verses, but enriching your spiritual life, developing a deeper faith and forming a closer connection to God and to others. “The Bible Year” by Magrey Devega as our reading guide. All are invited to join this class.

The book is available through Amazon, Cokesbury, and other booksellers. If you would like assistance ordering it or have other questions, please contact Vickie Southworth at (352) 661-5648. 

Church Hours Changing

In order to be better stewards of New Covenant’s resources, it has been decided that the church hours will be adjusted beginning in January. The revised hours for the church building will be:

• Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8 AM to 6 PM
• Wednesdays from 8 AM to 8:30 PM
• Fridays 8 AM to 1 PM

When planning for group meetings or classes, please consider scheduling during the day or in homes. The Administration office will continue to be open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM (Mon – Thurs) and 9 AM to 1 PM (Fri). Thank you for your patience and understanding as we strive to be the “hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in our community.

GriefShare^® (January 2026)

Mondays, January 5 through April 13, 2026 from 10 AM – 12 PM

GriefShare® support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you will discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s ‘normal’ in grief. You will learn hopeful ways of coping with grief in all of its unpredictability — and gain solid support each step of the way.

Registration is required. Workbook is $20. For more information, please contact Sharon Weimert, Care Coordinator.

The Gospel on the Ground (January 2026)

Wednesdays, January 7 – February 18, from 10:00 – 11:30 AM

Come along with biblical culturalist Kristi McLelland in this 7-session study as she unpacks the life of the early church in the book of Acts and shows us that the kingdom of God is always on the move, always looking outward to bring meaning and joy to a world searching for true fulfillment and hope.

Explore the call of Jesus to His disciples then and to us today, see how God's Word can sustain us even in the most difficult of times, and embrace the transformative grace we experience as children of God in His kingdom of celebration. Charlene English will facilitate this popular study!

Registration is required. There is no cost for this study, but please prepurchase the book. For more information, contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator - Discipleship.

Solo Sisters in Spirit

We will not have a Solo Sisters meeting in January. Please join us again on Thursday, February 12 at 3 PM. Happy holidays!

The Bands of The Villages Ensemble Concert

Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 7 PM in the Fellowship Center

Join us for an evening of beautifully crafted, small-group performances showcasing the remarkable musicianship of our community. This intimate concert features a variety of ensembles, including Clarinet Connexion led by Paula Vargas, Flute Fanatics led by Rocco Russomano, Saxations led by Harl Hoffman, The Villages Trumpet Ensemble directed by Dr. Anita Kupriss, Horns A Plenty led by Don Brannon, and the Flute Ensemble directed by Linda Quinn.

Each ensemble highlights the unique colors, textures, and personalities of its instrument family, creating a diverse and engaging musical journey. Audiences will enjoy beloved selections such as “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Gabriel’s Oboe,” “When I’m 64,” and “The Forrest Gump Suite,” along with other musical favorites. Don’t miss this special evening celebrating the talent, artistry, and collaborative spirit of The Villages ensemble performers!

Tickets are available on the website. If you have any questions or need help with tickets, please contact Angie Rose, Associate Director, Worship.

Terrific Tuesday (January 2026)

“Walking with the Wesleys”

Tuesday, January 13 from 4:45 PM – 7 PM

Join Pastor Harold for part three of our Terrific Tuesday program, “Walking with the Wesleys.” Learn about the Wesley family heritage and how their early roots helped shape their Christian faith and the early Methodist Church. We also will explore our Wesleyan theology based on grace and how Christ’s grace has shaped the formation of our church. 

Doors open at 4:45 PM and the program begins at 5:45 PM.

Menu: Meat Loaf, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, and Dessert (the menu is subject to change due to food availability).

Registration is required ($14). If you need assistance registering, please contact Ashley Hill, First Impressions Manager.

“The Chosen” Season Two

Begins Wednesday, January 14 from 2 – 4 PM in the Chapel

The word is spreading that Jesus is the Messiah. Increased fame brings growing crowds, new disciples, and more miracles! “Come and See” Season two of the global phenomenon changing the lives of tens of millions of people with each new episode.

This is a free event, registration information to come.

MOAMI Class of 2026

Thursdays, January 15 – March 26, 2026



MOAMI (Moving On: Always Master Inspired) is a powerful hands-on-class that uses Biblical principles to help women strengthen their relationship with God, develop supportive friendships with other women, learn strategies to successfully move through changes, discover their unique gifts, explore their purpose, and have fun with like-minded women.

The first class (January 15) is a Kickoff from 11 AM – 4 PM, and the last class (March 26) is a Celebration from 11 AM – 4 PM. All other classes are from 1 PM – 4 PM.

Registration is required ($45). If you have any questions or need assistance registering, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator - Discipleship. If registration fills, you will be added to a waiting list.

LOVE >hate Project (A Message of Forgiveness)

“Love is Stronger Than Hate” was a grieving dad’s message to1,000 people who attended his daughter Jessie’s funeral after she was brutally murdered in their home. Born of this statement was Jessie Blodgett’s legacy, The LOVE > hate Project. “A Message from Jessie” tells the true story of Buck Blogett’s daughter, Jessie, whose murder shattered their family but ultimately inspired a mission rooted in healing and love. Buck will share how he chose forgiveness over hatred and transformed tragedy into advocacy through the LOVE > hate Project. Buck has appeared on Dateline and will be our guest speaker.

Please join us at one of these special events as Dr. Buck Blodgett shares his personal story of forgiveness.

January Women's Gathering

Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 10 AM – 11:30 AM (with lunch to follow)

Menu: Parmesan Chicken Cutlets, Wild Rice, Mixed Vegetables, Dessert (the menu is subject to change due to food availability).

Registration is required ($12). If you have any questions or need help with registering, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator - Discipleship.

Men's Breakfast

Tuesday, February 3 at 7:30 AM

Buck will be presenting his series on Forgiveness at Men’s Breakfast. The first session will be on Tuesday, February 3, with the others to be scheduled.  

Worship Services

Saturday, January 24 at 5 PM and Sunday, January 25 at 9 and 11 AM

Join us the weekend of January 24 – 25 for a special worship service as Buck will be a guest with Pastor Harold. This is a perfect opportunity to invite a friend or neighbor who may need to hear a message of forgiveness. To learn more about Buck and his family’s story, please visit their website.

Thank You for Sharing the Light of Christ This Christmas Season! 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

This Christmas, our Night to Shine Prom Boutique became more than a place to find outfits—it became a holy space where the love of Christ was wrapped in every detail. 

• To our volunteers—you served with hearts full of compassion, reflecting the servant-hearted love of Jesus in every interaction. 
• To our donors—your generosity was a beautiful echo of God’s gift to us in Christ, bringing joy and dignity to every guest. 
• To our guests—you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and it was our honor to celebrate the beauty God placed within you. 

Together, we created a boutique that felt like Bethlehem—a humble place filled with holy wonder, where each person was reminded, they are chosen, cherished, and deeply loved by God. 

May the joy of this season continue to shine through Night to Shine, as we prepare for a celebration where every guest is crowned with honor and embraced with Christ’s love. 

There are still opportunities to support this special event.  

New Covenant Columbarium

We are very fortunate at New Covenant to have our own Columbarium. We were very blessed to have a group of forebears who felt this was an important offering to New Covenant members. It has lovely features such as restful benches, a Memorial Stone and a soothing fountain in a serene environment ready for mediation and prayer.

Effective January 1, 2026, the cost of a niche will change from $2500 to $3000 due to increased costs to continue to maintain this sacred space.



The Columbarium Committee is always welcoming new members that are passionate about keeping our property well cared for and in good repair. If you are interested in knowing more about our Columbarium, please contact Sharon Weimert, Care Coordinator, using the button below.

Weekly Prayer Concerns

The Prayer Quilts on the Altar are for:

Bailey, who is recovering from a heart attack.

Jessie, who is recovering from her second surgery on her shoulder.

Jim, who fell and is undergoing rigorous rehab.

Kate, who is unable to walk following back surgery.



Rebeka, who is recovering from cancer surgery.

We request your prayers for these prayer quilts. Please click on the quilt to be taken to our Facebook Page, where you can ‘LIKE’ the post to virtually tie a knot. Prayer quilts are made by a dedicated group in our church and throughout our community who envision the quilts being a special gift of love for people experiencing life-changing challenges. If you would like to order a prayer quilt, please click the button below.

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

Cathy McHaul, family and friends on the passing of her mother, Ernestine Vawter.

Altar Flowers

 

Flower orders must be received by noon on Tuesday for flowers to be delivered that weekend. To place an order for altar flowers online, please use the button below.