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

“Jesus wanted the man no one else wanted.”

William Barclay

Summer Food Drive

Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27

Please fill your bags with the food items needed and leave the bags beside your car/golf cart this weekend, July 26 & 27. Volunteers will be on hand to gather your food donations. You may also drop off your donations at the church anytime during the week. Bins are conveniently located at the west entrance to the church and in the East and West Narthexes. There is also a collection box available for drop-off at Bargains & Blessings.

Current needs include: canned fruit, canned soups, canned tuna and chicken, canned vegetables, cereal, flavored pastas (Hamburger Helper, Rice-A-Rona, Pasta Sides), macaroni & cheese, peanut butter & jelly, SpagettiOs, RavioliOs, etc., and spaghetti sauce.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who have worked in this ministry to serve families over the last 20 years.

Christmas in July Choir Open House! 

Wednesday, July 30 from 5 – 8 PM

Join us for a joyful evening of music, fellowship, and Christmas cheer! Bring a friend as we kick off preparations for Christmas 2025 with Mary McDonald’s “This is Christmas.” Music and tracks will be ready to get you into the holiday spirit. We will begin with a fellowship meal at 5 PM, followed by an inspiring rehearsal. We’ll also prepare music to sing in worship on Sundays, August 3 and August 10, so you’ll get a chance to jump right in!

We have plenty of space — and we need you! Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just love to sing, we warmly welcome new choir members to be part of our New Covenant family. Come help us build something beautiful together.

Registration is required so we have enough food and music available. If you have any questions, please contact Sean Pollock, Director of Worship and Events.

New Mentors Needed

New Covenant’s Wildwood Middle High School Mentor Program annually has around 35 Mentors working with Mentees from ninth to twelfth grade, primarily at Wildwood Middle High School.

We need at least five more mentors for this school year. Deadline to apply is Thursday, July 31.

If God is leading you to this special program and you would like more information, please use the button below to contact Anne Foote Hill, Director of Administration.

Online Worship

Online Worship is a great way to stay connected to New Covenant anytime, anywhere. Whenever you’re away from The Villages during the weekend, we invite you to join us for Online Worship on the church website, YouTube channel, and Facebook Page. You can also invite your friends to church digitally by sending them a link to the online service.

In addition, the New Covenant podcast, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, is a convenient way to listen to the audio of our weekly sermons.

Wherever your plans take you, we hope that you will continue to be a part of the life of the church, whether online or in person.

Eternal Reward

Not that I seek the gift; but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit. Philippians 4:17(RSV)

In this verse of scripture, Paul says he wants you to give, not simply so that he may receive your money, but so that you experience “profit in your account.” This probably refers to the reward that you will receive at the judgement-seat of Christ, when He evaluates your service for Him as a Christian. In a very real way, you are making an investment in your own eternal futures when you give money to God’s work.

Legacy Giving

Over 50 percent of people die without a will. Do you have one?

New Generation Singers

St. Joseph, Missouri UMC Youth Choir

Sunday, July 27 at 7 PM in the Christian Life Center

Come experience an unforgettable evening of music and ministry with the New Generation Singers — a dynamic youth choir from St. Joseph, Missouri made up of students from 8th grade through college. Known for their high-energy performances, this group shares the love of Christ through a creative mix of music, drama, speaking parts, and even ventriloquism. Each summer they debut a new themed program that reflects their mission and imagination.

While they perform primarily in churches, the New G Singers have also brought their message to unique and meaningful places including parks, arenas, fairs, inside the base of the Statue of Liberty, and the Chapel at West Point. Their performance in the nation’s capital even earned a mention in the Congressional Record.

With powerful sound, theatrical lighting, and a heart for sharing the Gospel, this is more than a concert — it’s an inspiring experience for all ages. All are welcome!

FREE — no tickets or cost to attend.

Bargains & Blessings Truck

Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3

The Bargains & Blessings truck will be on the church campus to accept donations next weekend before worship services. If you have large items to donate, please call Bargains & Blessings at (352) 330-3333 for information about donation pick-up.

We appreciate your ongoing support of this important ministry. Each item donated and sold helps to support children and families in our local community. 

Helpers are also needed every other month to accept donations before worship service at 8 AM and in-between worship services from 10–11 AM. If you are interested, please contact Charles Stuart.

Catastrophic Flooding in Central Texas

We have seen the aftermath of the devastating flood in southern Texas. People have lost family members and homes. The United Methodist Church, through UMCOR, continues to support victims all over the world through humanitarian relief in the name of Jesus Christ. Part of our Christian faith and our Wesleyan tradition is to “love our neighbor.” You can join other United Methodists in assisting in the relief effort.

In response, UMCOR has awarded a solidarity grant to the Rio Texas Annual Conference to support their relief efforts. This grant will provide immediate relief to those impacted through Early Response Team deployment, debris removal, distribution of relief supplies and more. Continue to pray for those who have lost loved ones and for all who have been impacted by this devastating disaster. The Rio Texas Annual Conference has created prayer and worship resources for United Methodist congregations to use to respond to this disaster.

If you would like to give, please use the button below. At the bottom of the donation form, under “Select preferred USDR gift designation,” choose

“USDR - Texas Flooding.”

Fresh Expressions Volunteer Opportunities

New Covenant is pleased to offer a Fresh Expression of ministry by providing a mini worship service for residents in many of the living facilities in The Villages and surrounding areas.

If you have the gift of music, prayer, or sharing a devotion, being a part of this ministry may be a good fit for you. All volunteers for this Fresh Expression undergo training in protecting vulnerable adults as well as a background check.

To learn more about getting involved, please contact Pastor Donna Hendren.

Do You Like Helping People?

Bargains & Blessings Volunteers are needed to answer general information, such as the hours of operation, donation hours, items that can and cannot be accepted, or transferring calls when needed. Help is needed Monday through Friday, from 9 AM–12:30 PM or 12:30–4 PM, either a half-day or full-day. Training will be provided.

Please contact Barb Holevinsky if you are interested or stop by the store to apply. 

Voyages of Paul Cruise

October 24 – November 4, 2025

Rev. Harold Hendren will be leading an upcoming “Voyages of Paul Cruise” Tour. The pilgrimage will be highlighting the key locations where the Apostle Paul launched many of his first century churches such as Corinth and Thessaloniki. The trip also includes time in Santorini and Mykonos, as well as Athens, one of the most historic cities in the world.

To learn more and to register, please use the buttons below.

Cost: starting at $4,298

Brighten Someone’s Day

Do you like visiting with people who might be hospitalized or in rehab? Do you find joy in praying with another person in need? How about sending a note of cheer to brighten someone’s day? You might be a great candidate to be a Congregational Care Minister!

Congregational Care Ministers (CCMs) are people who are specifically trained to do these acts of kindness, care, and so much more. This past February we trained 24 persons in a two day workshop, commissioned them as CCMs, and they are sharing the love of Jesus Christ in various ways in our community and region. 

If you think this might be something you would like to do, please contact Pastor Ellen or call the Care office. We can share information about the training, the expectations, and more. Let’s share God’s love together!

The Prayer Quilts on the Altar are for:

Brian, who is having a partial liver transplant from his sister.

Heather, who is donating a part of her liver to her brother.

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...

The family and friends of Naomi Standen Prothro on her passing.

Altar Flowers

George Heritage & family in loving memory of his wife, Barbara Heritage.

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.