October 22, 2021

Celebrating New Members

This weekend, Hope is pleased to receive 38 new members throughout our three campuses.

New members will be wearing gold star stickers on their name badges. If you see a new member, be sure to welcome them to the family of Hope!

Important Mask Update for Hope Lutheran Church

Masks are now optional for all attendees, volunteers, and staff at Hope Lutheran Church. If you have any questions, please call the church office or speak to a staff member during worship.

Thank you!

Cantata Reservations On Sale

Beginning November 12^th

This December, we are excited to celebrate the return of our annual Choral Christmas Cantata!

Our presentation this year is “Christmas All Year Long”, a celebration of the hope and promise found in the story of our savior’s birth. Familiar Christmas carols, thematically rich new favorites, and holiday worship songs are woven together in one truly awe-inspiring show.

The Cantata will be conducted by Hope’s Director of Music Ministries, Ken Wood, and will feature narration and solo work by The Villages’ own Mary Jo Vitale.

Christmas Cantata Showtime

December 4^th at 7:30pm

December 5^th at 3:00pm & 6:00pm

Cantata reservations will be available starting Friday, November 12^th via our church website: Register | Hope Lutheran Church (hope4all.church)

Each seat is $5.00, with no household limit. Reservations will be sold on a “first come, first served” basis with a maximum seating capacity of 625 for each of the three performances. If you need assistance with reservations, the church office would be happy to help! Stop in during office hours for assistance.

H.O.P.E. University Returns November 3^rd

H.O.P.E. University classes will resume on

Wednesday, November 3^rd at 10:00am in Room 203 at Hope Central Campus.

Pastor Bruce will lead a 12-week series on the publication “The Freedom of a Christian”, written by Martin Luther in 1520. We celebrated the 500^th anniversary of Luther’s writing of this document last year, and in honor of this milestone, the ELCA has asked churches to reread and study this document.

The ELCA provided the webpage elca500.org, a 12-week study guide, and a link to a free PDF of the document. You may access a link to the document here. If you choose, you can also purchase the book from Augsburg Fortress for $14.99.

Even if you don’t wish to read the document, feel free to come to class anyway as we slowly study this important Lutheran document.

As always, classes will be livestreamed and archived for those unable to attend. We will begin the series in November and December, take a break over the holidays, and continue in January and February 2022. Stay tuned for exact dates and more information.

Community Pancake Breakfast at Hope Lake Weir Campus

Saturday, November 13^th from 8:00am to 11:00am

Join us for a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday,

November 13^th from 8:00am to 11:00am at Hope Lutheran Lake Weir Campus, located at 10495 SE Sunset Harbor Rd., Summerfield.

Everyone is invited to attend! The cost will be $1.00 per person – adults and children alike. Registration will take place at the door. You are especially encouraged to invite friends, neighbors, and folks who may live in the Summerfield area. The menu will include pancakes, sausage, coffee, and OJ.

This is an opportunity for Hope Lutheran Church to welcome back those who have been unable to attend church or activities due to COVID. This is also a great way to get to know folks outside of our church. This is an opportunity for us to share the love of Christ through our actions and to show our community that we are a place they can come that is inviting.

If you would like to help with this pancake breakfast, contact Len Robertson at [email protected] or (612) 669-5680 or Virginia Robertson at [email protected] or (612) 619-0220.

Men of Hope Monthly Breakfast Prayer Meeting

Thursday, November 11^th at 8:00am

Please reserve your place online before Monday, November 8^th. Please also register a friend you are bringing.

Doors open at 7:45am. Breakfast is served at 8:00am. Donation is $7 at the door.

Menu: Belgian Waffles with syrup, choice of cinnamon apple or blueberry topping, Sausage links, Home fries, Eggs, Yogurt, and Assorted pastries.

After breakfast the program will be "Stump the Pastors". Our called pastors will be on the hot seat to answer ANY questions. Bring your neighbor and enjoy the fellowship.

Southern Congregation Social Night

Do you worship at Hope at the Everglades Rec Center or live in the southern Villages?

There is a social group meeting regularly at Everglades Rec Center on the second Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The next social group gathering will be Tuesday, November 9^th.

You are invited to bring your own beverage, though water and coffee will be available. You are encouraged to bring a simple finger snack to share, and of course, remember your Villages ID!

For more information, please contact Jane Stephens at [email protected].

Nominating Committee 2022

Members of the committee: 

Cathy Daley, Chairperson

John Ruff

Susan Ninstil

2022 Council Elections Positions Available:

Treasurer - 3 year term

Secretary - 2 year term

Council Member-At-Large - 3 years (2 positions available)

All nominees must turn in a completed Council Nomination Bio Form no later than December 6, 2021 to the church office. Forms are available at the church office or by clicking here.

List of nominees and positions nominated for will be published in the church newsletter the weekends of December 11^th & 12^th and December 18^th & 19^th.

If a petition from the congregation is forthcoming after publication of the nominees, it must be signed by at least one hundred (100) voting members of the congregation and submitted to the Council Secretary no later than January 16^th, 2022 (21 days prior to the Annual Meeting).

Disciples' Faith Grows!

What are the times and places you have felt God’s presence? Several of our members have shared their faith experiences through videos over the past few weeks. Others have shared with the Stewardship team these thoughts and experiences when they felt their faith growing. Some of their responses are below:

• Scripture-based songs I learned at church as a kid still pop into my head from time to time. I’m not always thankful when this happens! The Church helped me learn God’s Word as a child, and in times of need, those Scriptures still come to my mind — sometimes with a cheesy accompanying melody. It reminds me I am a child of God. The church gives me a place to be challenged. The church isn’t perfect and I’m not perfect. We are all trying to grow into the people God wants us to be. And growth doesn’t happen in a comfortable environment, but in a challenging environment. My faith leads me to grow as a Disciple and do God’s work.

• As a child around the breakfast table – conversations with my mom. I remember what she said. I remember the day – the sun was shining -streaming through the kitchen window.

• As a teen in high school volunteering for the Red Cross in the VA hospital -scared and prayer for God to help me.

• Coming to church and feeling upset and not in the best frame of mind. Sitting there during the sermon, I felt a warmth come over me and all my stress and tension went away. I felt God was telling me everything was going to be alright.



We all have our own thoughts and stories, whether from childhood or last week. Hope Lutheran Church continues to provide many ways to grow our faith. Your support of the “Disciples’ Faith Grows” stewardship program allows us to continue to fulfill our mission “To Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Sanctuary Flower Donations

Flowers this week were given by...

Carol Furlong, in memory of her beloved son Jay

Bob & Kathy Hillen, in honor of their 57^th wedding anniversary

Worship Attendance for October 16-17, 2021

Central Campus:

4:00pm = 183

6:00pm = 58

8:00am = 141

10:00am = 242

Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 74

Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 59

10:00am = 81