Prayers Requested for Pastor Dean Piper

As announced at H.O.P.E. University this week, our beloved Pastor Dean Piper is currently undergoing both radiation and chemo treatment for a reappearance of cancer. Though he is in good spirits, many of us know how physically and emotionally draining this treatment can be.

Please help us cover Pastor Dean and Peg in prayer during this time. We believe in the healing and comforting power of prayer and know it is our duty as Pastor Dean's community to uplift him before the Lord every day.

We will keep you informed of his progress and any changes to his H.O.P.E. U schedule.

Urgent Request for Saturday 6:00pm Ushers

Due to unforeseen circumstances, there is now an urgent need for ushers at the Saturday 6:00pm worship service at Hope Central Campus.

If anyone is interested in serving as an usher, your time would be greatly appreciated! Previous experience is not necessary.

Please contact Wayne and Maddy Burgess at (352) 750-4177 or by email at mwburgess910@comcast.net.

New Congregational Sermon Response

Our Music Director Ken Wood would like to introduce you to our new congregational sermon response ahead of services!

Check out the video posted here. You can also find it on our Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

New Prayer Study Opportunity

Pastor John is leading a study on prayer on Thursdays at 11:00am in person and on zoom.

If prayer stands at the place where God and human beings meet, then I must learn about prayer. “Most of my struggles in the Christian life cycle around the same 2 themes: why God doesn’t act the way I want God to, and why don’t I act the way God wants me to.” (Pastor John) 

Prayer is the precise point where those themes converge.

If you have questions like:

• Is prayer important to you?
• How often do you pray?
• How long do to pray?
• Do you sense the presence of God when you pray?
• Is prayer a burden or duty, or is it a pleasure?
• Why does history lurch on without God intervening
• What good will prayer do in the face of nuclear threat, acts of terrorism, hurricanes, or climate change?
• Why do people in developing countries spend less time pondering the effectiveness of prayer and more time praying?

“Of all the activities in which a Christian engages, and which are a part of Christian life, there is surely none which causes so much perplexity and raises so many problems, as the activity which we call prayer.” (Pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

Let’s discover together if God is listening; why should God care about me; if God knows everything, what’s the point of prayer; why do answers seem so inconsistent, even capricious?

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor John at PastorJohn@hope4all.church or (352) 425-2776.

The zoom reference to begin attending this class is:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84611820600?pwd=LzJGSk95TnBQVmRHT2dFRFkwTmVoUT09

Women of Hope Welcome Back Breakfast

September 23^rd at 9:00am

We are happy to resume the Women of Hope Breakfast meetings! The first is scheduled for September 23^rd at the Hope Central Campus Fellowship Hall at 9:00am. The menu will be fresh fruit tray, muffins, cinnamon rolls, bagels, pastries, yogurt in varied flavors, quiche and egg dish, coffee, tea, water, and OJ.

Our guest speaker will be Pastor John LeCain. The subject of his presentation will be a Welcome Back message and the story of his walk of faith. Pastor John is one of Hope Lutheran Church's Pastoral Care Team Ministers.

All women are encouraged to attend and bring a friend. Please register by noon on Monday, September 20^th. $4.00 will be collected the morning of the breakfast. 

Additional News: Over the months of September through December, we will have a raffle of a specially made quilt, with all proceeds donated to Camp E-Nini-Hassee in Floral City, FL. This camp was established by the Eckerd Family in 1969 for the purpose of helping troubled young girls, ages 12-18. Tickets are available for all to purchase -- men and women. The quilt will be on display at future Women of Hope Breakfasts -- October 21^st, November 18^th, and December 2^nd. Raffle tickets are $5 for one ticket or $10 for 3 tickets.

Questions? Please contact LaVera Wiberg by email at lavera114@yahoo.com or by phone at (352) 259-4575.

Fish Fry at Hope Central Campus

October 1^st

There will be 2 seatings - 4:30pm and 6:00pm.

There will be NO Social Supper on Wednesday, September 29^th.

Menu will include: Fish, hush puppies, French fries, Cole slaw, beverages, and assorted flavors Italian Ice.

Reservations are open now and will close on September 28^th. No payment will be accepted after the registration deadline.

2021 Annual Churchwide Picnic at Hope Lutheran

It’s almost time for the annual churchwide picnic at Central on Friday afternoon, October 8^th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. We will be “under the tent” in the Central parking lot on the Fairway Christian side! Tables and chairs are provided. This picnic is for all of our members at Central, Lake Weir and Everglades, friends, and family plus our friends at Fairway Christian. 

For a nominal cost of $5 per person, your Oktoberfest meal includes the following:

• Burger, cheeseburgers with all the fixin’s
• Bratwurst with choice of sauerkraut and trimmings
• German potato salad
• Assorted chips
• Large soft pretzels with beer cheese and/or spicy mustard
• Apple struedel or Bavarian cream eclairs

Tickets go on sale September 28^th online or come by the church office! Tickets will be $5 and can be reserved online (just like a Social Supper ticket) or in person. This will be the first church picnic in 2 years, so come on out and enjoy good food, good fellowship, and the love of our Lord!

If you would like to help set up or serve at the picnic, we welcome volunteers to assist the Hope hospitality team for a fun and frenzied afternoon! Contact Debbie Bennett at debbie@hope4all.church.

H.O.P.E. University Has Returned

H.O.P.E. University's Fall Semester has begun, but it's not too late to jump into class!

H.O.P.E. University will meet on Wednesdays at 10:00am at Hope Central Campus. As always, we encourage you to invite friends who are not Hope members. This is an excellent opportunity to grow your faith and fellowship with friends.

Hope Lutheran Welcomes the CIA (Christians in Action)

The purpose of forming this newest ministry of Hope Lutheran Church – CIA (Christians in Action) is to focus on motivating and making members aware of activities of all three Hope Lutheran Church Campuses. Hope Lutheran Church continues to be a place where faith and community come together to reach beyond the walls of the church and into the community we serve.

Through the CIA’s mission and organization, groups will be formed to enjoy hospitality, bible study, games, service and ministry projects dedicated to our church and community projects. All ideas are welcome and all Hope members/friends are encouraged to participate.

After a hard and different way of doing things in the past 18 months of separation due to COVID, we encourage all of you to learn more about this exciting new ministry. The committee members are looking for your ideas and help to get the small groups going. We can all stay safe, enjoy each other's company and serve the many activities that make us one in Christ.

MISSION STATEMENT:

We are a group known as CIA, “Christians in Action”. Men and women whose goals and objectives are to encourage, motivate and increase the action and activity of all three Hope Lutheran Church campuses.

Hope will be a place where faith and community comes together to reach beyond the walls of the church and into the community.

For more information, contact Len Robertson at lvrobertson@aol.com or

(612) 669-5680.

Walk 2 B Fit Class Resuming

On Monday, October 11^th, the “Walk 2 B Fit” (W2BF) class will resume at the Lake Weir Campus. It will take place on Mondays, and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 10:00am. It is an aerobic, low impact, walking class patterned after the Walk Away the Pounds (WATP) class which takes place at the Central Campus. It's for men and women.

Join us right away or come whenever you can. If you have any questions, contact Gracia Luoma at (330) 752-3323 or galuoma@aol.com.

Angel Tree Volunteers Needed

It is once again time to begin thinking about volunteering during our Christmas Angel Tree Drive! The Angel Tree Team will need roughly ten volunteers spread throughout our three Hope campuses on November 13^th and 14^th to assign angels. We estimate we will need 6 volunteers for Hope Central Campus and 2 volunteers at both Hope Lake Weir Campus and Hope at Everglades.

We will also need between 10 to 12 volunteers for the weekend of December 11^th and 12^th to receive gifts at all three campuses.

There will be a Volunteer Meeting on October 11^th at 9:30am to 10:30am at Hope Central Campus regarding the Angel tree and operations. To sign up, or if you have any questions, please contact Lenea Carnes at lenea@hope4all.church or Gloria Johnson at gigi529ga@gmail.com.

Discounted Items Available from Our Equal Exchange Partners

Now is the time to purchase discounted Chocolate bars, cocoa mix, tea and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The Mission Outreach team has elected to discontinue the sale of these products. So don't miss out on this opportunity to save on these high quality products. You will find the kiosk with the product assortment next to the office.

Just pick out what you want and leave the cash or check in the envelope provided. Leave the envelope in the receptacle attached to the side of the kiosk. Thanks for all of your support for the Equal Exchange partners over the years.

Walk to Emmaus 2021

Do you seek... Spiritual Renewal; New understanding of God's grace and love; Worship and community with other believers?

THE WALK TO EMMAUS IS FOR YOU!

It has been over a year since the last Walk to Emmaus in March of 2020. But we are happy to announce the Schedule of Walks for October 2021:



• Men's Walk to Emmaus #160 - October 14-17, 2021
• Women's Walk to Emmaus #160 - October 21-24, 2021

For information about this life-changing opportunity, please contact Kathy Langley at (352) 753-8557 or cklangley97@embarqmail.com

Sanctuary Flower Donations

Flowers this week were given by...

Vic & Jeanette Miller in honor of their 62nd Wedding Anniversary

Liz Morey and Reese Wellmann in honor of their children

Mary Crawford and Eugene Rose in memory of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Rose

In Memoriam...

We mourn the death of our member Robert (Bob) Mark on August 30. Bob was born on May 19, 1945. He and his wife, Sue, were married on January 26, 1973. They joined Hope Lutheran Church on August 26, 2007. A Celebration of Life will be held at Lil Bit Café in The Villages on Monday, September 20 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

Please keep Sue and their family in your hearts and prayers during their time of grief.

We mourn the death of our member Richard Dusenske on September 14. Rich was born on September 5, 1951. He and his wife, Danene, were married on June 15, 1974. They joined Hope Lutheran Church on April 30. 2011. At this time arrangements are pending.

Please keep Danene and their family in your hearts and prayers during their time of grief.

We mourn the death of our member Marian Karlberg on September 11. Marian was born on October 4, 1928; she joined Hope Lutheran Church on October 27, 2002. She was widowed in 2009. A service will be held at a later date in Massachusetts.

Please keep Marian’s family in your hearts and prayers during their time of grief.

Worship Attendance for September 11-12, 2021

Central Campus:

4:00pm = 139

6:00pm = 48

8:00am = 126

10:00am = 233

Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 58

Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 52

10:00am = 81