Disciples' Faith Grows

How does your faith grow? As we planned for our stewardship campaign for 2022, we wanted our theme to be something that reflects us as a congregation. As we move forward over the coming weeks, you will see and hear from members of our congregation about how, as Disciples’, our faith is ever growing. We will share stories of our growing faith and how we are giving back to God what He has given to us. It is through your support that we continue growing our Faith within our congregation, community and outside our area for the next year.

Each week we will focus on another aspect of the ways Disciples’ Faith Grows until Commitment Weekend on November 6^th & 7^th. Please join us as we look at how we are continuing to grow our faith. And think about how you are growing your Faith…

H.O.P.E. University Cancelled For This Week

Due to Pastor Dean’s ongoing medical treatment, H.O.P.E. University has been cancelled for this Wednesday,

September 29^th.

Additional classes in the current series may be cancelled or altered in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned to your Digital News in the Pews and the Pastors’ weekend announcements for updates.

We will keep you updated on all upcoming H.O.P.E. University opportunities, including exciting new classes throughout the fall. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] or (352) 425-2776.

The zoom reference to begin attending this class is:

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

A Message from CIA (Christians in Action)

Dear family of Hope,

It’s been a difficult year and a half, thanks to COVID-19. We all want to be safe and most of us have taken the necessary precautions. Unfortunately, some of us have lost friends, family, and neighbors. That’s the sad part of a pandemic.

With necessary precautions in place – including masks, vaccinations, safe distancing, and hand washing – most of us have been able to continue to live healthily. We encourage you to continue taking these precautions for the remainder of the pandemic to help yourselves and your loved ones remain well.

This letter comes to you now because we want you back! Looking forward as a church, we are thankful for how we have managed this pandemic so far. Pastoral care and worship have never left you. Hope Lutheran has remained here for you. But we have lost out on many group gathering opportunities during this difficult time, and we’re now looking forward to resuming these activities we love. We miss you and want to see you back again!

The Christians in Action (CIA) Group is engaging groups to regather in Christ’s name. This group is planning new activities and outreach events, as well new initiatives for discipleship. We will be sharing these opportunities in the Digital News in the Pews and through other resources.

Please keep an eye out for these new opportunities. If you know someone who does not regularly use a computer or device, please share this news with them. All are welcome to get involved!

Don’t forget to join us for worship:

Hope Central Campus

Saturdays: 4:00 PM (Contemporary) and 6:00 PM (Traditional)

Sundays: 8:00 AM (Traditional) and 10:00 AM (Traditional)

Hope Lake Weir Campus

Sundays: 10:00 AM (Traditional)

Hope at Everglades Rec Center

Sundays: 8:00 AM (Traditional) and 10:00 AM (Contemporary)

We look forward to getting back to engaging activities at church once again! We are doing everything to keep Hope's members safe and engaged in the life of the church. Remember - WE WANT YOU BACK. We hope to see you in church very soon!

Blessings,

Pastor Jon Marc MacLean

Len Robertson, CIA Team

Love INC Gap Ministry Tour

To reserve your spot, click this link to fill out the form, or call (352) 245-8774. Bring a friend! 

GET FIT - Try Chair Yoga and/or Walking

If you would like a nice, quiet meditative start to the day and an opportunity to gain more strength and flexibility, please join us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for Chair Yoga in room 204 from 9:00am to 10:00am at Hope Central Campus. If you have any questions contact Gracia Luoma at (330) 752-3323 or [email protected].

If you want something more aerobic try “Walk Away the Pounds” (WATP) in the Fellowship Hall (Central Campus) on Mon., Wed., Fri. from 8:00am to 9:00am. Please direct any questions to Ginny Wilson at (352) 430-3326 or [email protected].

Starting on October 4^th at Hope Lake Weir Campus, we will also offer a walking class called “Walk 2 Be Fit” (W2BF) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 10:00am. Contact Gracia for more information.

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 [email protected] or Gloria Johnson at [email protected].

Men of Hope Monthly Breakfast Prayer Meeting

Thursday, October 14^th at 8:00am

Please reserve your place online before Monday, October 12^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.

Reserve the second Thursday of every month through November on your calendar for future Men of Hope Breakfast Meetings.

Sunday After Worship (SAW)

This group meets every Sunday right after the 10:00am service in Room 200 at Hope Central Campus. We have coffee, refreshments and talk about today's sermon. ALL ARE WELCOME.

Sanctuary Flower Donations

Flowers this week were given by...

Casey Hargreaves in memory of Jim, honoring their 57^th wedding anniversary

John & Illona Weatherhead in honor of their 55^th wedding anniversary

In Memoriam...

We mourn the death of our member Janet G. Anderson on September 19. Janet was born on January 5, 1937. She joined Hope Lutheran Church on October 26, 2003. Janet was widowed in 2012.

A service for Janet will be held at Beyers Funeral Home in Lady Lake on Tuesday, September 28 at 10:30am. Pr. Jon Marc will preside. Please keep Janet’s family in your hearts and prayer.

Worship Attendance for September 18-19, 2021

Central Campus:

4:00pm = 134

6:00pm = 50

8:00am = 105

10:00am = 247

Lake Weir Campus:

10:00am = 44

Everglades Rec Center:

8:00am = 45

10:00am = 91