Hope Lutheran Church 250 Avenida Los Angelos The Villages, Florida 32162 (352) 750-2321

Local Missions in Hope

Blessing of the Animals

Blessing of the Animals is an outreach ministry that began in 2004 to honor both living and deceased pets.  The once-a-year event held in October offers a "blessing service" as a gift to the community and Hope members.  Since it began, the attendance for this event has steadily grown.  In 2007, we had well over 200 people and approximately 150 pets.  Pre-event media coverage enhanced the team’s efforts while television and newspaper interviews took place during the gathering.  This year a tent was set up, thus alleviating the need for an alternative rain date.  Team members encouraged broader participation within the congregation and business community whereupon scarves, pet treats, photographs and other gifts were given to our guests in large bags donated by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The culmination of the gathering was a memorable time of worship, enhanced by an exceptional array of music.

Disaster Immediate Response Team (D.I.R.T.)

The Hope Lutheran Church (HLC) Disaster Immediate Response Team (DIRT) developed in response to the Ground Hog Day tornadoes that attacked the central Florida community February 2, 2007.

Designed as immediate second responders DIRT Volunteers provide support to Public Safety and Emergency Management Agencies by distributing food, water, ice and other necessities to first responders and responding to request from these agencies to aid victims.

HLC DIRT works in conjunction with disaster relief and recovery agencies such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Lutheran Disaster Relief, Lutheran Services Florida, Saint Vincent DePaul Society, Lake And Sumter Emergency Recovery (LASER) and Love INC. by distributing emergency supplies, health and comfort items and physical, emotional and spiritual support for victims.

Aid to victims continues from the immediate response to the disaster through recovery. This is a long term effort that may take years.

Rock of Ages Mission Church

To find out the latest news regarding the formation of this new congregation you can visit their  website at www.rockofageslutheran.com

Habitat for Humanity

Building a Habitat House

Your Help is Needed!  The work on the new home for the Walker Family is well under way.  The schedule for next week (March 24  28, 2008) is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  Come any time- leave any time- you will be surprised at how much fun it is.  If you can hammer a nail, we can use your help.  Why not stop by the site to see what has been done to date - only six minutes from church.

Directions from the church:  Take route 466 East, just before the intersection with route 441 - turn right onto The Old Dixie Highway and follow this road until it turns right becoming Spencer Lane - the home-site is approximately one block.  Any questions, please call Joan Price.

Hope University

H.O.P.E. University is for all people.  The name is a fancy, all inclusive way of saying we have Bible Study, Doctrinal Studies, discussion of Faith and Current Events and offer courses to aid our Christian Growth.  If you are reading this report and have not tried “Hope U” as yet, why not make the effort to participate in a class this year.  We are in our fourth year of operation. There is no tuition, no tests, no memorization, an occasional book charge and leaders who answer your questions.For further information on HOPE University, click here

Hope Crafters

The Crafters meet each week to create Sojourn Bears, sweaters, veteran amputee comfort sleeves, blankets and other projects which are then distributed to the various charities needing their support.  All who are willing to help are welcome.  Just come to the church beteen 9:00AM and 11:00aM each Tuesday.  Lavera and Joey can show you what you can do.

Click Here for more information.

Hope Quilting Group

Hope for the Hungry

Everyone at Hope has the opportunity to participate in feeding the hungry by bringing non=perishable food item and placing them in the large wooden box in the narthex.  The Hope for the Hungry team collect and delliversd food item to area food shelves.  They coordinate the collection of food on the first Sunday of each month and deliver the items to the Wildwood Food Pantry.

Steeple People - Clowns of Hope

"Steeple People" Hope members along with others from the community visit local assisted living facilities. Their mission is:  “Spreading God’s Word through Laughter.” They get involved in conducting prayer meetings, holding parties and leading services at churches. Team members participate in The Blessing of the Animals at Hope. 

Team Leaders Carl and Ray Day provide training through The Village College of Clowning.

During 2007 they performed at Oxford Baptist Church, Harbor Hills Sweetheart Luncheon, Fairway Christian Church, Methodist Men’s Breakfast, various nursing homes in the area and several Spirit Nights at Chick-fil-A. On  Thanksgiving Eve they presented a skit called “Thanksgiving—What’s it all about?” at Hope Lutheran Church.

They presented a program at the Lady Lake Tree Lighting ceremony in December and were present on December 23 at Belleview United Methodist Church to present a program at both services and the Sunday School.  They participated  in the children's part of the  Christmas Eve services at Hope.

Seeds of Hope

The Christmas Angel Tree

Ninety-seven (97) underprivileged children had a “Merry Christmas” in 2007 due to happy giving and participation of over two hundred (200) members of our congregation.

 Our Angels came to us through the Head Start Program of Sumter County and the Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School.  Head Start is a Federal program for low-income families.  The Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School has a low socioeconomic population base with over seventy percent of the students in need of help.  Over the past several years, this school has maintained a performance grade of an A.  Our hats are off to them!

 We are so very fortunate to have a small part in making all of these children happy. 

 Sincere thanks were received from the coordinators of the Head Start Program and the Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary School for Hope Lutheran Church.

 The Angel Tree Team of 11 had a wonderful time along with all of our participating church members making the Angel Tree a success—thanks to everyone!

Women of Hope

The Women of Hope Board has worked well together this past year in establishing a spiritual bond with the firm  intention and prayerful commitment of being dedicated to the Lord and to the women’s organization by making Christ known in mission-oriented projects and in friendship through Christ.  We have achieved exciting growth in numbers, as well as an outpouring of love and generous support in donations to the various mission projects that we have supported this past year, 2007.  We would like to give all the thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father for kindness and generosity shown by this congregation in spirit and donation.  Thanks be to God!

 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:  To know Christ and to make Christ known through our mission projects, i.e., Love, INC; Leesburg Pregnancy Center’s Bible project; Shepherd’s Lighthouse in Belleview, FL.; Hands of Mercy Everywhere (HOME), Belleview, FL; The Villages Elementary School in Lady Lake (Rolling Acres Road); Lutheran World Relief which includes the sweaters, quilts and health kits for this past year; and the Hope Crafters group    including knitted and crocheted infant hats and adult hats for cancer patients, comfort covers for hospice, hospice bears, amputee covers for feet, legs and hands, Sojourn bears, comfort bears for children, crosses for first-time    visitors, and Homewood favors.  We have continued to support the Florida Bahamas Synod Women's Organization, Pinelands Conference Activities and Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA).

 We have continued to produce spiritually enlightening, as well as “fun and fellowship” type of programs which have generated an increase in attendance at the Women of Hope breakfast meetings.  We continue to meet every third Thursday of the month beginning at 9:00 a.m. 

For further information on the Women of Hope , click  here