Three Locations. One Hope.

Central Campus

250 Avenida Los Angelos
The Villages, FL 32162
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Lake Weir Campus

10495 SE Sunset Harbor Rd.
Summerfield, FL 34491
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Everglades Recreation Center

5497 Marsh Bend Trail
The Villages, FL 34785
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Dear People of Hope,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. How I’ve longed to share this regular greeting with you in person. I have looked forward to our communal worship in the sanctuary with great anticipation. Many people have put a lot of effort into making sure that we would be as prepared as possible, particularly with the pandemic looming ever larger. Volunteers marked off seating areas, practiced for new ways of doing greeting, ushering, check-ins, and temperature checks. Musicians practiced with distance which changes what you hear and with masks that change how you sound. Pastors dialogued about how to remain connected while also practicing social distancing (a difficulty with a hugging trio like ours). And then there have been you, the congregation, who went through the extra steps of getting reservations for worship so we could work for the safety and comfort for everyone involved.

All of this has been a blessing and has made me proud to be your pastor. These are also the reasons why this letter is so difficult to write. Earlier today, after consulting with the other pastors, the council, and the staff, I made the difficult decision to cancel the services for this weekend and the foreseeable future. This decision came after much discernment and was based upon the general rise in covid cases throughout the state and in our region. For those who don’t know, several rec centers, restaurants, and stores have been affected by outbreaks. As recently as the last 24 hours, it was announced that some other larger congregations which had been open were reclosing. In dialogue with ecumenical and interfaith partners, we were also informed that several faith communities in the Villages area, which have been open for worship, have experienced congregants and staff who have tested positive and several who are now very ill as a result.

Our initial plans for reopening were formed when daily cases were under 1,000 statewide. Yesterday, we were in the mid-7,000s and there was some speculation that we should see this as a good sign, after several days above 9,000 and into the 10,000s. There is no decision that could be made that would please everyone and I’m not attempting to do so. Instead, I am thinking as a shepherd with a flock that is hungry and restless to return to the verdant hills of home. The trouble is that the same hills are laced with plants that could prove harmful and even fatal to the flock. The shepherd’s call is not simply feeding and watering the flock but seeing to their safety and well-being. In this case, it means continuing to offer worship and communion in the same manner we have been over the past few months. There WILL be changes, beginning this week, that will continue to evolve as we move back to a more organic offering of worship, with the recording of a completed service like our live-streams of old. I pray that these offering nourish your soul and ease your distress as we experience the risen Christ in word and sacrament. We do so together, in spirit, if distant in space.

I understand that this decision may cause some disappointment and consternation and that you may disagree with it. If you’d like to speak to any of these or other reactions, please feel free to contact me via email (pastorjon-marc@hope2all.org) or call me at the office (352- 661-0000). Until we see each other in worship once more, I bid you peace.

His grace between us,
Pr. Jon-Marc

Latest Posts:

April 6 – 12, 2020

Monday, April 6, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Tuesday, April 7, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED 11:30 am Interfaith Leaders (Zoom) Wednesday, April 8, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Thursday, April 9, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED 10:00 am Food Pantry (LWC) Friday, April 10, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Saturday, April 11, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Sunday, April 12, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED

News in the Pews – April 4 & 5, 2020

March 30 – April 5, 2020

Monday, March 30, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Tuesday, March 31, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Wednesday, April 1, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Thursday, April 2, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED 10:00 am Food Pantry (LWC) Friday, April 3, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED 2:00 pm Organ Practice (SANC) Saturday, April 4, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED Sunday, April 5, 2020 OFFICES CLOSED

News in the Pews – March 28 & 29, 2020

Upcoming Events:

Date/Time

Event

Monday, November 2^nd, 2020 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Faith & Fellowship - Central Campus

Get familiar with the Word of God and see how simple the message can be as intended for our spiritual nourishment. We will grow together in knowledge of the scriptures and have an opportunity to know one another better as the one body of Christ. Join us for a fresh look at scriptures. Find daily applications to what you hear and read. Sign up in the Narthex. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

Saturday, November 7^th, 2020 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Centering Prayer

Room 204, Saturdays at 9:00 am. Christ himself invites us to learn this way in Matthew 6:6, “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This new way is called Centering Prayer. It does not replace the traditional way of praying but builds upon it. Many of our church members practice Centering Prayer already and they invite you to join them. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

Monday, November 9^th, 2020 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Faith & Fellowship - Central Campus

Get familiar with the Word of God and see how simple the message can be as intended for our spiritual nourishment. We will grow together in knowledge of the scriptures and have an opportunity to know one another better as the one body of Christ. Join us for a fresh look at scriptures. Find daily applications to what you hear and read. Sign up in the Narthex. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

Saturday, November 14^th, 2020 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Centering Prayer

Room 204, Saturdays at 9:00 am. Christ himself invites us to learn this way in Matthew 6:6, “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This new way is called Centering Prayer. It does not replace the traditional way of praying but builds upon it. Many of our church members practice Centering Prayer already and they invite you to join them. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

Monday, November 16^th, 2020 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Faith & Fellowship - Central Campus

Get familiar with the Word of God and see how simple the message can be as intended for our spiritual nourishment. We will grow together in knowledge of the scriptures and have an opportunity to know one another better as the one body of Christ. Join us for a fresh look at scriptures. Find daily applications to what you hear and read. Sign up in the Narthex. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

Saturday, November 21^st, 2020 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Centering Prayer

Room 204, Saturdays at 9:00 am. Christ himself invites us to learn this way in Matthew 6:6, “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This new way is called Centering Prayer. It does not replace the traditional way of praying but builds upon it. Many of our church members practice Centering Prayer already and they invite you to join them. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

Monday, November 23^rd, 2020 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Faith & Fellowship - Central Campus

Get familiar with the Word of God and see how simple the message can be as intended for our spiritual nourishment. We will grow together in knowledge of the scriptures and have an opportunity to know one another better as the one body of Christ. Join us for a fresh look at scriptures. Find daily applications to what you hear and read. Sign up in the Narthex. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

Saturday, November 28^th, 2020 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Centering Prayer

Room 204, Saturdays at 9:00 am. Christ himself invites us to learn this way in Matthew 6:6, “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This new way is called Centering Prayer. It does not replace the traditional way of praying but builds upon it. Many of our church members practice Centering Prayer already and they invite you to join them. Learn More →

at Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus

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