| Worship at Hope |
COME WORSHIP WITH US -- We are located on the corner
of C.R. 466 and Morse Blvd. in The Villages.
Regular worship services at Hope are held each Saturday and Sunday though the year. Special services are held on respective church holidays such as Good Friday, Easter and Christmas. The schedule of regular services is shown below. For schedules of special services see the Calendar and Newsletter.
| Time | Type | Communion | *Rite of Healing |
Sundays |
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| 8:00 am | Traditional | 1st and 3rd Sundays | 2nd Sunday |
| 9:45 am | Traditional | 1st and 3rd Sundays | 2nd Sunday |
| 11:30 am | Traditional | every Sunday | 2nd Sunday |
Saturdays |
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| 4:00 pm | Contemporary | every Saturday | |
| 6:00 pm | Traditional | every Saturday | Saturday before 2nd Sunday |
We currently hold Worship Services each Saturday at 4:00 and 6:00pm, and Sunday at 8:00am, 9:45am and 11:30am. All Sunday and the 6pm Saturday services follow a Lutheran heritage liturgy. The 4pm Saturday Service is a celebration worship with more praise music.
Communion is offered every week at the Saturday 4:00pm and 6:00pm services and Sunday 11:30 Service. Communion is also offered on the first and third Sundays of each month at the 8:00am and 9:45am services . Communion is by individual cup at the 8:00am Sunday service. It is by intinction at all other services.
*Rite of Healing is offered at all services at the second Saturday and Sunday of each month except when the 11:30 Power of Praise Service is offered on the 2nd Sunday. On the months that this occurs, Rite of Healing at the 11:30 service is on the first Sunday of the month.
Power of Praise services are held once a month at the 11:30 service. The Power of Praise service emphasizes Word and Music and does not offer communion. Please check the church office for the schedule of Power and Praise services.
The schedule may change because of special holidays or other events. Check the church calendar or call the church office for up-to-date information.
Assisted Hearing Devices Are Available for All Services
If you need assistance in hearing at any of the Hope Lutheran Church Celebration or Heritage services, please ask an Usher or the Sound Room Technician for a listening device. We have them available for your comfort.
A warm and sincere invitation is extended to everyone to attend an inspirational worship service with us. For more information call the church office at (352)750-2321.
Large Print Liturgy/Hymns Are Available for All Services
Looseleaf notebooks with the liturgy and hymns printed in large type are available for all services. Please ask the ushers for a copy.
Music and Worship
We have an extensive music program under the leadership of our Minister of Music, Mary Ann Rochenbach. The music programs help to create a meaningful worship experience at all of our services. In addition, there are special Musical gifts to the community presented periodically throughout the year. A Power of Praise service is usually presented at the 11:30 service on the second Sunday of each month. The Power of Praise is a service of Word and Music only. See Music for descriptions of the supporting music programs.
Parking Traffic Patterns
In order to minimize congestion between services with parishioners entering and leaving, we have had to institute some patterns for traffic flow and hire a sheriff deputy to assist during the busy season. Please follow these directions and remember that you will not be allowed to turn left at the Morse Blvd. exit.
Worship Support
Our Worship Support Teams make sure our services run smoothly. Ushers, Communion Assistants, Alter Committee and others are always looking for volunteers to help. See the Worship Support page for more information.
Rite of Healing
Each day is a gift of God to be lived to its fullest in communion with and service to our Lord. The fulfillment of that promise is the Christian journey.
As believers in Christ, we are privileged to have the ministry of the community of believers available to us. The Rite of Healing is part of that ministry. It is a ministry that continues in the tradition of the New Testament, in ministry of Christ and early church.
When you come forward for this Rite, you are saying "yes" to Christ, that there is a power greater than ourselves that can touch our lives in a special way and bring healing, as Christ brought healing to the blind and needy of his time and place.
We do not need TV evangelists and so-called "faith healers" to bring God's healing in our midst. God is here and brings healing of body, mind, and spirit. We believe in the whole person and that all of us needs healing. Who among us has not been stressed, or emotionally upset, worried or anxious? God can bring inner peace and calm to our lives. Who among us has not struggled with our faith, wondering if God is really loving us and concerned for our well-being? God can renew our faith, provide healing of hurts caused by the church, and feelings of guilt. God can bring forgiveness and new life. Who among us has not suffered physically -- some more than others? God, through His grace, can bring healing to our bodies. So we come prayerfully, to be healed in body, mind, and spirit.
The Rite of Healing is an opportunity to participate in a gift of God in the community of faith, with fellow believers. Coming in expectant faith, the healing is God's not ours. And when healing takes place, we give glory and honor to God.
It is in this light that we invite you to come forward for the Rite of Healing, every second Sunday of the month.
A WORD CONCERNING THE RITE OF HEALING
from Pastor Corkish
One of the nice surprises when I came to worship at Hope Lutheran Church was the "rite of healing." I had been involved in special healing services other than Sunday mornings in the Lutheran churches where I served as the senior pastor, but never at a Sunday worship. Even though healing was a big part of Jesus' ministry, the Lutheran church has been reluctant to give it the same emphasis for fear of being construed as charismatic.
There is a companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship, of which the average lay person is not aware. In this book are services such as:
Baptism in Case of an Emergency, Anniversary of a Baptism, Blessing of a Civil Marriage, Affirmation of Marriage Vows, Anniversary of a Marriage, Individual Confession & Forgiveness, Celebration of Holy Communion in Special Circumstances, Service of the Word for Healing, the Laying on of Hands & Anointing the Sick, Commendation of the Dying, Comforting the Bereaved, Recognition of Ministries in the Congregation, Affirmation of the Vocation of Christians in the World, Ordination, Anniversary of an Ordination, Farewell & Godspeed -- plus all kinds of installations, commissionings & blessings.
It is unfortunate that the services specifically for healing (Service of the Word for Healing and The Laying on of Hands & Anointing the Sick) were not included in the main Lutheran Book of Worship: perhaps, then, they would meet with more credibility when they are used in the church.
At the heart of "the rite of healing" as well as "the services for healing" is prayer & god's word. The laying on of hands and the anointing with oil are points of contact much like water is to baptism and the bread & wine are to Holy Communion.
We all know that none of these are magic, but they are powerful tools which help people be connected to the source of all healing, who is Jesus Christ our Lord.
As the minister in charge of pastoral care at hope, I treasure the "Rite of Healing" as a support to the ministry Pastor Frank Livingston & I shared. And when I invite people to come forward in behalf of a friend or loved one, even though they might not feel the need for healing, it can be a powerful witness & support for those they represent. It should in no way be construed as more powerful than individual prayers. It would, however, make a bigger impact for me, if someone said they actually went forward to receive the "rite of healing" on my behalf where prayer for me was made more personal.
I would welcome sitting down with anyone who would like to have more clarification concerning the healing ministry at Hope Lutheran Church.
Sincerely,
PASTOR BILL CORKISH