Worship With Us Online!

Our combined worship with St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in College Park begins at 10:30 am. Hope invites you to:

• Join online Sunday worship here (password: 214341).
• Download the bulletin (the link is added near the end of each week; the bulletin is shared to your screen during worship).
• Log in between 10-10:20 am to troubleshoot any technical issues

If you need dial-in numbers for worship or the online events listed below, see the most recent newsletter. Video recordings of our combined worship services from previous weeks are available here, and past bulletins can be found here.

Hope Lutheran Church and Student Center is a community of growing disciples of Jesus Christ who love our neighbors, both near and far. We affirm that everyone is created in the image of God and is deserving of God’s love and grace. We recognize that for many people, “church” has not always felt like a welcoming place. We celebrate our human family’s diversity of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, and age. We embrace differences in relationship status, physical and mental ability, education, income, worldview, and political affiliation. We are committed to the full inclusion of all people in our community and invite you to journey with us toward a deeper faith, mutual respect, greater love and understanding, and reconciliation through Jesus Christ. We invite you to read our full Welcoming Statement.

New and returning University of Maryland students are invited to worship with us and to participate in the life of our congregation.

	Please join us at 10:30 am for worship online 4201 Guilford Drive College Park, MD 20740 Office: 301-927-5508 Email: office.hopecp @ gmail.com Directions and map

Ongoing and Upcoming Events

Everyone is welcome to participate in the following events of the Hope community and beyond. Ongoing events (separated by day of the week) appear above the list of individual events. Also see our most recent newsletter or the St. Andrew's website for information about additional learning opportunities for adults.

• ONGOING EVENTS:
  
  

• Sundays - Humble Walk Student Evening Worship, through May 16. More information.
  

   

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays - Morning Prayer led by Father Tim Johnson of St. Andrew's - 8 am, online. Join here (you do not need a Facebook account).
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays - Night Prayers (Compline) led by Father Tim - 9 pm, online. Join here (you do not need a Facebook account).
  
  
• Tuesdays - Community Meals from College Park UMC. Order your dinner from College Park United Methodist Church and support local people in need. Place your order by 1 pm on the preceding Sunday. Delivery is available within College Park and Greenbelt; orders can also be picked up between 4:30-5:00 pm. Order here.
• Tuesdays, Once a Month - Hope Delivers Lunch to the Prince George's County Day Center - 1 pm. Upcoming date: May 18. Contact us if you are able help prepare bagged lunches.
• Tuesdays - Art and Spirituality - 7 pm, online. Meeting dates and topics are: June 1 (Radical Welcome), 8 (Confrontation), 15 (Resilience), 22 (Resistance), and 29 (Empowerment). Do art projects together as we explore Christian faith and creativity. Supplies will be provided if you sign up by May 23. Ages 12 and up. Sign up here.
  
  
• Wednesdays - Contemplative Prayer - 12:30-1:30 pm, online. Join here (password: Christos).
  
  

• INDIVIDUAL EVENTS:
  
  

• Various dates and times - Outdoor Communion. See our most recent newsletter for details.
• Various dates and times - Individual Prayer in Hope's Sanctuary. See our most recent newsletter for details.
  
  
• Monday, May 10 - Piano Recital by our Church Musician, Alex Kostadinov - 5 pm, online. Link pending.
  
• Friday, June 4 - Movies@Hope Presents "Shoplifters" - 7:30 pm, online. Series favorite Professor Robin Bates returns to introduce this Oscar-nominated 2018 film from today’s vibrant East Asian film scene. A family living off petty crime in Tokyo takes in a child from the streets as they struggle to maintain themselves and stay together. Join here.
  
• Monday, June 7 - Franklins Fundraiser to Benefit the CUCE Day Center - all day. This fundraiser supports the day center run by Congregations United for Compassion and Empowerment (CUCE). You can eat inside or outside, order carry-out for lunch or dinner, or purchase a gift certificate. The general store is open, so you can also shop and benefit a local business! Franklins will donate 20 percent of your before-tax total -- but you must show your receipt to the host to participate. Since June 2017, we have raised $3,372 for the day center through fundraisers at Franklins!

Donate to Hope

Your generosity helps us continue to be the Body of Christ in and for the world. As we continue to seek ways to be faithful and look for opportunities to serve our neighbors, we encourage you to be faithful in your giving. You may donate to support Hope's ministries in the following ways:

• Give online using the "Donate" button at the top of this page.
• Mail checks to Hope at the address at the top of the sidebar.
• Text your donation to 844-904-1808 and enter the amount you want to give in the message space. You will need to register the first time, even if you are registered with Vanco for online giving or the mobile app. Video instructions.
• Use the GivePlus mobile app. Download the app from the app store on your phone. Search for Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church or zip code (20740). If you have an online account with Vanco, sign in with your email address. If you don't have an account, you can create one. You can make a one-time donation or set up a recurring donation.

It's OK to Not Be OK

These are unusual times. People are anxious and isolated. Our lives have changed quickly; we don’t have access to many of our usual coping and support strategies. Of course God is with us. And things may be really hard. You don't have to go through this alone. Call any of these free numbers for support from trained individuals, or simply for someone to talk to.

Reconciling in Christ

Hope members voted unanimously on November 19, 2017 that Hope become a Reconciling in Christ congregation and to adopt our Welcoming Statement. We publicly affirm that all people are welcome here, and welcome to be fully themselves. NEW: Hope has compiled a list of resources for LGBTQ individuals and others in the congregation and community.

Movies@Hope

Movies@Hope is a free film series dedicated to enriching our community by presenting documentary and feature films that explore the environmental, social, moral, and spiritual issues that define our time. Join us for films that make you think! Admission is free; donations are accepted. All are welcome. In the early fall, we offered movies both in person on our large patio (with a limited number of attendees and following safe practices) and online during the fall, pivoting to online-only in November. Visit the Movies@Hope page for details and the full schedule.

Anti-Racist Resources

We are called as Christians to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. In living this out, we are called to amplify the voices of our black and brown siblings. Hope has developed the following resources:

• Educational and Support Resources (PDF)
  Learn about books, podcasts, black-owned businesses in College Park, petitions, people to follow, and more to help you support and advocate for your neighbors.
• Anti-Bias Parent Group
  Hope established a parent group in 2020 exploring ways to raise anti-biased children. This group is currently on pause until parents can meet in person again.
• Book Study Group
  In the summer of 2020, Hope members and friends discussed Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US by Lenny Duncan. Hope continues to discuss and pray about the issues raised in this book and what they mean for us.

Children's Sunday School

We want kids to know that God loves them. So we support kids and families growing in faith together. During the school year, we have Sunday School (previously in-person, now on Zoom) every Sunday at 9 am for children ages 2-8. Visit our Learning page to find out more. If you have older children who also want to be involved, contact Pastor Julie.

Hope's Music YouTube Channel

If you love the music that Alex and others share on Sunday mornings, you will be glad to know you can re-watch some of your favorites. Follow this link to listen or watch. Thanks be to God for the gift of music! Share the link freely with others who may enjoy it.

Meet Our Pastor

Learn about Pastor Julie Bringman, her previous experiences, and her ministry at Hope.

Members' Website

If your account has already been activated, log in at the appropriate space in the sidebar to the right. Unfortunately, we have had to remove the "Create an account" link because of spamming. If you would like access to the content on the members' website, please call, email, or use the Contact Us page to get in touch.

Hope's Little Free Library

Check out our Little Free Library! Take a book - leave a book.

Hope is on Facebook

Find "Hope Lutheran Church and Student Center" on Facebook and then click to "like" us.

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Hope's 2008-2009 renovation project was funded with a loan from the ELCA Mission Investment Fund.

Photo credit (baptismal font): Naviimpressions.com