TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

It's Time To Shine In 2009

ADVERTISEMENT

By MAUREA SLEESMAN Hernando Today correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2009

The Rev. Dr. Carlan Helgeson recently became the senior pastor of Spring Hill United Church of Christ.

He is missing the college classrooms where he taught Religion as an adjunct professor of New Testament at Malone University in Canton, Ohio for some 15 years. His dream is to establish a School of Faith where those who want to learn more about Christianity and the Bible can come to ask questions and learn, he said.

At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 and each Wednesday class in the fellowship hall, he will teach on "The Gospel of Mark from a First Century Perspective." The pastor and professor said what makes his teaching uniquer than most is: "I spend a lot of time on cultural background issues. We can't possibly understand what the Scriptures mean for our own lives until we understand what they meant to the original audiences of the first century." Classes and coffee are free and the public is welcome. Phone: 683-4870.
Grace World Outreach Church (the dome in Brooksville) will host "Journey to Financial Freedom" workshop, presented by Crown Financial Management, an all-day regional event from 8:30 a.m. until late afternoon, Saturday. Feb. 7.

The workshop welcomes the public and will include workbooks, numerous resources and "hands up not hands out," quipped Pastor Frank the church financial manager. Cost: $25. A Chick-fil-A lunch is available. To pre-register, call 796-3685.
Northcliffe Baptist Church has a teaching revival scheduled for 15 days, beginning 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, and held at 6 p.m. each Monday through Thursday evening after. Life Action Ministries is a summit team of young adults who travel to churches to present the family seminars, music and services, for all ages. One member, Meredith Miller, is a Spring Hill native whose family has membership at Northcliffe. Everyone is welcome to this free revival. Call 683-5882 for information.

Free grief share help will happen at Northcliffe Baptist each Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m., titled GriefShare - giving understanding, support and encouragement to all ages. The ongoing care groups begin Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Mison Hispania is the worship service in Spanish held at Northcliffe Baptist on Sundays at 5 p.m. Te Esperamos diga Rev. Juan Carlos Regaldo. Phone: 573-9747.

Nativity Lutheran is entering a year-long emphasis on reading the Bible. Pastor Schroeder is providing classes, resources and sermons while Pastor Daniel Wee leads a study of the New Testament Book of Acts. Senior Pastor Kristin Wee said that the Bible "is a book about the sublime and the unspeakable, the way life was and is; it is a book about us and about God. For class schedules, call 597-1456.

Christian Church in the Wildwood held a successful series of classes on managing money, parenting skills, and marriage strengthening in 2008.

Their second annual free community outreach and family Block Party on April 19 will celebrate completion of the new multi-purpose sanctuary and classrooms. Ongoing "Celebrate Recovery" weekly group meetings are held for healing of "hurts, habits and hang-ups." A divorce care series will begin in March or April, and a care group for "kicking bad habits" for women will begin soon. Call 596-1388.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church offers a number of courses designed to open lives to the gifts and grace of God, said the Rev. Dr. David Brockhoff. At Discipleship Hour each Sunday at 9:15. There are two classes. One is an in-depth stud of the second half of St. Paul's letters to the Roman. The other is titled "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." From 10-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings a study group examines basic Christianity.

From 6:30-8:15 a.m. Thursday evenings, a group reads and discusses the Bible, covering it in a year. Upcoming instruction is a parenting series helping parents to lead children from a "me" to a "we," Brockhoff said. "We can start a grief support group or any spiritual growth need you may have. Please contact us at 796-4066.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church offers free grief share gatherings each Tuesday at 3 p.m., and divorce care sharing at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Call 683-2010.

First Baptist of Hernando Beach is offering free "Grace-Based Parenting" sessions at 6:30 p.m. Sundays. The "Lord, change my attitude from 'negative' to 'positive'" series will begin Feb. 22, each Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Brooksville Wesleyan Methodist Church at Wesleyan Village offers free grief counseling weekly. Call 799-0849 for information and schedule.

Many new classes, support groups and self-improvement workshops are or will be happening in other churches and faith communities not listed yet, so call the place of worship you prefer. It could be one of your best New Year 2009 fresh beginnings!

Writer's note:

Trends in American churches and faith communities keep changing to offer a variety of what best serves members and spiritual hunger, from worship styles to religious education to new buildings to music to guest speakers and more, many in non-Sunday gatherings, field trips and home study groups.

Presently, more local churches are offering praise and worship on Saturday nights or in multiple worship services on the Sabbath to include the traditional.

What are some of the local educational classes, workshops and "help" offerings for 2009? A "sampler" lists a few, and most are free and the public is welcome. (Call for more information.)

Next Saturday this New for 2009 column will be a 'sampler' featuring local charity outreach. The third story, Jan. 31, will feature some new for 2009 church music and concerts.

So stay tuned and Happy New 2009!'

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT