Hope Ridge Weekly Rundown: Week of December 13, 2025
- Hope Office
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Stay up to date with everything happening this week at Hope Ridge United Methodist Church in Mentor, Ohio: worship times, family programs, small groups, and opportunities to serve our community.
WELCOME | A.L.I.V.E. with Hope at Hope Ridge Church in Mentor, Ohio
Welcome to Hope Ridge! Whether you’re visiting for the first time, returning after some time away, or searching for a church to call home, you’ll find a community that greets you with warmth, joy, and a genuine spirit of welcome. Wherever you are on your faith journey, you belong here.
Celebrations & Church News
In place of altar flowers, join the “Celebrations 2025!” Each week, Hope Ridge offers you a chance to celebrate the life of a loved one, a birthday, an anniversary, or other special moments in your life with a gift to the church. Sign-up via SignUpGenius and your celebration will be included in the weekly eUpdate.
Look for the Hope Ridge eUpdate in your email for weekly inspiration and updates every Saturday morning! Know of someone who wants to receive our emails? They can sign up here.
WORSHIP | Join Us for Sunday Services in Mentor, Ohio
Service Times
Traditional Worship is at 8:45 AM in the Chapel. Contemporary Worship is at 10:30 AM in the Worship and Family Life Center. Be sure to sign in at the Welcome Table clipboard to let us know you’re here.
Livestream & Online Worship
Livestream is available at 10:30 AM on both Facebook or YouTube. Join in the chat to praise, pray, and worship with one another. You can subscribe on either platform so you’ll be notified when a new video is posted.
Coffee & Community at the Café
The Café is open from 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM every Sunday. Come after first service or before the second to enjoy hot coffee, fresh donuts, and great conversation! If you’d like to volunteer in the café, click here to sign up. You’ll be welcomed and guided, it’s a fun way to meet folks!
WORSHIP AND KIDS | Families Welcome
Nursery care for little ones under 5 years old is available during both services every Sunday from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM, with a staff Nursery Caregiver and helpers. Please ask a greeter where to check in!
Children are always welcome to attend worship. Kid’s Kit bags are available at the back of the Chapel and WFLC. If attending the 10:30 AM service, feel free to make your family comfortable at a table.
A #KidZone for children is included in the 10:30 worship. Kids of any age are invited to come together in the WFLC front-left corner at the start of worship to enjoy movement and rhythm instruments to praise God! They’ll stay together for the opening praise songs and worship prayer time, and then return to their family seats, RidgeKidz, or the Nursery.
RidgeKidz class (ages 5 through 2nd grade) meets each Sunday in the Music Room through the school year (except for the first Sunday of each month). Sign your child in at #KidZone at the start of 10:30 worship; after the 2nd praise song, the children head to RidgeKidz or the Nursery, accompanied by their teachers.
Family Sunday is the first Sunday of each month, families worship together and enjoy that special time together with their parents.
ADVENT WORSHIP
THE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT this year is for all ages of children and youth to participate. Participation can include costumes, non-speaking parts, speaking parts, and singing.
Rehearsals Dec 7 and 14 during 10:30 worship in the Music Room.
Dress rehearsal on the platform on Dec 14 after the 10:30 service (approx.11:30-12:30PM.)
Performance will be Sunday Dec 21 during 10:30 service and perhaps 4:30PM Christmas Eve.
ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING-- Enjoy a tradition of friends and families, as you volunteer to light the Advent wreath and do a prepared reading for one of the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas or a service on Christmas Eve. If you would be willing to serve in this role, please sign-up HERE.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, WEDNESDAY, DEC 24--
4:30PM Family Service with Praise Music and Candlelight in the Worship and Family Life Center
8:00PM Traditional service with Carols and Candlelight the Chapel
Music & Worship Teams
Special Music (8:45 AM Service): Christian Brooks welcomes all who play an instrument or sing to share a song during early service or during church Christmas or Easter services. He’ll gladly accompany you and rehearse together, contact Christian@hoperidge.com for details.
Chapel Choir & Ridge Ringers: Rehearse alternating Thursdays, 7–8 PM, in the Chapel or Music Room. Perform several times each year, including Christmas and Easter. To participate in choir or special music (vocal or instrumental), contact Christian@hoperidge.com.
Worship Leaders (Liturgists): Needed for the 8:45 AM service. If interested, email lori@hoperidge.com.
NURTURE | Grow in Faith and Community
Upcoming Studies & Events
GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays--COME AND INVITE SOMEONE.
Open Event at Hope Ridge on Sunday, Dec 14, 1-3PM
The holidays are challenging when grieving a loss.
Surviving the Holidays seminar provides encouragement, support, and valuable tools to navigate the season. Open to the community. Register here for this free event:
GriefShare Class: Sundays 1–3 PM, led by Linda Kallay and Diana Trubiani, experienced facilitators of the GriefShare program, helping participants move from mourning to joy. A NEW WINTER GRIEFSHARE SESSION WILL BEGIN SUN, JAN 20, at 1PM. Click for more details
Bible Studies & Small Groups in Lake County
Men’s Bible Study: Mondays 7–8:30 PM (Conference Room), Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation, led by Joe Bova.
Adult Life Fellowship (ALF): Mondays 6:45–8:15 PM (Library), No class Nov 24. Dec 1 begins Advent study. Contact Carol Benroth (Carol@hoperidge.com).
Tuesday Women’s Study: 1–2:30 PM (Conference Room). Dec 2 thru 23 is the church Advent study. Beginning Jan 6, a new video series Painting the Stars. Celebrating the communion of science and faith, Painting the Stars explores the promise of evolutionary Christian spirituality.
Centering Prayer: Tuesdays 6:30 PM (Library), Simple, silent practice of resting in God’s presence. All welcome! Click for details.
Thursday Women’s COGs (Children of God): 10–11:30 AM (Conference Room). Ad Contact Yvonne@hoperidge.com. Nov 20 begins Advent study.
Raising Hope Small Group: A gathering for 30s–40s, Next meet Dec 14, 4:30-6:30PM includes dinner and childcare. Meet in Cafe. RSVP to emilyvolker22@gmail.com
Sunday Night Men’s Basketball: 5:30–8 PM (WFLC), Fellowship & pickup games.
Additional Fellowship & Ministries
Hope Ridge Book Club: 4th Monday each month (7 PM, Library). Dec 22 – Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. Contact Sue Nahumck.
Youth Group (Grades 6–12): 1st & 3rd Sundays 4–5:30 PM (Youth Room). Fun, food, games, mission projects. Sign up to provide food for a meeting: Youth Group 2025–2026 Meals. Next meeting Dec 7- for Potluck and Christmas gift exchange No other meal required.
Bible Explorers (Grades 3–5): 2nd & 4th Sundays 9:30–10:15 AM (Youth Room). Kids class to learn to navigate Scripture after receiving an Adventure Bible from the church; presented in the fall.
Children & Youth Ministry: Interested in helping? Fill out the pink sheet on Welcome Tables or print and return here.
Advent Small Group Book & Video Study
The 2025 Advent book is "Prepare the Way for the Lord" by Adam Hamilton
Drop-in the Advent group studies any week, with or without reading the book:
Dec 1,8,15 & 22--Mondays (Co-ed group), 11AM-12:20PM in the Conference Room; led by Pastor Jim Winkler
Dec 1,8,15 & 22--Mondays (ALF- co-ed group), 6:45PM-8:15PM in the Library; led by Carol Benroth
Dec 2, 9, 16 & 23-- (Women's Group)--Tuesdays, 1PM-2:30PM in the Conference Room; led by Sue Nahumck
Nov 20, Dec 4, 11 & 18--(Women's Group-COGS) Thursdays, 10AM-11:30AM in the Conference Room; led by Sharon Chamberlain
SEND | Serve Others in Christ’s Name
As we grow as disciples, we are sent to serve. Use your gifts inside the church and beyond our walls to bless our neighbors in Lake County and beyond.
Local Missions & Outreach
The Send (Missions) Team: Meets 1st Sunday each month (9:45–10:30 AM, Conference Room). All welcome! Contact Laura Moll (lmoll@kent.edu).
Hope Chest: Donate new or gently used items for neighbors in need (1400 Mentor Ave, Suite 3, M–Th 9:30 AM–Noon). Hope Chest also is needing a substitute to volunteer Thursdays in Jan, Feb and March 2026. If you could help a few Thursdays, see Pat Meyer.
Project Hope for the Homeless Meals: Provide part of a meal for 50 clients on the 2nd Friday each month. Sign up here. Next meal: Jan 9.
Prayer Shawl Ministry: 4th Sunday after 10:30 AM service (11:30–12:30). Knit, crochet, or quilt comfort items for those in need. Supplies available! See Sue Patterson or Cheryl Maltry. No meeting Christmas week Dec 28. Gather again in the Library on Sunday, Jan 25.
Red Cross Blood Drive: Fri, Feb 20, 11 AM–5 PM (WFLC). redcrossblood.org | Sponsor code: hoperidge.
Cafe Conversations over warm soup and bread, is a popular winter fellowship here in the Hope Ridge Cafe that began about 4 years ago, from the suggestion of Pastor Jim Szakacs. With the coordination of Angie Burkholder, it will resume Tuesdays, Jan 22- March 10 from 5:30-6:45PM! If you have a great recipe to share a crock of soup or just love eating soup, watch for the signup in the coming weeks!
Additional Community Partnerships:
End 68 Hours of Hunger: Packing food kits for local students at Giant Eagle Plaza, 1223 Mentor Ave, Painesville. Contact lmoll@kent.edu for details. Watch for the next gathering in 2026.
Hope Ridge Alive in the Community: Share your family’s upcoming events (plays, concerts, sports) with hopeoffice@hoperidge.com to feature in next week’s Rundown.
IN THE COMMUNITY | Events in Lake County, Ohio
Community Events & Concerts
DAR Wreaths Across America- Dec 13 at NOON- Join Sue Nahumck at Evergreen Cemetary in Painesville to honor the local veterans' graves with wreaths at this annual ceremony.
Concert Series @ Painesville UMC, 71 N. Park Place: Wed Dec 17, Burning River Brass (Schedule continues through spring 2026)
Stay Connected
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