I Peter Memorization

AT Harvest we have been in the process of memorizing the book of I Peter…a few verses at a time in conjunction with the I Peter sermon series. Chuck Swindoll wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified” (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61).

WE Event

Coming on Saturday, March 17 – 4:00 pm, Harvest will host an intergenerational WE Event. WE’s event-based format makes it fun for people of all ages to grow together as they learn from each other and grow in faith as they hear God’s story. This is an interactive spiritual experience that will help bring us into the Easter season. All ages welcome!

Coffee Break Wednesdays

As the little Lambs (preschool age children) are cared for downstairs by Karilynn Ridder, Marv Raffler and Harlene Westendorp, women aged from their mid-twenties to mid-eighties gather upstairs for the Coffeebreak Ministry at Harvest Community Church. Marshann Ludema is the teacher. Currently we’re studying Philippians. One woman shared that no matter how many times she’s studied Philippians, when she comes on Wednesday morning she gets new insights based on what these woman share with one another. It is a vital midweek ministry attended by 12-18 women each week. All community women and their pre-school age children are invited each Wednesday at 9:00 am.

Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

We’re packing shoe boxes for kids!  Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has brought joy to 146 million boys and girls around the world through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.  Each one is an opportunity for the Gospel.  In the hands of local churches, they are tools for evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication.  At Harvest the kids pack boxes together from gifts that families have donated.

Harvest VBS Day One

Buzzing at Harvest VBS

We had a very successful and FUN first day! The decorations are OUTSTANDING!

Our Bible point for the day – God Made You –“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex.” Psalm 139:14

The thirty or so kids and many adults got right into the singing and moving at Sound Wave Sing and Play. One of our songs was an old favorite “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”

The kids saw a video at KidVid Cinema showing other kids who are just like them building and testing Lego robots, and they learned that God made each of them with abilities to think, to build and create things and to work together.

At Imagination Station they created noodle robots and built connector card structures. Kids loved creating these 1 of a kind robots (see pic). They learned about unique ways that God has made them. 3 facts it taught:

You can’t tickle yourself because your brain knows your fingers are moving.
Your arm span is your height.
Your foot is close to the length of the measurement between the bend of your elbow to your wrist. These are all ways that tell us how wonderfully God has created us.

There was more fun in store as the groups went outside to the Game Maker where they played giant tic-tac-toe.

Downstairs in the large room Pastor Ben told the kids what David said… “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” There were also activities to demonstrate how marvelous our bodies are connected with the Bible Discovery time. Pastor Ben said the “kids were engaged and happy to be here.”

Yummy snacks were served at Snack Maker that reinforced the theme that God makes things wonderfully complex. God made all the animals represented in the snack mix too—from the smallest worm (gummy worms) and fish (crackers) to the largest animal (animal shaped crackers).

Just as an added note……today a family came in for vegetables and one little boy (who was here last night) said “This is my church!”

Thank you for praying and please continue!