Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021
In Person Church and Live Streamed at 9am
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Sermon Series:
"There Is A Time...,"
This Weeks Message:
"The Season Of Peace"
Scripture: John 3:16
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From The Pastor
The Season of Frustration…
“Are we there yet?” These desperate words have been spoken by children (of all ages)! I’ve actually caught myself saying this recently because of Covid.
The initial restrictions for Covid were for us to “lock-down” for 15 days, but after a year there are still so many restrictions that continue. Beyond the State and Government restrictions, the UMC’s Florida Conference still has our church open at 25% (65 for worship), no singing, wearing masks, social distancing, etc.
As more and more get vaccinated the restrictions should be relaxed, but for now we are still “not there yet.” I know we have a mix of reactions from our members. Some are still deathly afraid of this virus (some even after being vaccinated). Many are trying to keep in line with the restrictions in each community venue. While still others are ready to ditch the masks, go back to two services, and sing at full voice with an after church luncheon!
As much as we all want to be safe and free from this pandemic, again, we’re not there yet. My encouragement for all of us to please continue to pray and extend grace to all. In a climate where it’s easy to be frustrated and to complain to everyone, let’s continue to trust God’s timing, work together to stay connected, and to encourage one another through all of this. Please never forget how much I love and pray for all of you!
Pastor Russ
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Connect with Harvester
For Online Giving click the Harvester link above and look for online giving in the upper right-hand corner.
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From Pastor Gary
God has a sense of humor! I think He wants us to have a sense of humor, too. I think He wants us to use our sense of humor at times to bring others closer to Him. Google Mark Lowry or Tim Hawkins. They make you laugh about everything that has happened to them in the church or make fun of some of the habits we live by because of church. It is truly funny stuff.
In October, God said, "Gary, you are now in charge of the man you didn't see from the age of 7 to 21." Really, God? It has been a challenge and it has been humorous at times. Along with having my dad to care for, Holly and I have inherited Ron and Daisy's dog, Kahlua. Kahlua has some spots on her that often look like the creamy brown color of the liqueur, Kahlua. What is funny about that, you ask? I don't drink. Our children think it is hilarious. Does God have a sense of humor? I totally believe it!
During Holy Week, I believe that there was nothing funny that took place. I believe that God was sad that whole week. On Sunday morning, what we call Easter Day, I believe God was leading the angel choir in the Hallelujah Chorus! I hope we all have that kind of love this Sunday!
Go and Make Disciples!
Peace,
Pastor Gary
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Just a reminder that we will partake in Holy Communion this Sunday. Have your juice and bread ready at home. |
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Don’t forget to check out our Facebook Family Page and our video lessons on YouTube. |
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Bake Off: It's Worth the Wait.
Patience is waiting until later for what you want now.
There can be a lot of waiting during drive time. Waiting in traffic, take out line, practices, and so much more! Why not celebrate while you wait by singing the song from this month. Head over to studio252.tv to listen.
Take time as a family to memorize scripture: "Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don’t lose hope. Wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
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Sunday, April 4th
NO Activate! Youth Group
Enjoy Easter with your family!
If you are interested in going to Big Stuf this June email Kim McKee at [email protected]
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"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12
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Harvester's Youth Group meets in person on Sunday evenings from 5:30-7pm in the Youth Room. It is open to all Middle School and High School Students. Come join the fun and weekly activities and don't forget to bring your face mask! For more information, contact Pastor Russ at [email protected].
Youth & Parents: Join our Instagram @harvesterstudents to keep in touch, and up to date on Activate Youth Group happenings!
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A “HUGE” shout out to everyone who helped last Saturday with “Mulch Madness” including Bill Keena and Troup 707 and their Scout moms and dads, The Harvester Youth Group, Sheila and Jim Fitzgerald, Joan Nordin and Spencer Sass. The gardens around the church and the Gazebo look great!
Thank you for your hard work and dedication,
George Alexander
Trustee Chair
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Beginning Thursday, April 15 at 1:00 pm Pastor Gary will begin a new class called GriefShare. The class is for those who want help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. The brochure is titled "Your Journey from Mourning to Joy. "This class will be from 1:00 to 3:00 for 13 weeks. Each member will receive a workbook and we will watch a video each week as part of the class.
Brochures are on a table in the hallway and there will be cards to pass to friends, family or neighbors. If you think someone might benefit from this class, invite them to come. If you want to attend, but the time is not good for you, let Pastor Gary know and he will see what we can do ([email protected]). If you join late, each class is "self contained" and you can make up the lessons during the next 13-week cycle. Feel free to look at the web site at www.griefshare.org. The workbooks are $15.00. The church can help with the cost of the book if you need help. Please email Pastor Gary at [email protected] if you think you might join.
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C.L.A.S.S.
(Christian Life And Service Seminars)
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CLASS 101 (Discovering Church Membership)
Tuesday, April 13th 6-8pm in the Youth Room
CLASS 201 (Discovering Spiritual Maturity)
TBD
CLASS 301 (Discovering My Ministry)
TBD
CLASS 401 (Discovering My Mission)
TBD
Remember that each CLASS must be taken in order (i.e., you must take 101 before 201, and take both 101 and 201 before taking 301, etc.). Childcare is provided upon request.
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If you are interested in taking:
CLASS 101, CLASS 201, CLASS 301 or CLASS 401 email Pastor Russ at [email protected] and supplies will be ready for you in the CLASS.
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It's Mowing Season Again At Harvester!!! |
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Join the Ground Hogs and help keep our property mowed and looking good! No experience needed and training is provided!
We are down a few guys on our team (due to people relocating) and we could really use the help!
If you are interested or want more information, contact Elvis Goddard at 813-220-2464 or Denny Johnson at 813-431-7939.
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Campus Ministry ~ Final Exams |
We would like to reach out to our Harvester college students to let them know we love and care about them. The Sisters In Spirit are collecting notes / cards of encouragement, treats (gum, mints, lip balm), snacks (candy bars, cereal bars, trail mix, cookies), gift cards ($5 or $10 to Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, etc.) and anything that would let them know we are thinking of them and praying for them during the stressful time of final exam week.
We have a bin in the church hallway and will be collecting items between now and April 15th so that we will have time to mail the care packages for final exams.
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Volunteer at Christian Social Services |
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Christian Social Services Thrift Store and food pantry are open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. They are now able to accept food and other donations. Donors need to call CSS first at 813-995-0088 and check with Tina to be sure the items can be received.
Harvester Helpers can volunteer the last Saturday of each month from 10am to 12pm. No experience needed, just show up!
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Calling All 2021 Graduates!! |
We will be celebrating Harvester's High School and College Graduates on Sunday, May 23rd at the 9am worship. If you or a member of your family are graduating this year, please forward a photo and provide the following information to the church office ([email protected]) by May 17th:
Graduates Name, school they are graduating from, and degree earned.
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Janet Sass
OCC Project Leader
813-598-1783
Thanks for you continued support!
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Hello Harvester! Please mark November 7 on your calendar for our church-wide packing party. Hopefully things might be close to normal again and we can make it a real party this year.
I've added deals on lip balm (24 count, 42 cents each, see May's collection items below), pencil pouches (24 count, 46 cents each), and a great deal on Elmer's disappearing purple school glue sticks (30 count, 28 cents each). Also found a decent deal on large bouncy balls (50 count, 32 cents each).
If you're not an Amazon-er or are still hesitant to go shopping, please let me know and I'd be happy to do so for you. Just send me an email at [email protected] or text to 813-598-1783 and we can work out the details.
April's collection items are stuffed animals. After-Easter sales are a great time to get discounts on little stuffies. If you find any, remember that the shoeboxes are only so big and we want to get other items in there too, so try to limit the size to maybe that of Beanie Babies.
May's collection is for "Hygiene Items" like hairbrushes, soap, combs, toothbrushes and washcloths. Lip balm (like Chap-stick) and deodorant are great but must be in solid form. We have plenty of toothbrushes that were donated last year and I've managed to get most of the washcloths we'll need as well. When purchasing soap, please try to find soap with mild or no fragrance. Some soap fragrances permeate throughout the shoebox and then the entire case the shoeboxes are eventually packed in.
Take-home bottles for "Spare Change for Children" are on our table in the hallway. We are making great progress towards covering our 90 boxes ($810, $9 each) but we still have a way to go to meet this goal. Please consider picking up a bottle, filling it with spare change, and bringing it back when you can.
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Students in Transition
(SIT Food Bags)
DONATIONS NEEDED!!
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We are currently packing food bags each week for the children at Marlow Elementary who are at risk of going hungry over the weekends.
We are collecting individual pudding cups, pop tarts, fruit cups, applesauce, cheese & crackers, peanut butter & crackers, cereal bars, crackers, small canned chicken with pop tops and individual peanut butter cups. No Vienna Sausages are needed at this time.
Thank you for your support!
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Watch our Sermon's Live on
Sunday mornings
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No Facebook account? No problem! Click the link below and watch our Sermon's live on Harvester's Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings or tune in later to watch the video.
Just click the link the link above and it will take you directly to the Harvester facebook page. To the left of the screen, click on "Videos". Then it will take you to our most recent sermon's. When you click on the most recent video, in the bottom right corner on the video screen, there is another volume button. Make sure it is all the way up.
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Virtual Attendance Pad
Now on the
Harvester Web Site!
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Help us to still keep track of our attendance at the 9am live streaming service.
Just click the link and it will take you to the Harvester web site
Scroll down a little bit and click on the purple tab that say "Let Us Know You Were There"
Then type in your name and information then hit "Send" ! It's just that easy!
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Thank you for your faithful giving!
Attendance, Tithes and Offerings
In Person Attendance Sunday, March 28........44
Online Views Sunday, March 28.........................235
Operating Received Sunday, March 28..................$4,857.00
Operating Received Year to Date.............................$85,409.83
Operating Year to Date Budget................................$109,974.93
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Volunteers are needed at the 9am in person church service on Sunday mornings.
If you are interested in serving, contact coordinators Lloyd and Claire Evans at 813-991-4523 or email them at [email protected] or nunclaire@yahoo.
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Thank you to George Alexander for continuing to carry out various work projects around the church and grounds. The newly painted front entrance of our church looks great! Thank you for pressure washing the front entrance as well. We appreciate all you do!
Thank you to Denny Johnson for waxing the floor in the main church hallway. It looks shiny and new! We appreciate your time and effort.
Thank you to our Ground Hogs Elvis Goddard, Denny Johnson, Tom Herrin, Keith Swan, Bob Cursey, Bruce Kitchen, Randy Ayers and Ron Ford for mowing the grounds and keeping our property looking beautiful. We appreciate all of you!
Thank you to Joanie Einemann and Eloisa Garcia for packing up the SIT bags each week that go to the children in need at Marlow Elementary. We appreciate your time and effort!
Thank you to Joanie Einemann for helping out in the Church Office each week. You are truly a blessing!
Thank you to everyone that donates food for our weekly SIT Bags (Student's In Transition food bags.) The children greatly appreciate them.
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Pastor Gary is leading a prayer group in praying for Harvester every Thursday evening at 6:15 p.m. on Zoom. Everyone is welcome. Please join us.
Meeting ID: 614 144 8568
Password: 164573
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Church Historian Needed at Harvester |
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Are you organized and creative, interested in our church's history, have the ability to gather information from various resources and have a servant heart? Then Church Historian could be the position for you!
We are seeking a volunteer to help to continue to maintain our church records by documenting, collecting and preserving materials from our activities, events, milestones and anniversaries! Much of the information is already provided to you through our weekly email newsletter the WOW and bulletin.
Collecting the information and coupling it with materials and/or photos would be all you need to be successful. If you are interested or would like more information, contact the church office at 813-948-2311 or [email protected] or contact Cindy Kitchen at [email protected].
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Our Congregational Care Team leaders are Deborah Alexander (813-994-2538) and co-chair Sandi Newby (813-996-2825). If it is an emergency and you need someone immediately, call or text Pastor Gary at 813-727-5556. Please feel free to call the church 813-948-2311 anytime day or night for things that don't need immediate attention. As soon as someone is in the office, they will return your call or forward your message to the appropriate person. The church office hours are 8:00 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday. |
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Our Church Library is available for everyone to use! Stop by and check out some materials and feel free to borrow what you like! We have a really nice collection.
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Church Contact Information
Office
(813) 948-2311
Web Site
Pastor
Russell O. McKee III
Family Ministries Pastor
Gary Hallam
Worship & Creative Arts
Phillip Brown
Administrative Assistant
Sheila Fitzgerald
Nursery Coordinator
Christina Monette
Director of Children's Ministry
Kristina Nast
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Church Office Hours
Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 3:30 pm. Contact Sheila at 813-948-2311 or email [email protected] with any questions, concerns or needs.
As you all know, I mostly work from home but do keep some office hours at church. If you should need to get into the church for any reason, feel free to contact me and I can get there quickly. The best way to contact me is my cell 813-857-2602.
Room Availability At Harvester
Any Ministry Team, Bible Study Group or anyone needing to reserve a room, multiple rooms or the church property, please contact Sheila in the church office to confirm availability and to schedule your meeting and/or event at [email protected] or (813) 948-2311
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Like us on Facebook!!
Harvester has several groups on Facebook, so check them out!
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Harvester Women - Sisters in Spirit
Harvester Youth - Activate
Harvester Kids - Children's Ministry ***this is a closed group - meaning that only members will be able to see the information in it for the safety of our children -- but all you have to do to be a part of it is request to join -- there are 3 questions (are you a member/regular attendee of Harvester?, What Harvester Children's activities have you/do you plan to attend? What ages are your children? Once the admin approves it, you will have access to the pages.
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Harvester APP
You can now download the Harvester App through the App Store for either
Apple or Google! Search: HarvesterUMC
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With our App you can:
View previous sermons
See our church calendar
Find out more information about HUMC
Submit a prayer request
Make a donation
Read the Bible
Receive updates about Harvester
And so much more!
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Be sure to turn your notifications on to receive messages from the church. |
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