Word of the Week
February 13, 2020
 
From The Pastor
                      
Are You Ready?
                       
Some of our members and visitors have yet to begin Harvester's discipleship program, and now is the perfect time! This Saturday I will be offering CLASS 101 (Discovering Church Membership) at 10am either for any member who is ready to begin the process, or for any visitor who wants to know more about Harvester or is ready to join our family!
                    
At 12:30pm I will teach CLASS 201 (Discovering Spiritual Maturity) for anyone who has taken CLASS 101 and is interested in learning some essential disciplines that will strengthen the foundations of your faith. 
                   
It is possible to take both of these classes back to back. I will be offering CLASS 301 and 401 in two weeks on February 29. If you are interested in attending, please email me at  RevMcKee@aol.com, and I'll make sure to have all the materials necessary for you! I hope to see you soon!
                
Pastor Russ
                         
P.S. I hope you will take time to read through today's WOW - there is SO much happening at Harvester!! 

 

Connect with Harvester

 

To see additional Harvester Information click on this link  http://www.harvesterumc.com/

 

For Online Giving click the Harvester link above and look for online giving in the upper right-hand corner

 
 
From Pastor Gary
                      
Our Children's Ministry is growing!  There is no doubt that when we hired Kristina Nast, our Children's Ministry began to flourish.  We changed our curriculum and the teachers and children are loving it.  We purchased a new sign-in system and it makes our sign-in time much shorter and allows us to gather statistics we weren't getting before.  With all that said, we have gone from an average of 15 a week to 21 a week.  Nine weeks in the last year, we have had 24 or more children.  
                         
We could use some help!  We have three very faithful teachers (volunteers) who are leading our children every week.  They could really use some helpers.   Would some of our congregation be willing to help out once a month?  You would not be asked to lead, but having another person in the room can help immensely to get lessons or art projects completed.  We have some volunteers who have already put their names on a list.  Would you pray about being a helper one hour a month?  If you are a high school student willing to help, that would be tremendous.  If we have enough volunteers, maybe you would only have to help once every two months.  
                      
We truly want to keep growing in Children's Ministry.  The more helpers we have, the easier it is to keep getting bigger and having more kids learn about Jesus!  The more our children grow in Jesus, the more they can help you and me:   Go and Make Disciples!
                          
Peace,  
Pastor Gary

 
 

Children's Ministry
 

We had an AMAZING time this past weekend at Kid's Karaoke!! Be on the lookout for the date of next months children's event. Parents are invited to Orange Fusion, while the children enjoy lunch, friends and FUN!!


 
 
"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   

Activate! Youth Group
Sunday, February 16th 
5:30- 7:00 p.m. 
                  
Open to all Middle School and Senior High students. For more information, contact Pastor Russ at  revmckee@aol.com
 
Youth & Parents: Join our Instagram "@harvesterstudents" to keep in touch, and up to date on Activate Youth Group happenings!
   
 

A Gulf Central Learning and Application Event
"Innovation"

 Registration is still open for Saturday, February 22, 2020, from 9am-3pm at Anona UMC. 

To register, go to 

There are many classes to choose from.  Child care will be available. 
Anona UMC, 13233 Indian Rocks Road - Largo 33774
We will car pool from Harvester at 7:45 a.m. Sign up on the bulletin board in the church hallway.

 

Meet a former Lost Girl of Sudan with a passion for seeing lives restored and rebuilding communities shattered by conflict. Rebecca Deng will give her presentation at Harvester on Saturday, February 22 at 6:00 PM in the sanctuary. Copies of her book will be available for sale. 

Below is a summary of testimony:
                 
"When I had no hope, the Bible was there for me. For eight years in a refugee camp, displaced and traumatized with little food or education, only the Lord's words of comfort kept me going. I spent time talking with God, telling him how I needed to get out of that camp. God listened to my prayers. And he didn't stop when I had food, water and safety. He put me in a community where the wounds of my heart could start healing. My foster family and the people of Holland, Michigan loved me with words and deeds. They prayed for me and provided resources so I could finish my education. I am sharing my story to show how God redeems suffering. He can redeem anything. People can be traumatized but they can also be healed-and trauma does not need to define your life. I'm a testimony of what can happen. I am excited to be working with American Bible Society to help more of God's people live into the work of restoration. She's My Sisterâ„¢ work is powerful, and our tagline captures it - "treasure her." Together, we can show hurting women and men that God's Word calls them to be more than their past, more than victim or perpetrator, that together we can rebuild walls and communities and help bring justice. I am dedicated to making the voiceless heard, because I was once without voice or family myself.

 

Interested in going to Israel?
We have a meeting this Sunday...

Attention Israel 2020 travelers and wanna-be travelers.  We are having a brief meeting on Sunday, February 23 at 10:30am in the Youth Room for people seeking roommates, airport carpool, or any other logistics, questions, and concerns.  Please drop by. If you cannot make it, but want more information, please email Gigi Taylor at  nurse@ceciliasworld.com.

 

Mark Your Calendars
 
Our Activate! Youth Group is sponsoring a Harvester & Friends Talent Show on Sunday, March 1st at 3pm in the Sanctuary. This is open to everyone! Whether you sing, dance, tell jokes or do something creative, we would love for you to share it with us. So start preparing for your four minutes of fame! 

Click the link to register for the show https://form.jotform.com/90224330442141      
The Youth Group will be providing refreshments and donations are encouraged. Any questions, contact the church office at 813-948-2311 or email harvesterumc@verizon.net 

 

C.L.A.S.S.
(Christian Life And Service Seminars)


CLASS 101 (Discovering Church Membership) 
THIS Saturday, February 15th 10am-12pm in the Youth Room

CLASS 201 (Discovering Spiritual Maturity)
THIS Saturday, February 15th 12:30-2:30pm in the Youth Room

CLASS 301 (Discovering My Ministry)  
Saturday, February 29th 10-11:30am in the Youth Room

CLASS 401 (Discovering My Mission)   
Saturday, February 29th 12-1pm in the Youth Room

If you are in terested in taking:  CLASS 101,  CLASS 201,  CLASS 301 or  CLASS 401 email Pastor Russ at revmckee@aol.com and supplies will be ready for you in the CLASS.   

R emember 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.
 
 

Learn To Tell Your Story

Many have told me they want to be able to "tell their story" in a more comfortable way. Many of us want to share what Jesus means to them with other people without feeling awkward. I really want to   help make that easier for you. The class is THIS Sunday, February 16th from 1 to 4pm. There will be snacks, gifts, and a great time of sharing and fellowship! To sign up, email Pastor Gary at ghallam517@aol.com or the church office at harvesterumc@verizon.net.  

 

Sisters in Spirit 
Tea Party

Saturday, March 14, 2020
Where? At Deb's Whistle Stop Depot
Who?  All ladies ages 4 to 199 years,
Guests welcome
Cost?  $26 per person
Time? 2-4 pm
Attire?  Your Sunday Best (hats & gloves encouraged)
Why?  Experience the Sisterhood
Guest Speaker!!                  
Please register and pay online at https://form.jotform.com/200397640045148
                       
Also,  Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival is this Saturday, Feb. 15th at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. Free admission to the grounds.  Lots of food trucks and craft vendors, all with chocolate themes.  Carpool will be leaving Harvester at noon.  Sign up on Bulletin board or notify Linda Smith  johlinsha_3@msn.com  if you want be in the carpool. 

 

Fresh Start Training

Have you been looking for a way to give back and make a Christian impact on our local Community? Have you ever wondered how your wisdom, or life choices, could help another man or woman? Then very possibly the Fresh Start program is for you. 

Fresh Start training is being offered this Saturday, February 29 from 10am to 12pm in the Youth Room. Then only 1 hour per week for 12 weeks after the training. We provide you with a manual, topics for each of the 12 weeks, probation orders, and all that you need to be a successful mentor. Men are assigned to men and women are assigned to women. The program allows volunteers to be paired with men and women on probation, to coach them with Christian love, in a way that hopefully assists them to    redirect their paths and start moving in a more positive and hopefully Christian walk. Your love and guidance could quite possibly be the influence that will set their paths straight through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:18 tells us,  "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and   recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free."   We have the ability, as believers, to help those in need, so I ask you to search your heart, to see if the Holy Spirit has stirred something in you, to be a coach and mentor to our Harvester Community.

If you are interested in the training, the sign up is on the bulletin board in the church hallway. For more information, contact Christi Weis at cweis@usa.com   
 
 

Cornerstone Family Ministry's 
40th Annual Wonder Walk

Please consider participating in this Cornerstone Family Ministry fundraiser with proceeds to support scholarships for economically disadvantaged preschool children attending the Rosa Valdez Early Learning Center and Lab School in Tampa. The Walk takes place on March 7th from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM starting at Hyde Park UMC and walking along Bayshore Boulevard. You can support the Harvester UMC Team by being a walker, donor, sponsor or basket maker. Contact Ruth Reilly at 813-215-9227 or rreilly12@verizon.net for additional information.

 

Debt Free Class

Harvester is offering a special 4 week class for those     interested in having financial peace. Ben Alexander will lead this class during the Sunday School hour in the Youth Room at 10am on Sundays on March 8, 15, 22 & April 5. There is no charge for this class.  

 

Roof Campaign Update

Our goal is to raise $23,000 over 3 years to pay for a new roof on the original building. $52 per year or $1 per Sunday each year per member will reach the goal. Thanks be to God we met the goal for the first and second year! 

We are in our final year and have raised at total of $18, 971.40 towards our final goal of $23,000.00! Thanks to everyone who has given thus far!

 
 

Students in Transition (SIT)
Food Bags
 
Harvester has partnered with the Pasco County School District's  Students in Transition Team to help children who have been identified as at chronic risk of going hungry over the weekend. 
                
We have committed to putting together (46) one gallon zip lock freezer bags of non perishable food items each week to provide for these children. This program is very much needed in our area. Our donations go to Pineview Middle School and Marlow Elementary.
                      
Below is a list of food items needed. Please bring only items that do not require any preparation, heating or refrigeration and children can eat without any adult help. 

Individual servings of peanut butter
Small stacks / packages of plain crackers
Vienna sausages (zip top cans)
Baked beans (zip top cans)
Individual cereal boxes
Pop tarts
Granola bars
Cereal bars
Individual fruit cups
Peanut butter / cheese crackers
Pudding cups
Protein bars
 
Thank you for your support!

 
 
Samaritan's Purse
Operation Christmas Child 
Shoe Boxes 

As you may have read in recent WOW's, we'd like to hold a church-wide packing party this year. This is not intended to take away anyone's desire to pack an individual box or two; this is simply another way we can bless children around the world with a group effort to fill 50 boxes. In order to do this, we'll be collecting items throughout the year leading up to our party in late October or early November. This will help spread the cost out over the course of several months rather than a hit to the budget right  before the holidays.  Our collection bin is set up below our bulletin board in the main hallway.  Remember, January's items are hats, gloves and scarves; February's are accessories (like necklaces, hairbands, watches, etc), although anything you'd like to contribute is fine at any time during the year.
                            
Reports show that the 10-14 age group gets the fewest number of packed boxes each year, so I'd like to target this group for our packing party -- 25 boxes for girls, 25 boxes for boys.  Please keep this in mind when you're out shopping and find discounts on items. I'll have a sheet posted this Sunday to show our progress so far, which includes items that were donated in bulk last year that we saved for this year, plus some deeply discounted items I found in after-Christmas sales.
                         
Our "Pocket Change for Children" collection shoe box is ready to go too.  This fundraiser will help purchase items that we may be short of by the time the packing party rolls around and hopefully cover the $9 processing fee for our 50 party boxes. Every penny counts and will help us toward our goal of at least $450.00. Thanks to those of you who have already dropped in some change!
                            
If you have any questions, please get in touch with me or seek me out at the early service on Sunday mornings.  Let's make 2020 our best OCC year yet!
                           
Janet Sass
OCC Project Leader
813-598-1783 Cell
813-996-3511 Home

 

Alex Carrow is hosting a Catechism Class on Thusdays from 5:15-6:45pm in Rooms 117 & 118. Catechism is a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians. The class will be utilizing the Heidelberg Catechism as the source of the Q & A. Just bring a Bible and be prepared to learn. Any questions, contact Alex at 813-345-7458 or AlexChristopherCarrow117@gmail.com.  

 


Women of Faith meet on the first Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the adult Sunday School Rooms 117 & 118.

Come for fellowship, prayer and devotional.    This is not a Bible study, so there will be no homework.  For more information, please contact Eloisa Garcia at  caseysgrandma@tampabay.rr.com , or Delaine Holsopple at dbholsopple2@gmail.com .
 
 
 
The Breakfast Club 

***Reminder Breakfast Club THIS S aturday, 
February 15th***

Please consider yourself invited to the Breakfast Club. We meet at Harvester and start serving around 8:30 am. We will have a full breakfast and great conversation. We meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month.
 
 It's like Saturday Detention... with breakfast
***Reminder Breakfast Club THIS Saturday, February 15th***

 
 





Thank you to George Alexander for helping with various work projects around the church and grounds. We appreciate you!

Thank you to everyone helping in the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings! We appreciate you making coffee, setting up snacks and cleaning up after the 11am worship! You are all wonderful servants.

Thank you to Joanie Einemann for helping out in the church office each week. You are a blessing!
   
 
 

1 st  & 2 nd  Corinthians
This practical and relevant course deals with church problems in a city plagued by immorality. It applies God's answers to similar problems faced by present-day Christians seeking to advance God's kingdom in their societies.
                 
2020 Bible Study
Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Offering excellent Nursery, Preschool,
and  Homeschool  Ministries
      
Harvester Community Church
2432 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes
        
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Pan Ayers (760)-315-0347  rplayers@sbcglobal.net   
 register @   www.tampanorth.cbsclass.org
 information @  www.communitybiblestudy.org

 

Prayer for Harvester 
       
Pastor Gary is leading a prayer group in praying for Harvester the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Everyone is welcome. Please join us.
      
PHONE ALERT!  PHONE ALERT!
For those who are unable to make it to the Wednesday prayer group, I am asking that you set a recurring alarm on your phone for a time and day of your choice to take time to pray specifically for your church and God's will to be done at Harvester! The more we talk to God about what He wants from us, the faster we can begin working on it. Thank you everyone for helping us to bombard Heaven with our requests! 

 
 

Like us on Facebook!!
Harvester has several new groups on Facebook, so check them out!


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.

 
 

Congregational Care For Our Harvester Family
        
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. 

 
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 harvesterumc@verizon.net or (813) 948-2311

 

CSS Volunteers Needed!!!  


Volunteers are needed at Christian Social Services anytime Tuesday through Saturday from 10am - 4pm. Come for an hour or stay longer! No experience or special ability needed, just a willingness to help! It's a great place for youth to get credit for school (youth younger than 15 yrs. old must be accompanied by an adult.) Call or email Llurah Utt with questions, concerns or just show up at CSS ask for Tina and she'll be SO HAPPY to get you started. You will be a blessing and YOU WILL BE BLESSED! Llurah - (813) 996-6926 or  thriftygirls2@yahoo.com   

 

 
Join Larry Young and the prayer group on Friday mornings at 10:00 am in Room 38

There are so many needs in our church and beyond that must be covered in prayer. If this is something that you would love to participate in, then just show up or contact Larry Young at  813-846-4342.

You can also text your prayer concern to the prayer chain at 81 3-846-4342 or contact the church office.

 
Church Library 

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 are always accepting donations of  Christian books (non fiction or fiction) and are happy to add them to the collection.
 
 
 
Harvester APP
   
You can now download the  Harvester App   through the App Store for either Apple or Google! Search: HarvesterUMC
 
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!
Be sure to turn your notifications on to receive messages from the church.

 

To All The Men at Harvester
    
We are meeting at 8:00 am every Tuesday at Panera Bread 
at the corner of SR 54 and Livingston Rd.
 
PLEASE COME FOR FELLOWSHIP and GOOD FOOD
 
LARRY YOUNG
813-846-4342  cell
 
 
 
Church Office Hours

Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 3:30 pm. 


 
Worship Times &
Sunday School

 

 

Sunday Mornings

 

9:00 a.m.

Traditional Worship

Nursery available

 

11:00 a.m.

Contemporary Worship

 

11:00 a.m.

Nursery 

Children's Worship Hour

Middle School Sunday School 

 

5th Sundays Combined Worship at 10:00 a.m. followed by a luncheon 

 

 
Upcoming Message


Sunday, February 16


Message:

"How To Be Blessed: Your Health"

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

 
Pastor Russell O. McKee lll

 
Youth Schedule
 

Sunday, February 16

Activate! Youth Group
5:30-7pm 


 
Church Contact
Information


 Office
(813) 948-2311

Web Site

Pastor
Russell O. McKee lll
revmckee@aol.com 

 
Family Ministries Pastor
Gary Hallam
ghallam517@aol.com 

Worship & Creative Arts
Phillip Brown
pbrown110@verizon.net 

Administrative Assistant
Sheila Fitzgerald
harvesterumc@verizon.net 
 
Nursery Coordinator
Christina Monette
christinajp@aol.com 

Director of Children's Ministry
Kristina Nast
kknast13@gmail.com