Harvest is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, December 28 at 7:00 pm, we have the honor of hosting the Perlman Music Program “Works in Progress” community concert. The Perlman Music Program, founded by Itzhak and Toby Perlman, has become one of the premier training programs for young, gifted musicians in the classical field. The Sarasota Winter Residency represents one component of the program. Participating students receive training and mentoring from distinguished faculty, including Itzhak Perlman himself.

The concert is free and tickets are currently available onsite at Harvest. If you are interested, you are invited to pick up your general admission tickets at the Harvest office during office hours, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday. If you need to make arrangements to pick up tickets outside the office hours, please contact Charlotte Wright atcwright@harvest-umc.org or 907-7333.  

Join Harvest Kids and their families tonight, Wednesday December 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. No cost, no prep, just bring a Christmas goody to share. Store-bought cookies are welcome!

With just one hour of rehearsal, four scenes that involve everyone, and a captivating and original script, your family will have fun bringing the Nativity to life. No lines to learn! Fun “costumes” to make (we’re talking poster board and glitter here) and lots of fun for all ages. In one night, we will create sets and costumes, rehearse, and present a full Christmas production

There’s nothing easier anywhere! Everyone will work together; no one will be put on the spot. You get to be in the play and in the audience!

This evening will be full of entertaining drama and great music. Your family will love being a part of the Christmas story. You don’t have to memorize anything and everyone will have a part, from the smallest child to the tallest Dad. Join us for a night to remember. We will have a super fun “cast party” following the presentation.

Christmas represents an opportunity for the people of Harvest to share God’s blessings with others. Our goal is to make Christmas a joyous time for children of migrant workers who reside at Falkner Farm, a local farm that houses and employs migrant workers.  Our efforts culminate in a party there on Sunday, December 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm with music, food, crafts, story-telling, gifts, games and piñatas.  Here’s where you come in. Through your gifts and participation, you can help bring joy to the children of Falkner Farm and experience a life-giving Christmas. Sign up at Hospitality Hub 1.

There will be an open training session this Sunday, December 4, immediately after the 10:30 service for those who are interested in finding out more about helping to lead worship from "behind the scenes!" If you are curious to see how things work or want to learn the way around the Mac computer operating system, then feel free to join! If you have any questions please contact Cameron Helwege at chelwege@harvest-umc.org

Invite family, friends, and neighbors and join usat Harvest this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the Messiah. Here is a listing of the services we have planned. 
Blue Christmas
Thursday, December 22, 6:48 pm. A service of hope designed for those who have experienced pain or loss in the last year or anyone who finds the season of Christmas a struggle to get through an especially difficult time of year.

Christmas Eve at Harvest

Celebrate the good news, “Messiah Is Born!” This year, there are four opportunities to worship at Harvest on Christmas Eve. Here’s the lineup:

3:00 pm: A 45-minute service designed especially for families with young children. Come sing familiar carols and celebrate Jesus’ birthday. We’ll conclude with communion but no candlelight at this service.  

5:00 pm: This service is a great one for persons of any age who want to gather early in the evening. Worship will include a time especially for children, special music from our children’s choir, congregational music led by our Harvest praise band, a message of hope, communion, and a candlelight closing.

7:00 pm: Right in the heart of the evening, it’s a great time to come and join the Harvest family for a Christmas Eve celebration. Worship will include a time especially for children, special music from our HY5 youth praise band, congregational music led by HY5 praise band, a message of hope, communion, and a candlelight closing.

Childcare for children under 3 years old will be provided at 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, & 7:00 pm in the Harvest nursery. Keepsake ornaments will be given to all children attending these three services.

9:00 pm: As the evening draws to a close, come and prepare your hearts for Christmas with a service of worship that will bring back fond memories. Worship will begin with the sound of familiar carols and will include special music offerings by the Harvest adult choir, congregational singing with piano and organ, a message of hope, communion, and a candlelight closing.

Doors will open to the Harvest Centre for seating 30 minutes before each service. You are invited to enjoy visiting with others in the Gathering Area prior to that time.

Christmas Day: Jesus Is Born!

Join us for a celebration on Sunday, December 25. We’ll gather for one service at 10:30 am, when you’ll be able to sing many of your favorite carols. Plus, there’s a special treat in store—baptisms on Christmas morning! The service will conclude in an hour, so by 11:30 you can be on your way back home to continue the celebration with family.

New Year’s Day: Wesleyan Covenant Service

Instituted by John Wesley himself, the covenant service has become a rich part of our Methodist heritage. It’s a great way to start a new year, offering ourselves to God in worship. The service includes an opportunity to renew our baptismal vows, recommitting ourselves to be deeply devoted followers of Christ in our everyday lives.

There is a volunteer servant opportunity for two door greeters and four bulletin hosts for each of the four services on Christmas Eve. This opportunity to serve provides a chance to share Christmas spirit while welcoming all to Harvest. Service times are 3:00, 5:00. 7:00 and 9:00 pm.  A sign-up sheet will be at Hospitality Hub 1. Those signing up to serve communion at each of the Christmas Eve services can also sign up to be greeters or bulletin hosts.  Contact Dan Wilmot at 941-355-1982 or daddybeardan@yahoo.com with any questions.  

Now that Advent is here, it is time for trained servers to prayerfully consider serving communion with the pastors at one of four services Christmas Eve. At this time, the 3:00 pm service will require three additional servers. The 5:00 pm service will require four additional servers, while the 7:00 pm service will require seven. No additional servers are needed for the 9:00 pm service.

Communion servers will also serve as ushers for the candle lighting at 5:00, 7:00, & 9:00 pm. A sign-up sheet is located at Hospitality Hub 1. All servers need to be professing members of Harvest who have been through Holy Communion orientation with one of the Communion coordinators or pastors at Harvest and available to attend a brief instructional meeting at noon on Sunday, December 18.  Any questions can be referred to Communion Coordinators Steve & Kathy Carr, 359-6816, or usedcarr@verizon.net.

As you are feasting this holiday season, please save any aluminum pie tins that you might have and bring them to Hospitality Hub 1. We will be using them in our January Sunday school unit.

Join Harvest Kids and their families on Wednesday, December 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. No cost, no prep, just bring a Christmas goody to share. Store-bought cookies are welcome!
With just one hour of rehearsal, four scenes that involve everyone, and a captivating and original script, your family will have fun bringing the Nativity to life. No lines to learn! Fun “costumes” to make (we’re talking poster board and glitter here) and lots of fun for all ages. In one night, we will create sets and costumes, rehearse, and present a full Christmas production
There’s nothing easier anywhere! Everyone will work together; no one will be put on the spot. You get to be in the play and in the audience!

This evening will be full of entertaining drama and great music. Your family will love being a part of the Christmas story. You don’t have to memorize anything and everyone will have a part, from the smallest child to the tallest Dad. Plan to join us for a night to remember. We will have a super fun “cast party” following the presentation.

On the third Sunday of every month, Harvest has the opportunity to serve in an important Missions ministry. You are invited to participate by bringing non-perishable food items for a local food bank. December’s Food Bank Sunday will be December 18 and will benefit Harvest’s Pack a Sack ministry. Since the beginning of the school year, Pack a Sack has been providing a bag of food every weekend for 60 chronically hungry children at Samoset Elementary School in Bradenton. You will find a list of requested food items at Hospitality Hub 1 beginning December 8th. Items most appropriate for this ministry are individual, non-perishable and prepared foods such as macaroni and cheese, fruit cups, milk & juice boxes and cereal bars. A complete list of recommended foods will be stapled to the collection bags that be picked up at Hospitality Hub 1.