A Decade of Service

Minister of Sacred Arts Lauren Graham reflects on 10-Years in Harbor leadership and where her path leads next

Intro

This past winter, I took a quiet retreat to spend time in prayer, seeking guidance from God about what comes next in my life. As I sat through the longest night, a message came through clearly in my mind: “You must prepare yourself to let go of what Harbor has been for you and open yourself up to the new.” I shared this message with Pastor Sadie, knowing that when the time came, we needed to be ready—though I had no idea how or when this change would manifest.

Two years earlier, I had received similar whispers and ignored them because I wasn’t ready to imagine Harbor as anything other than what it had been. Still, I began to prepare, training our team to take over my roles.

I’m grateful to God for preparing me, slowly and patiently, knowing how difficult it would be for me to step away from a place that has become so sacred to me.

That moment of change arrived almost overnight in April, right at the start of Holy Week, when a job opportunity surfaced—a direct answer to many prayers. It was a gift from God, wrapped with a perfect bow, clear to everyone around me. This was the moment I had foresaw. After ten years, I’m stepping out of leadership and into something completely new—membership.

This isn’t goodbye, but it marks the end of a beautiful era. Below I’ve taken time to reflect on how Harbor has shaped me over the past decade with some photos of favorite memories.

Making music with these incredible people every week

History

I began my journey at Harbor in January 2015, when then-Music Director Andy Ball invited me to join his small choir as an alto section leader. I was an undergrad studying music and had grown up in church as a Pastor’s daughter, so it felt like a natural fit. I remember being surprised by the choir’s incredible talent and the good-hearted people around me. Over the next two years, I supported the choir and praise team while Harbor navigated the transition of a senior pastor stepping down, which launched a search for a new one.

In 2017, Pastor Sadie Cullumber was called as our new leader—the first woman I had ever seen in a Senior Pastor role, which was already impactful. But it was her first sermon that truly shook me. I’ll never forget sitting in the back row and hearing her open with, “Western, American Christianity is becoming the exact religion Jesus came to preach against.” That moment felt like a lightning strike in my soul—it was the first time in years I’d felt that level of spiritual activation. I knew then that Harbor would be the place where I would grow, not just professionally, but spiritually.

2018 Christmas Cantata

Professional Growth

A year later, Harbor underwent another shift, and I was called to step into the role of Praise Band Director. With a background in worship teams from my father’s church, I felt confident saying yes—even though I had no formal experience in leading a team. Soon after, Andy stepped down, and I was offered the position of Music Minister, overseeing all music ministries. I’ll admit, Harbor, I didn’t feel ready for this role. But despite my doubts, God encouraged me to accept.

Over the next five years, I grew immensely, taking on roles as choir director, conductor, event coordinator, worship leader, project manager, music teacher, composer, arranger, staff manager, and faith leader. Harbor allowed me to grow, experiment, and learn. We also faced the challenge of supporting our community through a two-year shutdown during COVID. How do you lead a music ministry when no one can gather in person? How does music function in virtual church? These were the questions I’m most proud of answering. The art we created during this time—through music projects, educational courses, and online discussions—was a testament to our beautiful community’s resilience.

Click here to watch these videos in a past Ministry Spotlight Blog Post

After five years as Music Minister, our Media + Technology ministries needed support. Because of the overlap with music, I was asked to expand into leadership over all three areas. This led to one of my favorite professional titles: Minister of Sacred Arts.(Seriously, how magical is that title?)

In this role, I learned the wisdom of delegation, discovering what I truly needed to do myself versus what could be handled by others. I also learned to trust my team, realizing that when everyone does their part, we can move mountains (plus it's way less stressful and more fun!). I am deeply grateful to Macy, Justin, Eric, Seton, and all our volunteers for their dedication and growth. It’s because of them that I feel confident stepping down, knowing Harbor’s Sacred Arts Ministries are in good hands.

2023 Harbor Rep for General Assembly

Personal Growth

But Harbor’s impact on me goes far beyond my professional development—it has been deeply personal. Two years ago, my life fell apart. I found myself with nowhere to turn and had to do something I’d never done before: submit to the reality of my situation and ask for help. And when I asked, it was given—immediately and without question. I struggled to accept the help, my pride smarting, but the community at Harbor was incredibly patient. Everyone offered some piece of support, provided shelter, shared meals, created space for me to heal, sent small gifts and words of encouragement, and offered small jobs to help with finances. One Sunday, when I asked for any leads on a car, I didn’t leave with just one—I left with 25 offers, as people generously shared their schedules of when a vehicle would be available. I knew I had just witnessed a modern-day loaves and fishes miracle, where abundance multiplies through the gift of community.

Through it all, Harbor helped me understand what it truly means to be loved unconditionally—no matter where I was emotionally or spiritually. Growing up as a Pastor’s daughter, I was always in church leadership, never fully experiencing the community as simply a member. I was often slightly removed, feeling the weight of greater responsibility to lead and be strong for others. Harbor showed me what it means to be fully accepted, just as I am—regardless of my state, and without needing to prove my worth by giving first or giving enough in order to receive. In this process, God helped me heal, integrating lessons that prepared me for the next chapter of my life.

Harbor attending 2023 OC Pride

Baptism

As I felt God’s hand guiding me through this time of transformation, the timing of these shifts right before Easter baptisms felt significant. I knew I needed to mark this new life I had been given by getting baptized again. My first baptism, as a teenager, took place in my father’s church. While I grew to understand the masculine side of God there, Harbor helped me connect with the feminine side of the Divine. It was through this church that I was able to balance my connection to God and my relationship with Spirit.

PLUR Rave Braids

To symbolize this, I asked to be baptized in pink water—an homage to my personal growth and the feminine side of God. For those of you familiar with my color meditation series a few years back, you know how deeply I connect with color symbolism. Blue, in energy theory, is associated with the mind and the throat, which reflects my early faith journey—more intellectual than experiential. But pink represents action, safety, security, and unconditional love—things I developed in my spiritual journey at Harbor. I had been baptized in blue, under a masculine understanding of God, but now, I felt ready to be baptized again, this time in pink, as I embraced a fuller understanding of the Divine. 

It also symbolized a fuller, more complete acceptance of myself, as I was baptized in rave braids—honoring my history and love for PLUR culture - a place that became sanctuary when church no longer felt safe. This was a part of me I had once hidden from the world, but now, I proudly embrace it. I’m deeply grateful to Harbor for its openness and willingness to provide a safe space for personal and unique faith rituals. What a beautiful capstone to honor the last 10–years!

My 2025 Pink Baptism

Next Chapter & Hopes

Thank you, Harbor, for taking a chance on a 23-year-old just starting her path all those years ago. You have been witness and guide to my evolution from student to leader. I carry a special memory with each and every member of this community. You have all become my chosen family, and I’m incredibly grateful for your love and support.

As I walk through our sanctuary and space one last time as Minister of Sacred Arts, the melody of the classic hymn How Great Thou Art begins to play in my heart, especially resonating with the words, “Then sings my soul.” Harbor has rehabilitated my soul after a time when life tried to silence and dim it. Now, my soul is whole again and singing with joy. No words can fully capture the depth of gratitude and awe I feel for what Harbor has done for me, what God has led me through.

Moving forward, I know the best way to express my thanks to this body of Christ is to extend that same love and support to others when called. To me, this is the true walk of a disciple, and I move forward humbly, knowing the Divine walks with me and works through me.

Lauren & Sheba (aka Harbor's Gargoyle)

Enjoy a short highlight video below with footage over the last decade.

Music performed by Lauren Graham and Justin Wright.