Final 2025 Harbor Happenings

Harbor Christian Church
12 minutes ago
4 min read

A look at what is still to come before the end of the year!

Words from Pastor Sadie

Have you noticed our new signs throughout the Campus?

Welcome to our Advent season! Every year we feel like it’s not possible that we’re already back in the holiday season. And here we are again, with exclamations of “I can’t believe there’s already Christmas decorations out” and “wasn’t it just summer?” Time moves and sometimes it takes our bodies and minds a bit longer to catch up than we would like. But ready or not, here comes Santa Claus!!!

Just because the world is spinning too fast doesn’t mean we have to. We can choose to take this holiday season in stride and to keep things meaningful and simple. If the life of Jesus teaches us anything, it’s that we don’t have to keep doing what the rest of the world is doing.

When the rest of the world is loud, we can find our quiet. When the rest of the world is moving fast, we can pause and breathe. When the rest of the world is endlessly consuming, we can bring only the meaningful into our lives.

I hope that you carve out time this season to reflect on the year, to rest, to connect with dear ones, and to remember that the deep meaning of Christmas is found in reflection and connection.

Peace be with you,

Pastor Sadie.

Fall Events review

We look forward to sharing more thoughts and reflections from the events above, but here is a look back at our very busy month of October!

Left: Earthrise on Saturday October 11th, Pictured: Costa Mesa Councilmember Arlis Reynolds, Author Victor Villasenor, Author Dr. Christena Cleveland, Rev. Sadie Cullumber and UC Irvine Director of Communications Kelly Ann Brown, PhD.

Middle: PSWR Regional Gathering on Saturday October 18th, Pastors Sadie, Ryan and Janette at our Living Coast Ministry workshop.

Right: Multi-Church Women's Retreat on Saturday October 25th at Loch Leven Camp. A total of 75 women from 4 churches attended the weekend!

November Events

We are so honored to get to host this event THIS afternoon!!

A note from our Elder Chair, Caroline Kauffman: "This will be a wonderful place to buy unique Christmas gifts with all the proceeds going to our local tribe!"

Join us today in the Sanctuary starting at 4pm!

If Mariah Carey says it, it must be true!! "It's tiiiiiiiimeeeee" for the Christmas season! Join us Sunday morning for our annual Hanging of the Greens service followed by Christmas Cookies! Bring a tin of your favorite Christmas cookies to share and be ready to take some extras home!

December Events

From Pastor Janette: This prison ministry has a special place in my heart and I am so proud of our Region for being such a big supporter of this! Please join me for a few hours on Saturday 12/6 starting at 10am!

After an incredibly busy summer and fall, what could be better than an afternoon and evening of cozy PJs, snacks, crafts and holiday movies?? Brainstorm your top 3 Christmas movies as we will be asking for suggestions soon!

Join us for this most holy night as we celebrate the arrival of Baby Jesus and the hope that he gave us then and now. As always, friends and family are welcome. — Join us for this most *holy night* as we celebrate the arrival of Baby Jesus and the hope that he gave us then and now. As always, friends and family are welcome.

Upcoming Study

A reflection on our Advent theme by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity from Sanctified Art.

Luke’s Gospel begins the story of Jesus with this opening line: “In the time of Herod...” This detail may seem minor to modern readers, however, it reveals layers of information about the fearful world Jesus entered, one filled with rampant oppression, economic disparity, uncertainty, and instability. A world not so unlike our own. And yet, throughout the stories of Christ’s birth, the whispers of angels deliver a surprising message: “Do not fear.” In our own time, we might ask: is it even possible to be fearless in a fearful world? When Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi are each called into God’s redemptive story, they do not deny their fears—they move through them. They ask questions, hold fast to courage, trust in good news, and say, “Here I am, Lord.” When we find ourselves in fearful times, can we acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope?

We’ve crafted an Advent series that takes seriously the angels’ message and trusts that Christ’s birth truly is good news of great joy for all people. This series looks closely at the fear and terror looming in the background during the time of King Herod and invites us to consider the fears we hold now. Fear can divide and paralyze us, and even be used as a tool for oppression. But what if we formed a different relationship with fear? Can we acknowledge fear without letting it rule us? Might we catalyze our fears into love and action? What if naming our fears helps us see more clearly how God is breaking in and where God is at work? This series gently invites us to identify where fear is present—both in the Advent story and in our lives—while also finding our way toward hope, with the angels’ voices in our ears.

Every Advent, we light candles, sing carols, and pray for Christ’s coming because we believe God entered a frightened world to bring good news. We hold onto hope because we believe that Christ did come—that’s the promise of the season. Our hope is not flimsy or fleeting. It’s gritty, resilient, and can endure—no matter what we fear or face. This season, let us insist on hope and trust that good news is greater than fear.