Information Packet 517 Beaver Valley Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 464-8755
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11/4/2019
Information Packet
517 Beaver Valley Pike,
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 464-8755
officeatharvest@aol.com
http://www.harvestchurch-pca.org
Presbyterian Church in America
Established: 2001
Harvest PCA Transition Committee
HARVEST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
HARVEST PCA
INFORMATION PACKET
Community
H arvest Presbyterian Church is located outside the town of Willow Street, a stepping
stone between Lancaster City (pop. 59,420) and rural southern Lancaster County
which is nicknamed the “Garden Spot of America.” It is known as a popular tourist area
due to the Amish living within our community and nearby historical sites. It is also a
thriving venue for the Arts such as the renowned Fulton and Sight and Sound Theaters,
Millersville University’s Ware Center (music), Lancaster Bible College’s The Trust
Building (music, art, classical dance), and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. Our
“Bible Belt of the North” has many church denominations represented locally. The
diversity of attractions, conveniences available, and the beautiful landscape of Lancaster
County draws many people to reside in our area.
Lancaster
Willow Street
Figure 1- Location
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Worship Attendance
W e are a congregation with a predominant number of retired members/regular
attendees, many of whom reside at nearby retirement communities such as Willow
Valley Community and Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community. We are also
fortunate to have in our congregation a number of retired pastors, former and current
missionaries as well as adults who grew up on the mission field. Some representative
occupations of active members/regular attendees include agriculture, business, education,
medicine, music and technology. Though not by design, our racial/ethnic composition is
mostly Caucasian.
• Sunday Worship Attendance: 110
• Total Members: 121
• Shut-Ins: 12
• Ages of Attendees:
Percent Ages
0% 3%
3%
24%
70%
0-18 19-30 31-50 50-65 65+ Other
Figure 2- Population
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Church History
I n the spring of 2000, the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery Church Planting Committee
formed steering and search committees to explore the possibility of starting a new
church in the Lampeter-Strasburg-Willow Street area. By November of 2001, the Lord
called Rev. Bill Massey to serve as the church planter and founding pastor of what would
become Harvest Presbyterian Church. In January 2002, guided by Pastor Massey and a
borrowed Session, a small core of individuals began meeting for Bible Study on Sunday
evenings in the basement of the Willow Street Restaurant. The core group grew and held
their first Sunday morning worship service in April of that same year at the Lancaster
Seventh Day Adventist Church. The young congregation became a particular church in
2004 and by the providential hand of God was able to acquire land at 517 Beaver Valley
Pike in Willow Street. In 2011, the first worship service was held in their newly built
church. Since its inception, Harvest has strived to be a beacon of the gospel of Christ to
the Lampeter and Willow Street area through the faithful preaching and teaching of the
Word of God. In February 2019, Pastor Massey announced that he felt led by the Lord to
step down as Pastor of Harvest Presbyterian Church and pursue another ministry
opportunity.
Our Mission and Purpose
O ur purpose is to glorify God by being a community of fruitful disciples of Jesus
Christ who are growing in a heart knowledge of God, being renewed in Jesus'
likeness, and extending his transforming kingdom into our community and world.
Our Mission is to: Preach and teach God’s word; – Worship God; – Grow through
fellowship; – Care for God’s people; – Think and act biblically; – Serve with
compassion; – Reach our world with the gospel.
Church Administration And Program
1. Church Session
The Session gives overall leadership to the congregation, directs its polity and
oversees the ministries of the church including the Deacons’ provision of mercy
ministry for members, stewardship and care of the property. Presently there are 2
elders serving on Session, along with the Interim Pastor.
2. Deacons
A Board of Deacons, also elected by the congregation, assists the elders with care of
the property and facility, ministries of mercy, fellowship, and pastoral care for
members, regular attendees and shut-ins. There are 6 ordained deacons presently
serving HPCA.
3. Presbytery
Our church falls within the Susquehanna Presbytery.
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4. Worship
a. Our formal worship style includes traditional hymns and recently written
hymns for the modern church (ex. Getty, Boice). We use organ and piano for
accompaniment. Elders, deacons and church members assist the pastor with
prayers and announcements during the worship service while elders and
deacons assist with monthly communion. The service begins with
announcements at 10:55 and concludes at approximately 12 PM.
b. A part-time Music Director co-ordinates/leads many fine vocalists,
instrumentalists and ensembles who, on a rotating basis, provide as special
music and/or an offertory during the morning service. In addition, a small
choir sings on monthly basis during the school year.
5. Sunday School
a. There is one (1) adult Sunday School class which meets in the sanctuary from
9:30-10:15 AM.
b. Presently, there are no children’s Sunday School classes as we have no
families with children who attend on a regular basis. However, there are
congregants with Pennsylvania State Child Clearances who are prepared to
step in on a moment’s notice to staff the nursery and teach Sunday School.
6. Fellowship Time
Volunteers co-ordinate refreshments during the time between Adult Sunday School
and the Worship Service.
7. Prayer meeting
The Harvest Church family meets each Wednesday in the multipurpose room from
7- 8 PM to sing praises to God and pray for our church, its members, our community,
missionaries and our country’s leaders.
8. Youth Fellowship/Young Adult Pizza club
Young single adults/college students meet during the summer months for dinner,
fellowship, activities and Bible study. This group is hosted by a church couple in their
home.
9. Small Groups
Harvest has three (3) Session-approved small groups who meet on a regular basis.
Some groups meet at the church while others meet in member’s home. They meet for
fellowship, prayer and the study of God’s Word or a helpful Christian book. The goal
of these groups is to support each other spiritually and to concomitantly maintain a
healthy, Christ-like, unified body.
10. Women’s and Men’s Bible Study Groups
a. A women’s bi-weekly Bible Study is offered during the school year.
b. A men’s fellowship/Bible study group has met at 8 AM on the third Saturday
of the month for a light breakfast, Bible study, fellowship and prayer. They
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also have met periodically to enjoy cookouts and ballgames. A new facilitator
is currently being sought so this ministry can continue.
11. Cards and Care Group
A group of women meet monthly to design, make cards, and write notes to our shut-
ins and those who are sick.
12. Community Outreach
a. Harvest offers classes for community members who are learning English as a
Second Language (ESL) on Tuesday mornings throughout the school year.
b. In 2018, Harvest PCA conducted a Christianity Explored outreach and in
2019, offered a Community Bible Study in the book of John.
c. Conestoga Bible Camp, a 1-week program for inner city youth, is supported
by Harvest and a church in Philadelphia. A church member directs the camp
which is held at nearby Promised Land Camp in Conestoga, Pennsylvania.
d. Some church members are a part of an effort to understand the religious
beliefs of congregants of a mosque in Lancaster by attending Meetings for
Better Understanding. This dovetails with a mission organization, Church
without Walls that is led by a Harvest-supported missionary.
e. Harvest has had a long-standing VBS summer community outreach as well as
a 1-day Christmas VBS. Ninety percent (90%) of the children who came to
the Harvest VBS regularly attend other local churches. It was decided to forgo
the 2019 VBS due to staffing challenges.
Church Building and Property
1. Facility:
a. The church facility was completed in 2011. It is designed to seat 350 worshippers,
with the sanctuary currently set up to seat 220.
Figure 3- Construction
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b. There is an organ and grand piano permanently housed on either side of the
podium.
Figure 4- Sanctuary
c. A sound booth/projection/amplification booth is located in the rear of the
sanctuary.
Figure 5- Sound Booth
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d. There is a sizeable multipurpose room which includes a large warming kitchen.
This space is used for Fellowship Time, church family dinners, prayer meeting,
Figure 6- Multipurpose Room
Bible Studies, receptions and other meetings as needed.
e. The education wing includes the church office, a workroom, pastor’s study, a
library/conference room, a nursery, a toddler room and six (6) Sunday School
rooms.
2. Property:
a. The Church sets on 4.75 acres of land surrounded by planted farmland on two
sides and rural residential and business properties on the third side. The front of
the property is accessed from Beaver valley Pike (PA Rout 222).
Figure 7- Land Plat 2008
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b. The church maintains an historic 1700’s cemetery which is located near the back
parking lot. http://www.pennsylvanialefevres.org/PLBG/PLBGintro.html
Figure 8- Lefever Family Historic Grave Yard
c. There is acreage beyond and to the side of the rear parking lot which is earmarked
for future use (e.g. pavilion) and facility expansion.
Church Finances.
1. The 2019 Annual Budget: $382,869.
2. Staff: The Pastor’s position is full-time; the Music Director/Organist, Secretary,
Check Writer and Janitor are part-time positions.
3. Building Loan: The bank loan as of September 2019 is $1,896,507, the terms of
which will be re-negotiated in mid-2020. Our principal and interest payment is
approximately $14, 000. per month.
4. There is a sizeable reserve in savings.
Missions:
1. The church supports 15 missionaries representing 11 countries with a budget which
represents nearly 12% of the total church budget.
2. We have a “Missions” focus once a month during the adult Sunday School class,
followed by a communion service and a fellowship meal after the worship service.
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