Harvest is the young adult ministry of McLean Presbyterian Church (PCA) for those in their 20’s and early 30’s. Our mission is to lead young adults into authentic relationships with the living God & with one another.
For more information, contact James Forsyth at 703.821.0800 or via email.
Join us this fall for Sunday Evening Worship at MPC hosted by the Harvest young adult ministry from 7-8pm in the Fellowship Hall. Come to meet with God and connect with friends! Here’s our upcoming schedule:
Harvest Home Fellowship Groups
Harvest hosts both men’s and women’s Home Fellowship Groups which meet once a week for meaningful relationship-building, discussion-oriented Bible study, and sincere prayer for one another, our communities, and the world. We intend our groups to be places where it is safe to be honest about God, life, and ourselves.
Currently, Harvest hosts the following Home Fellowship Groups and welcomes newcomers:
Women:
Wednesday nights at 7:30pm in Arlington, Contact: Betsy
Wednesday nights at 7pm in Falls Church, Contact: JillianMen:
Tuesday nights at 7:30pm in Herndon, Contact: Andrew
Wednesday nights at 8pm in Arlington, Contact: DonCoed:
Wednesday nights at 7:30pm in Fairfax, Contact: Jacob & Kelly‘CSI’ - Truth/Bible Discussion Group: We call ourselves CSI’ because we’re an investigative study for seekers and new believers - the perfect thing to recommend to a curious friend or colleague! We meet every Wednesday evening at 7:30pm in Arlington at The Murky Coffee’ (upstairs), near the Clarendon Metro. Contact: Marcus or Becca
Harvest socials range from formal events, like our mad Harvest Party every October, to informal get-togethers like dining out in DC or hanging out at an Open House.
For upcoming socials, see the Harvest Calendar.
Somewhere between the Sunday Night meeting and Home Fellowship Groups lay an uncategorized branch of Harvest opportunities:
‘Table Talk’ (monthly). Meeting in the McLean Room at MPC, Table Talk has become one of the most popular events on the Harvest calendar. After a scrumptious dinner, we tackle a pressing theological topic by listening to a short lecture followed by plenty of time for questions and respectful debate. Past topics include: If God is in control of everything, how do we have free will? If God is good, how can there be evil in the world? How can we trust the New Testament documents? See the Harvest Calendar for upcoming dates.
Film and Theology (monthly). We set aside a weekend night to project a choice movie onto the large screen of the Fellowship Hall. Our viewing is followed by a lively discussion about the film - its beauty, truth, and meaning - focusing on the questions about life it raises and the answers it provides. See the Harvest Calendar for upcoming screenings.
Book Club (bi-monthly): Currently meeting at the funky Murky Coffee shop in Ballston, the book club huddles twice a month on Thursdays at 8pm to discuss, debate, and pontificate. Contact Sarah Hopson. See the Harvest Calendar for upcoming dates.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” With this astounding truth in mind, we desire to serve others in tangible ways - that Christ’s love might be demonstrated in this broken world.
Members of Harvest are involved in the following ministries:
STEP (Strategies to Elevate People). An inner-city ministry working with elementary-aged children in NE DC.
ESL (English as a Second Language). A ministry of McLean Presbyterian Church which seeks to serve our neighbors by teaching them English in a warm and welcoming community.
What can I expect on a Sunday night?
We plan Sunday nights based on a few assumptions. First, we know it’s not easy to walk into a brand-new group of complete strangers. So we do our best to make you feel welcome without embarrassing you (”Hey, who here is new and wants to lead singing?”). Secondly, we know not everyone who comes is - or ever was - a regular church attender (”The books of the Bible, now in unison!”). At the same time, we are convinced that the Christian explanation of life is a compelling one, no matter what your religious background. So, while we investigate the deep questions of life, we strive to do it in a way that brings everyone into the conversation. This informs what we sing and how we teach. Thirdly, we know that even though the DC Metro area is chock-full of people, it can often be a lonely place as well, especially for twenty-somethings who are just starting out. So, Sunday nights include plenty of time to simply hang out before and after the meeting.
What is the format for the Sunday Night gathering?
If you’ve ever attended a campus ministry (RUF, InterVarsity, Navigators), the format is similar (fellowship, singing, teaching). Our worship time is a blend of hymns (usually to modern tunes, like in RUF) and meaningful praise songs. Our talented worship team always surprises with violin and piano one week, drums and guitar the next. We would characterize the teaching as Biblical (usually we are sequentially studying a book of the Bible) and application-oriented (asking, “how does this make a difference in my life?”).
Who can come to Harvest?
Anyone in their twenties to early thirties.
What’s the best way to get connected?
We encourage you to come and check out a Sunday night gathering. It’s a great way to get to know others in the group. However, the best way to get involved is to join one of our small groups. We also are always in need of volunteers to serve in the ministry in a variety of ways.
