Harvest Haven Newsletter August 2026

Newsletter
喜禾通訊

September 2025 Harvest Haven Newsletter

Harvest Haven Newsletter August 2026

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Grateful Hands • Faithful Hearts • A Home in Every Season

Dear Harvest Haven Family,

Twenty-two years — how many stories can that hold? For Harvest Haven, it is countless songs sung together, meal after meal shared with laughter, familiar greetings every week, and companionship that so many people have found here through different seasons of life. Over these twenty-two years, Harvest Haven has grown from a small room in someone’s backyard into a “second home” for many seniors, immigrant families, and neighbors — now an inseparable part of the Cerritos and Artesia community.

This home was never built by any one person alone. It has been built by someone willing to arrive early and set up tables and chairs; someone standing at the front leading a song; someone serving a warm, home-cooked meal; someone helping seniors through exercise and games; someone showing up faithfully, rain or shine, week after week; and someone who never stands at the front, yet has quietly prayed, given, and supported behind the scenes for years. One pair of hands can only do so much — but twenty-two years of countless hands, joined together, have made a home.

This year, that home has reached an important turning point. After serving our community from our current location for thirteen years, we have learned that the entire floor — including our space and the unit next door — has been leased to another company, and we will not be able to renew our lease.

Thirteen years is more than an address. It holds so many familiar scenes: seniors greeting one another as they arrive each morning, voices rising together in song, focused faces during exercise, tears and laughter as life stories are shared, and volunteers moving busily in and out, again and again. So leaving is not easy.

But we are also deeply grateful. Even as we must move, God has already prepared a new home for Harvest Haven in Artesia. The new space is currently being renovated, with the goal of shaping it into a place suited for senior activities and community programs.

We believe a home’s meaning was never tied to a single address. As long as people remain, love remains, and hearts committed to serving remain, Harvest Haven’s story will keep being written.

Building Our New Home Together

This move brings very real challenges. The new space is smaller, yet the rent is higher. We also face costs for relocation, interior renovation, signage, and moving and reinstalling equipment. This is one of the most challenging years since Harvest Haven’s founding, and we are launching a relocation fundraising campaign, hoping to bring everyone’s strength together to ease this financial burden. Sponsorship Levels:  Diamond – $7,000  |  Platinum – $4,000  |  Gold – $2,000  |  Silver – $1,000. Whatever the amount, every gift is treasured and deeply appreciated, and all donations are tax-deductible.

A Sister’s Story: Mrs. Lily Tom

Throughout Harvest Haven’s twenty-two years of ministry, what we treasure most has never been how many events we’ve held, but the individual life stories we’ve witnessed through companionship. Mrs. Lily Tom is one of them.

Those who know her know she has a gift for craftwork — in years past, she taught many of us at Harvest Haven how to make all kinds of handcrafted items. After turning ninety, she laughingly says she’s chosen to become a homebody, no longer going out often, though she still faithfully joins our Monday morning video gatherings. She also has a signature line that never fails to make everyone smile: “Everyone else has black hair — I’m the only one who’s gone all white!”

But at a recent video gathering, what we saw instead were Mrs. Tom’s tears. Through sobs, she told us her son, hospitalized for months, was not doing well. Three days later, he went home to be with the Lord. Losing a child is an unspeakable pain, no matter one’s age.

The following Monday, several of us went to visit Mrs. Tom in person. Living alone now, she carries longing and grief, of course — but what moved us was the steadiness she still held within her sorrow. She knows the God she believes in is still present. She knows whose hands hold her life, and whose hands hold tomorrow. We are also grateful that her younger son lives nearby and, together with his wife, cares for his mother — so that even after this loss, she is not without family close by.

Mrs. Tom’s story is also a reminder: our community holds many seniors living alone, who may be quietly facing loneliness, illness, or loss that we don’t see. What they need isn’t always something grand — sometimes it’s a phone call, a visit, or simply someone willing to sit and listen. If you know a senior living alone who could use care or a visit, please reach out to the Harvest Haven office. Our volunteer team can help arrange a visit, and we’d also love for you to invite them to join our programs. Sometimes, one introduction is all it takes to give a lonely senior a few new friends — and a home to come back to.

We also want to say a heartfelt thank-you to a few seniors who have shown up, rain or shine, for years. Mrs. Kang and Mrs. Hoei Ion Hsu rarely ever miss a Thursday. And Mrs. Tsai has been attending Harvest Haven since 2007 and continues to join us to this day. This year, she just celebrated her 100th birthday — and she and her daughter are both lifetime members of Harvest Haven. From 2007 to 2026, that’s nearly twenty years. Coming once isn’t hard; what’s rare is choosing, year after year, to keep coming back. They may not think of themselves as “serving,” but this long faithfulness is, in itself, a quiet form of devotion — because a home isn’t built only by those willing to give, but also by those willing to keep returning. Thank you to everyone who has walked alongside Harvest Haven through all these years.

New Bible Study Class Begins August 20

Harvest Haven’s care for seniors has never been only about activities, friendships, and laughter. We also hope that, in every season of life, everyone has the chance to grow deeper in faith and discover the hope that never changes.

Starting Thursday, August 20, Harvest Haven will launch a new Bible study class, meeting every Thursday from 1:00–2:30 PM. Friends attending the Thursday Mandarin Seniors Fellowship are warmly invited to stay afterward; those who don’t normally attend but simply wish to learn more about Scripture are equally welcome to come specifically for this class. Harvest Haven’s Bible study is open to everyone.

The class will be jointly led by local pastors. We’re glad to welcome Pastor Eric Lo (羅尚仁牧師) to teach the first session. Pastor Luo is a veteran pastor within the Southern California Chinese church community, having served for many years as the Mandarin pastor at First Evangelical Community Church. Future sessions will also welcome faculty and students from Biola University to join in leading. This is a new beginning — please keep this class in your prayers, and feel free to invite friends who are curious about Scripture and faith.

Christian Singles Gathering

Following the warm response to past singles events, Harvest Haven will once again host a Christian singles gathering. We hope to offer a natural, relaxed, low-pressure space where single friends can get to know one another, share their faith and lives, and build meaningful friendships through honest connection. Feel free to pass this along to single friends who might be a good fit.

August 26–29  |  Harvest Haven Charity Sale

The charity sale everyone looks forward to is back! We warmly welcome donations of gently used small furniture, household items, kitchenware, home décor, artwork, gifts, and new or well-kept daily necessities. Beyond donating items, you’re also welcome to volunteer — helping sort, organize, and display items, or lending a hand during the sale itself. If your schedule doesn’t allow for that, simply spreading the word to friends and family helps too. Donating one item, giving a few hours, inviting one friend — each small action adds up to support Harvest Haven’s continued work in the community.

Every Season Is Home

This August, we find ourselves both learning to say goodbye and preparing for a new beginning.

We are saying goodbye to a place we’ve called home for thirteen years, even as we prepare to welcome a new home in Artesia. We see loss in life, and we see the steadiness that faith brings. We give thanks for those who have faithfully walked alongside us for years, and we look forward to new volunteers, new friends, a new Bible study, and new stories joining Harvest Haven. Moving will change our address. Time will change each of our ages, too. But we hope some things never change:

When someone needs company, we will still choose to draw near.

When someone needs help, we will still choose to reach out.

When someone feels alone, there will still be a door open for them here.

And when Harvest Haven needs all of us, we will still choose to stand together.

Twenty-two years ago, Harvest Haven began from something small, and has carried us to today. We will keep walking the next stretch of the road together — because a true home is never just a place, but a group of people willing to walk alongside one another.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

— Colossians 3:23

With gratitude, and with hope,

Harvest Haven Community Service Center 

August Cantonese Seniors Gathering Schedule

Every Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

DateSpeakerTopic
8/5KathyHarvest Haven Outing: Huntington Library
8/12Ken LawKen Law
8/18Dr. Antony WongMissions Sharing
8/26Gloria / SandiePastoral Message

Mandarin Seniors Gathering

Every Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

DateSpeakerTopic
8/6KathyHarvest Haven Outing: Huntington Library
8/13Dr. YangDental Health
8/20Kathy“Meeting You Today”
8/27BeckyCasual Conversations

Special reminder: Bible study officially begins August 20, 1:00–2:30 PM

喜禾社區服務中心  喜禾通訊

2026年8月

感恩的手・忠心的心・每個季節都是家

親愛的喜禾家人：

二十二年，可以累積多少故事？對喜禾來說，是一首又一首一起唱過的歌，是一頓又一頓帶著笑聲分享的午餐，是每個星期熟悉的問候，也是許多人在人生不同階段裡，曾經在這裡得到的一份陪伴。二十二年來，喜禾從後院的小屋，慢慢成為許多長者、新移民和家庭心中的「第二個家」。喜禾已經成為這個Cerritos and Artesia 城市社區不可缺少的一部份。

這個家是靠大家一起建立起來的。是有人願意早一點來，把桌椅準備好；有人站在前面帶大家唱一首歌；有人端出一份熱騰騰的愛餐；有人陪長者做運動、玩遊戲；有人不論天晴下雨，仍然每星期準時出現；也有人從不站在台前，卻多年來在背後默默禱告、奉獻和支持。一雙手，也許能做的有限；但二十二年來，無數雙手放在一起，就成了一個家。

而今年，這個家正走到一個重要的轉折點。在目前的會址服務社區十三年後，我們得知現址及隔壁單位所在的整層空間，已出租給另一家公司，因此喜禾將無法繼續承租。但我們也深深感恩。在必須搬遷的同時，神已經為喜禾預備了位於 Artesia 的新會址。目前，新場地正在進行整修，希望能調整成適合長者活動與各項社區服務的空間。我們相信，家的意義從來不只在一個地址。只要人還在、愛還在、服事的心還在，喜禾的故事就會繼續寫下去。

新家需要大家一起成全，搬遷也帶來非常實際的挑戰。新場地雖然比現在小，租金卻更高；此外，我們還需要負擔搬遷、室內裝修、招牌製作，以及各項設備搬運、重新安裝等費用。這是喜禾成立以來極具挑戰的一年。因此，我們正在展開搬遷募款，盼望集合大家的力量，一起減輕新家的財務負擔。搬遷贊助方案：鑽石贊助｜$7,000 ；白金贊助｜$4,000；黃金贊助｜$2,000；白銀贊助｜$1,000 。 無論金額多少，每一份奉獻，我們都同樣珍惜與感恩；捐款亦可依法抵稅。詳情請看Newsletter 後面的籌款信。

在喜禾二十二年的服事裡，我們最珍惜的，始終不是辦了多少場活動，而是在人與人的陪伴中，看見一個又一個生命的故事。譚太太 Lily Tom，就是其中一位。熟悉她的人都知道，譚太太有一雙巧手。以前，她曾在喜禾教大家製作各式各樣的手工藝品。年過九旬後，她笑說自己選擇當「宅女」，不常出門了，卻仍經常參加星期一早上的視訊聚會。她還有一句招牌名言，每次說起來都讓大家忍不住笑：「眾人皆黑，我獨白——頭髮！」然而，最近一次視訊聚會裡，我們看見的是譚太太的眼淚。她泣不成聲地告訴大家，住院數月的兒子情況已經不太好。三天後，兒子安息主懷。失去孩子，無論一個人到了甚麼年紀，都是難以言喻的痛。接下來的星期一，我們前往探望譚太太。如今獨居的她，心裡當然有思念、有不捨；但令我們感動的是，在悲傷裡，她仍然有一份安穩。因為她知道，她所相信的上帝仍然在。她知道生命在誰的手中，也知道明天在誰的手中。我們也為她感恩——譚太太的小兒子就住在附近，與太太一起照顧媽媽，讓她在失去之後仍有家人的陪伴。譚太太的故事也提醒我們：社區裡，還有許多獨居長者，也許正在經歷我們不知道的孤單、疾病或失去。有時候，他們需要的未必是一件多大的事情，而是一通電話、一次探訪、一個願意坐下來聽他們說話的人。如果您身邊有需要關懷或探訪的獨居長者，歡迎與喜禾辦公室聯絡。我們的義工團隊會協助安排探訪，也歡迎您介紹長者參加喜禾的各項活動。也許您的一個介紹，就能讓一位原本孤單的長者，多認識幾位朋友，也多了一個可以回來的「家」。

康媽、許林蕙媛幾乎每週必到；而蔡媽從 2007年 開始參加喜禾，一直到今天仍然持續參與。今年，她剛剛慶祝了人生的 100歲生日，母女二人也都是喜禾的永久會員。從2007年到2026年，將近二十年的時間。一個人願意來一次並不困難；難得的是，年復一年，仍然選擇回來。她們未必會說自己是在「服事」，但這份長久的出席與支持，本身就是一種忠心。因為一個家的形成，不只是有人願意付出，也是因為有人一直願意回來。謝謝所有多年來陪著喜禾走到今天的人。

喜禾陪伴長者，不只是希望大家有活動、有朋友、有笑聲；我們也盼望，在人生不同的季節裡，每個人都有機會更深地認識信仰，找到生命裡真正不會改變的盼望。因此，從 8月20日（星期四） 開始，喜禾將開設新的查經班。時間：每週四 下午1:00–2:30。 星期四國語長者週會結束後，有時間的朋友歡迎留下來一起參加；平日沒有參加國語長者活動、但希望認識聖經的朋友，也非常歡迎專程前來。喜禾查經班對所有人開放。 查經班將由本地牧者聯合帶領。第一課我們很高興邀請到 羅尚仁牧師（Pastor Eric Luo） 主講。羅牧師是南加州華人教會資深牧者，曾長期在喜瑞都羅省基督教會（First Evangelical Community Church）擔任國語堂牧師。後續課程也預計邀請 Biola University 的師生共同參與服事。這是一項新的開始。懇請大家為查經班禱告，也邀請身邊對聖經與信仰有興趣的朋友一起來。

8月15日｜基督徒單身聯誼

延續過往單身活動的熱烈迴響，喜禾將再次舉辦基督徒單身聯誼活動。我們希望提供一個自然、輕鬆、不帶壓力的環境，讓單身朋友有機會認識彼此、分享信仰與生活，在真誠的交流中建立有意義的友誼。也歡迎您把消息分享給身邊合適的單身朋友。

8月26–29日｜喜禾慈善義賣

大家期待的喜禾慈善義賣又回來了！我們誠摯邀請大家捐贈狀況良好的：小型家具、家居用品、廚房用品、家飾擺設、藝術品、禮品，以及全新或保存良好的日常生活用品。除了捐贈物資，也歡迎您成為義賣義工，協助物品分類、整理、陳列，或在義賣期間到場幫忙。如果時間上無法參與，也可以把義賣消息轉告親朋好友。捐一件物品、幫幾個小時、邀請一位朋友——每一個小小的行動，最後都會成為支持喜禾繼續服務社區的一份力量。

每個季節，都是家

這個八月，我們一方面在學習告別，一方面也在預備開始。

我們即將要告別一個使用了十三年的地方，卻也即將迎接 Artesia 的新家；我們看見生命有失去，也看見信仰帶來安穩；我們感謝那些多年來一直忠心陪伴的人，也期待新的義工、新的朋友、新的查經班，以及新的故事加入喜禾。搬家，會改變我們的地址。時間，也會改變我們每一個人的年歲。但我們盼望，有些事情不會改變——

有人需要陪伴時，我們仍然願意走近；
有人需要幫助時，我們仍然願意伸手；
有人感到孤單時，這裡仍然有一扇門為他打開；
而當喜禾需要大家時，我們也仍然願意彼此扶持。

二十二年前，喜禾從一個小小的開始走到今天。下一段路，我們仍然一起走。因為真正的家，不只是一個地方，而是一群願意彼此陪伴的人。「無論做甚麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的。」 ——歌羅西書 3:23

帶著感恩，也帶著期待，

喜禾社區服務中心 敬上

八月粵語長者週會時間表

每週三｜上午10:00 – 中午12:00

日期講員主題
8/6Kathy郊遊活動：Huntington Library
8/12Ken Law聖經分享
8/19Dr. Antony Wong                 宣教分享               
8/26Gloria / Sandie

 八月國語長者週會時間表

每週四｜上午10:00 – 中午12:00

日期講員主題
8/6Kathy喜禾郊遊活動：Huntington Library
8/13楊醫師牙齒健康
8/20Kathy今天遇見你
8/27Becky天南海北話家常

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