Merry Christmas from the Harlows

Well this is it – the big weekend. Thousands of people have made e-reservations and it looks like everything will pull off in our six services. If you haven’t yet decided it looks like the first three will be fuller than the last three services. Sunday at 7 and both on Monday have the most room, but just come whenever you can. Every service has room still since we are doing so many.
Did you know we gathered 7 tons of clothing for the homeless last weekend? We are…Parkview.

Please pray for the services this weekend. So many things happen in people’s lives during these special services. People will be in heaven some day because of what goes on in the next three days!

Hey, since I can’t put all of you on the Christmas card list – I thought I’d just share the Christmas letter and picture that we are (maybe) sending out (okay for New Years). Lauren, middle child wrote the letter this year, in case you couldn’t tell…

Merry Christmas from the Harlows!

We proudly report the blessed year we experienced here at the casa de Harlow, with little Becca, wonderful Lauren, and good old Rachel inspiring great pride and joy to their humbled parents (no the middle child isn’t writing this…).

In all seriousness, we are proud to report that Papa Harlow successfully defeated the midlife crisis stage of Harleys, and is concentrating his adventuresome nature to help Parkview bring the good news of Jesus to the burbs. He leads the church with as much vigor as ever before, and as it continues to grow - evidence of his leadership is apparent. He also ventured to Africa, Ecuador, and Cuba trying to help PCC grab a hold of global responsibility. Not only has Tim kept up at work, but at home this year with him and Denise has been truly blessed. They love each other.

Denise, slaving alongside her beloved man, develops the worship program at church to reach potential it’s never seen before. Her love for her daughters and encouragement means the world to them, even though they sometimes jocularly tease her for her Hallmark Christmas movies and her mountain of Christmas décor meant only for the Santa himself.

The oldest daughter, responsible for the sometimes mental lapses of her all too patient parents, has made life for the Harlows most enjoyable and interesting. Rachel’s recent interest in the Hillbilly community of Nashville is the thorn in her father’s side, but the lack of country twang in the beautiful music she’s written this year has made up for it.

Her parents and friends are sending her to England for the spring semester (6 months actually) to do mission\campus ministry amongst Europeans at the University of Birmingham. She was also in Africa this past year on a mission’s trip with her college.

As for the middle daughter, she is basking in the best of both worlds as she keeps up with her sister’s travels, as she went to the Czech Republic this summer, and experiences high school along side the young’n. She thoroughly enjoys emphasizing that her troubles with the Lincoln-Way of East are almost over (to her freshman sister of course). This past outstanding Madrigal season meant the world to her as she got to sing with Becca in the program, just like she had started with Rachel. College is in sight for Lauren, where she will go, nobody knows! She likes to keep her parents on their toes…

Becca, the perfect daughter, so she says, wants to note that once the two oldest have left the nest, she will restore peace throughout the land. Her adjustment into her high school world of Black and Blue has been painless, as she made Madrigals and has too many friends, extending to the ones she made on her Mexico missions trip. Her meticulous schedule of who she walks with to what class shows how loved she is, and the constant text-message alert on her phone is the bane of her family. Nonetheless she brings her patient family great joy with every smile.

Altogether the band of Harlows, keeping busy loving each other, wish to extend warm holiday wishes to everyone and their mother.

Comments

[Lisa]

Thank you and Merry Christmas to all of the Harlows!! Very well written letter Lauren - couldn't tell that it was you at all unless your Dad told us ;) Love ya and God bless.

[JOHN OTT]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE HARLOWS!!!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!! YOU ALL HAVE TOUCHED SOOO MANY HEARTS.......MAY GOD KEEP AND BLESS YOU ALWAYS.......

[Eric]

Lauren you definitely share your dad's gift of keeping people interested in what you're saying. This is the most articulate and fascinating Christmas letter I've ever read. Merry Christmas to the Harlow family. You're such an awesome family to be leading our church. It's such a blessing to be part of Parkview.

[Paula]

Merry Christmas to the Harlows!
Lauren, I remember your letter from the Czech Republic...and Rachel's about Africa...now we just need one from Becca too, the writing talent seems to run in the family :)

[We Are...Penn State]

Lauren, it was pleasure to hear you sing on Monday night.

Tim & Denise, thanks for helping to put together an awesome service. The music, the drama, the message...Wow!

I was there for all six services. Exhausting, but it's rewarding to help bring “good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people” of the Southwest Suburbs...and beyond.

My wife and I relaxed last night with Willow Creek's television broadcast of "Imagine Christmas." (Picture a Christian version of Cirque du Soleil.)

It was spectacular and the production values were very high, as one would expect. I commented, "Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer the traditional Christmas Eve services we have at Parkview." We both got a hearty laugh at the idea of Parkview being "traditional worship."

It's late, so Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

[Debbie H.]

I attended two Christmas Eve services. I'm always amazed at how the worship team and Pastor Tim presents each service with as much vigor as the first one. Thanks for all that Parkview does to bring the Good News to all...
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.