In The Spirit

-- Michele Marr

* Address: 1055 El Camino Drive, Costa Mesa. Worship services are held

at Costa Mesa High School, 2650 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. A map is

available at the Palm Harvest Web site.

* Telephone: (714) 751-5397

* Web site: www.PalmHarvest.org

* Year church established: October 2001

* Service times: Sunday worship is at 10 a.m.

* Senior pastor: Michael Decker

* Pastoral staff: Diane Chavez, ministry coach; Robin Decker, worship

leader and office manager

* Size of congregation: 60

* Makeup of congregation: Primarily young, professional couples,

families with school-age children and parents with grown children and

young grandchildren

* Child care: Provided for infants, toddlers and preschool-age

children. Parents are welcome to bring children of all ages into the

worship service with them. The congregation feels it is important that

kids know they are valued and loved.

* Type of worship: Contemporary and upbeat. A worship band leads the

service, which includes song, prayer, a pastoral blessing of the

children, testimony and a pastoral message.

* Children’s church: School-age children attend worship with their

families until after the blessing of the children. Following the

blessing, they are dismissed to attend Children’s Church, where children

meet in age-appropriate groups.

* Type of sermon: It is Bible-based with a life application. The topic

may be drawn from the scriptural themes of the children’s Sunday school

curriculum or address particular spiritual and practical needs of

congregation.

* Recent sermons: Decker is giving a series of sermons titled “A

Blueprint for Marriage.” Recent sermons include “Characteristics of a

True Friend,” “Help for Facing Challenges,” “Germs that Ruin a Marriage”

and “How to Build Up Your Mate.” Audio files of Sunday sermons are

available free on the Palm Harvest Web site.

* Upcoming sermons: The series, “A Blueprint for Marriage,” will

continue with “Great Sex Begins with...” “Affair Safeguards and Pitfalls”

and “Looking Ahead with Enthusiasm.”

* Visitors’ welcome: After the worship service, members meet around

coffee and pastries. The atmosphere is low-key, designed to make it easy

for members and visitors to get to know each other better. Visitors are

invited to join in to whatever degree they are comfortable.

* Dress: Casual

* Mission statement: “Loving God. Loving others”

* Vision statement: “We exist to build bridges to people in our

community through service.”

* Church programs: Members meet during the week for Bible study in

small groups of five to 10 people called “Impact Groups.” Decker trains

the group leaders, but at the same time they have the flexibility to

address specific needs of members in their small groups.

* Outreach programs: Once a quarter, the congregation’s children and

youth participate in a project to show appreciation to the city’s police

officers and firefighters. They have taken home-baked Christmas cookies

and chili to the police station and fire department. They are now

planning a “Sundaes on Saturday” event.

One Sunday each quarter is Family and Friends Day. The next one, a

barbecue and baptism event, will be held on June 30 at the beach in

Corona del Mar.

* Interesting notes: Pastor Decker describes Palm Harvest as “a church

for people who have given up on church.”