Celebrating 99 Years of Life!

Harbor honors Rhoda Watson's 99th birthday

On Sunday, February 23, our sanctuary looked a lot more festive! Members entered to see pink lights and balloons splashed across the stage, people dressed in furs, sequins, satins, and tables set with flowers ready for a celebration. It only took glancing up at the screen to know who and what this special day was for - long-time member and Elder Emeritus Rhoda Watson turned 99 years young!

Rhoda Watson with Pastor Janette J. Navarrete

Anyone involved with Harbor will know Rhoda. She often calls herself, "the old lady of the church" but to our community she is a treasure. Many have been blessed, moved, tickled, and inspired by her words of wisdom freely shared in all spaces of our community. Rhoda has led Tuesday morning Bible Studies for the past XX years in partnership with Pastor Sadie and often shares personal reflections during Sunday worship, touching every heart from our youngest to our second eldest.

To show our love and appreciation, members were invited to dress in their "Rhoda" best for Sunday worship. Also being our reigning fashionista, the bar was set high to do her justice but our community did not disappoint! Rhoda's family also attended decked out in full sequins, matching our birthday queen. See some of Rhoda's fashion highlights over the years below!

Everyone stayed after worship to enjoy special Sunday punch, treats and Rhoda's favorite guilty pleasure food - hot dogs! It is rare for someone to reach this stage of life at all and even more rare to meet it with so much love remaining for it. Minister of Sacred Arts Lauren Graham has often said over the years, "I want to be Rhoda when I grow up," and many of our community feels the same. We are blessed to have such a shining example of a life well-lived. May we all be so lucky to experience the same! Thank you Rhoda for your living ministry!

Special Thanks to: