April 18, 2008

Dear Friends and supporting churches:

Warm welcomes and fond farewells are a blessing. This year’s Presbyterian Church of Singapore Synod was our last time to cherish the fun, the struggles, the achievements, and the friendships that 11 years of ministry in Singapore have afforded. Face after face of students, deacons and elders, pastors, and co-workers brought to mind the grace and growth we’ve experienced in Singapore. That night was just the beginning of last meetings, last class parties, last worship services, and last meals that fill our calendar from now until June, when we board the plane for England and Oxford and the ministry that awaits us there.

Between farewell meals, however, papers must be sorted, books boxed, and stuff sorted, as each object faces the inexorable judgment: “to go or not to go.” Meanwhile graduation nears, publishers await, students inquire, Oxford beckons, and newsletters beg.

Tom teaching at the Temple Mount during TTC's annual tour to Israel .

In the midst of the bustle there is joy. In October, Trinity Theological College selected Tom to lead their annual tour to Israel to provide theological and historical background to the various sites, lead worship, and serve Communion at the Sea of Galilee and the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. This experience informed Tom’s Holy Week series at TTC. The series approached Holy Week through the physical and spiritual senses. In word, action, object, art, and even perfumed oil the immediacy of the Christ’s last days and death were evoked. Flowing from research and writing on the sanctification of the senses, the approach was well received in general and by the Chinese students in particular, who remarked that the terse images, sound, and scent brought the story to life in ways similar to classical Chinese verse.

Judy gave her last lecture for Christian Bible Study International this past week. She continues to teach with National University of Singapore Extension and is busy putting together all the paperwork involved with our move.

Emme made up as the Queen Mother for "Cinderella the Musical."

Emma is having a great last year at the American School. She played the Queen Mother in “Cinderella the Musical.” It was so popular you had to be at the theatre when the doors opened to get a seat, and they had to close the doors and turn people away every night.

Joe was chosen to do a research internship this summer with Davidson College. He has been involved this year in historical research on the civil rights movement of the twentieth century, and the internship will expand on it.

The Harvey family is preparing to move to Oxford, England, in May 2008.

Paul has been earning extra money shoveling snow at Wheaton College this winter. With all the snow that’s fallen this year it has been a pretty regular job, but he is definitely ready for spring and summer. He will again be working at the camp he worked at last summer near Montreat, North Carolina.

As for Oxford, things are moving along steadily. Tom leaves May 27 to take part in the annual board meeting and join in OCMS’s 25th anniversary celebration on June 12. Judy and Emma will be following once Emma finishes school.

At Oxford Center for Mission Studies, Tom and Judy continue as appointed PC(USA) mission co-workers. Tom will be associate academic dean and serve as a research tutor (what the English call a professor) who guides, teaches, and mentors students writing their theses.

As we move from Singapore to Oxford, we are again overwhelmed and blessed by the prayers, fellowship, generosity, and love that you have showered upon us. We know that the work that we have been called to do is simply the extension of the love of God that you send through us. We are deeply moved and honored to serve in this way.

Blessings,

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 97

How to support the Harveys

Individuals should direct their contributions to the ECO (Extra Commitment Opportunity) account that supports us. Write our names and the ECO number (E200357) on the subject line of the check and send it to

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

or to give online, click the "give" button below.

Churches and presbyteries should give to our Directed Mission Support account, D506421. Put our names and account number on the check and send it to your normal receiving site or

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Church Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643678
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3678