Dear Harbor Light Christian School Family,

Happy 2023! With the new year, there is a new wave of excitement here at Harbor Light Christian School. The Solid Rock Center is now officially open, and with it comes a series of lasts and firsts.

We had our last game in the old gym and our final chair set up on Thursday, January 5th. It was bittersweet to see our old bleachers filled one last time as we faced off against NMCA for one last competition. The picture above is from the final seconds of our final game. HLCS shared over 35 years of wins and losses, lessons and hardships, blood, sweat, and tears in this space. While we know we will have future events in the sanctuary, no longer having to tear down and set up weekly is a great feeling!

When we returned from Christmas break, we held our first science, art, music, and gym classes in the SRC. Students and teachers are adjusting to the new space and loving it! We have also transitioned to serving lunch in the Solid Rock Center cafeteria. The fold-out tables allow more space for students to sit, and students relish being able to sit in one of the few booths available. The new kitchen is not quite ready to cook and serve food, but we anticipate being up and running by the end of the month. Before Christmas break, we held our first sports practices in the Solid Rock Center. Last Saturday, we hosted our first elementary basketball game, and this Thursday, we invite you to join us for the first varsity games. It promises to be a fun night as we host Cadillac Heritage.

As we enter the adventures this new space brings, I am reminded of two verses; first, Matthew 6: 19-21 reminds us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The Solid Rock Center is beautiful and wonderful; it is a gift from above. But it is not our treasure; it is just a building, a home where doors will be opened to sharing about Jesus and his great love for us with even more people, including students at HLCS, visitors at a sporting event, or a church gathering.

We desire for the building to be used for God’s purposes to bring glory and honor to his name. The second verse is Colossians 3:23-24 which tells us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord, you’ll receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” With more space at HLCS to do ministry come more work to do. I want to encourage you, if you are part of the team who helps work, volunteer, and serve, or if you attend a game or help clean up after one, be reminded that we are taking care of a gift from God. We all want to be the best stewards of this space that we possibly can be.

In closing, so many individuals and families came together to help get HLCS across the finish line to open the Solid Rock Center. On behalf of the full Harbor Light Community, please accept my heartfelt gratitude. Your contributions, service, and sacrifice will make an eternal impact for generations to come. We are especially grateful to the Jakeway family, without whom any of this would be possible. Please join me in praying for God’s mercy, grace, and love to abound in the hearts and minds of all those involved.

Please join us Saturday, February 11, 2023, from 3-5 pm as we officially dedicate this building to the Lord and His service.

• Please confirm events prior to attending
• "vs." indicates the game will be played at home.
• "@" indicates the game will be played at the opposing team's school.

January

17- Varsity Basketball @ Maplewood (Girls 5:30 pm, Boys 7 pm)

19- *First Official Game in the SRC* Varsity Basketball vs. Heritage Christian (Girls 5 pm, Boys 6:30 pm)

20- JV/Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Pellston (5:30 pm)

21- Elementary Basketball @ Mackinaw City (10 am)

23- Girls Basketball @ Alba (5:30 pm)

24- Girls Basketball vs. Mackinaw City (5:30 pm)

26- Girls Basketball vs. Ellsworth (5:30 pm)

27- Boys Basketball @ Ellsworth (5:30 pm)

28- Elementary Basketball @ HLCS (10 am)

30- Girls Basketball vs. Wolverine (5:30 pm)

31- Boys Basketball vs. Wolverine (5:30 pm)

Please click HERE for the school calendar which is updated as needed.

This month's review is from Brook Bachelor, mom of 1st grader, Jackson.

Over Christmas break I read M is for Mama: A Rebellion Against Mediocre Motherhood by Abbie Halberstadt and I cannot recommend it enough. Abbie is a mother of 10 and gives such a positive light to motherhood in a way we don't often see in today's world, which glamorizes being a mediocre mother. She encourages you to aspire to be a Christlike mother with each chapter touching on a different topic, but all relating back to Biblical parenting. In her words, the Bible "is not just theoretical, but is rich and nuanced in its practicality as well."

I love that she gives reference to specific Bible verses often throughout the book. I find myself writing down the verses to go back and reference later when I am reading my Bible. At the end of each chapter, she provides a review that gives examples related to that chapter of what a Mediocre Mother does or looks like and compares it to Christlike Motherhood. She also gives you action steps, questions to ask yourself, and a prayer for each chapter.

As a mother of 10, she has children of a variety of ages and speaks to parenting topics for all ages and stages of motherhood. She encourages parents to go against the grain of modern society if we want to train our children to be true followers of Christ, even if that means taking the more difficult path. This may look like not allowing our children to have access to certain media which does not exemplify behaviors or language we wish our children to emulate, speaking with our children at an appropriate age about sex in the way that the Lord intended, or not allowing ourselves to fall victim to the idea of self-care vs soul-care.

While none of what she recommends is the easy road, it is said best in the book of Matthew, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). I would encourage every mom (or dad) who feels convicted to train their children to follow the Lord and behave in a way that exemplifies being a follower of Christ to read this book.

I attended Harbor Light Christian School from Kindergarten all the way through my senior year. I am the youngest of 4 girls. Our dad was on staff at Harbor Light Community Chapel, so we spent the majority of our time growing up within the walls of the school/church. After

graduating high school, I did two years of classes at NCMC where I studied Small Business Management. During my time at NCMC I got a job as an assistant to an orthodontist, where I remained working until I had my first baby and became a stay-at-home mom. My husband, Joe Lucier, grew up here in Alanson only a few miles from me, although we never knew each other until we met at Pastor Gary and Lisa Kay’s house in December of 2009. Six weeks after we met, we got engaged; and a short 3 months later, we were married! From the very beginning, we chose to make Christ the center of our relationship and He has blessed

our marriage tremendously for the past 13 years.

We now have 4 children who all attend Harbor Light Christian School. Judah (11) is in 6th grade, Sara (10) is 4th grade, James (8) is in 2nd Grade, and Reid (6) is in Kindergarten. It is so fun that Judah gets to experience having Mrs. Kruger as his teacher. She was also my teacher when I was in 3rd grade. She is and always has been a fabulous teacher! I currently serve on the HLCS Board of Education and work part time as the Worship Arts Administrator for HLCC. Joe and I, also own a construction business called Waterfront Property Management and Builders, Inc. We have seen God’s faithfulness over and over again as he has provided us with everything that we need in his perfect timing, whether it be employees, job opportunities, vision, growth, housing, etc.

As I look back over the years, I am so thankful for the Biblical foundation that Harbor Light Christian School has provided me with. It is such a blessing to have the scriptures and truth engrained in my thoughts and memory, so that I can recognize truth because I have the

Word hidden in my heart. It is so rewarding to now be teaching and memorizing those same scriptures with my kids and to know the blessing that it will be to them.