Service Times and Location

We gather for corporate worship every Sunday at 10:00 am at our building in downtown Renton (316 S 3rd St). Children's Ministry is available. Parking is available on the street in front of the building, across the street in the S. 3rd St. Professional Building and Lee’s Martial Arts parking lots, and in our rear parking lot behind the building.

Sunday Service Guide

New to Harambee and trying to learn the ropes? We've compiled this guide to help walk you through our corporate worship gatherings on Sundays. You can also pick one up on Sundays at the info table at the front entrance.

Why meet together for church?
We gather together on Sundays to worship God corporately, be encouraged by each other and hearing the word of God, equipped for ministry, and then are scattered once again into the world to help build the kingdom of God one person at a time.

Where do I drop off my kids?
We believe our children are as much ministers of the gospel as we ourselves are. As such, we seek to pray for them, equip them and train them in God’s Word, so that they can share in the work of the Gospel.

• Birth To 5 Years Of Age - There is childcare available for children ages birth to 5 years old at 9:45 am prior to the beginning of service. Children from birth to 5 years old must be checked in to their classes at the reception desk near the front entry of the building before the service begins. The check-in person will be able to direct you to the appropriate classroom.

• 1st Through 8th Grade: 1st through 8th graders are dismissed during service prior to the beginning of the sermon to attend their classes. Classes for 6th to 8th graders occur every other week.

How is the service structured?
Harambee uses a Liturgical Format for our Corporate Worship. Liturgy is an ancient worship style used by the early church that teaches the theology of the church and involves all of the corporate gathering. Our Liturgy involves the following components:

• Prayers, Poetry, and Testimonies – Members of the Harambee body will lead us in various prayers for those that suffer in the world, for forgiveness from our sins, or as we thank God for the many blessings he has given us. We may also be led in worship through poetry or prose. Listen carefully for how you can respond in worship together with the rest of the Harambee body.

• Songs – We believe God is at work redeeming all of the cultures of the world and seek to reflect the new work God is doing in the South End in our music. As such, most of our songs are either written by us or by one of our sister churches. We believe that singing can be fun as well as serious – have fun and relax as you are learning the great new songs that our worship leaders are writing!

• Preaching Of The Word - A healthy church opens up the Bible and expounds its truths in order to build a foundation for knowing God and responding to His love. We primarily go verse by verse through books of the Bible (oftentimes alternating between Old & New Testament) to gain a broader understanding of God’s entire story. Occasionally, though, we will study topical subjects that are essential for the health of the body

• Creed – New and ancient creeds help us remember the basics of the Christian faith, and the fact that we are united together in belief with the universal and historical church.

• Communion - Communion is one of two visual sermons that God has instituted for the church. Communion, along with baptism, tells the story of God’s grace for His people. He died on the cross for our sins, and baptizes us with the Holy Spirit in order to cleanse us and make us whole in Him. If you are not a believer, we ask that you come to know Jesus first, because apart from Him and His work, this ceremony won’t make sense.

• Celebration – The Biblical story of redemption ends with the biggest party mankind has ever known. Likewise, we end our services with a loud, rowdy time of singing in celebration of God’s triumph over evil and our eternal delight in His glory. Feel free to dance, raise your hands, sing loud and off-key, go and get your children and celebrate! Once a month, our worship during this time will be centered around a service project (see Service is Worship section below).

• Giving – As part of our time of worship and celebration we recognize God as the provider of all things, and as managers of the resources he has entrusted us with, we give cheerfully and sacrificially so that the gospel may continue to advance, and God is glorified. If you’re a guest with us, please don’t feel obligated to give. We’re just glad to have you with us.

• Benediction: We have God’s peace in His Son. We end our time of corporate worship with both a reminder of our new-found peace in Christ and a charge to continue our worship and complete our mission in the world throughout the week.

Where do I go if I have questions or want to find out more about Harambee?

• Welcome Cards: Please fill out one of our Welcome Cards (available in your sermon notes or on the front counter of the reception area), turn it into one of the offering baskets or the giving box at the top of the stairs, and someone will follow up with you.

• Our People: Talk to someone after service (most folks are pretty friendly), or if you’re shy you can also try…

• Intro To Harambee: Attend the Intro to Harambee Class, which is offered every couple months and explains who we are, why we’re here, what we believe and how we go about it, and answers whatever questions you may have. If you're interested, please check the Calendar section of the website, or contact Bryan Nelson (bryan@harambeechurch.com, 425.271.6700).

• Drop Us A Line: You may call the office (425.271.6700) or e-mail info@harambeechurch.com

Service is Worship

What Is It?
Once a month, we join together to sacrificially serve our community as part of our worship together on Sundays.

The Bible shows us that worship is more than just singing or raising our hands. Worship is how Paul describes the whole life of the believer. All of our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions – in short, our bodies themselves, are to be given joyfully as a sacrifice to God in thanks for what He has done for us (Rom 12:1-2).

God defines for us what a life of worship looks like in the Bible. An essential part of that life of worship is serving others ().

As such, once a month, we respond corporately to the message of Gospel in worship by serving our community. These Service Is Worship Events take place after the preaching of the word as part of our regular worship service.

Here’s what you can expect on those Sundays…