IN THIS UPDATE:
LAST SUNDAY was a great day as we added Louis DeLuca and Tim Kanter to our pastoral staff team. They come to us from Sojourn Church, a multi-gathering church in our area. As they shared, they are driven to see people trust in Jesus above all. They are committed to making disciples and to helping other disciples make disciples. They also love to pour into others in order to see spiritual maturity take place, helping people grow from spiritual infants to spiritual adults. They’re also passionate about the power and benefits of community, seeing the family of God experiencing rich relationships, helping and encouraging each other in the journey with Jesus.
They bring the above passions to Gold Coast. We’re looking forward to being more effective and accomplishing more together for the kingdom of God than we can separately.
Louis is married to Faith and their kids are Gianna and Alessandra. Tim is married to Angela and their kids are Megan and Emma.
As I shared, I’d been praying for some time the prayer Jesus encourages us to offer up, as recorded in Matthew 9: “…Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”(Mt 9:38) One of the challenges of adding more workers for God’s harvest field is funding. God has provided it in that Louis and Tim come to us fully supported! “Where God guides, God provides.”
Additionally, another prayer close to Jesus’ heart is that his church would be united in love. Jesus prays in the shadow of the cross, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17:20-23).Every Sunday in our services we ask God to pour out his blessing on every local church in our area that loves and serves Jesus and pursues His great commission. By joining together, we are demonstrating the unity of Jesus’ church. We believe we’ll be better together.
It’s exciting to see God move and answer these two prayers with the addition of the Sojourn joining the Gold Coast family!
(To hear the whole story, check out the November 25th service on our website.)
Both Louis and Tim would love to meet you. If you’d like to grab a coffee, share a meal, etc. You can contact them at louis@goldcoastchurch.org and tim@goldcoastchurch.org.
TOMORROW we’ll kick off a new series entitled He Will Be Called. We’ll be looking at the different descriptions/titles of Jesus as recorded in Isaiah 9:6. Tomorrow we’ll be unpacking and applying how Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. It will be good to join together in worship, fellowship and learning how to better love Jesus and others! Can’t wait!
DISABILITY CHRISTMAS SHOPPE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8: You’re invited to be part of the fun at the 6th annual Disability Christmas Shoppe to benefit families who have children with special needs/disabilities! There will be new toys, kid’s clothing, and other items for parents to choose as Christmas gifts for all of the children in their family. It will be a festive day filled with Christmas music, refreshments, entertainment, childcare, gift wrapping, sharing the gospel and an opportunity for prayer.
You can be a part of this special event by:
DONATING NEW TOYS, GIFTS, OR GIFT CARDS BY DECEMBER 2ND
Collecting new toys at your home or place of work
Serving before, on the day of the Shoppe, or afterwards
Sign up at the table in the lobby or go online.
Volunteer online under the Get Connected tab on our website.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 at 4:00 & 5:30 PM: Enjoy spending time celebrating Jesus’ birth with your loved ones!
CHRISTMAS EVE SIGNS FOR YOUR YARD OR WINDOW: If you have a Christmas Eve yard sign from last year, it’s time to start displaying it! If you don’t have a yard sign, you can pick one up tomorrow at either entrance of the Gold Coast facility. Display one in your yard or window. Let’s get the word out about Gold Coast’s Christmas Eve Services at 4:00 & 5:30 pm!
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE: This 30-day devotional will help you journey through the upcoming Advent season. Pick up a copy in the lobby on Sunday.
NINOS DE BAJA MISSIONS TRIP: The missions trip to Ninos de Baja is to distribute the shoebox gifts to the children on December 8. Very limited space on this trip due to limited housing on site. PREFERENCE IS FOR FIRST-TIMERS. Passport required. Estimated $100/person, $50 deposit to a hold spot. Put “Mexico Trip” on the memo line of your check. Contact Michael Yeaman at yeaman7@hotmail.com with any questions.
LADIES’ COOKIE EXCHANGE, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 4 PM, 751 BIG HORN CT., CAMARILLO: “‘Tis the season to be sweet, so bring 4 dozen of your favorite treat!” Ladies, this is a fun and non-threatening event to invite and bring other women to who don’t yet know Jesus and/or have a church home! RSVP to Margie Cantu at 805-660-1187.
DISCOVERY COVE (OUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY HERE AT GOLD COAST) IS LOOKING FOR A FEW MORE HANDS TO SERVE! Every time a child comes to Gold Coast, they are taught that they are LOVED Jesus and his church! Presently, there are opportunities to serve either on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Interesting in finding out more about how an hour a month can make an eternal impact? Contact Krystal Cooper at krystalcooper@live.com or Sharon Wilson at swlighthouse81@gmail.com to find out more.
WORSHIP CENTER RE-MODEL PROJECT: After thirteen years, it is time to give our worship center a facelift! With Gold Coast people volunteering the manpower, the estimated cost of materials and supplies for the project is $10,000. We are looking to raise those funds with over-and-above gifts/donations. Be sure to check out thedisplay table in the lobby this Sunday. You’ll be able to see pictures of the concept created by Aaron Nicholls as well as sign-up to volunteer to serve on the project.
The project begins in January. Volunteer opportunities include carpet removal, loading dumpsters, recovering sounds panels, painting, carpentry, etc.
Questions? Contact Sharon Wilson at 805-204-8644.
BENEVOLENCE FUND: From time to time, an individual or family in our larger Gold Coast family experiences a time of hardship or crisisand needs financial help. As a church, we desire to come alongside those in need by temporarily assisting them with their basic needs. A number of folks have discovered the joy of giving “over and above” their regular tithes and offerings with a benevolence gift. If you are led to do so, you can give securely on-line on at our website, by cash or check by marking the gift “Benevolence Fund.”
STEPHEN MINISTERS ARE AVAILABLE: In difficult times, God’s love is especially precious to us, and it is very important to know someone who cares. Our congregation has trained Stephen Ministers who offer a ministry of Christian caring. To find out more about being trained as a Stephen Minister or to receive a Stephen Minister’s care, write “Stephen Ministry” on your Connection Card and place it in the offering basket this Sunday or call Art or Rose Flatray at 805.987.1428 for more information.
PRAYER TIME EVERY SUNDAY MORNING: You’re invited to Sunday morning Prayer Time from 8:30-9:00 am in the Youth Room every Sunday! Come for a couple of minutes or stay longer. This is open to everyone! Prayer cards with suggested topics will be available – you can pray aloud or silently. You can contact Anne Romero if you have any questions at anne2grace@gmail.
DAILY BIBLE READING SCHEDULE:
Saturday December 1 Rom 5-8
Sunday December 2 Rom 9-12
Monday December 3 Rom 13-16
Tuesday December 4 Eph 1-4
Wednesday December 5 Ps 119: 1-80; Eph 5-6
Thursday December 6 Phil 1-4
Friday December 7 Col 1-4
Saturday December 8 1 Tim 1-4
Sunday December 9 1 Tim 5-6; Titus 1-3
Love you,
Scott