Scott Wilson

THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY! It’s going to be a great day to gather together to not only honor our earthly dads but also to honor and worship our heavenly father! As we near the end of our current message series, The Gospel According to Joseph, we’ll be looking at how the attributes of our heavenly father can be present in us to impact and bless others. I’m looking forward to being together and being encouraged in our walk with Jesus. This would be a great Sunday to invite others to join you at Gold Coast! 

THE HUDDLE IS TOMORROW, SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 7:30-9:00 AM, GOLD COAST FACILITY: The Huddle happens on the 3rd Saturday of each month for the men of Gold Coast. Plan on good conversation as we discuss the most important attributes men need to survive in today’s modern world. This month bagels, cream cheese, pastries, and coffee will be available. Donations are accepted. Sign up online. If you have any questions, contact Louis DeLuca at louis@goldcoastchurch.org. 

HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE GRAD?  Receiving a diploma from high school or a degree from college this year? We would like to honor you in an upcoming service. Please let us know by Sunday, June 23rd. Write your name, school, and type of degree on your Connection Card this Sunday or send your information to office@goldcoastchurch.org or call 805.485.5433. 

SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY MEETING, SUNDAY, JUNE 30: Be a blessing to people and families affected by disability in our community! To find out more about the Special Needs Ministry here at Gold Coast or if you are already involved, be a part of a lunch meeting where you’ll discuss with others what we’ve been doing and what’s coming up – Ed Hunt Rehab Point Project, Buddy Break, the Disability Christmas Shoppe, and more. Meet after the 2nd service, at about 12:15 pm in the Youth Room. Sign up at the table in the lobby or go online.  Also join the Special Needs Ministry Team at the 27th Annual Rehab Point Project on Sunday, July 14, from 11-2 pm where we share information and invite the community to participate in what we’re doing here at Gold Coast. Enjoy food, festivities, and activities for kids at the Oxnard Beach Park. Contact Tana Seufert at tana@goldcoastchurch.org with any questions.

THIS SUNDAY, we continue our series “The Gospel According to Joseph.” We’ll learn some invaluable lessons from Joseph about FORGIVENESS.  In preparation, you can read Genesis 45:1-18; 50:15-21.

Did you know that within psychology, the subject of forgiveness is relatively new, having emerged as a research focus only in the later 1980’s? Robert Enright, Ph.D., is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a licensed psychologist, and the founding board member of the International Forgiveness Institute, Inc. and pioneered the social scientific study of forgiveness.

Enright gives different reasons to forgive: to repair relationships, to grow in character because it can help one become a better person, to exercise goodness as an end in and of itself regardless of how others react to one’s offer of forgiving and to become emotionally healthier. 

“According to researchers at Erasmus University carrying a grudge can weigh you down—literally. The researchers asked study participants to write about a time when they’d experienced a conflict. Some were instructed to reflect on a time when they didn’t forgive the offender, others were told to think about the time they did forgive the person, and a third group wrote about a comparatively dull social interaction. They were then given a small physical challenge: jumping five times, as high as they could, without bending their knees.”  

They then asked their human guinea pigs to jump as high as they could, five times, without bending their knees. Those who had been thinking about a time when they’d forgiven jumped highest, about 11.8 inches on average; those who had written about their grudges, on the other hand, jumped 8.5 inches. There were no significant difference in the jumps of those in the non-forgiveness and neutral conditions. In another, similar experiment, people who’d been set up to think about a time they held a grudge estimated that a hill was steeper than people who were thinking about a time they forgave someone.

The results suggest that the “weight” of carrying a grudge may be more than just a metaphor. The lead researcher for the study wrote, ‘A state of unforgiveness is like carrying a heavy burden—a burden that victims bring with them when they navigate the physical world. Forgiveness can ‘lighten’ this burden.’” (Melissa Dahl, “Holding a Grudge May Literally Weigh You Down,” Science of Us, 1-9-15)

It’s worth pointing out that thousands of years before psychologists figured out the importance of forgiveness, God was teaching about its importance and benefits through the life and example of Joseph!This Sunday we’re going to see so much from God’s word on how we can extend forgiveness to even those who have done horrendous things to us. It’s going to be a rich time in God’s word and in his presence. I believe there will be significant breakthroughs for many. You don’t want to miss it. Invite someone to join you! 

THE HUDDLE, SATURDAY, JUNE 15: Men, let’s meet at 7:30-9:00 am on the 3rd Saturday of each month here at the church. Plan on good conversation as we discuss the most important attributes men need to survive in today’s modern world. This month bagels, cream cheese, pastries, and coffee will be available. Donations are accepted. Sign up at the table in the lobby this Sunday or online. Contact Louis DeLuca if you have any questions at louis@goldcoastchurch.org. 

HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE GRAD?  Receiving a diploma from high school or a degree from college this year? We would like to honor you in an upcoming service. Please let us know by Sunday, June 23rd. Write your name, school, and type of degree on your Connection Card this Sunday or send your information to office@goldcoastchurch.org or call 805.485.5433.

Join us tomorrow, Sunday, June 2, at either 9:15 or 10:45 AM. The service will be different than anything we’ve ever experienced before at Gold Coast! A message, music, videos and more will be highlighting some of the great things that Gold Coast is about. You’re not going to want to miss this! Bring a friend and come ready to see what God’s been doing!

TOMORROW, SATURDAY, JUNE 1, “HIGHER GROUND” HIKE AT ARROYO VERDE PARK, 8:30-11:00 AM: Come out and join us for a fun hike at Arroyo Verde Park. This is one of the nicest parks in Ventura County and it’s dog friendly! There’s beautiful wildflowers and views of Channel Islands on a clear day. Distance: 3 miles / Difficulty: Moderate – Some hills / Parking Fee: $2.00 on the weekends or you can park on Foothills Road and walk to the park. Everyone is welcome! Great opportunity to invite friends, neighbors, or family members. Please bring water, sunblock, hat, and camera! We’ll be serving a free continental breakfast after the hike. Hope to see you there! Isaiah 2:5- “Let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Questions? Margie or Rick Cantu 805.660.1187 or mcantu830@verizon.net.

TOMORROW, SATURDAY, JUNE 1, RESCUE MISSION, SATURDAY: Oxnard outreach is from 4:15-6:15 pm. For more info, contact Stuart Baker at 805.427.5528 or stuartbaker45@aol.com.

THIS SUNDAY IS MISSIONS SUNDAY AT GOLD COAST! Be sure to check it out!

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY, BEGINS THIS MONDAY, JUNE 3: Take control of your money with Financial Peace University (FPU)! This 10-lesson course will start at 7:00 pm and is taught by Dave Ramsey, Chris Hogan and Rachel Cruze helps you work a plan to tackle a budget, pay off debt, and free yourself from money worries! You’ll join a small group for discussions and lessons—all rooted in biblical wisdom and common sense. Contact Gary or Julie Myers at 805.377.4530 or email juliemyers593@verizon.net, if you have any questions. 

HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE GRAD? Receiving a diploma from high school or a degree from college this year? Please let us know by Sunday, June 23rd. Write your name, school, and type of degree on your Connection Card this Sunday or send your information to office@goldcoastchurch.org or call 805.485.5433. We would like to honor you in an upcoming service.

TOMORROW MORNING, we continue our message series, “The Gospel According to Joseph.” We’ll be looking at Genesis 43:15-45:7 and seeing how and why Joseph tests his brothers. In some significant ways, it’s similar to how God tests us and our faith in him. You’ll be encouraged as we learn some invaluable lessons about what the Lord has in mind for us in everything from life’s inconveniences to its full-on trials.  This would be a great Sunday to invite a friend to join you at Gold Coast!

HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE GRAD? Receiving a diploma from high school or a degree from college this year? Please let us know by Sunday, June 23rd. Write your name, school, and type of degree on your Connection Card tomorrow or send your information to office@goldcoastchurch.org or call 805.485.5433. We would like to honor you in an upcoming service. 

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY, MONDAY, JUNE 3: Take control of your money with Financial Peace University (FPU)! This 10-lesson course will start at 7:00 pm and is taught by Dave Ramsey, Chris Hogan and Rachel Cruze helps you work a plan to tackle a budget, pay off debt, and free yourself from money worries! You’ll join a small group for discussions and lessons—all rooted in biblical wisdom and common sense. FPU includes your member workbook and a free year of Financial Peace Membership, with online tools created to support your journey. Register and pay for your book by THIS MONDAY, May 27th, at https://fpu.com/1089848. Contact Gary or Julie Myers at 805.377.4530 or email juliemyers593@verizon.net, if you have any questions.

ARROYO VERDE PARK HIKE, SATURDAY, JUNE 1 AT 8:30-11:00 AM: Come out and join us for a fun hike at Arroyo Verde Park. This is one of the nicest parks in Ventura County and it’s dog friendly! There’s beautiful wildflowers and views of Channel Islands on a clear day.
Distance: 3 miles / Difficulty: Moderate – Some hills / Parking Fee: $2.00 on the weekends or you can park on Foothills Road and walk to the park. Everyone is welcome! Great opportunity to invite friends, neighbors, or family members. Please bring water, sunblock, hat, and camera! We’ll be serving a free continental breakfast after the hike. Hope to see you there!
Isaiah 2:5- “Let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Questions? Margie or Rick Cantu 805.660.1187 or mcantu830@verizon.net.

RESCUE MISSION, SATURDAY, JUNE 1: Oxnard outreach is from 4:15-6:15 pm. To sign up, write “Rescue Mission” on your Connection Card tomorrow or contact Stuart Baker at 805.427.5528 or stuartbaker45@aol.com.

NINOS DE BAJA SUMMER MISSION TRIP, JUNE 15-21: Ninos de Baja is a small orphanage in Baja. Come spend a week serving some amazing kids and change some lives, including yours. Cost is estimated at $250/person. Final payments are due on June 9th. Sign up at the table in the lobby tomorrow. If you have any questions, contact Mike or Lynne Yeaman at yeaman7@hotmail.com.

THIS SUNDAY MORNING, we continue our message series, “The Gospel According to Joseph,” by looking at Genesis 40. You may want to read it in preparation. We will learn some things from Joseph about dealing with disappointment. Joseph’s discouragement was largely due to the long time he was waiting for God to deliver him from his situation. Centuries later, one of Joseph’s relatives, David, of whom it is said was a man after God’s own heart, also grew tired with waiting and cried out to God, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?”  (Psalms 13:1) In fact, a total of forty-three times in the Old Testament alone, we are commanded to “Wait on the LORD.” What’s God’s plan for us when we find ourselves in his “waiting room”? We’re going to talk about that on Sunday. Don’t wait to invite others to join you!

WELCOME TO GOLD COAST, BRAULIO AND CHRISTINA! MEET OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS: We introduced Braulio Terrazas and Christina Brower this past Sunday morning at both services and prayed for them. Braulio is our new Youth Pastor and Christina is our new Children’s Ministry Director.

Braulio shares the following: “I was born in Mexico City in 1992 and at that time I only lived with my mom, and two brothers. I was the middle child growing up in Mexico, while my dad was working in the U.S since 1985. In 2001, I immigrated to the United States with my family reuniting with my father. We lived in Lompoc, California for five months and then we moved south to Ventura. I have been living in Ventura for the past 18 years. 

I have a Catholic background but I never felt connected to church or God. I simply didn’t know Him. I went to Ventura High School for four years. During this time, I made it my goal to be in law enforcement. After high school, I went to California State University Northridge while I was working security and pursuing a career in law enforcement. Yet, God was the last thing on my mind because by my early 20’s I was a self-proclaimed atheist.

RESCUE MISSION OUTREACH IS TOMORROW, SATURDAY, MAY 4: The outreach is from 4:15-6:15 pm. To sign up, go online to our website under the Get Connected tab. Contact Stuart Baker at stuartbaker45@aol.com or 805.427.5528, if you have any questions.

TOMORROW IS BUDDY TRAINING: Families in our community who have children with special needs need our support! Buddy Training provides info on how to help by being a Buddy at Buddy Break, a free respite program where kids have fun and parents get a break from their ongoing child care responsibilities. Buddy Training is from 9:00-11:00 am. Snacks will be provided. Adults go through a free back-ground check and children can serve as Buddy Helpers. Contact Tana Seufert at 805.824.5794 or tana@goldcoastchurch.org with any questions.

THIS SUNDAY MORNING, we have a couple of special individuals who we’ll be introducing at both of our morning gathering times, 9:15 and 10:45. You’ll want to be sure to attend and meet them!

We’ll also be continuing our message series, “The Gospel According to Joseph,” bydigging into Genesis 39. We’ll discover how Joseph handled some ongoing temptation that came his way. It’s kind of a racy passage. Read it sometime before heading to church on Sunday in preparation. You’re going to be encouraged as we learn some powerful principles that we can apply to our lives today. Sunday would be a great day to invite a friend to join you at Gold Coast!

PRAYER FOR MISSIONS THIS SUNDAY: On the first Sunday of each month, you’re invited to gather in the Worship Center after the 2nd service to pray for the missions and missionaries that Gold Coast supports. For more information, contact Mike or Lynne Yeaman at yeaman7@hotmail.com or 805.331.3899.

NEW START DATE FOR FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY, MONDAY, JUNE 3: Take control of your money with Financial Peace University (FPU)! This 10-lesson course will start at 7:00 pm and is taught by Dave Ramsey, Chris Hogan and Rachel Cruze helps you work a plan to tackle a budget, pay off debt, and free yourself from money worries! You’ll join a small group for discussions and lessons—all rooted in biblical wisdom and common sense. FPU includes your member workbook and a free year of Financial Peace Membership, with online tools created to support your journey. Register at https://fpu.com/1089848. Contact Gary or Julie Myers at (805) 377-4530 or juliemyers593@verizon.net, if you have any questions.

TOMORROW, SUNDAY, APRIL 28, we’ll be starting a new series on the life of Joseph. Did you know that Joseph’s story takes up more space in the book of Genesis than the story of Abraham? We’ll be digging into Genesis 37. I encourage you to read it sometime before heading to church tomorrow. 

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, THIS THURSDAY, MAY 2, 6 TO 7 PM: We will gather with other local churches to pray together as the body of Christ at the Oxnard Beach Park, 1601 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard. Mark your calendars now! (Paid parking is $1 per hour.) 

BUDDY TRAINING, NEXT SATURDAY, MAY 4: Families in our community who have children with special needs need our support! Buddy Training provides info on how to help by being a Buddy at Buddy Break, a free respite program where kids have fun and parents get a break from their on-going child care responsibilities. Buddy Training is from 9:00-11:00 am. Snacks will be provided. Adults go through a free back-ground check and children can serve as Buddy Helpers. Sign up at the table in the lobby this Sunday or write “Buddy” on your Connection Card. Contact Tana Seufert at 805.824.5794 or tana@goldcoastchurch.org with any questions. 

RESCUE MISSION OUTREACH, SATURDAY, MAY 4: Oxnard outreach is from 4:15-6:15 pm. To sign up, write “Rescue Mission” on your Connection Card this Sunday or go online to our website under the Get Connected tab. Contact Stuart Baker at stuartbaker45@aol.com or 805.427.5528, if you have any questions. 

PRAYER FOR MISSIONS, SUNDAY, MAY 5: On the first Sunday of each month, please gather in the Worship Center after the 2nd service to pray for the missions and missionaries that Gold Coast supports. For more information, contact Mike or Lynne Yeaman at yeaman7@hotmail.com or 805.331.3899. 

MEN’S BREAKFAST, SATURDAY, MAY 18: Men, join us at 7:30 am for our first breakfast of the year. Plan on good food and good conversation as we discuss the most important attributes men need to survive in today’s modern world. (Note the new time). Scrambled eggs & tortillas, $5 donation, first time guests are free. Sign up at the table in the lobby on Sunday.

Below is a link for meals for the Leeds family for the next couple of weeks.  Mike and Lindsay are leaving to Phoenix tomorrow and will be gone for over a week for her surgery and recovery. Friends from Beacon Hill Academy are organizing meals for their kids while they’re gone and then for the whole family when they get back. I am hoping Gold Coast can show up in force to take good care of their family.https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094eaaad28ab9-support

Thanks,
Scott

TONIGHT IS OUR GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE AT 7:00 PM: This hour-long service will focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. There’s still time to invite others to join you using the digital postcard. To do so, just click on the following link: goldcoastchurch.org/goodfridayinvite. Text it, with a personal note, to those in your contacts!

THIS SUNDAY IS EASTER! We’re going to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the difference He makes in our lives! Text our digital postcard to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors in your contacts to attend as well as post it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat: goldcoastchurch.org/easterinvite. You may want to attend the 9:15 am service as the 10:45 am service is usually fuller. Coffee and donuts will be available.

ELEMENTARY CLASS OFFEREED AT BOTH SERVICES THIS SUNDAY: For Easter, we’ll be offering the elementary class at both the 9:15 and the 10:45 service times. The kids will take part in the beginning part of the worship service and then be dismissed after the worship time, as usual.

LIFE GROUPS START NEXT WEEK: The purpose of LIFE Groups is joining with other believers and doing life together in community. It’s where we connect and assist one another in our faith journey. If you would like to attend a LIFE Group and/or wish to change to a different LIFE Group, go to the Welcome Desk in the lobby on Sunday for a current list of available groups or for more information. If you have questions, contact Darrell Foote at darrell@goldcoastchurch.org or 805.660.3061. 

HIGHER GROUND HIKE, SATURDAY, APRIL 27: Higher Ground is hosting our first Spring hike at the Mt. McCoy trail in Simi Valley. Spring is here and the hills are alive again! This trail offers panoramic views in all directions, including the views of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Channel Islands, Wood Ranch, and Old Boney Mountain. On the trail you’ll see multiple plant life, wildflowers, animal life and birds. A must see for nature lovers and kids!

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Distance: 5 miles | Dogs allowed on leashes

Meet at Starbucks in Camarillo at the Las Posas Shopping Center at 8:30 am and will leave as a group by 8:45 am. Good hiking shoes, sunscreen, water, and a camera for pictures are recommended. Invite a friend or bring family members to share the experience. A complimentary continental breakfast will be served after the hike. Contact Margie Cantu at 805.660.1187 or mcantu830@verizon.net with any questions. 

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 6 TO 7 PM: We will gather with other local churches to pray together as the body of Christ at the Oxnard Beach Park, 1601 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard. Mark your calendars now! (Paid parking is $1 per hour.)