Sunday Reflections

Easter was an awesome day at Coastal! First of all, I want to thank all of our Volunteers. We gave them a pack of Life Savers on Sunday (I'm sure we missed some people). The point of the small gift was not to make up for the Easter Bunny, but to remind them that the purpose of Coastal is to share and experience LIFE and that every little thing done is important and it all fits together to share the LIFE of Christ. They truly are "LIFE Savers!" Here a few LIFE Savers that stood out:

-Two men, Les Bowick and Bill Brown volunteered in Nursery. They're not normally a part of Noah's Park, but knew that extra people were needed and volunteered. Lindsey Pawlak also went back to the Nursery and offered to help.

-Our two Coastal Kidz teachers, Ashley Miller and Jennifer Buenting, volunteered, without being asked, to serve more often until other teachers could be found.

-Eddie Evans did an awesome job with our Bridge.

-Kathy Bench taught in Splash Zone even though she normally serves in Noah's park.

-Cindy Tighe worked very hard in putting together the whole Bridge theme on the stage.

-Our entire 1st Impressions Team is really beginning to get in a groove and serve like a team.

-The Praise and Worship Team learned a new song on Saturday night and did it on Sunday.

-Melanie Bowick is knocking it out of the park recruiting new volunteers.

-Nancy Rankin and Linda Evans did an awesome job with the Treasure Quest backdrop in Coastal Kidz. Make sure you check it out.

-I just found out this week that Rebecca O'Grady takes the trash to the street every week without being asked - she's my "Trash Angel."

There are so many others, like Rebecca, that simply serve and never get noticed, but they do what they do just so that someone might come to know Jesus. Mindy brought flowers. Susan stays late to make the deposit. Mary comes back to pay the bills. Christopher walks around and fixes the DVD and takes care of the sound. Teresa vacuums the floor. Jake lights the lamps. Christy does whatever needs to be done. Bill, Bruce, Ric, and Dan made sure that everyone's walk across the Bridge was a safe one.

Like I said, we have awesome Volunteers!

The obvious highlight of the service was the close of my message (no not because I was finally done). My message was about Jesus being the Bridge between God and man. While we sang "You Are My King" I challenged everyone to come and walk across the Bridge. It served as a symbol of several things: giving our life to Christ for the first time, the resurrection power we have to bridge chasms in our own lives, the hope of heaven, and that we are all called to be Bridge Builders. In both services, everyone came forward and walked across the Bridge. It was very moving and powerful.

We had a lot of first time guests and several return guests. It was simply a great day! I made a joke in the first service about everyone eating ham for lunch, but how I wanted steak. Geri Lee asked me if I was serious about wanting steak (I'm always serious about wanting steak) and invited our family over for a Prime Rib Roast after church! Next week I might make a joke about Baby Back Ribs.

I love you Coastal. Keep praying and inviting. People are crossing over from death to LIFE and you are a part of it! Here a couple of pictures from Sunday:

People walking the Bridge.


Coastal Kidz' new series design - "Treasure Quest."