Are you a member of CoastEC?
If you are a Christian, the bible says you are already a member of God’s family and Christ’s body. “…now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ….For through Jesus we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:13,18-19). “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others…” (Romans 12:4-5).

Here are 5 reasons why CoastEC has formal membership and wants everyone who calls CoastEC their church to sign up.

If Jesus is your Lord and CoastEC is your church, come the info night and hear what biblical membership involves and what we’re about as a church. Ask as many questions as you like and work out for yourself if you want to apply for formal membership. It’s really your way of saying to the leadership and the other members, “I want to FUNCTION as a member of THIS spiritual family and THIS spiritual body.”

To hear a sermon about biblical membership, head here.

For more info about CoastEC membership and application, here’s the official blurb

Come and be part of the discussion and get on board with the mission. All members are expected to attend this vital gathering.

Sunday 26th Feb, 3pm @ Forster Public School Hall.

Check out the vid from our last baptism with Matty, Mik and Jeff.

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Here is a link to some daily bible readings with some questions to get you thinking. This will help you graze like a fat & happy cow all throughout the week. It will also be good prep for your home group.

I hope some of these great verses tempt you to go and read the whole thing for yourself!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:6-7)
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14)
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21)
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12)
“Whatever happens, conduct yoursleves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27)

I love you guys, and I’m stoked God has put us together in the same church. Let’s give ourselves to knowing our great God more and more, and serving Him faithfully where He’s got us.
Blessings,
Chris

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3-6)

There are millions of people facing massive struggles. And you’re either one of them or you love someone who is. And it makes believing in God hard.

Some people put it this way:
“If God is meant to be loving and all-powerful, why doesn’t he do something about all the suffering in the world? If He is loving – then why doesn’t he stop it? Is it because He’s not powerful enough? Or if He is powerful enough – is it because He’s not loving that He let’s it go on? He can’t possibly be both loving AND powerful and do nothing about it. So He either doesn’t exist, or He’s too weak to be of any use to me, or He’s too unkind for me to respect and worship. ”

How would you respond to that?

We will be tackling that question at Coast Evangelical Church this week.
All Welcome. Bring a friend.
We kick off at 5pm on Sunday @ Forster Public School Hall.

Here the talk here

Aussie beer commercials are pretty funny. They capture something of the Aussie larrikan spirit, and they remind us to not take ourselves too seriously. But they also touch on deeper issues. They wet our appetite for something real and satisfying; and promise to quench a deeper thirst in us.

So what is the Gospel According to Beer?
Come & join us for bbq, a few drinks, a bit of telly and a short spiel about the spirituality of beer.

Friday 22nd July, 6:30pm
Free bbq & nibbles.
BYO fancy beers
Location: Tim Chilton’s (3/142-148 Little St, Forster)
Questions: call Chris on 0434 199 553

That’s right Holiday Hang Out is back these July School Holidays!

For kids in year’s 3 – 6
11 – 13 July
9am – 12:30pm
@ Forster Squash Centre (16 Cross St, Forster)

Each day there will be…

• Creative stories about God
• Fun games
• Activities and Craft
• Plus FREE morning tea and BBQ lunch!!!
  

Feel free to register when you arrive (remember this program is FREE!) or if you’d like more info contact Alicia Barnes on 0422 880 711.

We’d love to see you there!!

Check out the video below and see what we got up to at Holiday Hang Out 2010!

Holiday Hang Out 2010 – Highlights from St Matts Youth on Vimeo.

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Looking for an All-Satisfying Love? You can’t miss this coffee and dessert night.
Come and join with other women for a great night, and hear Sharon Ekins share about the love she has found which is available to all.

Now, if you’re extremely sad that you missed out on the world renown cakes and slices, don’t worry because…..the KYCK KooK OFF is on again this week!!!

We’re hoping to raise the additional $350 (we already have 10 pre-ordered cakes!) and help send the 7 youth kids to KYCK, so they can grow in their relationship with Jesus.

So empty out those piggy banks and get ready for another great opportunity to support the COAST EC youth. Remember it’s at COAST EC this Sunday (27th), 5pm at Forster Public School Hall.

Prices will start at $2, and 100% of proceeds will go towards helping the youth get to KYCK (www.kyck.kcc.org.au).

I hope you’re ready to purchase some of the best and most luscious sweets in the Great Lakes…I know I am!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

On the 8 – 10 April 7 youth kids, plus Ev and Leesh Barnes will be heading down to Katoomba for a High Schoolers Youth Conference. KYCK will have over 1500 teenagers who will be getting equipped by God’s Word in how to live boldly for Christ in this world.
For more details about KYCK check out www.kyck.kcc.org.au

Of course KYCK costs money, so to help the youth out on the 20 & 27th March at Coast Evangelical Church, we’ll be selling some world class cakes and nibblies! You can pre-order whole cakes for $25, or purchase lots of yummy bite sized sweets from $2. The youth will be slaving over a hot stove, to ensure they bring their ‘A-game’….mmm I can’t wait!

So start saving and get excited about support these youth to go to KYCK. We’ll see you at 5pm @ Forster Public School Hall!!! The cakes will be on sale after the church service.

See you there!!!

Solid Rock Youth Cafe is coming up again, and Ev and Leesh Barnes are pumped to be on team this year.

Check out what it’s all about!

good food : live music : my story

• 7-14 January 2011
• From 8(pm) till late
• Down by Forster Wharf

Solid Rock Youth Cafe is a mission overseen by Scripture Union and aims to provide a vital service to the youth community of Forster-Tuncurry. Each day we provide a safe place for the youth to come and hang out as we seek to share how knowing Jesus has impacted our lives.

Every night there’s a cafe, a huge tent with loads of activities in it (xbox, wii, ping pong etc), great live music playing and a yummy cafe serving quality food. Plus throughout the night a few people from the team get up and share their story with everyone.

It’s a great opportunity to have a fun time, hear how Jesus has transformed peoples lives and just chill with your mates.

So come along, hang out and enjoy yourself!!

Check out the 2011 Promo Vid

This Friday Grommets and Wired will be combining for an action packed End of Year Celebration!

If you’re in year 5 to 9, you’re welcome to join us.

We’ll be having a great time learning about Jesus + we’ll feed you dinner!

Check out the details below and we hope to see you there.

Ev and Leesh

Friday 10th December
5:30pm to 8:00pm
Forster Public School Hall

*Dinner will be provided
If you are able to, please bring a $2 donation towards dinner

RSVP (for dinner) to Alicia on 0422 880 711 or alicia@coastec.net.au

Come and hang out for lunch down at south one mile before church (Palmgrove park).
BYO meat, drinks and something to share.
Kick off around 12:30pm. See ya there!

If you need a map, check it out below.

Check out the vid to get a taste

If you’re keen to get involved and help out in some way, get in touch with Alicia Barnes on 0422 880 711 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              0422 880 711      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Feel disconnected from God?
Need a refresher course for your faith?
Got questions you need answered?
Want to meet the real Jesus?

Christianity Explored is a short course designed to help you discover…

• Who Jesus is
• What His mission is, and
• What it means to follow Him today

You don’t need to know anything about the Bible. You won’t be asked to read aloud, pray or sing. You can ask any questions you want.
The format is pretty simple. It’s just 3 x 1 hour sessions. Come and watch a short DVD, ask any questions you’ve got, and read one of the biographies of Jesus’ life for yourself.

Is it time to check out Jesus for yourself?
Then Christianity Explored is for you.

Next course starts Thurs 4th Aug, 7.30pm

If you’ve got questions about the course, or if you’d like to register contact Chris Ekins – 0434 199 553 or chris@coastec.net.au.

We’d love to see you this Sunday as we kick off our new 5pm time slot, and hang out over a yummy BBQ dinner.

Jess (yr 9) and Tami (yr 7), both wanted to declare their faith and trust in Jesus through baptism, so at the end of the service the church walked down to the ‘The Tanks’, where Evan Barnes baptised the girls.

This was a great time of celebration, and the picture perfect blue skies only added to this special occasion.

Jess and Tami are activly involved in the youth group Wired, and are excited about the next step in their Christian faith.

So…what’s the deal with baptism?

Baptism symbolises things that have already happened in the life of the believer. It’s an outward symbol of an inward reality.

1. It’s a symbol of cleansing (a spiritual ‘bath’)
Baptism with water symbolises the cleansing from sin that Jesus’ death makes possible through faith in his blood. It is not about “the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.” (1 Peter 3:21). The water is not magic – it’s only the blood of Christ that has any real cleansing power over sin. So baptism is symbolic of the spiritual cleansing that has already taken place when the believer accepted Christ as their Saviour and Lord and invited Him into their heart.

2. It’s a symbol of death (a spiritual ‘drowning’)
Baptism is also a symbol of being united to Jesus in his death and resurrection. In God’s Word, it says “all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (Romans 6:3-8). The word ‘baptise’ means ‘immerse’, and it’s a visual picture of being ‘buried’ (drowning the old self and dying to the old way of life) and ‘rising’ from the grave to a new life. “You are all Sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.” (Gal 3:26-27).

3. It’s a Public Announcement
Baptism is also a public declaration of faith that the believer makes to show the church and the world that they have now started to follow Jesus and that they have pledged their allegiance to Him. It is a visible sign to those around that forgiveness (cleansing from sin) can only be received through repentance and faith in Jesus.

1. St Matts, Evening Service
Sunday 5th September, 7pm
(1 New Line Rd, West Penannt Hills)

2. CoastEC Supporter’s Night.
Tuesday 7th Sept, 7-8pm
@ The Venue
(cnr Claudare and Acacia Sts, Collaroy Plateau).

see ya there!

Chris

Come and hang out for lunch down at south one mile after church (Palmgrove park). BYO meat, drinks and something to share. Kick off around noon. See ya there! Need a map? (see below). Chris

So we thought this would be an excellent chance for us to join together and pray while this meeting is on.

Your welcomed to join us at 3:45pm (for a 4pm start, and 5pm finish), as we commit this meeting and local high school SRE to our awesome God.

We’ll be hanging out at Evan and Alicia Barnes’ place (8/9 Baird St Tuncurry), and everyone’s welcome.

Looking forward to it, and hope you can make it!

If you’ve got any questions about this, or would like to rsvp, please contact Alicia on 0422 880 711.

Also…if you can’t make it please be praying where ever you are!

Holiday Hang Out 2010 – Highlights from St Matts Youth on Vimeo.

see map

That’s right….Holiday Hang Out is back!!!!

This July Holidays we’ve got a team from West Pennant Hills Church coming up to run an action packed kids program for us….and we’d love to see you there!

For year’s 3 – 6 Kids
5 – 7 July
9am – 12:30pm
@ Forster Squash Centre (16 Cross St, Forster)

Daily there will be…

• Wacky activities
• Creative stories about God
• Free family BBQ lunch
  

Register NOW!
Download a registration form NOW!
PLEASE NOTE: We’d love you to pre-register (helps with catering and activities), but you can also register on the day at the Squash Centre.

If you’d like to know more about Holiday Hang Out, you can contact Alicia on 0422 880 711 or email alicia@coastec.net.au.

These holidays COAST Evangelical Church (with the help of West Pennant Hills Anglican Church) will be running two fun filled arvo hangouts for high schoolers.

If you’re in Yr 7 + come along, bring your mates and be prepared for a good time!

Wednesday 7th July

High School GIRLS – Baking and Beads!
@ Girl Guides Hall (Blue building on Lake St, Forster)
2pm – 4pm

High School BOYS – Beach and boys stuff!
@ One Mile Sand Dunes (If raining, go to Forster Scout Hall)
2pm – 4pm
BYO body board (or something to go down the sand dunes on)

For more info call Alicia 0422 880 711 or email alicia@coastec.net.au

Come on down to Solid Rock Cafe where a mission crew of like minded Christians will be trying to connect with the youth of this town.

We’ll be chilling out, listening to live music, eating awesome food and hearing a story about how knowing God has impacted a life.

When: Jan 8-13, 7-11pm

Where:Behind Forster Wharf (East side of the bridge)

Bands:Mike McCarthy, Dan Ford and The Goods + MORE!

This mission is overseen by Scripture Union

At the ‘Men and Meat’ night (4/1/10), Dave Fitzhardinge gave us the low-down on on how to cook a steak on the bbq. Chris Ekins then followed up with a rant and rave about animal sacrifice, worshipping God, and something about Jesus being a sacrificial lamb???

Thursday 24th Dec, 5pm @ Forster Public School.

Come and celebrate with us.
Bring the kids. Stick around for the bbq.

It’s easy to get mixed up about some stuff at Christmas. I mean with stories about angels and shepherds and a virgin giving birth to God Himself; and Santa and the three wise elves coming to give Jesus some gold, incense and myrr to put on his Christmas tree – it’s pretty easy to get some stuff mixed up. Not to mention the buying, giving and (hopefully) receiving of presents, the catching up with (or avoiding or missing) the family, and the eating and drinking of too much food and drink.
Come and get your head and heart untangled this Christmas. It doesn’t have to be a hectic fairy tale or a tiresome nightmare. It can be a joyful celebration. Because God took on flesh and blood. He entered our world so we could enter into relationship with Him. He came to reveal Himself to us. He came to die for our sin, making forgiveness possible and freedom available. Maybe this Christmas it’s time to untangle the craziness and check out Jesus in a fresh way.

This year we’ll be piling into cars and heading south to the Hunter Men’s Convention to hear what God has to say about SEX and sexuality. We’ll also be chowing down on a Spit Roast.

Speaker: Ben Pfahlert (National Director of the Ministry Training Strategy – MTS)

Time: 9am kick off at Lambton High School.

Cost: $40 (or $35 if you register by July 31st)

Register online at: www.huntermensconvention.info

• Monday 10th August
• 8-9pm
• @ The Venue (cnr acacia and Claudare Sts Collaroy Plateau).

Find out what COAST EC is all about

• Open Q & A
• Forster Public School Hall (after the service)
• Sunday 2nd August, 11.30am

We’d love to see you there!

Church + Brunch!
We’ll be firing up the bbq and having bacon and egg rolls, followed by a punchy and laid back ‘unplugged’ service.
Hope you can join us.

DIRECTIONS: Get on Lakes Way, turn off at Kenrose (just south of Stocklands Shopping Centre),  and then take a right into Amanda.
View Larger Map

This holidays COAST EC is running a program for Years 4, 5, and 6 kids… and we’d love to see you there.

• 22nd to 24th July (Wed – Fri)
• 9:00am to 12:30pm View a draft program
• Forster Public School Hall

Come hear about Jesus and have a great time doing it!

• Wacky activities
• Creative Bible Talks
• FREE BBQ lunch

Register NOW!
Download a registration form NOW!
PLEASE NOTE: We’d love you to pre-register (helps with catering and activities), but you can also register on the day at the hall.

If you’ve got any questions, contact Alicia on 0422 880 711 or email alicia@coastec.net.au