Local Church Conference
04 May 2014
A Pastoral Report | State of the Heart & Union
This past conference year has
been a building block season of spiritual formation. While 2012-2013 was a deconstruction phase in
the structure of Coastal, last year we began rolling up our sleeves for a
long-haul apprenticeship alongside Jesus our Carpenter by rebuilding a firm, pilgrimative
foundation for the next 1,3,5, and 100 years to come. As we journey forward, we believe the
Architect & Guide has been establishing a brand new culture in Coastal and
our Community Covenant for May 2014-April 2015, serves as a
workable blueprint/map for launching Kingdom pilgrims further into God’s
redemptive mission.
<< 2013-2014 Building Blocks & Trail-Markers
§ 2 folks began following Jesus as their Lord &
Guide…while 3 others recommitted their steps in the Jesus Way…while 3 other folks
(Donna, Ella Z, Don) took the transformational plunge of baptism!!!
§ We celebrated our growing bond as a new kind of family
through these communal ways: summer picnics in Memorial Park, a lake adventure
at the Maroon camp, Adam Tibbetts’ rockin baby dedication, rallying around the
Hartfords during Sarah’s crisis, the Chili Cook-off, etc.
§ We continue to develop relational ties with local artists,
vendors, and sojourners by hosting our annual Harvest Festival/Christmas
Fair. The proceeds of this event seed
future initiatives for our Women’s Ministry.
The Nest (a supplemental Pocket for women) held a few gatherings that
sparked other creative interests such as pottery at Glazey Days, growing an
herb garden, and a couponing forum.
§ The second Saturday of each month Deb H., Nancy R.,
and a handful of other women have provided basic needs/meals to chronically
homeless women in Portland through the Florence House.
§ Last July, we sent out 4 women to partner with Impact
Ministries in endeavors of Kingdom justice including work in the children’s
programs and serving in the Happy Tummies efforts.
§ Last September, we sent out 5 men to the Paria Canyon
on a Pilgrimage trip that has catalyzed spiritual formation in each participant,
led to a baptism, AND sparked future Pilgrimage trips.
§ We launched 5 new smaller groups (aka Pockets) during The
Tangible Kingdom missional initiative and heard marvelous testimonies of God’s
restoration and provision in the process.
§ The Trustees maintained our facilities by addressing
electrical concerns and meeting fire code (thanks to Lonny). Betsy initialized phase 1 of
drainage/landscaping needs at the Parsonage.
§ Pastor David & the LBA worked with the D.S./Atlantic
District/Wesleyan Denomination to refinance the Building & Parsonage,
thereby lowering our facility payments by over $1000 per month, allowing us to
better position the church for future mission and the removal of debt.
§ God has faithfully provided for our fiscal needs and
Coastalites have faithfully responded to God’s provision by steadily increasing
our weekly tithes and offerings over the conference year and generating one of
the highest giving weeks ($5000) in our 20+ year history. All bills are paid in full (–USF).
§ We deepened our FRONTLINE partnership of Kingdom
justice with the Root Cellar in these ways:
o
Donating over
$3000 in funds from the Chili Cook-off, the Advent Redistribute Campaign, 30 Hour
Famine, and 1 average/weekly offering…Preparing for & overseeing the Ladies
Christmas Tea for 35+ international women…the Witas group donated bikes and
took the lead in a clothing/coat drive…and lastly, we sent volunteers to help
with the ESL program.
§ During the Pilgrimative
Practices from the Shed initiative, we heard numerous stories of spiritual
and relational breakthroughs during times of meditation, fasting, and
tithing/generosity.
§ Deb Harney and Jen Martin have spearheaded a new Hospitality
Team called “360°
Care” which is simply offering practical support and meals to those within our
community who are sick, in the hospital, going through a crisis, or needing
encouragement.
§ Victoria Wood reorganized our Youth Ministry by forming
a Pocket group for 10 teens and has been mentoring several young women. During the 30 Hour Famine, the group raised
$2000 for Impacto/World Vision/Root Cellar while tithing 10% to Coastal. In recent weeks, Greg & Erika Walton have
joined with Vic in developing a team to oversee Echo Youth Ministry.
§ We celebrated the birth of Sarah Hartford and
Elizabeth Backman!!!
And so we shout, “Dayenu!” a Hebrew phrase meaning, “God provides…It would have been enough for us!”
>>
2014-2015 Guide-Posts & Barstool Orthotics
I believe God has provided us (Zig & LBA) with a pastoral
vision to further anchor Coastal Church’s 4 Legs (Bar Stool Values) during this
coming conference year. How we do
this???
Ø We will be solidifying our current Pocket groups
through 1-on-1 trainings for the shepherds AND forming at least 3 new Pocket
groups based on geography/need.
o
LBA and music
team leaders have been considering an
experimental project/group/gathering called “The Dinner Party” meeting once per
month on Thursdays during the summer in the Mainely Wraps Old Port location.
FMI, contact Dave at coastalpastor@gmail.com
o
Coastalology – An
as needed group led by Dave & Laura on Sundays after Gatherings for
pilgrims to become familiar with vision, values, practices, covenants, history,
Wesley, membership, etc.
Ø We envision utilizing our Building as a missional
outpost rather than as a financial liability by creating a “usage policy” and
hosting more local community events. We
envision the possibility of paying off up to $100,000 of debt from our Building
through increased weekly giving in the range of $2750 + proactively assessing
the potential of selling the parsonage + aggressively seeking a tenant or
tenants to rent Building space. FMI, please
contact an LBA member.
Ø We will continue preaching & practicing the WORD
through Pilgrimative Practices from the Shed for at least the next 2
months as we engage in the disciplines of prayer, Sabbath, and reviewing some
of our common actions over the last season.
Our leadership team is excited to fully unveil the Common Coastal
Covenant for 2014-2015, which integrates many of the practices that have been
forming us. Again, we believe this will
serve as a blueprint/map for commitment to our local church body.
Ø Pastor David & the LBA will continue to solidify
specific roles and ministry-job-descriptions PLUS we are adding 2 LBA members and
an “intern” to broaden our bandwidth of pastoral care/oversight.
o
Dan Gerrish,
Clark Carter, and Pastor David have been commissioned by the LBA as the
steering committee for Coastal Missions.
This team will be responsible for prayerfully creating guidelines and
structure for local/global partnerships and future pilgrimage trips. This team will be working w/ interested
Coastal fam organizing various projects, events, short-term teams, etc.
o
Greg Walton will
be working alongside Pastor David and the LBA in an “internship” style as he
and Erika discern next steps in their pastoral ministry voyage and as Greg
finishes his Masters program at Gordon. FMI, contact Greg at 286.5617 / gjameswalton@gmail.com
Ø We will strengthen our justice leg of the barstool as
we continue to deepen our FRONTLINE partnership with the Root Cellar through: a
monthly financial pledge of $100, monthly prayer & fasting on behalf of the
mission, Pocket group initiatives, quarterly projects & need-based opportunities
for all ages.
Ø In September, Mike Beeler and Dave are planning for a
Pilgrimage trip in the Maine/NH Mountains.
Ø In early October, Coastal will be linking arms with
East Point Church to co-host a Justice-oriented Training/Equipping based on “Why The Rich and Poor Need Each Other”
with guest speaker/author Greg Paul along with Zig & Kurt Holmgren.
Ø The Hub Team will be launching a new website in the
next week or so to help bolster communications, provide handy resources, and
post the latest sermons for easy access.
If you have any interest in helping us develop/manage the website,
please contact us at officeofccc@gmail.com
Ø Luanne and the Godly Play team will be developing the
next stage of our Children’s Ministry as we seek to more accurately spiritually
form our 3rd -5th grade children. For those interested in joining the
conversation, contact Luanne: 252.9562 / morg310@gmail.com
Ø Tracy T. will be planning new initiatives for the
Women’s Ministry that supplement current Pockets.
Ø As we are growing in the number of musicians, our leaders,
Mitch/Nick/Vic will be working to create new teams and rotating schedules for
Gatherings. If you have interest in
joining a team please contact: Mitch at 604.2756 / dr.mlvance@gmail.com or Nick at 698.0344 / nick.wood.33@gmail.com
Ø The Trustees will be creating more user-friendly
forums for seasonal work-days, lawn-mowing and snow-shoveling schedules. Projects such as replacing the floor in the
Community Room & kitchen, repainting the basement, and Phase 2 of
landscaping at the parsonage are on tap. If you would like to be handy with us
around our Facilities please contact John Z. at 450.3360 / johndzinck@gmail.com
For King and Kingdom, Pastor David
“Know whence you came, whither you are
going, and to whom you will have to render accounts.” @alanhirsch
The Wide Spectrum of Mothering
