All Are Welcome at Coastside Lutheran Church

First time at Coastside Lutheran?
  First time back to church?
    Maybe even first time ever to church?

No problem!
We have a motto here:  Coastside Lutheran Church is the place where you can “Come As You Are” and we hope you do! The mood is casual, the welcome is warm, and visitors are not only welcome but expected! 

We have two regular Sunday worship services.  

The first one, from 8 to 8:30 a.m., is designed to be a brief, quiet time. It works well for people who want to get an early start on their Sunday, those who don’t like to sing, those who yearn for a bit of time to “just be” and everyone in-between. The bulletins are at the door.  Pick one up and have a seat anywhere you’d like. We start with a brief time for welcome and announcements.  Then we begin the service, which usually includes two readings from the Bible, a few informal reflections from the pastor, some time (about 5 minutes) for mediation and silent prayer with some music playing in the background. The service concludes with prayers and Holy Communion.

Our 10 o’clock service is a fuller, bigger service that includes piano accompaniment, often a musical offering from our Adult Choir. We follow a “liturgy” which means that there are parts of the service that repeat every week.  Often, those are sung by the whole congregation.  We also usually sing 3 or 4 hymns. How to find those parts will be announced as the service progresses. There are three Bible readings:  one from the Old Testament, one from the second half of the New Testament, and then one from one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).  The sermon is about one or more of these readings.  Prayers and Holy Communion come next. After the 10 o’clock service, which usually ends around 11:15, we have a time to have some refreshments and get better acquainted with new friends or catch up with old ones. 

If you or your child has not been baptized and you are interested in learning more about what baptism means and what is involved with that commitment, the first step would be to contact the Pastor.

New Members classes for adults are offered at least twice a year.  These classes provide instruction briefly covering Christianity, Lutheranism and information about Coastside Lutheran.  All adults interested in membership are encouraged to attend these classes, whether they would be an introduction or a review of Lutheranism.  It is a great time to become acquainted with other folks newer to our worshiping community.

FAQ

1.  How do people dress at this church?  Every time we get together, whether it’s for church service or a dinner, we have the whole spectrum of clothing from beach wear (including sandy toes) to a little bit dressy.  (This is California, after all!)  Generally, it is a pretty casual and welcoming place.  That someone has come is so much more important than how he or she looks.

2.  How do I know what’s going on in the service?  A bulletin is provided that provides most of what is needed to participate.  The hymnals are used for the songs that are sung that week.  The page is noted in the bulletin, but will also be announced during the service.

3.  What about our kids?  “The noise of little children is a noise unto the Lord”.  We love welcoming children to our worship services and you are welcome to stay together as a family.  We also offer a few alternatives. We have a trained nursery attendant for our youngest children.  You can find her in the fellowship area on the west end of the church, right off the main worship area.  Pre School kids have their own room in the office cluster on the east end of the building.  Older kids are invited to stay in church and participate as they are able. There are always “Busy Bags” on pew against the back wall.  These contain some age appropriate activities and books.  We also provide a “Children’s Bulletin” each week that follow the Bible readings for the day.  They are available at the main entry.

4.  Who can take Holy Communion?  We welcome everyone to take part in Holy Communion.  You don’t have to be Lutheran or a member at CLC.  At the early service, we use a method called “intinction” which means that after you go up to the altar rail and kneel (as you are able) you are handed a wafer which you dip into the wine. 
At the later service, we have “continuous communion” which means that people come up as there is room at the altar rail.  Ushers will help you know when to go.  We use bread and individual cups.  (the filled cups are grape juice; an empty cup indicates you’d like wine). After you’ve received your bread and wine/juice, you are welcome to stay at the altar rail for a time of prayer if you’d like.  When you return to your seat, please use the side aisles.  There are baskets in the front pews for the used cups.

5.What if our children don’t take communion yet?  We invite and encourage everyone who is not yet receiving communion to come forward or be brought forward to receive a blessing from the pastor.  Our policy is to provide communion instruction to children when the parents and the child think it’s the right time.  (No one should ever feel left out.  If that happens, it must be time to talk about communion and what it means.)

Be sure to check our Lutheran Basics page and our Children’s page for more information.  And if you have questions, feel free to ask them at pastor@coastsidelutheran.org
The pastor checks email frequently.