September Personal Reflections

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The Coates family has experienced some big changes in the last few months.  I’m still working in Alamo as the Associate Pastor with Creekside Community Church, but we moved back to our home in Mount Hermon due to our difficult economy.  The summer went by very fast.  I celebrated a year with Creekside Community Church in June, Sherri and I had our 25th wedding anniversary in July,  and we moved in August.  August 15th I earned a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Below is a short clip of me breaking two boards with a jump back kick.  Brandon and Austin are into Tae Kwon Do as well, plus they are playing the guitar like crazy.  Austin’s even playing keyboard.  We’re all doing very well and appreciate your prayers as we unpack boxes and make our house a home.

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July News

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Happy 4th of July everyone! As we celebrate our independence as a country, let’s commit anew our dependence on Jesus.  What a collision of freedom and fulfillment!

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There’s been some wonderful events in June with the Christian Guitarist Fellowship, an instrumental concert at Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea, and private lessons in both Danville and Los Altos.  Also, I’m beginning my second year with Creekside Community Church and it is such a blessing.  I oversee the Worship & Arts Ministry and work with the three pastors in the Student’s and Children’s ministries.  I taught on Love (1 Corinthians 13:7 & 8a) in the main service last month and will teach on Trusting in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-8) July 26th.  There’s a lot of ministry opportunities with good people to work with.  Please, pray for God’s continued blessing.
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Ministry Update & Coming Events

Tomorrow, July 5, is our 6th monthy Christian Guitarist Fellowship.  Hope you can make it from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Creekside Community Church in Alamo.  I know many are out of town because of the 4th of July weekend.  But if you’re around  glean from fellow guitar players and share with them what you’re learning.  We have some good stuff planned!
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One of the best (and most affordable) two-day training conferences is Friday & Saturday, July 24 & 25.  The Lift Him Up Worship Training Conference is for all who are involved in the various aspects of woship.  Some of the training workshops cover:  Soundboard Techniques; Acoustic Guitar; Lead & Electric Guitar; Drums and Rhythm Section; Bass Guitar; Vocal; Worship Band Techniques; Platform Techniques; Worship Team Leading; The Meaning of True Worship; Genres of Worship; Prayer Worship; and Expressive Worship.  I am one of the featured presenters and workshop instructors for the conference.  Mark Kenoly and Kingdom Voice are also featured artists and instructors. The cost is very affordable at $25.00 per person for the two days of training and concert Saturday night at 7:00pm.  For more information contact New Life Christian Church at (510) 889-1304 or visit www.newlifechristianchurch.com .
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Are you a songwriter?  You won’t want to miss the Christian Songwriters Conference at the Mount Hermon Conference Center, August 31 – September 3 (Sun-Thu).  Write, learn, eat, and play!  Located in the breathtaking coastal redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this conference immerses you in songwriting with a close knit community of artists. Experience 3 plenary teaching sessions and 8 elective classes with experienced songwriters like Shane & Shane, Don Moen, Sara Groves, Charlie Peacock, Israel Houghton, and Joy Williams.  I will be one of the reviewers for the  songs submitted for competition and I’ll be teaching workshops throughout the week.  For more info:  http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/songwriters .
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In addition to private lessons in Los Altos and Danville, I’ll be an instructor with the Showcase Music Institute in San Jose (which is a part of  Guitar Showcase) beginning in the fall.  The cool thing about these lessons is that they will be twice a month with the addition of as many workshops as you’d like throughout the month.  Each instructor gives one workshop a month which is open for all the students to attend for free as a part of the lesson package (since there are about 15 instructors, you could take up to 15 workshops).  It’s great for those who want more than the hour a month I’ve been offering.  I’ll tell you more as it gets closer.  Let me know if you’re interested as there is limited availability.  Check out their site:  http://guitarshowcase.com under Lessons.
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Personal Update & Prayer Request

As a family, we’re doing really well.  We love to spend time together and have a lot of fun when we do.  Brandon has been busy doing things with new friends and attending camps and retreats.  He continues to draw daily.  Austin is enjoying summer with Tae Kwon Do, Gumdo, archery, gaming, and chess.  Both of them ended the year very well scholastically with straitht “A”s.  Sherri and I are very proud of them.  Sherri continues to be the best mom and wife in the universe which keeps her busy.  We’ve been affected by the economy, as many are struggling to make ends meet nowdays, so we’re having to change housing to something more affordable for us.  Please, pray for our transition which may take a few months.
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Your continued interest and involvement in Heartfelt Music Ministry is very much appreciated!  Drop me a note on Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace anytime.  May God richly bless you throughout this month with all the unique things that summer brings your way.

~ Reggie

April Personal Reflections

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The Coates family is enjoying life in the Danville area.  Sherri is busy nurturing Brandon and Austin as they are growing like crazy (both are taller than me now).  She is also involved at Creekside Community Church with girls in the Middle School Ministry, with greeting on Sunday mornings in the Frontline Ministry, and helping care for the babies in the Nursery Ministry.  She truly makes our house a home with her laughter and love.   Brandon is now 17 and will be driving soon.  He is enjoying drawing and the High School youth group at church.  Austin is 14 and is continuing in Tae Kwon Do and Gumdo.  Both of them like Venture School (although they think they have too much homework).  This week has been fun for me to be on vacation and spend time with family.  Last weekend was so nice to be at Sugarpine Christian Conference Center’s Father and Son Retreat.  I took Brandon and Austin and felt like it was one of the best times ever with a time of playing paintball, the cabin hang-time, prayer for each other and honest appreciation of each other.  Sherri’s birthday was this week and we’ve had some good moments of celebration.  All in all, we’re doing well.  May God bless you as you keep him first in all you do! If you get a chance, visit me on Facebook, Twitter or MySpace.

Tragic Loss of a Great Man

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Fatal accident

Fatal accident

I am stunned to hear of the sudden death of Mike Swalley.  Last Monday, he was hit head-on by another car (the article is at http://pattersonirrigator.com/content/view/3073/42/ .  I lived with Mike for a few years during our college years in San Jose where we became friends.  We worked in Young Life together helping to change teens lives which is where I experienced his compassion and love for people.  We played guitar together and he helped me start a guitar group called JAM in the early ’80s.  Just recently, I began a new guitar group in Alamo called the Christian Guitarist Fellowship and Mike came to the first one, February 1, 2009, with his children Laura and Brian who both brought guitars to learn.  I gave them their first guitar lesson while Mike beamed as a proud father.  Mike had a heart of Gold…had a deep love for God, his family, and people.  I am in tears thinking about this tragedy, though I know He is experiencing unbelievable joy and peace in God’s presence right now.  My heart goes out to Michelle, Laura (14) and Brian (6).  My dad died when I was 6 years old and my mom died when I was 14.  Though it was very difficult, God used it to draw me closer to Him, shape my character, and value people like never before.  I pray this will happen for the Swalley family as well.  Please pray for them!

On the 2009 Wave

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2009 has come in like a flood and, in some ways, it feels like I’m riding a huge wave.  The cool thing is that, instead of feeling out of control, it feels like I’m surfing this wave with my family right beside me.  There’s a lot going on at Creekside Community Church as the Worship & Arts Ministry Pastor:  worship leading, counseling, coaching, teaching, organizing, etc.  But, the people are really fun.  It’s a good season in the life of the church right now and I praise God for it.  Helping other aspects of the church life spills over on my family too, like the High School Ministry Home Invasion at our home last week.  The whole family worked to make it a blast of a night for the 45 that came.  Next week, I’ll be going with Brandon on the High School Snow Go.  I’ll be teaching and leading worship for the weekend (my first time Snowboarding).  Brandon just started college courses last week which fits in well as a Junior in High School.  Austin is going to Hume Lake with the Youth Group and Sherri is as busy as ever taking care of us three boys.  She is such a fun and joyful person to spend a life with.  The biggest social endeavor in our family right now is Facebook.  What a cool tool to reconnect with friends and people from the past.  I pray that God is undergirding you with his faithful love, comforting peace, and encouraging joy!

Hope-Filled Christmas & Year-End View

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From the joy of reflecting on Christ’s birth to the difficulties of our strained economy, this December has mixed emotions to say the least.  Keeping our eyes on Christ will give us the hope necessary to keep a fervent faith into 2009 (“…Christ in you, the hope of glory” Colossians 1:27).  May you have a hope-filled Christmas and New Years during the next couple of weeks.
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The culmination of this past year for Heartfelt Music has been one of meaningful ministry and successful equiping in a variety of ways.  Through Christian Conference Centers (i.e. Mount Hermon; Sugarpine), church training events (i.e. New Life Community Church, VA; Lincoln Glen Church, CA), private lessons (i.e. Los Altos; Danville), Band, Guitar, Voice, & Songwriting instruction (i.e. Bethany University; Los Altos Christian School),  online training (i.e. worshipteleseminar.com; guitarnotes.com), worship leading (i.e. First Baptist Church of Los Altos; Creekside Community Church, Alamo), special conferences (i.e. Christian Guitar & Bass Conference, CA; Worship Wayfarer Conference, OR), concerts (i.e. Silver Spur Tean Camp; Cambrian Park), and mentoring sessions (i.e. BASS Convention; Creekside Community Church Worship Intern Program).  It has been very fulfilling for me to invest in so many lives and see God’s glory manifested in so many lives.
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Heartfelt Music Ministry will continue to touch peoples lives and train them for ministry in 2009.  One of the events to put on your calendar, if you are a guitarist near the Bay Area, is a monthly Guitarist Fellowship beginning Sunday, February 1, at Creekside Community Church in Alamo.  More information to come.
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The Coates family has seen many changes as we’ve transitioned from Mount Hermon to Danville.  We are doing well.  Brandon and Austin are finding they really like Venture School in San Ramon and are now taller than I am.  Sherri is enjoying fixing up the house for the holidays and caring for the three men in her life.  All of us are thankful to be ministering with Creekside Community Church who are wonderful people to be with.  Thank you for your prayers for our family and for Heartfelt Music Ministry.  We appreciate you!
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Merry Christmas!
Reggie

Fall Update for the Coates Family

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Two months ago, the Coates family embarked on an all-encompassing move to Danville, California.  It’s been a very good experience so far.  I’m actively involved with Creekside Community Church and enjoying the ministry immensely.  Sherri and the boys are actively involved in the church too which is one of the reasons we made the move.  At home, we’re almost unpacked from all the boxes and the house we’re in is a tremendous blessing.  Many of you know some of the trials we’ve experienced over the years, so you can understand the significance when I say, at this time in our life, we feel such a peace, a great sense of love, and a genuine joy about life.  God has been leading and making a way for us which has been both comforting and faith-building.   Brandon is a junior and Austin is a freshman in high school (time flies when you’re having fun!).  Both of them are excelling in school.  We’d love to hear from you when you get a chance.  Thanks for your care for us.  May you feel God loving on you daily.

Home, Boxes, School & Ministry

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Since my family and I moved to Danville in August, we’ve been sorting through boxes, getting the “lay of the land,” starting school, and balancing personal life with Creekside Community Church and Heartfelt Music Ministry.  It’s been so positive and a lively adventure for all of us!  Transitions are difficult no matter how you cut it, but I’ve been so encouraged that all of us feel at “home” in the house we’re in and see God’s handiwork through it all.  The boys have just started school which is specifically tailored for them.  Sherri’s loving being so close to every store imaginable.  I’m loving the facets of being a husband, father, and full-on pastor at Creekside.  Pray that we would get settled into some routines and make a difference in this community.

We’re now living in Danville

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Last week was such a crazy week as we packed, loaded, moved, and unloaded all our stuff from Mt. Hermon to Danville.  It took us three days to get our Mt. Hermon home ready to rent out.  Everything is looking good and we’re wondering why we waited so long to totally fix up our home there.  Now we’re slowly unpacking boxes and getting familiar with the Danville area.  We love it!  Sherri and the boys are so glad to be here.  The people are so friendly in this area and we have already had a meal made for us and people bringing welcome gifts.  It’s great to be a part of Creekside Community Church.

We’re Making a Big Move

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I’ve just taken a new pastoral position at Creekside Community Church in Alamo (near Danville and Walnut Creek in California) and we’ll be moving at the end of this month.  This is a huge move for us since we’ve lived in Mount Hermon for 14 years.  I’m very excited about the church, my ministry involvement,  and what it means for my family.  We’ll be living only 5 miles from the church which means no more commuting.  I’ll still be working with Heartfelt Music Ministry, but I’ll be more involved with this local church in the East Bay.  It is clearly a “God-send” and already we can tell God is at work to build His Kingdom in a significant way.  Would you pray for me and my family’s transition, move, and ministry with new people?  There never a dull moment when we let God lead the way!

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