LIFE Series Continues This Sunday!

Hey Coastal – it’s hard to believe, but Summer, that’s right, Summer, is almost here!  There are several ways you can help us prepare for the Summer:

1. There will be a Silent Auction/Spaghetti Dinner to help raise money for our Student Ministry and Summer Camp on Friday night May 25th, 6-8PM.  If you own a business, work at a company, or simply know people who would be willing to donate goods, products, and/or services, please let Wes know now (843-276-8936), or simply respond to this email.  The more items that are donated, the more money they can raise.
2. FUEL!  There will be a very important FUEL (our all-volunteer meeting) on Friday night June 1st, 6:30-9PM as we pray & prepare for the Summer.  We will also be discussing staffing, leadership structure, and finances.  (Dinner & childcare provided.)
3. Summer LIFE Groups & VBS!  Over the Summer we try to provide a short Summer Semester (4-6 weeks) of Groups.  These Groups usually meet 2 or 3 weeks before & after VBS (July 16-20th – we need everyone at VBS) depending on the length of the group.  Typically these short groups are seminar (parenting, finances), service, or play (bowling, game night, fishing) groups.  If you have any ideas or are interested in hosting, leading, or assisting a short Summer LIFE Group, please let Matt Beam know now (843-296-0203, mattbeam13@yahoo.com), or you can simply respond to this email.

And speaking of LIFE Groups, my Men’s LIFE Group is in charge of the meal this Sunday night after the 6PM service.  We’re grillin’/serving hamburgers/hotdogs, baked beans, potato salad, other sides, and desserts!

Here are a few other things on the immediate horizon:

New to Coastal?  Interested in learning more about our church?  Curious about possible next steps?  Make plans to come to our nextNewcomers Lunch, this Sunday, April 29thimmediately after the 2nd Service (11:15AM).  Simply respond to this email if you haven’t already signed up!

Baby Dedication is a special time of prayer, commitment, and dedication for the parents, child, and church family.  Coastal’s next Baby Dedication is Sunday, May 13th (Mother’s Day), during both morning services.  If you would like to participate, please respond to this email or check your Connect Card on Sunday. (There will be no 6PM service on Mother’s Day.)

On Sunday, May 27th, Coastal will be having one combined outdoor service under a huge tent!  The service will be at 11:15AM (during which we will be having a Baptism service).  After the service we will have a huge family picnic.  We’re providing the barbeque – you bring the sides.  Then stick around for a fun afternoon of softball

LIFE Series Continues This Sunday!

I know I’ve said this a lot lately, but I want to say it again here – we have the best volunteers!  Easter weekend was unbelieveable at Coastal – approximately 5000 people at the Egg Drop and over 600 on Easter Sunday!  Obviously, all praise and glory goes to God!  However, God uses willing, humble servants to accomplish His will.  All of our volunteer teams knocked it out of the park!  Thank you!

I love this series we’re in right now.  It’s simple and to the point – Jesus!  It’s all about Him (it always is here at Coastal) and how He transformed the lives of the people He met!  Our prayer is that you will be transformed as you open your LIFE up to Him.  Get your friends to church during this series.  One invitation from you could potentially change the trajectory and eternal destiny of an entire family tree!

Lots of exciting things on the horizon here at Coastal over the next several weeks.  Here are just a few of them:

New to Coastal?  Interested in learning more about our church?  Curious about possible next steps?  Make plans to come to our nextNewcomers Lunch, Sunday, April 29thimmediately after the 2nd Service (11:15AM).  Simply respond to this email or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday!

Baby Dedication is a special time of prayer, commitment, and dedication for the parents, child, and church family.  Coastal’s next Baby Dedication is Sunday, May 13th (Mother’s Day), during both morning services.  If you would like to participate, please respond to this email or check your Connect Card on Sunday. (There will be no 6PM service on Mother’s day.)

On Sunday, May 27th, Coastal will be having one combined outdoor service under a huge tent!  The service will be at 11:15AM (during which we will be having a Baptism service).  After the service we will have a huge family picnic.  We’re providing the barbeque – you bring the sides.  Then stick around for a fun afternoon of softball, volleyball, corn hole, horseshoes, and family fun!

Dear Coastal Family,

I am excited to share with you our plans for our 2nd Annual Christmas Offering!

We have the opportunity through this offering to impact our community for Christ. Beginning now through the Sunday after Christmas, January 1st, we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to consider giving a gift above and beyond your regular tithes and offering to our special Christmas Offering.  Using your Christmas Offering Envelope, you can simply fill in the amount on the Christmas Offering line in the highlighted box and mail in your gift, or you can give your gift during one of our regular Sunday morning services.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our three Christmas Eve Services – Friday, December 23rd, 7pm or Saturday, December 24th, 5pm & 7pm.

Why a Special Offering?  This Special Offering is a small way for us to grow in our faith and to prepare us for what God wants to do through our church in a bigger way in 2012.  This offering is not because we are behind on budget, but rather it is to position us to make a greater impact in our community and in our church in 2012.  Christmas is all about giving.  Many people, during this time of year, are in fact looking for charitable opportunities to give.

What is our goal and where is the money going?  Our goal is $50,000!  The money is going to fund the Charleston Egg Drop, Student Ministry, & VBS.  We feel like these three ministries give our church the greatest opportunity to make the greatest eternal impact.  This offering will also take care of two large pressing “in house” needs that have to be addressed to enable us to continue to do the ministry we do.  Those needs are:  roofing our facility and expanding the Women’s Restroom.

How much should you give?  Prayerfully consider a gift that will stretch your faith and include your whole family.  We can’t all give the same amount, but we can make the same sacrifice.  But remember, this offering should be over and above what you regularly give.  You can use our card swiping machine in our Welcome Center, but please designate your receipt, “Christmas Offering.”  You can also give online, but please send us an email designating your gift.  You will be updated on our giving progress through my weekly email and during the Sunday services.  Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what God can do through us as together we stretch our faith.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Chris Rollins

pastorchris@coastalcommunitychurch.org

PS – If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email.

So, are you ready for the Summer?  I know our Students & Teachers are ready!  A lot of Pastors don’t like the Summer.  They complain about the low attendance and low offerings.  I like the Summer.  Sure, people are gone on vacation.  But that’s a good thing.  Enjoy your family and the memories you’re making this Summer.  Have fun at the beach!  When I think about the Summer I think about opportunities.  I think about our Middle School & High School Students going to Camp and giving their lives to Jesus.  I think about all the children we’re going to tell about Jesus at VBS.  I think about the creative message series we’ll be doing (“At the Movies” & “The 7 Deadly Sins”).  I think about our Summer LIFE Group Semester and all the people in community – loving, serving, sharing, growing.

So, it’s all in your perspective I guess.  Keep praying.  Keep reaching out.  Keep inviting and bringing people to Coastal.  And if you are out of town, have fun and make a memory!  Oh, and about those low Summer offerings – take your offering envelope with you and drop it in the mail (postage paid on us), give online at our website, or fill out the form at our card swiping machine to automate your giving.  If you do go to the beach on Sunday mornings, come to our 6pm service!  Starting this Sunday, we’re going to be serving dinner after the 6pm service (this Sunday: grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans, cole slaw, & chips)!

A few quick notes:

• Several parents were unable to participate in our last Baby Dedication, so we’re having another one on Sunday, June 12th, during the 11:15am service.  If you are  interested in dedicating your baby, please respond to this email.  Baby Dedication at Coastal is not infant baptism, but rather a time of prayer and commitment for the parents and our church family.
• Our Student Ministry is having a Yard Sale on Saturday, June 4th, to raise money for Camp.  Start saving your “stuff” now.  You can bring it to the church the week before the Yard Sale.
• Save This Date – VBS, July 18th-22nd! Please fill out the Volunteer Insert in your bulletin this Sunday and place it in the offering plate.

FUEL this Friday!

Calling all Coastal Volunteers or those interested in volunteering – our next FUEL is this Friday night, May 20th, 6:30PM-9PM.  FUEL is a time of fellowship, worship, information, and inspiration for all Coastal Volunteers.  Childcare & Dinner (ham, green beans, mac & cheese, potato salad, rolls, tea & coffee) provided.  Don’t miss it!

Special Memorial Day Weekend Service

On Sunday, May 29th, Coastal will be having one combined outdoor service under a huge tent!  The service will be at 11:15am (during which we will be having a Baptism service).  After the service we will have a huge family picnic.  We’re providing the barbeque – you bring the sides.  Then stick around for a fun afternoon of softball, volleyball, corn hole, horseshoes, and family fun!

Newcomers Lunch/Dinner

New to Coastal?  Interested in learning more about our church?  Curious about possible next steps?  Make plans to come to our next Newcomers Lunch/Dinner, Sunday, June 5th.  Newcomers Lunch is immediately after the 2nd Service (11:15am Service).  Newcomers Dinner is immediately after the 3rd Service (6pm Service).  Not only will you learn more about Coastal and discover possible next steps, but you’ll meet other new people & our staff, and you’ll enjoy great food! Simply sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday!

EASTER SUNDAY!

Easter is here! You know the drill.  Start inviting now!  Set your own personal goal and see how many people you can get to church on Easter!  We have 4 services on Easter Sunday, April 24th:  9:30am, 11:15am, 1pm, 6pm.  Come to the service your friends are able to attend.  If you are unable to bring any guests, we are encouraging you to attend the 1pm or 6pm services.

Park at Oakland.  Serve in multiple services.  Fill out your Connect Card.  Talk to people you don’t know and welcome them to Coastal.  Be helpful.  Sit toward the front and center (make room in the back and sides).  Try not to leave seats between you.  If the auditorium fills, quietly give up your seat and walk out the back door (make room for our guests).  If you are a volunteer, use the “hidden” restrooms.  We will be providing food for our volunteers in the VIP room throughout the day.

Most importantly – pray!  Pray that God will move in a mighty way!  Pray that God will draw people to Himself through Coastal.  Pray for the soil of people’s hearts to be soft and receptive to the gospel.  Pray for your friends and everyone that we are inviting.  Pray for Wes and our worship team.  Pray for Bill & Lora and our 1st Impressions Team.  Pray for Janet and all of her Promiseland volunteers.  And finally, pray for me and my message.

Egg Drop Reminders

Continue to spread the word (facebook, twitter, etc.)!  If you still have stuffed eggs, bring them Saturday morning.  If you haven’t signed up to volunteer yet, call the church ASAP & let us plug you in.  All Volunteers need to be at the church and in the auditorium at 8am on the morning of the Egg Drop.  You can change into your volunteer t-shirt Saturday morning.

Your Giving

Special services & events (like Easter & the Egg Drop) require extra money.  Part of our Christmas Offering is going to pay for the Egg Drop, but it doesn’t cover everything and it doesn’t take into account Easter.  So, my challenge to Coastal is to give & give generously.

Aftermath Offering

During our “Aftermath” series we are taking up a Special Offering that will be going to Samaritans Purse’s emergency relief program that provides desperately needed assistance to victims of natural disaster, war, disease, and famine (i.e. Japan).  Simply designate your check or envelope “Aftermath.”

We finished up “No Perfect People Allowed” this past Sunday.  This has been one of my favorite series that we’ve done (I know, I say that all the time)!  We were really able to hammer down some core values!  If you think about it, we talked about the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, our need for a Savior, Jesus’ power to change us, and the mission of the church.  I also feel like we experienced the return of the “Big Mo!”  MOMENTUM! The energy, the worship, the acts of service, the excitement, the number of new volunteers, the sense of community, the 1st & 2nd time guests, the decisions, and yes, our attendance have all been on the rise.  These are very exciting times!

We kick off a short 3 week series this Sunday, leading up to Easter called, “Social Network.” It’s going to be about our Evangelism Strategy here at Coastal:  Invest & Invite.  We all have a circle of influence, a “social network” that God has put us in to build redemptive relationships.  So how do you do that and what does it look like?  How do you share your faith without coming across obnoxious?

Speaking of this Sunday – we are cooking out hamburgers & hotdogs (chips, cole slaw, baked beans, sodas) to serve after the 6pm service!  Invite and bring a friend!

A few other quick notes:

• We are bringing a potential Youth Pastor and his wife in for a second visit this weekend.  He’ll be here until Thursday.  Continue to keep this process in your prayers.  If anyone has a car they can borrow while here, please let me know.
• We need more volunteers for the Egg Drop.  Recruit your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family.  This is great way to expose people to Coastal.  Even unchurched people like to serve the community.
• Speaking of volunteers, with 4 services on Easter Sunday we will need everyone to serve multiple times if at all possible.
• A $50 deposit is due now if your Student (Middle School & High School) is going to camp this Summer.  Bring the money to church on Sunday.  See Wes if you have any questions.
• Save the date and start collecting items for the Student Ministry Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction, Friday night, May 13th, 6pm.  This event helps to raise money for camp.

Register Today!

The Charleston Egg Drop is just over 3 weeks away!  Register your children and start spreading the word!  You can pick up flyers & cards at church and start passing them out!  Our next Egg Stuffing Party is Friday, April 8th, 7pm at the church.  Start bringing counted, taped, candy-filled (non-chocolate, individually wrapped) plastic Easter Eggs to the church now!

Membership Class

If you regularly attend Coastal and are interested in becoming a member, we invite you to attend our Membership Class on Monday night, April 11th, 6-9pm.  Childcare is provided.  You can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday or simply respond to this email.  If you need childcare, please let us know how many children your are bringing and their ages.

Easter Sunday Service Times

Easter is 24 days away! Start inviting now!  We will have 4 services on Easter Sunday, April 24th:  9:30am, 11:15am, 1pm, 6pm.  Invite & bring a friend!  Come to the service your friends are able to attend.  If you are unable to bring a friend, we are encouraging you to consider attending the 1pm or 6pm services.

I got to do one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in 21 years of ministry today after our morning services were over.  It all started two weeks ago when I preached my annual “Year Ahead” message.  For the last several years at the beginning of every year I do a “Year in Review” and a “Year Ahead” sermon series.  It gives me a chance to reflect on the previous year and cast vision for the new year.

As I talked about the new year I shared how we would not be participating in the global “One Prayer” series this year in June because they weren’t doing it in 2011.  But that’s okay – because it’s time that One Prayer becomes more than just a message series that we do every summer with other churches and we actually become the answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 – that His followers might be one.  We tell people all the time that we’re not in competition with other churches – we’re on the same team.  Their victory is our victory.  Their struggle is our struggle.  But the truth is I want us to be more intentional about actually putting that into practice.

So here’s what we did.  I announced that a great church in our very own community, River Church, would be celebrating their 1 Year Anniversary on January 30th.  As a way to be a blessing to them and to communicate to the church and our community that we are on the same team and that they have our support and prayers, we would be taking up an offering and giving it to them on their anniversary.

Now, could we use that money?  Are there projects around our church that need our attention?  Are we a small church that has been hit hard by the struggling economy?  The answer to all those questions is a resounding yes.  But whether it’s $100 or $1000 it would be our tangible way of being a blessing to them.  I told our church, “You know what?  We used to be the new church on the block.  We used to meet in a school.  In fact, we set up every Sunday for 14 years in 3 different locations.  What if 20 years ago another church blessed us in this way?  We’d still be talking about it today.”

So with just a week’s notice our people gave above and beyond their regular tithes and offerings and after church I took a check for $2000 over to River Church.  I don’t know if I’ve ever been as proud of our church as I was today.  I wish you all could have been with me when I took them the money.  Their service was over and they were having their covered dish dinner in the “caf-e-gym-a-tor-ium” (been there, done that).  They had a huge crowd!  The excitement in the air was palpable!  Their Pastor, Todd Magouyrk, has become of friend of mine this past year.  He’s a great man of God and a great Pastor with a huge heart for this city.  He was near the door when we (my son Christopher & I) came in and he greeted us with a huge bear hug.  I told him we were there to celebrate their 1 Year Anniversary and before I could tell him the rest of the story, he invited us to stay for dinner and hugged us again.

I told him we would love to stay (what Pastor turns down a covered dish dinner), but that there was another reason for us coming.  I told him the story and gave him the check.  He looked like he was about to cry and honestly I lost count how many times he hugged me (he’s a hugger).  He then told me how just that week their Connections Pastor told him how they needed $2000 to really make the necessary improvements to their team – signage, pipe, drapery, chairs, etc.  In fact, the Connections Pastor came up to us during the dinner and relayed the same story.  He told me how he was telling the story of our gift to a woman on their team and she started crying.

In the grand scheme of things, $2000 is not a big deal – but today it just felt like it was.  It felt like we were a part of building the Kingdom of God and not just our own little kingdoms.  One of our goals for 2011 is Collaboration, not Competition.  And today it felt like we took at least one positive step in that direction.  I love you Coastal!  I love you River Church!  May we together make Jesus famous in our community and in our world!

Well, here we go again.  Just a few very random thoughts from today and the weekend:

• Really appreciate all the volunteers who helped decorate the church for Christmas!  Everything looked beautiful today!  There’s just something about lights, poinsettias, wreaths, snow, and more lights!  We came up with the theme, “Home for Christmas” a while ago, but it really came together this week.  It was definitely a group effort, but Wes worked very hard on it and it showed.
• On Friday night I got to support River Church and their LoveGave Bikes effort by getting up in a lift in front of Wal-Mart to help promote their campaign.  They were able to give away 371 bikes to needy children!  (Coastal bought 5 bikes!) Way to go River Church!  I’ve enjoyed getting to know their Pastor, Todd Magouyrk – great guy, great church.  Looking forward to getting together with him later this week.  He told me that they’re going to help us out with the Egg Drop this year!  Pastors and churches have to do a better job of partnering together like this.  We’re not the competition.  We’re on the same team!
• We’re pretty consistently over 300 right now – kind of hovering around 320.  Ready to bust through that next barrier.  Use this month to pull out all the stops and invite people to church.  People are very receptive to spiritual things this time of year.  Lots of 1st time guests today!
• Absolutely loved our time of worship together today!  Every song just seemed to fit with my message in some way.  The lights, the decorations all seemed to add to the theme.  And Heather CAN SING!  But it’s not just her voice, it’s her heart that shines through as well.  I’m telling you, it was just a powerful day!
• My message was about coming home.  I used the different elements of a traditional Nativity scene as symbols that communicate a bigger truth all pointing toward God coming to earth, reaching out to us, so that we would come home to Him.  I need to go back through the Connect Cards, but I think 3 people indicated that they gave their life to Christ and came home to God!  That’s what it’s all about!
• Janet, our Children’s Ministry Director, bragged this afternoon about two of her Nursery Volunteers – Ronda and Diana!  Way to go guys!  Your dedication to Coastal and to the little ones in particular is inspiring!  Thank you for all that you do!
• And speaking of Ronda, she gave me some homemake “buckeyes” today (creamy peanut butter goodness covered in chocolate).  I’m definitely not a Ohio State fan, but I love me some “buckeyes!”
• Katielee, thanks for always staying to the end and making sure that everything is clean!
• We had a couple of homeless guys sleeping in a tent in the woods behind our church.  They got some hot food today, met a few guys that might have some work, and we were able to provide a warm place to stay for at least a couple of days and get them out of the cold.  Tomorrow we’ll be working on more permanent shelter.  Again – way to go Coastal!
• Had multiple conversations today with new people who just love our church!  One guy told me that he’s never felt so welcome.  Another guy came to church for the first time in his life except for funerals – absolutely loved it!
• Just love it when people in our church get excited about bringing their friends!
• Went to a little girl’s two year birthday party today after church.  Thanks for inviting us Charna!  Happy Birthday Sophie!
• All of our Cafe volunteers did a great job today – really got into the whole Christmas theme.  They made homemade hot apple cider and it was AWESOME!  And then tonight we had bacon wrapped scallops and bacon wrapped beef tenderloin!  Everything is better with bacon!  And no we won’t be having the “Meat Manger Scene” that I showed during my sermon.  No one will be eating baby Jesus!
• The Gamecocks probably don’t want me pulling for them anymore, although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my fault.

Well, that’s about it!  Check out a few pictures from today on my Facebook page.  I’ll let you know later this week where we stand with our Christmas Offering.  Good night!

Okay, two weeks in a row – I’m back on a roll (not really, but it’s a start).  Here a few random thoughts from today and this weekend:

• I absolutely loved having my daughter Lydia home for a week!  I’m so proud of her!  Had lots of fun family time this week.  Lydia even got up EARLY on Tuesday and went to Oakland Elementary School with me.  Can’t wait to see her again in 2 weeks for Christmas Break!
• We were missing a ton of people today and we didn’t have the 6pm service, but today just had a great vibe.  Fun hearing about everyone’s Thanksgiving weekend.
• Carolina won.  Clemson lost.  The better team won – plain and simple.  The older I get, the less I let silly things like football games effect me.  But I have to admit, win or lose, I love the back and forth with everyone.  And I’m pretty sure that we have some Carolina fans who love ragging out their Pastor.  One young man couldn’t wait to come to church to show me his Carolina shirt!  I actually hope Carolina beats Auburn and represents our state well – I used to not be that way.
• I talked very openly and honestly today about prejudice – especially racism.  It’s been something that I’ve been planning on talking about for a while.  Today was confirmation that that prompting was from God.  Got lots of positive feedback, probably ruffled a few feathers, and definitely started a few conversations.  Lots of hugs and words of appreciation from several black people and interracial couples.
• Great to have Bill Brown back today!  He’s the co-leader of our 1st Impressions Team, but he’s been in Antarctica for work.  Love his passion for Coastal!
• I want to give a shout out to Bubba & Jennifer Parsons!  They were both working in Nursery today, but on the way to church one of their children threw up.  Enough said – that right there would shut down most people.  Another family member took care of their child, they made it to church, worked Nursery, and then they stayed for the transition to the second service to make sure everything was taken care of.  Way to go guys!  (Although I’m pretty sure Bubba wasn’t going to miss the chance to rag me out about Clemson!)
• I LOVE watching my son play the guitar on Sunday morning!  I know I’m biased, but I really think he’s doing a great job.
• Janet left immediately after the 1st service to take Lydia back to college.  She’s on her way home now, but she said that the traffic has been AWFUL!  Probably the worst traveling day of the year.
• Great having Kimmie back from Africa, back at Coastal, and back on the keys!  We’re going to be hearing more about her ministry in Africa this year and we’re going to get involved!
• Christopher and I got to hang out after church today.  We have so much fun together!  Went to YoBe Frozen Yogurt.  It was VERY yummy!  Then went out to Whole Foods in Mt. Pleasant.  A couple from our church work there and told me I need to check them out for my hot sauce fix.  I was not disappointed.  And being that one of them works in the produce section, we got to sample a lot of fruit!
• Stopped at Zaxby’s the night before Thanksgiving to pick up some take out for the family.  They had just put some fries on, so our order was going to take just a few more minutes.  The manager apologized and gave us free drinks while we waited.  Honestly, he didn’t have to do that, but that small act of customer service (that cost him very little) guaranteed that we will return.  How we treat people while they wait matters.
• We put up our tree on Saturday night – one of our favorite moments of the year – lots of laughs, lots of memories, and lots of stories!
• We’re receiving a special Christmas Offering this year, from now until the first Sunday of January.  Our goal is $10,000 above and beyond our regular giving.  The money is going to our Egg Drop, Children’s Ministry (VBS), and Student Ministry – three of our greatest areas of impact.  Basically it is all going toward our community, children, and students.  I’ll be letting you know where we stand soon.  Anything we get above and beyond that goal will go toward building improvements (namely a women’s bathroom expansion).
• We gave away a bunch of turkeys this week thanks to Dan Long!  Thanks Dan!
• If you’d like to help some hurting families have a nice Christmas this year, let me know.  I have a few names.
• I WILL get back on track with healthy eating and exercise this week!  It’s a lifestyle, right?  One weekend can sink a diet, but not a lifestyle.  That’s what I keep telling myself.

Well, that’s about it.  Honestly, I missed preaching tonight and seeing some people who can only come at night, but I definitely enjoyed relaxing.  Right now I’m watching a little football, enjoying our beautiful tree, Christopher is sleeping on the sofa next to me, and I’m patiently waiting on Janet to make it home.  1Thess. 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  I have so much to be thankful for!  Later.