Dear Coastal,

I sincerely hope that you and your family had a wonderful, joy filled, Christ centered Christmas!  And if you were able to come to one of our 2 Christmas Eve services, I hope you were as blessed as I was!  It was such a great way to close out 2016 and be reminded that Jesus really is the light of the world.

I hope that you have been able to take some time off from work and spend it with family & friends over the last week!  I know we have at the Rollins home, and it’s been nice.  We take our daughter back to the airport tomorrow.  Although goodbyes are always tough, we’ve had a great visit and just knowing that she has great friends, in a great church, in a great Small Group and that she is pursuing God’s plan for her life, makes it so much easier.  I’m not sure we’ll make it to midnight tomorrow, but I’m pretty sure we’ll be watching football, flipping channels, and listening to neighbhorhood fireworks.  I know – pretty wild & crazy stuff!

This Sunday is January 1st, 2017 and we will only have 1 service – 9:30am.  I realize that a lot people will be out of town this weekend or out late celebrating on New Year’s Eve (maybe we should have ditched the early service – haha) or have family obligations on New Year’s Day, but If you are in town, make every effort to come on Sunday.

Usually, this time of the year, I share my annual “Year In Review/Year Ahead” message.  This year, I feel compelled to do something different.  2016 has been a very difficult, painful year for a lot of people.  The truth is, that could be said every year.  But all over social media, most Year End Reviews/Reflections or New Year’s Eve Parties are all about saying good riddance or #%!@ to 2016!  Much has been made and said about all the famous people/celebrities who have died this year.  Some guy even started a GoFund Me page to keep Betty White alive!  It’s always sad to hear about the loss of life and the pain and grieving of families, and many of those icons who passed away had varying degrees of impact on our collective lives.  However, for me it was the phone call I got, yet again this morning, from a member of my Coastal family, who lost a loved one this week that seems to impacts me the most.

There is a real crisis of hope in our world today.  On Christmas Eve, I talked about Jesus – the Light of the World.  Well, this Sunday, on New Year’s Day, I want to talk about Jesus – the Hope of the World.  Don’t miss it.  I think we need to be reminded that when this world is hopeless, when everything seems to be crashing in around us, as followers of Jesus, we still have hope.  I can’t think of a better way to start 2017!  Invite and bring a friend!

One of the things that I will always look back on 2016 and remember is the generosity of our church.  And it’s not just the generous giving of a few.  It’s the growing, Biblical giving of many.  I think people are really beginning to understand that although we all can’t give the same amount, we can all sacrifice together.  I think more and more people are beginning to understand that each gift counts and each gift matters, no matter how big or how small.  I think more and more people are beginning to understand that consistent giving, over time, makes a huge impact.  And finally I think more and more people are stepping out in faith, trusting God with their finances, and beginning to tithe – giving 10% of their gross income.  And what those people are discovering is that you can’t outgive God and that if you take care of God’s business, He will take care of yours.  I pray that what I’ve seen in 2016 is just the foundation of what’s to come in the new year and beyond.

So, if you are wanting to give and have it counted as a part of 2016, you only have today and tomorrow to do so.  The easiest way to do that would be to give online or to give by TEXTing.  If you’ve never given by TEXTing this would be a great opportunity to give it a try.  Simply text any amount to our giving number 843-277-8337 and hit send.  After a one step sign up process with your bank account (takes less than 2 minutes), you’re done.  It’s that simple.  This Sunday (January 1st) and next Sunday (January 8th) are the last services to give to our Christmas Offering.  Right now, we have given over $30,000!  While that seems a long way from our goal of $50,000, I’m so proud of our church and excited to see the Kingdom Impact of that investment!  While goals are good and give us something to strive towards, my attitude has always been to “work like all depends on us, pray like it all depends on God, and then trust God with the results and celebrate!”  We will announce the total amount given on Sunday, January 15th.

Friday’s 5:

1. We’re in the planning stages of our Spring Semester (February-May) of LIFE Groups.  If you are intersted in leading, assisting, or hosting a group, please let us know on your Connect Card on Sunday.
2. There is a First Impressions Team Oyster Roast/Planning Meeting on Sunday, January 8th, 2017, 4-6:30pm at Coastal!  It’s for all current 1st Impressions Team Members and those interested in serving!
3. Interested in offically making Coastal your church home?  Our next Membership Class is Monday, January 9th, 6-9pm.  Childcare and refreshments provided.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Sunday.
4. New to Coastal?  Want to learn more about the church and find out how to get connected?  Join us for  the next Newcomer’s Reception, Sunday, January 22nd, 2017 immediately following the 11:15am service in the Welcome Center.  Meet other new people and our staff, enjoy some great desserts and coffee, win some prizes and discover possible next steps.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Sunday.
5. Looking for a place to serve at Coastal?  Don’t want to miss a service?  Enjoy technology and fast on your feet (fingers)?  We’re looking for volunteers in our Tech Booth – specifically with computer (slide presentation), lights, and video.  If you’re slightly tech savvy and have the desire, we’d love to train you!  Respond to this email, contact Christopher (chrisrollinsjr@gmail.com), or let us know on your Connect Card.

Happy New Year!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  There will only be one service this Sunday morning, January 1st, 9:30am!

Dear Coastal,

I want to thank everyone again for all the love shown to my family for my son’s wedding this past weekend!  I say it all the time – this is not just a job for me, Coastal is my family!  And what a loving family I have!

One of the things that made this past Sunday so awesome was the response to all the food that was given to our Food Bank from Oakland Elementary School.  We bagged it all up and then encouraged everyone to take a bag and help us feed our community.  ALL THE FOOD WAS TAKEN!  You guys ROCK!

I hope you’re as excited as I am for our 2 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services, tomorrow night, Saturday, December 24th, 5:30pm or 7pm!  We’ve had a Christmas Eve Service from the beginning of our church, however we’ve not actually incorporated lighting candles in a long time – maybe 10 years! Honestly, I’m looking forward to it.  There’s just something nostalgic, something warm, something beautiful about lighting candles, listening to O Holy Night, passing the light along, and singing Silent Night together!  And leading up to that my brief message will be about Jesus – the light of the world!  I hope you’ll come.  I hope you’ll invite and bring guests!

Our entire offering for both Christmas Eve Services will be going to our Christmas Offering.  As always, you can give online, text, our app, swipe a bank card, or use the offering envelope.  Since so many people will be out of town and we will only have 1 service (9:30am) on January 1st, you can give toward the Christmas Offering until January 8th.

Please be praying for our WAVES Student Ministry (6th-12th Grade).  Their Winter Retreat is fast approaching – January 13-16!  They are taking the largest group we’ve ever had – 60 (students & chaperones)!  Parents, all money for the Retreat is due Friday, January 6th.  If you are interested in sponsoring a Student or helping to cover expenses, please contact Ryan Spell – ryan@coastalcommunitychurch.org.

Friday’s 5:

1. We’re in the planning stages of our Spring Semester (February-May) of LIFE Groups.  If you are intersted in leading, assisting, or hosting a group, please let us know on your Connect Card on Saturday night.
2. There is a First Impressions Team Oyster Roast/Planning Meeting on Sunday, January 8th, 2017, 4-6:30pm at Coastal!  It’s for all current 1st Impressions Team Members and those interested in serving!
3. Interested in offically making Coastal your church home?  Our next Membership Class is Monday, January 9th, 6-9pm.  Childcare and refreshments provided.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Saturday night.
4. New to Coastal?  Want to learn more about the church and find out how to get connected?  Join us the next Newcomer’s Reception, Sunday, January 22nd, 2017 immediately following the 11:15am service in the Welcome Center.  Meet other new people and our staff, enjoy some great desserts and coffee, win some prizes and discover possible next steps.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Saturday night.
5. Looking for a place to serve at Coastal?  Don’t want to miss a service?  Enjoy technology and fast on your feet (fingers)?  We’re looking for volunteers in our Tech Booth – specifically with computer (slide presentation), lights, and video.  If you’re slightly tech savvy and have the desire, we’d love to train you!  Respond to this email, contact Christopher (chrisrollinsjr@gmail.com), or let us know on your Connect Card.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  There will be no services on Sunday morning, December 25th.  There will only be one service on Sunday morning, January 1st, 9:30am.  Our Christmas Services are on Christmas Eve – 5:30pm & 7pm.

Dear Coastal,

Well today at 4pm I have the great privilege of performing the wedding ceremony for my son Christopher and his fiance Lizzy!  To say that I’m excited is an understatement!  Keep me in your prayers.  I think our staff has an office pool going for how long it takes for me to break down into a blubbering mess.  But the good news is that they will be tears of joy!  We absolutely love Lizzy and couldn’t be more proud of them both.  We’re not losing our son, we’re gaining a daughter!  And you’re all invited to the party/reception afterwards at Palmetto Brewery at 7pm.  Love for you to join us!

We continue our Christmas series entitled, “Misfits” this Sunday.  Each week we’re looking at some of the unlikely characters and circumstances of the Christmas Story.  This is a great time of the year to make an easy invite and bring a friend!

And speaking of inviting and bringing friends – make plans now to come to one of our 2 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services, Saturday, December 24th, 5:30pm or 7pm!  And yes – we will be lighting candles!   It’s going to be a lot of fun and we will be giving away some gifts at the end of each service!

And speaking of Christmas, don’t forget about our Christmas Offering.  The Christmas Offering is a special/separate offering that we challenge our entire church to give above and beyond toward.  Each year, the money given goes to some amazing things.  This year the money will be used for Student Ministry (camp), Children’s Ministry (VBS), Haiti (solar powered generator for the well), remodeling the old kitchen (Food Bank), and our Community Partner (Oakland).  You can give online, text, our app, swipe a card on Sunday, or use the offering envelope.  However you give toward the Christmas Offering, just make sure you designate it with the word “Christmas.”  Our entire offering at both of our Christmas Eve Services will be going toward the Christmas Offering.  If you’re here, you might want to give then.

Friday’s 5:

1. Our Food Bank has been blessed with an abundance of food donated from Oakland Elementary School.  This Sunday in each of our services we will have tables with bags of food.  Please come to church on Sunday, prepared to take a bag of food and give it to someone in need.
2. We’re in the planning stages of our Spring Semester (February-May) of LIFE Groups.  If you are intersted in leading, assisting, or hosting a group, please let us know on your Connect Card on Sunday.
3. There is a First Impressions Team Oyster Roast/Planning Meeting on Sunday, January 8th, 2017, 4-6:30pm at Coastal!  It’s for all current 1st Impressions Team Members and those interested in serving!
4. Interested in offically making Coastal your church home?  Our next Membership Class is Monday, January 9th, 6-9pm.  Childcare and refreshments provided.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Sunday.
5. There will be no services on Sunday morning, December 25th.  There will only be one service on Sunday morning, January 1st, 9:30am.  Our Christmas Services are on Christmas Eve – 5:30pm & 7pm.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  This Saturday, 9am (tomorrow morning) is the LAST CHAIR SET UP OF 2016! We get to leave the chairs set up the next 2 weeks!

Dear Coastal,

Last night Janet and I went and got our Christmas Tree – yes the Rollins family gets a REAL tree!  I grew up with an artificial (FAKE) tree and always wanted a real tree.  Janet grew up with a real tree and doesn’t really care.  Actually she’s always lobbied for an artificial tree because something about always being the one to water it, clean up after it – blah, blah, blah.  And every time Janet would make her case, my son Christopher would quickly come back with, “So, what you’re saying is, you hate the Baby Jesus!” (I don’t know where he gets that from.)

Well, last night as we went to get our tree, I noted that it was the first time, since I could remember, that we got a tree without either one of our children present.  Both children have now left the nest and are on their own, starting their own traditions.  Don’t be sad for us (although don’t bring it up to Janet – with the wedding just one week away from today, she’ll lose it!) – both of our children are walking with the Lord and we couldn’t be more proud of both of them.  In fact, with the wedding & Christmas this month, we get to see Lydia twice!  We can’t wait!

And speaking of our children, I want to thank our entire church for the wonderful wedding shower for my son Christopher and his fiance Lizzy this past Sunday night!  It was AWESOME!  We were all overwhelmed with the turnout, the food, the gifts, the prayers, and most importantly the LOVE!  We have the best church family!  The love that you show me and my family is humbling and overwhelming!  Thank you!  And now you’re all invited to the wedding reception – next Friday, December 16th, 7pm at the Palmetto Brewery downtown.  It’s going to be quite the party – or as Christopher says, “The Dopest!”

I hope you enjoyed the Christmas decorations this past Sunday as we kicked off our new Christmas series entitled, “Misfits.”  Each week we’re looking at some of the unlikely characters of the Christmas Story.  This is a great time of the year to make an easy invite and bring a friend!  And speaking of inviting and bringing friends – make plans now to come to one of our 2 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services, Saturday, December 24th, 5:30pm or 7pm!  And yes – we will be lighting candles!

And speaking of Christmas, don’t forget about our Christmas Offering.  The Christmas Offering is a special/separate offering that we challenge our entire church to give above and beyond toward.  It’s basically a “mini giving campaign” that lasts for 7 weeks.  Each year, the money given goes to some amazing things.  This year the money will be used for Student Ministry (camp), Children’s Ministry (VBS), Haiti (solar powered generator for the well), remodeling the old kitchen (Food Bank), and our Community Partner (Oakland).  Our BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is $50,000!  I realize that most of you haven’t given yet, but right now, we’re not even a 5th of the way there – just over $8,000.  To reach our goal, it will take our entire church – each and every one of us giving.  You can give online, text, swipe a card on Sunday, or use the offering envelope.  However you give toward the Christmas Offering, just make sure you designate it with the word “Christmas.”  Our entire offering at both of our Christmas Eve Services will be going toward the Christmas Offering.  If you’re here, you might want to give then.

Friday’s 5:

1. WAVES Student Christmas Party this coming Wednesday night, December 14th @6pm.  Bring a fun (and inexpensive) gift to exchange and wear your favorite Christmas sweater or pajamas!
2. We’re in the planning stages of our Spring Semester (February-May) of LIFE Groups.  If you are intersted in leading, assisting, or hosting a group, please let us know on your Connect Card on Sunday.
3. There is a First Impressions Team Oyster Roast/Planning Meeting on Sunday, January 8th, 2017, 4-6:30pm at Coastal!  It’s for all current 1st Impressions Team Members and those interested in serving!
4. Interested in offically making Coastal your church home?  Our next Membership Class is Monday, January 9th, 6-9pm.  Childcare and refreshments provided.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Sunday.
5. Our Security Team is looking for volunteers!  Respond to this email or sign up on your Connect Card if you’re interested in volunteering.  One person, one service, once a month makes a HUGE impact!

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  There will be no services on Sunday morning, December 25th.  There will only be one service on Sunday morning, January 1st, 9:30am.

P.S.S.  Join us for Chair Set-Up in the morning – unless otherwise noted, Saturdays at 9am!

Dear Coastal,

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”  December is here and Christmas is just around the corner!  Are you ready?  Are you excited?  Or are you overwhelmed?  Stressed?  If you’re already overwhelmed and stressed out, chances are you’ve lost your perspective.  Take some time to remember what Christmas is all about – God’s rescue plan to offer a Savior, His one and only Son, Jesus, to a lost and sinful world.  It’s all about God’s great love!  And that’s always worth getting excited about!

Some practical suggestions for the Christmas Holidays: Do your best to intentionally slow down this month.  Don’t overschedule and say yes to everything.  You might even have to say no to some good things to say yes to the best things.  Schedule simple family times – literally put it on everyone’s calendar.  Hang out with friends.  Watch a Christmas movie (my favorite is Elf).  Bake some cookies.  Drive around and see the lights.  Don’t go into debt.  It’s not worth it and it’s not what Christmas is all about.  Send a few hand written notes of love/thanks.  Take some food to a family (or a Police Station or Fire Station) unexpectedly.  Invite people to church.  Read the Christmas story (the one from Luke 2).  Go to YouVersion.com and start a Christmas Bible Reading/Devotional.

I begin a new Christmas sermon series this Sunday called, “Misfits.”  The series is all about how God uses the most unlikely of characters and circumstances to do extraordinary things.  You can see that loud and clear in the Christmas story!  You can also see that every day in you and me.  In many ways, we’re “Misfits” – damaged, broken, discarded human beings, but made beautiful, useful and wanted in God’s Kingdom.  Don’t miss this series!  And as always, invite and bring a friend!

Friday’s 5:

1. Chair Set-Up resumes as usual this Saturday (tomorrow) at 9am.  If you would be willing to serve in this ministry periodically or on a regular basis simply respond to this email or contact the “Chair-Man” Neal Van Sycoc at NealVS@aol.com.
2. We are having a church wide Wedding Shower for Christopher Rollins (my son and Coastal’s Band Director) & Elizabeth “Lizzy” Willingham THIS Sunday, December 4th, 5pm at the church.  Everyone is invited!  There will be plenty of food, fun, and CAKE – basically a BIG PARTY!
3. We’re in the planning stages of our Spring Semester (February-May) of LIFE Groups.  If you are intersted in leading, assisting, or hosting a group, please let us know on your Connect Card on Sunday.
4. There is a First Impressions Team Oyster Roast/Planning Meeting on Sunday, January 8th, 2017, 4-6:30pm at Coastal!  It’s for all current 1st Impressions Team Members and those interested in serving!
5. Interested in offically making Coastal your church home?  Our next Membership Class is Monday, January 9th, 6-9pm.  Childcare and refreshments provided.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Sunday.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  Make your plans now to attend one of our 2 Christmas Eve Services, Saturday, December 24th, 5:30pm & 7pm.  There will be no services on Sunday morning, December 25th.  There will only be one service on Sunday morning, January 1st, 9:30am.