Monthly Archives

November 2017

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Giving Tuesday!

Dear Coastal,

There’s “Black Friday”, “Cyber Monday” and today is typically called, “Giving Tuesday”!  Regardless of what labels we assign these days, the reality is that more people will buy more stuff online this week and over the next month than any other time of the year. That’s not a bad thing, but it isn’t eternal.  Our church exists to share and experience the LIFE and LOVE of Jesus with Charleston & the world –  and that IS eternal!

So, while you are shopping online over the next month, why not consider doing one of 3 things.  And here’s my CYBER OFFER: 100% of your investment will go to reaching people for Jesus!

  1. Go here and give to God through the local church from our website. The investment is eternal.  It lasts way longer than a big screen, toy, or new shoes.  You do not have to have a PayPal account to give.
  2. Many people give to Coastal with their smartphone through TEXTING!  After a one step, one time registration process (takes less than 2 minutes), you simply text any amount to 843-277-8337 and hit send.  GIVE IT A TRY!  You can give any amount, any where, any time, any place.  It is not billed to your phone.  It is through your Bank/Credit Card that you register.  It is simple, safe, and secure.
  3. If you haven’t done so already, download our church app onto your phone, ipod, or tablet.  Simply go to your app store and search for Coastal Community Church Charleston.  It’s free!  Not only is it a great way to spread the Word and keep up with all things Coastal, but you can GIVE through our app as well!  Simply click on the giving tab and follow the instructions.

Today would be a great time to start giving toward our Christmas Offering – simply use the keyword “Christmas”.  This year’s Christmas Offering is going toward our Student Ministry (Camp), our Children’s Ministry (VBS), remodeling our Coastal Kidz Building, and our Summer of IMPACT serving our community.  Our goal that enables us to fully fund each of these iniatives is $60,000!  Each and every gift counts – small and large.  We can’t all give the same amount, but we can each sacrifice.  And when all of us do that together, that’s when God does a miracle.

Happy Shopping (and Giving)!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  We’re back to our regular service times this Sunday of 9:30am and 11:15am.  We’re in a new series called, “grateful.”  I promise – you’ll be glad you came!  And make plans now to attend one of our two Familiy Christmas Eve Services, Sunday night, December 24th at 5:30pm or 7pm (no morning services).

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Friday’s Five – 11-24-17

Dear Coastal,

Don’t forget that we only have one combined service again this weekend at 9:30am (no 11:15am service).  We’re kicking off a new series called, “Grateful.”  Don’t miss it!  If you’re still out of town, remember you can watch our services LIVE from our website at https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/resources/live.

We had quite an IMPACTful weekend at Coastal this past week!  First of all, I want to thank everyone who supported our Student Ministry by helping with, coming out, and bidding on items at the Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction.  It was a great event that raised over $8000 for their Winter Retreat.  Please continue to pray for our Students and their Retreat and that lives are changed!  We hope to take approximately 60 Students to the Retreat (January 12-15).

And then what can I say about our ONE Service/Party?!  I told you back in January that when we reached our goal of 52 people giving their life to Jesus this year that we were going to celebrate – and celebrate we did!   I also announced our goal for 2018 – 100 Salvations & 100 Baptisms!  How are we going to reach that goal?  By making an IMPACT – ONE life at a time!  We will pray like it all depends on God;  love, serve, give, share, invite like it all depends on us; walk by faith and trust God with the results!  Read the Parable of the Talents this week (Matthew 25:14-30).  I believe that God is calling on us to double our IMPACT!

And then something else IMPACTful happened on Monday that many of you might not have seen.  Oakland Elementary School donated over 2800 canned goods and food items for our food bank – more than doubling what they gave last year!  Not only will their donation mean that our Food Bank will be fully stocked for months to come, but on Sunday, December 3rd we’re going to do something called, “Feed Charleston.”  When you come to church that Sunday there will be several tables of pre-bagged food.  We’re asking everyone to take a bag of food and give it to someone in need – a nearby shelter, a shut-in, someone in your community.  Start thinking now about who you will bless.

Ministry Opportunity Spotlight:

Today, I’d like to highlight our Chair Set-Up Ministry.  I jokingly call our facility a Worshi-Gym-Atorium!  What does that mean?  Our facility gets used by our church and our community all week long!  That’s exactly what we hoped for when we built our facility – that it would be a tool for ministry and growth.  Now what does that practically mean for our church week in and week out?  It means that we have to “stack & pack” our chairs after the last service on Sunday and set-up the chairs again on Saturday morning at 9am.  During the LIFE Group Semester, each one of our Groups volunteers at least once to help with set-up.  But there is also a faithful group of volunteers who come almost every Saturday to help set up the chairs.  With 8 or more people, it only takes 30 minutes or less.  But that 30 minutes makes a huge IMPACT during the week!  If you are interested in volunteering, you can respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, or email Joey Broach directly at joey.broach14@gmail.com.

Friday’s 5:

  1. Our 6th Annual Christmas Offering has begun!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 14th (7 more weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to this year’s special Christmas Offering.  Our goal is BIG – $60,000 – but what we keep learning over and over again is that we serve a BIGGER GOD!  To give toward the Christmas Offering, simply designate your gift with the word “Christmas.”  Remember this is above and beyond your regular giving.  Our theme for 2018 is “IMPACT”.  This offering simply enables our church to continue to make an IMPACT in our church, community, and world!
  2. On Friday night, December 1st, 6:30pm-8:30pm, we are having an Oyster Roast & Appreciation Party for all LIFE Group & Ministry Leaders!  If you are interested in leading, assisting, or hosting a LIFE Group in the new semester of 2018, please let us know now on your Connect Card or contact Pastor Scott at scottw@coastalcommunitychurch.org.  Childcare will be provided.
  3. New to Coastal?  Like to meet our Staff, Ministry Leaders and other new people like yourself?  Like to learn more about Pastor Chris and the history of our church?  Make plans to attend our next Necomer’s Reception, Sunday, December 3rd, immediately after our 11:15am service (it’s only about 30 minutes).  Childcare and pizza are provided.  You can sign up for our Newcomer’s Reception on our website, on your Connect Card on Sunday, or simply by responding to this email now.
  4. Interested in offically making Coastal your church home?  Our next Membership Class is Monday night, December 4th, 6pm-9pm.  Childcare and refreshments provided. You can sign up online, on your Connect Card on Sunday, or respond to this email.
  5. WAVES Student Christmas Party – Wednesday night, December 13th at 6pm.  Bring a gift for the Annual White Elephant Gift Exchange!  Wear your favorite Christmas PJ’s or Christmas Sweater!  Invite & bring your friends!

With a Grateful Heart!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  While you’re shopping online this weekend, don’t forget that you can also give online.  You can give through our website, our App, or TEXT any amount to 843-277-8337 and give to our Annual Christmas Offering!  Use the keyword “Christmas.”  It’s simple, safe, secure, and convenient!

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Happy Thanksgiving 2017

Dear Coastal,

I just want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and tell you how very thankful I am for you and for the privilege and honor of being your Pastor.  Coastal is not just a church I attend or a place where I work.  It is a family I belong to, a community I’m a part of.

1Thessalonians 5:18 says, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  One of the questions I get asked more than any other is, “What’s God’s will for my life?”  Part of God’s will for all of us is gratitude.  We might not be able to give thanks FOR all circumstances, but we can choose to give thanks IN all circumstances.

Each year brings with it ups and downs, joys and sorrows, big & small changes.  Through it all, it is my prayer that we are a grateful people and just a little bit more like Jesus.  Ephesians 1:3, “How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.”  We belong to Jesus and because of that we are blessed!  It is my prayer, that in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of today and this weekend, that you will choose to see all the blessings in your life and be reminded that the greatest of those is that you belong to Jesus!

If you and your family are in town, we would love to see you at Coastal on Sunday!  There will only be 1 morning service this Sunday: 9:30am!  This is a great time of the year to come back to church!  We begin a new Christmas series this Sunday entitled, of all things, “Grateful.”  Take advantage of this season and this series and invite your friends to church!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Chris

P.S. This weekend & the week ahead will see the largest traffic of onlline shopping of the year.  While you’re shopping, don’t forget that you can also give online.  You can give through our website, our App, or TEXT any amount to 843-277-8337 and give to our Annual Christmas Offering!  Use the keyword “Christmas.”  It’s simple, safe, secure, and convenient!

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Friday’s Five – 11-17-17

Dear Coastal,

There are so many exciting things going on at Coastal right now, I don’t know where to begin!  So I decided to start on a personal level. If you haven’t heard yet our daughter Lydia is getting married!  Andrew proposed this past Sunday at sunset on Newport Beach out in Southern California (and she said “yes” of course).  The wedding will be May 27th, there in California, over Memorial Weekend.  I’ll be giving Lydia away AND performing the ceremony (hmmm, what will I say – haha)!  At some point they will come out to Charleston and we’ll throw a little party for them.  We’re so excited and grateful!

Now, what’s happening at Coastal you ask?  Well for starters the WAVES Student Ministry Silent Auction & Spaghetti Dinner is TONIGHT 6:30pm-8:30pm! Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door if you haven’t gotten one yet. All the proceeds go to the Winter Retreat.  The most important thing though is to come out and bid on items at the Silent Auction and buy some cool new WAVES Apparel.  Trust me, there will be a wide variety of great stuff to bid on!  Come prepared to support our Student Ministry!

And then of course THIS SUNDAY is our ONE Combined Service & Party to celebrate reaching our goal of at least 52 people giving their life to Christ this year!  The one service time is 9:30am (no 11:15am service).  Immediately after the service, we’re going to feed you!  There will be Barbeque (of course),  chicken, mac & cheese, red rice, cole slaw, drinks, and CAKE!  Make plans to be there and most importantly, invite & bring someone to join you!  It’s going to be an AWESOME day!  Oh and feel free to bring lawn chairs, corn hole, frisbee, and enjoy the day with your Coastal friends & family!

Ministry Opportunity Spotlight:

Today, I’d like to highlight our WAVES Student Ministry.  Waves Student Ministry exists to connect Students (6th-12th Grade) to each other and grow deeper in their faith.  The goal is to build real, lasting relationships with God and each other.  Every Wednesday night (6pm-8:15pm) during the school year, Students come together for a time of Food, Fellowship, Games, Worship, Message, and Small Groups.  Throughout the year there are Service Projects, Retreats, and Camp!  For more information you can check out their webpage at https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/connect/students/.   If you have a heart for Students and are interested in learning more about how you can get involved, you can respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, email Pastor Ryan directly at ryan@coastalcommunitychurch.org or call him at 843-442-8985.

Friday’s 5:

  1. Our 6th Annual Christmas Offering has begun!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 14th (8 more weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to this year’s special Christmas Offering.  Our goal is BIG – $60,000 – but what we keep learning over and over again is that we serve a BIGGER GOD!  To give toward the Christmas Offering, simply designate your gift with the word “Christmas.”  Remember this is above and beyond your regular giving.  Our theme for 2018 is “IMPACT”.  This offering simply enables our church to continue to make an IMPACT in our church, community, and world!

  2. On Friday night, December 1st we are having an Oyster Roast & Appreciation Party for all LIFE Group & Ministry Leaders!  If you are interested in leading, assisting, or hosting a LIFE Group in the new semester of 2018, please let us know now on your Connect Card or contact Pastor Scott at scottw@coastalcommunitychurch.org

  3. New to Coastal?  Like to meet our Staff, Ministry Leaders and other new people like yourself?  Like to learn more about Pastor Chris and the history of our church?  Make plans to attend our next Necomer’s Reception, Sunday, December 3rd, immediately after our 11:15am service (it’s only about 30 minutes).  Childcare and pizza are provided.  You can sign up for our Newcomer’s Reception on our website, on your Connect Card on Sunday, or simply by responding to this email now.

  4. Interested in offically making Coastal your church home?  Our next Membership Class is Monday night, December 4th, 6pm-9pm.  Childcare and refreshments provided. You can sign up online, on your Connect Card on Sunday, or respond to this email.

  5. WAVES Student Christmas Party – Wednesday night, December 13th at 6pm.  Bring a gift for the Annual White Elephant Gift Exchange!  Wear your favorite Christmas PJ’s or Christmas Sweater!  Invite & bring your friends!

All In!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  Can’t wait to see you at 6:30pm tonight for our WAVES Student Ministry Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction!  Come out and support our Student and BUY SOME STUFF!

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Friday’s Five – 11-10-17

Dear Coastal,

I can’t tell you how excited I am about our Operation Christmas Child Wrapping & Packing Party TONIGHT, 6pm at the church!  We’ll start setting up the auditorium beginning at 10:30am (come out and help if you’re available).  Our goal tonight is 500 PACKED BOXES!  That’s more than triple what we’ve done before!  Come help make that dream a reality and celebrate what God is doing through our church!  It’s a great way to kick off the Holiday Season!

Another exciting event and an example of what God is doing through our church is our ONE Service & Party on Sunday, November 19th – ONE Big Combined Service and ONE Big Party to celebrate 52 people already giving their life to Christ this year!  The one service time is 9:30am.  Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss this service!  We’re going to CELEBRATE Coastal Style!  And then immediately after the service, we’re going to feed you!  There will be Barbeque (of course), fried chicken, mac & cheese, red rice, and CAKE!  Make plans to be there and most importantly, invite & bring your friends to join you!  It’s going to be an AWESOME day!  Oh and feel free to bring lawn chairs, corn hole, frisbee, and enjoy the day with your Coastal friends & family!

You should have received our Annual Christmas Offering Letter/Email from me already this week.  Our goal is BIG – $60,000 – but what we keep learning over and over again is that we serve a BIGGER GOD!  You can start giving toward the Christmas Offering this Sunday, simply designate your gift “Christmas.”  Remember this is above and beyond your regular giving.  Our theme for 2018 is “IMPACT”.  This offering simply enables our church to continue to make an impact in our church, community, and world!  Involve your entire family and start praying about what you can give.

Ministry Opportunity Spotlight:

Today, I’d like to highlight our Security Team.  Honestly, I wish we didn’t even have to talk about Security at church – but obviously we do.  People want to know, “Am I safe here?  Are my children safe and secure here?  Are you doing everything in your power to reasonably ensure my safety?”  Well, you might not be aware of this, but each and every Sunday at Coastal we have a group of volunteers stationed all over our campus who do their best to help provide a safe and secure environment for us and our children.  The Security Team is led by Bryan Miller, a former SC State Trooper and Stephen Voges, a Sargent in the City of Charleston Police Department.  In fact, beginning this month we will also have a uniformed off duty City of Charleston Police Officer providing security at both of our services.  If you have any Security/LEO experience and are interested in learning more about our Security Team and possibly volunteering, you can respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, email Bryan directly at bryan.bcmill@gmail.com, or call him at 843-296-2991.

Friday’s 5:

  1. The WAVES Student Ministry Silent Auction & Spaghetti Dinner is one week from today, Friday, November 17th, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from our students or Ryan Spell. All the proceeds go to the Winter Retreat.  If you have something to donate (goods, services, items, trips, memorabilia), you can sign up on your Connect Card, email ryan@coastalcommunitychurch.org, or give Ryan a call at 843-442-8985.  Come prepared to support our Student Ministry!

  2. Several dates to put on your calendar:  ONE Combined Service on Sunday, Nov. 19th at 9:30am (ONE Party).  One Combined Service on Sunday, Nov. 26th at 9:30am (Thanksgiving Weekend).  And for all you planners, we’re having 2 Family Style Christmas Eve Services on Sunday, December 24th at 5:30pm & 7pm (no Sunday morning services).

  3. Pastor Chris & Pastor Scott are leading a Trip to the Holy Land next year!  The dates are November 5-14, 2018.  The cost is $4200 (could be less depending on how many people go).  If you are interested in going, there will be an information meeting immediately after church THIS Sunday, November 12th in the 1st-5th Grade auditorium.  You can also learn more about the trip by visiting this link: http://www.maranathatours.com/Diamond-Nov-2018-Israel

  4. ONE Can makes a huge difference!  Help us stock our Food Bank!  You might not be aware of this, but throughout the week we give away A LOT of food to hungry/hurting people in our community.  We accept all non-perishable food items, but definitely need rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, soups, canned meats, and canned fruit.  Simply bring the food with you to church on Sundays or drop it off during the week.  Thanks!

  5. New to Coastal?  Like to meet our Staff, Ministry Leaders and other new people like yourself?  Like to learn more about Pastor Chris and the history of our church?  Make plans to attend our next Necomer’s Reception, Sunday, December 3rd, immediately after our 11:15am service (it’s only about 30 minutes).  Childcare and pizza are provided.  You can sign up for our Newcomer’s Reception on our website, on your Connect Card on Sunday, or simply by responding to this email now.

All In!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  Can’t wait to see you 6pm tonight for our Operation Christmas Child Wrapping & Packing Party!

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Friday’s Five – 11-3-17

Dear Coastal,

Okay, so this is your official Pastoral reminder.  This Sunday is Time Change Sunday!  But don’t worry, it’s the “good one.”  Your clocks “Fall Back” one hour.  So what are you going to do with that extra hour of sleep?  This would be the perfect Sunday to “fall back” into some good habits for your Spiritual Growth.  If it’s been a while since you’ve been at Coastal, come back.  You need it, and we need you!  We’re better together.  Start reading your Bible.  Spend some time in prayer.  Download the youversion.com app and start a daily devotional.  Everyone has a next step to grow spiriutally.  Renew your commitment to take yours – whatever that may be.  And remember we’re here to help you in that journey!  1 Timothy 4:7, “Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.”

THIS SUNDAY IS THE LAST SUNDAY TO BRING ITEMS FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAST CHILD!  Help us reach our goal of filling 500 BOXES!  Bring any toys that will fit in a shoe box (no perishables, liquids, used items, candy, or toys associated with war or fighting).  Our Wrapping & Packing Party will be next Friday, November 10th, 6pm at the church.  You can also donate money directly to the church to be used to purchase toys.  Simply designate your offering envelope, check, or text – “occ”.

I’m getting so excited for our ONE Service & Party on Sunday, November 19th – ONE Big Combined Service and ONE Big Party to celebrate 52 people already giving their life to Christ this year!  The service time is 9:30am.  Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss this service!  We’re going to CELEBRATE Coastal Style!  Immediately after the service, we’re going to feed you!  There will be Barbeque (of course), fried chicken, mac & cheese, red rice, and CAKE!  Make plans to be there and most importantly, invite & bring a friend to join you!  It’s going to be AWESOME!  Oh and feel free to bring lawn chairs, blankets, corn hole, frisbee, and enjoy the day with your Coastal friends & family!  

Ministry Opportunity Spotlight:

Today, I’d like to highlight our Tech Team!  Each Sunday during both Worship Services, the Tech Team manages everything that you see and hear on our stage and live online.  They take care of our lights, video, and projection.  If you have any technology/worship service production experience, are focused and quick on your feet, and can multi-task, this team just might be for you! If you’re interested in serving, simply respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, or reach out to Brian Hill, our Worship Pastor, at 843-814-6066 or brian@coastalcommunitychurch.org.

Friday’s 5:

  1. If you’d like to help NOW with Operation Christmas Child, please see Teresa Spell.  There are shoe boxes to wrap and other various things that need to be done in preparation for the Wrapping & Packing Party.  You can email her at TeresaSpel@aol.com or call her at 843-442-4555.

  2. The WAVES Student Ministry Silent Auction & Spaghetti Dinner will be Friday, November 17th, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from our students or Ryan Spell. All the proceeds go to the Winter Retreat.  The reason you need to know about it now is that Ryan needs to start collecting a list of goods/services/items that you might be willing to donate for the auction.  If you have something to donate (goods, services, items, trips, memorabilia), you can sign up on your Connect Card, email ryan@coastalcommunitychurch.org, or give him a call at 843-442-8985.

  3. Several dates to put on your calendar:  ONE Combined Service on Sunday, Nov. 19th at 9:30am (ONE Party).  One Combined Service on Sunday, Nov. 26th at 9:30am (Thanksgiving Weekend).  Newcomer’s Reception, Sunday December 3rd, immediately after the 11:15am service.  Membership Class, Monday December 4th, 6-9pm.  And for all you real planners out there, we’re having 2 Family Style Christmas Eve Services on Sunday, December 24th at 5:30pm & 7pm (no Sunday morning services).

  4. Pastor Chris & Pastor Scott are leading a Trip to the Holy Land next year!  The dates are November 5-14, 2018.  The cost is $4200 (could be less depending on how many people go).  If you are interested in going, there will be an information meeting immediately after church next Sunday, November 12th in the 1st-5th Grade auditorium.  You can also learn more about the trip by visiting this link: http://www.maranathatours.com/Diamond-Nov-2018-Israel

  5. ONE Can makes a huge difference!  Help us stock our Food Bank!  You might not be aware of this, but throughout the week we give away A LOT of food to hungry/hurting people in our community.  We accept all non-perishable food items, but definitely need rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, soups, canned meats, and canned fruit.  Simply bring the food with you to church on Sundays or drop it off during the week.  Thanks!

All In!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  Have you heard that this Sunday is Time Change Sunday! Your clocks will “Fall Back” one hour!

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