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Like we always say, “Work, serve, and invite like it all depends on you. Pray like it all depends on God. Trust God and celebrate the results.” Well, as always, God showed up in a big way this past Sunday! After all the craziness of having to postpone our Big Day because of the storm and the mailing going out that same week, our kick-off was still amazing! We had 732 in attendance! 23 1st Time Guest Connect Cards filled out! 6 people recommitted their life to Jesus! And most importantly, 2 more people gave their life to Jesus! Wow! Wow! Wow! Keep it up Coastal! Keep praying, keep serving, keep loving, keep inviting! Keep making room for more and more people to come to Jesus!
And then the other thing that really stood out about Sunday was how everyone responded to the different tangible ways to put their faith into action! I can’t tell you how proud I am of our church! Habitat for Humanity ReStore filled their truck! Red Cross had 2 full pages of blood donors! In fact, get this – because of your response, they are bringing the mobile blood bank to our campus on our Tailgating Sunday (you can give blood and get barbecue)! Our Food Bank was desperately low and now it is filled to overflowing! We collected lots and lots of shoeboxes, toys, and supplies for Operation Christmas Child and are in great shape as we prepare for the Wrapping & Packing Party on Friday, November 2nd! And Oakland Elementary School now has over 60 volunteers from our church! Coastal, you just never cease to amaze me! I am constantly blown away by your generosity!
Oh, and speaking of generosity – remember how you gave over $3000 to our VBS Mission Offering this Summer? It went to the Children’s Home in Zambia, Africa so that they could install irrigation pipes to bring water to their garden to supply food for the children and community. Well, check out these awesome pictures we just got this week! At Coastal Community Church, “we exist to share and experience the LIFE & LOVE of Jesus with Charleston and the world!”
Don’t forget that we go back to our “normal” service times this Sunday – 9:30am & 11:15am.
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:
1. FINALLY. . .LIFE Groups have started! And here’s the good news – it’s still not too late to sign up! There are 3 different ways to sign up for Groups at Coastal, but you only have to sign up one time/one way. You can sign up on your Connect Card, online from our website, or at the LIFE Group Tables in the back of our auditorium. Go to our website, check out the catalog, and sign up for a LIFE Group today!
2. Looking for a way to serve our community and make an IMPACT? Come and be a part of Saturday Serve! Saturday Serve meets the first Saturday of every month (the next one is October 6th) at 8:30am in the Welcome Center. We explain all the different serving opportunities that day, pray, and then send everyone off.
3. Our Annual Coastal Tailgating Day – is Sunday, October 14th! Sign up this Sunday on your Connect Card for a Tailgating Spot (we’d love to have 15-20 Tailgaters)! We’ll also have jump castles and other outdoor activities for the kids. The Mobile Blood Bank from the Red Cross will be there. And after each service, in the center of all the Tailgating Tents we’re going to have an outdoor Baptism Service! You can sign up to get Baptized on our website, on your Connect Card, or simply respond to this email.
4. New to Coastal? Join us Sunday, October 28th in the Welcome Center, immediately following the 11:15am service for our Newcomer’s Reception. This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. Pizza and childcare provided. RSVP online or on your Connect Card.
5. Pastor Ryan and his wife Gracie are expecting a Baby Girl! You are invited to a church-wide Baby Shower (men & women) in their honor on Sunday, October 28th at 6pm. The Spell’s are registered at Target and Amazon.
P.S. Being a Member of Coastal is really about being a part of a family. The next Membership Class is Monday night, October 29th, 6pm-9pm. Childcare and light refreshments are provided. You can sign up for the class on our website, or simply respond to this email.
I think we’re going to go ahead and plan some sort of “Hurricane Preparation Party” for the second week of September next year (not a bad idea)! But wow – what a crazy week! The truth is, however, we have SO MUCH to be grateful for here in the Lowcountry! Please continue to pray for Wilmington and the surrounding areas affected in North Carolina.
I do know this, I seriously can’t wait to see everyone on Sunday for our Big Day and the Kick-off of our “Losing My Religion” series! It’s going to be AWESOME! Don’t forget, we will have 3 services this Sunday – 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am. We will go back to our normal service times of 9:30am and 11:15am the following week. On top of that – LIFE Groups finally start this coming week! Woohoo!
So what can you do to help make this Sunday a success?
1. Pray! Pray for the people you are inviting and for all the people our church invited through the large postcard we sent out. Pray for people to come to know Jesus. Pray for me & my messages (3 services). Pray for our staff. Pray for our volunteers. Beg God to draw people to Himself through our church.
2. Invite! Make it a personal goal to invite and bring so many people. Send emails. Send personal messages on facebook and other social media. Share my Facebook posts. Use the invite cards/postcards we’ve been handing out.
3. Welcome! Go out of you way to speak to & welcome all of our guests (or anyone you don’t know). Help us treat everyone as our welcome, expected guests in our home. Remember, guests are GIFTS from God! Help us treat everyone that way!
4. Consider serving! A new series & new people mean we need more and more volunteers. If you’re not already serving somewhere, it’s time to start! Our 1st Impressions Team is a great place to get started. Give Chris Ranew our 1st Impressions LIFE Team Leader a call or send him an email – 706-941-2044, chrisranew@gmail.com. Our Children’s Ministry is also a great place to serve on Sunday morning. Call Janet, our Children’s Ministry Leader or send her an email – 843-442-8299, janet@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
5. Give. Special Days incur special expenses. Even though there will be a lot going on after each service, come prepared to give generously. Or better yet, you can give any time using any of the different ways we have to give at Coastal – our website, texting (843-277-8337), or our app.
4 More Things to Consider on the day of the “Big Day” itself. Parking: the farther away you park, the better! Please park at Oakland and save the closer parking for guests. Service times: the key is come to the service that your guests are coming to. BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT, come early! Everything goes smoother (Child Check-In, coffee, getting a seat, helping our guests) when you come a little earlier. Seating: no matter which service you come to, PLEASE sit to the front and center of each section. This makes more room for people as they come in. And finally, everyone PLEASE FILL OUT A CONNECT CARD!
Whew! I think that’s about it! Sunday is going to be AWESOME! Most importantly, people are going to come to Jesus! Like I’ve said Coastal, let’s pray and beg God like it all depends on Him. But then let’s work, invite, and share like it all depends on us. Then let’s walk by faith and trust God with the results!
See You & Your Friends Sunday!
For this week’s “Friday 5” here are the 5 different organizations/groups that will be on our campus this Sunday and what you can do to help!
1. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has partnered with local churches around the world to deliver 157 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in need in 160 countries. Each one—packed full of fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items—is sent with prayer that the child who receives it will experience God’s love through their simple gifts. This Sunday, we’re asking you to bring toys/items to fill these shoeboxes! Here are some suggested things to bring: Hot Wheels cars, children’s jewelry, small balls, stuffed animals, books, noise makers, yo-yo’s, travel size games, cards, small craft kits, stickers, flashlights with batteries, brushes, combs, toothbrushes, hairbands, small notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, solar powered calculators, markers, crayons, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, socks.
2. As you know, our church has a very special relationship with Oakland Elementary School – and we want to build on it! This Sunday you will have the opportunity to sign up to volunteer at the school. All it takes is 30 minutes-1 hour of your time, once or maybe twice a month. We’re looking for people who would be willing to sit with a class during lunch (to help provide a duty free lunch to teachers), volunteer in a classroom, or read with students.
(**Note: All volunteers will need to complete a background check and sign up at: http://www.ccsdschools.com/community/volunteering.)
3. The Sea Island Habitat for Humanity ReStoreraises funds and awareness for the mission of building safe, affordable houses for families in need on James and Johns Island, through re-selling donated furnishings and construction materials. The goods you give help fund affordable housing in a safe, stable environment with interest-free mortgages. Sea Island Habitat for Humanity has provided housing for over 320 local families. So this Sunday, bring old furniture, household items, building supplies (anything) to church this Sunday and they will be loaded up on the Habitat for Humanity Truck where they will be distributed to families in need.
4. 40 million people face hunger in the U.S. today — including more than 12 million children and more than five million seniors. Hunger knows no boundaries — it touches every community in the U.S., including our own. Donations to the Coastal Food Bank not only feed the hungry/hurting people here in our surrounding community, but donations are also taken out in a mobile food pantry to feed the homeless and hungry in North Charleston during our monthly Saturday Serve tailgate project. So, this Sunday, please bring nonperishable food items with you to church and help us stock our Food Bank!
5. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. A single donation can save up to three lives. In addition to facilitating the life-saving donation of blood, the American Red Crossresponds to an emergency every 8 minutes. From small house fires to multi-state natural disasters, the American Red Cross goes wherever needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter and hot meals when they need them most. This Sunday at Coastal you will an opportunity to find out what it takes to donate blood and choose a date to give blood. You will also be able to talk to a Disaster Relief Specialist and learn about volunteer opportunities in our community.
P.S. Our Annual Coastal Tailgating Day – is Sunday, October 16th! Sign up this Sunday on your Connect Card for a Tailgating Spot (we’d love to have 15-20 Tailgaters)! We’ll also have jump castles and other outdoor activities for the kids. And then after each service, in the center of all the Tailgating Tents we’re going to have an outdoor Baptism Service! You can sign up to get Baptized on our website, on your Connect Card, or simply respond to this email.
We also made the decision to postpone the launch of ALL LIFE Groups ONE WEEK. In other words, all LIFE Groups will begin the week of September 23rd. We’re still not sure what this weekend will look like in Charleston, when people who evacuated will return, and when school will resume. With all that uncertainty, it just makes sense to postpone all of our Groups one week.
We also decided to reschedule our Big Day and the kick-off of “Losing My Religion” for NEXT Sunday, September 23rd. After all the events of this week, I can’t think of a better time to put our faith into action and serve our community. Don’t forget, we will have 3 services – 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am! We are asking you to bring: supplies for Habitat for Humanity, food for our Food Bank, toys for Operation Christmas Child, sign up to give blood through the Red Cross and sign up to volunteer at Oakland Elementary School. All of those details are located on our website. If you are a volunteer and you are able, please connect with your Ministry Leader and plan to serve for one of our 3 services NEXT WEEK, September 23rd.
You definitely won’t hear this from the media this week, but I believe that the weakening of this storm is nothing more than an answer to prayer. But please keep praying. Pray for all those affected by the storm and for those who will be responding. Pray for believers everywhere to rise up and be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are hurting. Pray for our Big Day next week, that we can leverage all the events of this week to put our faith in action and make an IMPACT in our community. Pray for your ONE! Pray for everyone who got our postcard this week, that it will still have an IMPACT next week and beyond. Wherever you are and whenever you return, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Stay safe and stay prayerful. I really can’t wait to hear all your stories, HUG ALL YOUR NECKS, and hopefully see you and all your friends next Sunday, September 23rd! It’s going to be AWESOME! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor, and I love what we get to do together!
LIFE & LOVE,
Pastor Chris
1. Our 1st Impressions Team needs your help preparing for our 3 services (8:30am, 10am, 11:30am) on our Big Day on Sunday, September 23rd! Would you be willing to: drive a golf cart from the parking lot to the auditorium; stand at the guest tent and welcome first time guests; open a door before and after the service and tell people “Welcome to Coastal!”; greet people in the parking lot, making sure they know where to go; pass out bulletins so everyone gets a Connect Card and sermon outline; greet people in the auditorium so people can easily find a seat? Those are just a few spots that we need to fill for all three services! If you are interested in serving, please respond to this email or reach out to Chris Ranew at chrisranew@gmail.com or call him at 706-941-2044.
2. FINALLY. . .LIFE Groups start the week of Sunday, September 23rd! There are 3 different ways to sign up for Groups at Coastal, but you only have to sign up one time/one way. You can sign up on your Connect Card, online from our website, or at the LIFE Group Tables in the back of our auditorium. Go to our website, check out the catalog, and sign up for a LIFE Group today!
3. It’s that time of year again – FOOTBALL (Go Tigers!) – which also means it’s time for our Annual Coastal Tailgating Day – Sunday, October 16th! We’d love to have at least 15-20 people/groups volunteer for Tailgating. This year, if you tailgate, you won’t feel the pressure to feed everyone! We’re going to have a couple of people designated to provide food and we’ll provide the drinks. We’ll also have jump castles and other outdoor activities for the kids. And then after each service, in the center of all the Tailgating Tents we’re going to have an outdoor Baptism Service! You can sign up to get Baptized on our website, on your Connect Card, or simply respond to this email. Also, you can sign up to Tailgate by simply responding to this email or on your Connect Card beginning next Sunday, September 23rd. Wear your Team Colors!
4. I’m so proud of the way our church has responded to serving over at Oakland Elementary School – 40+ volunteers! If you would be willing to donate 1 hour a month or more of your time and make a difference in our community, please contact Susan Cumbie or respond to this email. For those of you who have already signed up, make sure you complete the CCSD volunteer form. You will also have an opportunity to sign up to serve next Sunday, September 23rd at the kick-off of “Losing My Religion.”
5. Our next “Saturday Serve” is Saturday, October 6th (the first Saturday of every month)! Meet at the church at 8:30am, learn about some awesome service opportunities, pray, and GO SERVE!
P.S. With Coastal canceling services this weekend, this is the perfect time for you to give online. Your consistent, faithful, generous giving enables our church to make its IMPACT! It’s easy, safe, and secure! You can give through our website, our App (yes, we have a FREE App), or TEXT any amount to 843-277-8337! Thank you!
We kick off our new series, “Losing My Religion” next Sunday, September 16th! Our postcard invitation to all of West Ashley, James Island, and Johns Island hits the mail next week! Please be in prayer for the service, my message, your ONE, and all the invitations that will be made! I hope you’ve been collecting/saving items & supplies to bring to church on that Sunday. Remember, there will be tents outside on our campus where you can sign up to give blood to the Red Cross, bring food for our Food Bank (which is very low), bring Toys/Supplies for Operation Christmas Child, and bring old household items for Habitat for Humanity Restore. Help us make an IMPACT in our community and our world! Leverage all of those opportunities when inviting your friends to church. And don’t forget, we’re having 3 services that day to make room for all our guests: 8:30am, 10am, & 11:30am!
And speaking of making an IMPACT, I’m so proud of the way our church has responded to serving over at Oakland Elementary School – 40+ volunteers! We now have a schedule of volunteers every week sitting with students/classes during lunch, providing teachers with a “duty free” lunch each week. Many of those volunteers will soon be moving into a classroom to volunteer. In fact, when people in the community call the school now to volunteer, they send them to Coastal! If you would be willing to donate 1 hour a month or more of your time and make a difference in our community, please contact Susan Cumbie or respond to this email. For those of you who have already signed up, make sure you complete the CCSD volunteer form.
LIFE & LOVE,
Pastor Chris
2. Join us this Sunday night, September 9th, at 6pm for a special night of prayer and worship as we officially ordain Ryan Spell into full time Christian Ministry as a Pastor. We will also have a special time of prayer for our Big Day the following Sunday! There will be childcare and a reception following the service! Don’t miss it!
3. Our 1st Impressions Team needs your help preparing for our 3 services (8:30am, 10am, 11:30am) on our Big Day on Sunday, September 16th! Would you be willing to: drive a golf cart from the parking lot to the auditorium; stand at the guest tent and welcome first time guests; open a door before and after the service and tell people “Welcome to Coastal!”; greet people in the parking lot, making sure they know where to go; pass out bulletins so everyone gets a Connect Card and sermon outline; greet people in the auditorium so people can easily find a seat? Those are just a few spots that we need to fill for all three services! If you are interested in serving, please respond to this email or reach out to Chris Ranew at chrisranew@gmail.com or call him at 706-941-2044.
4. Woohoo! LIFE Groups start the week of Sunday, September 16th! There are 3 different ways to sign up for Groups at Coastal, but you only have to sign up one time/one way. You can sign up on your Connect Card, online from our website, or at the LIFE Group Tables in the back of our auditorium. Go to our website, check out the catalog, and sign up for a LIFE Group today!
5. It’s that time of year again – FOOTBALL (Go Tigers!) – which also means it’s time for our Annual Coastal Tailgating Day! We’d love to have at least 15-20 people/groups volunteer for Tailgating. This year, if you tailgate, you won’t feel the pressure to feed everyone! We’re going to have a couple of people designated to provide food and we’ll provide the drinks. We’ll also have jump castles and other outdoor activities for the kids. And then after each service, in the center of all the Tailgating Tents we’re going to have an outdoor Baptism Service! You can sign up to get Baptized on our website, on your Connect Card, or simply respond to this email. Also, you can sign up to Tailgate by simply responding to this email or on your Connect Card beginning next Sunday, September 16th. Wear your Team Colors!
P.S. We’ve been praying for all of the names that people have turned in that they’re inviting to our Big Day. I am overwhelmed with all the ONE‘s you’re reaching out to, loving, serving, and praying for. If you have a name that you’d like for us to add to our list, simply respond to this email or turn it in on your Connect Card on Sunday.
SUNDAYS
8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am
460 Arlington Drive,
Charleston, SC 29414
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