We wrap up our “Women of the Word” series this Sunday.  As always, you’re not going to want to miss it!  Morgan Wessel is our speaker and Jennifer Schroder and Dawn Judd share their stories.  I can’t say enough good things about all the women from our church who participated in this series.  God has spoken through each of them.  I’m looking forward to hearing from more women from Coastal in the future.

And then on June 7th, not only will we be opening up our campus for in-person worship, but we’re also kicking off a new sermon series, a favorite Summer tradition here at Coastal – “At the Movies!”  The tagline this year is, “coming to a home near you!”  “At the Movies” is where we use current or popular movies, as a hook or a spring board to talk about spiritual truth.  And this year we’ll be using movies that you can watch from home on Amazon or Netflix.  In fact, instead of movie tickets, we’ll be giving away $5 Amazon Gift cards to all 1st time guests and the friend that invited them. 

Here are just a few exciting things that we’ve already got planned during this series:

• On Sunday, June 14th we’re going to use the movie, “Just Mercy” to talk about racism. And I’m excited to announce that Chris Singleton will be speaking at Coastal on that day! Chris Singleton is a professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization (who played at Charleston Southern) as well as an inspirational speaker who has been featured on ESPN’s E:60, Sports Illustrated magazine, and USA Today. Chris’ mother, Sharonda Coleman Singleton, was murdered along with eight other victims at Mother Emanuel AME Church here in Charleston on June 17th 2015 by a white male who wanted to start a race war in the United States. Chris inspired his city and the nation by forgiving the man who murdered his mother and stating that “Love is stronger than hate.”  (Read my Facebook post.)
• On Sunday, June 14th, 5pm out at Folly Beach County Park we’re having our Beach Baptism!  Come out early (traffic might be an issue) and make it a fun day for your entire family!  If you are interested in being Baptized, simply respond to this email, go to our website and sign up online, or sign up on your Online Connect Card on Sunday.  Even if you’re not being Baptized, come on out to the beach and celebrate with those who are!  Make it a fun day for the whole family!
• On Friday night, June 19th at 8:30pm we’re going to show a FREE movie on the lawn on a giant screen!  The movie we’re showing is the Disney/Pixar movie “Onward.”  Bring your blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy the evening with your family!

As you can see, it’s going to be a great series and a great start to the Summer!  So start thinking about and praying for the people you’re going to be inviting to join us for this series!

I love you Coastal, and I can’t wait to see many of you in person on June 7th!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. It’s hard to believe but this Saturday, May 30th, 11am-1pm, is the LAST WEEK (rain or shine) of our FREE “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Through.”  We have now given away over 7,000 meals!  This week’s menu: Chicken & Dumplings, Green Beans, Rolls, and Dessert – plus a free roll of toilet paper for every family!!  If you’re hungry, in need, or know someone who is, we’d love to help!  Feel free to pick up a box and deliver it to someone you know. It’s our way to love and serve our community! Help us spread the word!  At this point and at this scale, the BIGGEST WAY TO HELP is donating money. You can sponsor a meal by giving on our website: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/ or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337 and use the key word “meals” (ex. $100 meals).  The Drive-Thru is also a great opportunity to drop off non-perishable food items for our Community Food Bank.  We also need DESSERTS – cookies, pre-packaged snacks, etc.  You can drop off desserts at the church on Saturday morning 8am-10am.
2. Summer of IMPACT is a month-long effort where we as a church saturate our city with the love of Jesus through simple acts of service. One way we serve is through our partnerships with non-profit organizations all over Charleston. We enjoy serving with the Lowcountry Food Bank, Soldiers Angels, the Ronald McDonald House and Lowcountry Orphan Relief. We also have ongoing projects here at Coastal where we pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, feed the homeless and hurting at the North Charleston Tailgate and multiple other projects. There are opportunities nearly every day of the month. You simply sign-up and then show-up. Every project has a leader and every project is well-organized.  Click on this link: www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/outreach.  Take a look at all the opportunities. Find the project(s) that is right for you and sign up today. You can sign up for as many opportunities as you want. It’s easy to sign up, and it’s easy to serve. If you are looking to Make an Impact in our community, this is the way to do it!   Sign up and then show-up…it’s literally that easy.
3. Did you know that Coastal has a FREE App for your phone or mobile device? It’s an easy way to stay connected, see all the announcements, listen to or watch our messages, and fill out a Connect Card.  Download it today from your App Store!  If you’re searching for it, make sure you search for “Coastal Community Church of Charleston” or “Coastal CC Charleston” (There are other Coastal Community Churches around the country).  If it’s been a while since you checked out the App, open it up!  We’ve updated it and made some improvements for when we get back into the building and moving forward.
4. Attention all First Impressions Team Members:  We’re having a very important First Impressions Zoom Meeting that will walk you through the thought process as well as some responsibilities we will have as a team for gathering again beginning June 7th. Please plan to join us on either Sunday, May 31st OR Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:30pm. You do not need to join us for both of them, but please make it a point to attend one of them. The call should not last any longer than 20 minutes or so based on the conversation.  LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8896513365?pwd=TWxtRzFXYkxZU0IDWGhUR1pnS2QxUT09  ID: 889 651 3365  Password: chickfila
5. Many people have asked what will our Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry look like on June 7th as we move back into our building?  Here are just a few of the procedures you can expect to see:One of the first things we are doing is having both buildings professionally cleaned. They will be performing a CDC certified disinfected cleaning of high touch traffic areas.
   – All Coastal Kidz volunteers will wear masks and gloves.
   – We will wipe down all chairs, tables, and toys after each service. We will minimize the number of toys in each room to help with this.
   – At Child Check-in, volunteers will enter the information on the iPads for stickers.
   – We will use non-contact thermometers to take the temperature at child checkin of all children admitted to Coastal Kidz and all Coastal Kidz volunteers.
   – All children will either use hand sanitizer or wash their hands before entering the classroom. For smaller children, volunteers will help with this.
   – We will space the chairs farther apart in the 1st – 5th grade class and try to keep the younger ones seated farther apart in the other classrooms.
   – VIP (Volunteer Meeting) will be outside in the pergola (weather permitting) or in the new building.
   For those of you who serve on Sunday mornings in Coastal Kidz please communicate with Janet Rollins on your availability in June and start signing up to serve.
   
   P.S. If you consider Coastal your church home or if you have been blessed by the ministry of our church, we want to encourage you to continue to be faithful with your generosity.  If you would like us to mail you offering envelopes or step you through online giving, please respond to this email or call the church office (843-571-1777).  Your weekly gifts are a vital resource that allows us to continue the work that God has called us to do. When you continue to give during this crisis, your gifts allow us to maintain critical ministries that many depend on.  Thank you so much for your faithfulness!

Just 2 more weeks until we’re back in our building for worship!  As we make preparations for opening back up on June 7th, one of the changes will be NOT handing out Bulletins (Announcement Sheet, Connect Card, Offering Envelope, etc.).  We will put a Connect Card & Offering Envelope in the seat pocket of each chair.  However, the easiest way to stay connected, see all the announcements, listen to our messages, and fill out a Connect Card, will be through our App.  Yes, if you didn’t already know it, Coastal has a FREE App you can download for your phone or mobile device.  Download it today from your App Store!  If you’re searching for it, make sure you search for “Coastal Community Church of Charleston or Coastal CC Charleston” (There are other Coastal Community Churches around the country).  If it’s been a while since you checked out the App, open it up!  We’ve updated it and made some improvements for when we get back into the building and moving forward.

Many people have asked what will our Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry look like on June 7th as we move back into our building?  Here are just a few of the procedures you can expect to see:

• All Coastal Kidz volunteers will wear masks and gloves.
• We will wipe down all chairs, tables, and toys after each service. We will minimize the number of toys in each room to help with this.
• At Child Check-in, volunteers will enter the information on the iPads for stickers.
• We will use non-contact thermometers to take the temperature at child checkin of all children admitted to Coastal Kidz and all Coastal Kidz volunteers.
• All children will either use hand sanitizer or wash their hands before entering the classroom. For smaller children, volunteers will help with this.
• We will space the chairs farther apart in the 1st – 5th grade class and try to keep the younger ones seated farther apart in the other classrooms.
• VIP (Volunteer Meeting) will be outside in the pergola (weather permitting) or in the new building.

For those of you who serve on Sunday mornings (Coastal Kidz, 1st Impressions, Security, Worship Team, Tech Team) please communicate with your Ministry Leader your availability in June.  Be on the lookout for your Planning Center email and please start signing up for the month of June.

Now, for those of you who are sick, immune compromised, vulnerable, or care for those who are – or even if you’re just not ready on June 7th – please continue to watch our services online.  We live streamed our services way before COVID-19, and we will continue to do so long after.  In fact, we have invested thousands of dollars in improving and expanding our online services and capacity during this time.  I hope you have noticed and appreciated all of our efforts A huge shout out to our Tech Team, Worship Team, Pastor Ryan Spell, Christopher Rollins Jr., and Mark Crawford for all of their hard work).  

By the way, it is because of your consistent, generous giving that we are able to do everything we do at Coastal, including our online services.  If you would like to specifically help fund that expansion – cameras, lights, equipment, etc. – please let me know or simply continue to give above and beyond.

I Love You Coastal and I Love Being Your Pastor!  I can’t wait to see you soon!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. This Saturday, May 23rd, 11am-1pm, will be week 10 of our FREE “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Through.”  We have now given away thousands and thousands of meals!  This week’s menu: PULLED PORK BBQ, Rice, Lima Beans, Cole Slaw, and dessert – plus a free roll of toilet paper for every family!!  If you’re hungry, in need, or know someone who is, we’d love to help!  Feel free to pick up a box and deliver it to someone you know. It’s our way to love and serve our community! Help us spread the word!  At this point and at this scale, the BIGGEST WAY TO HELP is donating money. You can sponsor a meal by giving on our website: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/ or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337 and use the key word “meals” (ex. $100 meals).  The Drive-Thru is also a great opportunity to drop off non-perishable food items for our Community Food Bank.  We also need DESSERTS – cookies, pre-packaged snacks, etc.  You can drop off desserts at the church on Saturday morning 8am-10am.
2. Summer of IMPACT is a month-long effort where we as a church saturate our city with the love of Jesus through simple acts of service. One way we serve is through our partnerships with non-profit organizations all over Charleston. We enjoy serving with the Lowcountry Food Bank, Soldiers Angels, the Ronald McDonald House and Lowcountry Orphan Relief. We also have ongoing projects here at Coastal where we pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, feed the homeless and hurting at the North Charleston Tailgate and multiple other projects. There are opportunities nearly every day of the month. You simply sign-up and then show-up. Every project has a leader and every project is well-organized.  Click on this link: www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/outreach.  Take a look at all the opportunities. Find the project(s) that is right for you and sign up today. You can sign up for as many opportunities as you want. It’s easy to sign up, and it’s easy to serve. If you are looking to Make an Impact in our community, this is the way to do it!   Sign up and then show-up…it’s literally that easy.
3. This coming Sunday, May 24th we’ll be taking Communion together online.  If you’re able to pick up some grape juice/wine and bread this week at your local store, great.  However, they are symbols, and you can use whatever you have available (water and crackers would work just fine).  We’ll also be making up some family “Communion Packets” (ziplock bags with small containers of juice and bread) that can be picked up this morning (Friday) at the church or tomorrow (Saturday) during the Grab & Go Meal Drive-Thru.
4. On Sunday, June 7th, we kick off one of our favorite sermon series traditions here at Coastal – “AT THE MOVIES”!  This year’s tagline is “Coming to a home near you!”  “At the Movies” is where we take current or popular movies and use them as a hook to talk about spiritual truth.  ALL 1st Time Guests (and the person who invited them – YOU) will receive a FREE $5 Amazon Gift Card to watch a movie at home on us (or just to apply to your Amazon Shopping cart – haha).  Start praying and inviting now!  
5. Sign up today for our Beach Baptism on Sunday, June 14th, 4pm out at Folly Beach County Park!  Come out early (traffic might be an issue) and make it a fun day for your entire family!  If you are interested in being Baptized, simply respond to this email, go to our website and sign up online, or sign up on your Online Connect Card on Sunday.  Even if you’re not being Baptized, come on out the beach and celebrate with those who are!  Make it a fun day for the whole family!
   
   P.S. If you consider Coastal your church home or if you have been blessed by the ministry of our church, we want to encourage you to continue to be faithful with your generosity.  If you would like us to mail you offering envelopes or step you through online giving, please respond to this email or call the church office (843-571-1777).  Your weekly gifts are a vital resource that allows us to continue the work that God has called us to do. When you continue to give during this crisis, your gifts allow us to maintain critical ministries that many depend on.  Thank you so much for your faithfulness!

Just in case you didn’t see my announcement on Wednesday, I want to repeat it here.  After weeks of prayerful consideration, and in conjunction with other local churches, we will be gathering in our church building for ourWorship Services and Coastal Kidz starting JUNE 7th at 9:30am and 11:15am (while continuing to offer our services online)!

This decision has not been made lightly.  It is also made with the understanding that this is an ever-evolving/changing situation. We will continue to monitor our area, listen to our Government and Health officials, and make decisions and alterations to our plans that are both wise and prudent for our church family and community.

We also understand that there will be some who will prefer to still join us for worship from home, and we are excited to continue to provide opportunities for meaningful online worship experiences.  In fact, for many that may temporarily be the best course of action.

For those who are returning to our building, our plan includes the following:

• We encourage everyone to follow CDC guidelines (and to follow the changes they make to those guidelines) with a common sense approach in all areas of your life, including church.
• We encourage those who are vulnerable because of pre-existing conditions or caring for those who are to continue to join us online.
• We ask that anyone who feels sick or has shown any symptoms of sickness to please join us online.
• We will be asking our attendees to create space in our auditorium between families.  We will assist by spacing out our seating.
• We will be sanitizing surfaces throughout the building, including our Coastal Kidz areas, under the guidance of CDC standards. 
• Initially (for the month of June), our Cafe will be closed, and the seating in our Welcome Center removed.  When it re-opens over the Summer it will be service only (no self-serve items).
• We have ordered Pre-filled/Pre-Packaged individual communion cups that will be placed at the back of our chairs.  Cups contain both the juice and bread in a single two-part container.  Communion participants peel back one seal to remove the bread and then a second seal for the juice.  
• Connect Cards & Offering Envelopes will be placed in the backs of our chairs and can be turned in at the end of our service as people are exiting.  We will also make our Connect Card and Announcements available online.  We will continue to encourage people to give online, through TEXTing, or automate their giving through their Bank.
• We will also have contactless entry and exit of the building with our 1st Impression Team opening and closing doors.

For those of you who serve on Sunday mornings (Coastal Kidz, 1st Impressions, Security, Worship Team, Tech Team, Prayer Team) please communicate with your Ministry Leader your availability in June.  Be on the lookout for your Planning Center email and start signing up for the month of June.

The new normal at church will temporarily look and feel a little different, but judging by how well all of you have risen to the occasion during this challenge, I have great confidence that Coastal Community Church will continue to accomplish our mission of “sharing and experiencing the LIFE & LOVE of Jesus with Charleston and the world.”  In these unprecedented times, we have seen God’s work not only continue, but advance in incredible ways. We have had the opportunity, literally, to preach the Word all over the world!  

And, while we remain deeply grateful for and committed to the technology that has allowed our church to continue to assemble online, we are excited about the opportunity to gather together in person on June 7th.  Whether you choose to join us for worship in-person or online, please know that together we are still the church.  And together we will walk this out with the grace, love, and kindness of true followers of Jesus!

I Love You Coastal and I Love Being Your Pastor!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. This Saturday, May 16th, 11am-1pm, will be week 9 of our FREE “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Through.”  This week’s menu: FRIED PORKCHOP, Mac’n Cheese, Field Peas & Rice, and dessert – plus a free roll of toilet paper for every family!!  If you’re hungry, in need, or know someone who is, we’d love to help!  Feel free to pick up a box and deliver it to someone you know. It’s our way to love and serve our community! Help us spread the word!  At this point and at this scale, the BIGGEST WAY TO HELP is donating money. You can sponsor a meal by giving on our website: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/ or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337 and use the key word “meals” (ex. $100 meals).  The Drive-Thru is also a great opportunity to drop off non-perishable food items for our Community Food Bank.  We also need DESSERTS – cookies, pre-packaged snacks, etc.  You can drop off desserts at the church on Saturday morning 8am-10am.
2. Summer of IMPACT is a month-long effort where we as a church saturate our city with the love of Jesus through simple acts of service. One way we serve is through our partnerships with non-profit organizations all over Charleston. We enjoy serving with the Lowcountry Food Bank, Soldiers Angels, the Ronald McDonald House and Lowcountry Orphan Relief. We also have ongoing projects here at Coastal where we pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, feed the homeless and hurting at the North Charleston Tailgate and multiple other projects. There are opportunities nearly every day of the month. You simply sign-up and then show-up. Every project has a leader and every project is well-organized.  Click on this link: www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/outreach.  Take a look at all the opportunities. Find the project(s) that is right for you and sign up today. You can sign up for as many opportunities as you want. It’s easy to sign up, and it’s easy to serve. If you are looking to Make an Impact in our community, this is the way to do it!   Sign up and then show-up…it’s literally that easy.
3. In order for us to prepare for opening our Coastal Kidz classes on June 7th, our Coastal Kidz team needs to connect. We will have 2 very important Coastal Kidz Volunteer Zoom meetings: this Sunday, May 17, at 5:00PM and Monday, May 18, at 7:00PM. You just need to attend one. Here’s the link for our Zoom meetings:  https://zoom.us/j/4864196205.  The meeting should take less than an hour. We will discuss scheduling & safety procedures, plus a few things coming up in the future for Coastal Kidz.
4. Did you know that we have 5 Blessing Boxes in the community!  Consider choosing a Blessing Box as a family and restock it with non-perishable food, toiletries, and even notes & cards of encouragement. This can be done by going directly to the Blessing Box.  Here are the addresses to our Boxes:
   – 413 Geddes Avenue, Charleston
   – 928 Savage Road, Charleston
   – 2758 East Surrey Drive, North Charleston
   – 1998 Hugo Avenue, North Charleston
   – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd., Charleston
   If you have any questions about the Blessing Boxes, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones.
5. Operation Christmas Child has grown so much at Coastal that it is now a YEARLONG Mission of our church!  Each month we will feature a “donation of the month” to help us better prepare for the thousands of boxes we will pack and wrap in the Fall.  This month (May) we are encouraging everyone to bring coloring books.  Even though our Sunday morning Services are online right now, you can still drop off OCC items during the week at the church.  You can even pick up shoeboxes & wrapping paper to start wrapping shoeboxes.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Teresa Spell.
   
   P.S. If you consider Coastal your church home or if you have been blessed by the ministry of our church, we want to encourage you to continue to be faithful with your generosity.  If you would like us to mail you offering envelopes or step you through online giving, please respond to this email or call the church office (843-571-1777).  Your weekly gifts are a vital resource that allows us to continue the work that God has called us to do. When you continue to give during this crisis, your gifts allow us to maintain critical ministries that many depend on.  Thank you so much for your faithfulness!

I’ve got some exciting news for you!  After weeks of prayerful consideration, and in conjunction with other local churches, we will be gathering in our church building for ourWorship Services and Coastal Kidz starting JUNE 7th at 9:30am and 11:15am (while continuing to offer our services online)!

This decision has not been made lightly.  It is also made with the understanding that this is an ever-evolving/changing situation. We will continue to monitor our area, listen to our Government and Health officials, and make decisions and alterations to our plans that are both wise and prudent for our church family and community.

We also understand that there will be some who will prefer to still join us for worship from home, and we are excited to continue to provide opportunities for meaningful online worship experiences.  In fact, for many that may temporarily be the best course of action.

For those who are returning to our building, our plan includes the following:

• We encourage everyone to follow CDC guidelines (and to follow the changes they make to those guidelines) with a common sense approach in all areas of your life, including church.
• We encourage those who are vulnerable because of pre-existing conditions or caring for those who are to continue to join us online.
• We ask that anyone who feels sick or has shown any symptoms of sickness to please join us online.
• We will be asking our attendees to create space in our auditorium between families.  We will assist by spacing out our seating.
• We will be sanitizing surfaces throughout the building, including our Coastal Kidz areas, under the guidance of CDC standards. 
• Initially (for the month of June), our Cafe will be closed, and the seating in our Welcome Center removed.  When it re-opens over the Summer it will be service only (no self-serve items).
• We have ordered Pre-filled/Pre-Packaged individual communion cups that will be placed at the back of our chairs.  Cups contain both the juice and bread in a single two-part container.  Communion participants peel back one seal to remove the bread and then a second seal for the juice.  
• Connect Cards & Offering Envelopes will be placed in the backs of our chairs and can be turned in at the end of our service as people are exiting.  We will also make our Connect Card and Announcements available online.  We will continue to encourage people to give online, through TEXTing, or automate their giving through their Bank.
• We will also have contactless entry and exit of the building with our 1st Impression Team opening and closing doors.

For those of you who serve on Sunday mornings (Coastal Kidz, 1st Impressions, Security, Worship Team, Tech Team, Prayer Team) please communicate with your Ministry Leader your availability in June.  Be on the lookout for your Planning Center email and start signing up for the month of June.

The new normal at church will temporarily look and feel a little different, but judging by how well all of you have risen to the occasion during this challenge, I have great confidence that Coastal Community Church will continue to accomplish our mission of “sharing and experiencing the LIFE & LOVE of Jesus with Charleston and the world.”  In these unprecedented times, we have seen God’s work not only continue, but advance in incredible ways. We have had the opportunity, literally, to preach the Word all over the world!  

And, while we remain deeply grateful for and committed to the technology that has allowed our church to continue to assemble online, we are excited about the opportunity to gather together in person on June 7th.  Whether you choose to join us for worship in-person or online, please know that together we are still the church.  And together we will walk this out with the grace, love, and kindness of true followers of Jesus!

I Love You Coastal and I Love Being Your Pastor!

LIFE & LOVE,
Pastor Chris

P.S.  Make sure you start signing up to serve for our “Summer of IMPACT” for the the month of June!  Check out the website and dates, look at your calendar, and start signing up for multiple events/days today!

Summer of IMPACT is just 3 weeks away – starting June 1st!  What is Summer of IMPACT you ask?  Summer of IMPACT is just like Saturday Serve – except that it’s for the entire month of June!  It’s our opportunity to make an IMPACT for Jesus where we live, work, and play – right here in Charleston.  That’s right, there are over a dozen different opportunities/organizations that we will be serving or partnering with multiple times over the month of June.  And just like Saturday Serve, we’re going to make it as easy as possible for you to sign up, show up, and serve.  There is a page on our website where you can literally go and see each project listed in chronological order, the day and time, and all the information you need.  You click a button to sign up and that’s it. 

Here’s what I want you to do:  First and foremost I want you to pray.  Pray that we will be the hands and feet of Jesus as together we serve our community.  Pray that lives will be changed and people will be drawn to Jesus.  And then, quite simply, I want you to sign up. Check out the website and dates, look at your calendar, and sign up for multiple events/days.  There are LOTS of days, times, and events to choose from – everything from serving our Veterans, feeding the homeless, helping the elderly, and much, much more, even opportunities for the whole family to do together!  I also want you to talk it up with your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and invite them to join you.  Even people who don’t go to church and don’t know the Lord are looking for ways to do something significant with their lives.  Leverage that God given desire and invite people to join you!  If you have any questions or if you would be willing to help lead one of these events, please contact Chris Jones at 843-870-4613 or jonescg73@gmail.com.  Join us in making this the best Summer ever!  

LIFE & LOVE,
Pastor Chris

Happy Mother’s Day!  I’m so excited about Mother’s Day this year at Coastal!  First of all, we kick off a brand new series today called, “Women of the Word”! Each week a different woman at Coastal, from a different season of their life, will be bringing the message. Each message will be on a different woman of the Bible.

Today’s speaker is Rachel Speer!  She is an Office Admin at Coastal, wife, mother of two teenagers (one about to go to college), LIFE Group Leader, and has served in various capacities at Coastal over the years. You’re going to be blessed by her message! Another highlight of this series is that each week we also have a powerful testimony from a woman at Coastal. This week’s testimony is from Kathy Beam. Kathy is a wife, mother of 4, and leads a Support Group here at Coastal. Kathy’s husband is an Elder at Coastal and together they lead our Cafe. Her story is one of beauty from brokenness. Even the sermon series graphic is from a woman at Coastal – our very own Jody Davis! I promise you’re going to be strengthened and encouraged today!

Join us for one of our 6 online services: 9:30am, 11:15am, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm. You can watch our service on Facebook, but the best place to watch it is https://coastalcommchurch.churchonline.org, where you easily see the outline of the message, interact with others watching, fill out our Connect Card, Give, and share your Prayer Requests. If you have children, make sure you check out our Coastal Kidz online page – https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/connect/kids/.  Spread the word, invite a friend, start a watch or Zoom Party!  Post a picture of your experience!  If you are on Facebook, make sure you “share” our service.  It great free advertising!

And then this afternoon, from 3pm-5pm, we’re inviting everyone from Coastal to go on a fun Sunday afternoon ride over to the church for something we’re calling a Mother’s Day Drive Through Celebration!  Drive through our parking lot, and all the women of Coastal can pick up a special gift from the church, and then everyone in the car will receive a FREE cup of Baskin Robbins ICE CREAM!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Pastor Chris

I know I must sound like a broken record, but it’s true – Coastal I am so blown away by your love, service, and generosity!  This past week we partnered with MUSC to provide lunch at the COVID-19 Testing Site & the Pediatric Ambulatory Clinic (about 160 employees).  Because we had to use a DHEC certified kitchen, the cost of both meals was around $1600 with a generous tip (obviously a lot more than if we could have done it ourselves).  But within days of announcing what we were going to do, several families had generously paid for both meals completely!  For tomorrow’s “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Thru” I announced that we are going to do Lasagna, and I needed help cooking them – 92 OF THEM!  I got volunteers to cook ALL 92 (don’t forget that they must be brought back to the church on Saturday morning from 8am-10am)!!  Janet and I don’t even have to cook any.  I could keep going and going.  It’s been that way every week for the last 8 weeks of this Pandemic!  Keep it up Coastal!  The seeds of love that we are planting are going to bear much fruit for years to come and on into eternity! 

This Sunday May 10th is MOTHER’S DAY!  I’m so excited about Mother’s Day this year!  Even though our services will be online, we’re going to go out of our way to make this Mother’s Day special.  First of all, we’re kicking off a new series called, “Women of the Word.”  Each week for 4 weeks we’re going to be looking at a different woman in the Bible, and the message is going to be delivered by 4 different women here at Coastal.  This Sunday, Rachel Speer will be speaking.  Even the graphic for the series was done by a woman from our church – Jody Davis.  We also have several women sharing their testimony during the series.  Spread the word and invite your friends to check us out online!

And then on Mother’s Day afternoon, 3pm-5pm, we’re inviting everyone from Coastal to go on a fun Sunday afternoon ride over to the church for something we’re calling a Mother’s Day Drive Through Celebration!  Drive through our parking lot, and all the women of Coastal can pick up a special gift from the church, and then everyone in the car will receive a FREE cup of Baskin Robbins ICE CREAM!  We’re also asking our kids & families to decorate a poster (“We love our MOM!”  “Happy Mother’s Day!”  “Our Mom is the Best” – you get the idea) that will line the drive of our parking lot.  Make it a fun project for your family – get creative! Posters must be returned to the church either today by 12noon or tomorrow during the Saturday “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Thru.”

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. TODAY Friday, May 8th, 8am-2:30pm at the Elks Lodge on Sam Rittenburg Blvd., Coastal is teaming up with the Veteran’s Administration and Soldiers’ Angels to supply local low-Income veteran families with food assistance at the mobile food distribution.  Many of Charleston’s veterans rely on the food assistance provided by this event, and without volunteers these veterans would go without.  This project can support up to 40-volunteers.  Any time that you can volunteer would be great.  If you are interested in this event or have any questions, please contact Pastor Chris Jones, 843-870-4613.
2. This Saturday, May 9th, 11am-1pm, will be week 8 of our FREE “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Through.”  This week we are planning on feeding over 1,000 people in our community LASAGNA, Salad, Breadstick, and dessert – plus a free roll of toilet paper for every family!!  If you’re hungry, in need, or know someone who is, we’d love to help!  Feel free to pick up a box and deliver it to someone you know. It’s our way to love and serve our community! Help us spread the word!  At this point and at this scale, the BIGGEST WAY TO HELP is donating money. You can sponsor a meal by giving on our website: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/ or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337 and use the key word “meals” (ex. $100 meals).  The Drive Through is also a great opportunity to drop off non-perishable food items for our Community Food Bank.
3. Teacher Appreciation Week at Oakland Elementary School is Monday, May 11th – Friday, May 15th.  Each year we go over the top to express our love and appreciation to the Teachers and Staff of Oakland.  And this year, in a time when they aren’t even expecting it, we want to shower these Teachers with love!  We have several special things planned (lunch, breakfast, gift cards, gifts), but one way that you and your family can help is writing handwritten thank you notes.  We need 75 of them!  You can pick up the note cards at the church, and we need them returned by this Friday, May 8.  Another way to help is through your generous giving!  All of our community outreach projects (this one included) are funded by your giving.  You can give through our website or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337.
4. Each Wednesday morning, Janet Rollins will be hosting an online Zoom meeting for Coastal Kidz!  There will be two 30 minute sessions:  9:00AM – Preschoolers ( 2 yr. olds – Kindergarten).  11:30AM – 1st-5th Graders.  Both Groups will participate in a Zoom “PET PARTY” this week!  To participate in any of our Coastal Kidz Zoom Connections, please go to https://zoom.us/j/4864196205 just a couple of minutes before your child’s scheduled time to join the meeting.  Parents, also don’t forget to take advantage of our Coastal Kidz online services/resources on our website! 
5. Operation Christmas Child has grown so much at Coastal that it is now a YEARLONG Mission of our church!  Each month we will feature a “donation of the month” to help us better prepare for the thousands of boxes we will pack and wrap in the Fall.  This month (May) we are encouraging everyone to bring coloring books.  Even though our Sunday morning Services are online right now, you can still drop off OCC items during the week at the church.  You can even pick up shoeboxes & wrapping paper to start wrapping shoeboxes.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Teresa Spell.
   
   P.S. The entire month of June is all about “Summer of IMPACT” at Coastal as we saturate Charleston with a variety of outreach projects.  From feeding the hungry, to sewing pillowcases for sick children, to ministering to the homeless – there is a serving opportunity nearly every day of the month!  Click on this link: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/outreach/ to explore all of the different projects that are available this Summer and SIGN UP TODAY!

I just wanted to reach out to you early this week and let you know about multiple opportunities at Coastal to serve our community: 

1. For our “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Thru” we are doing Lasagna this week!  We’ve already purchased all the trays of lasagna.  We need volunteers to pick up, cook, and return trays of hot lasagna (4 trays per person would be ideal).  You can pick up the lasagna any day this week during office hours at the church.  Follow the instructions on the tray, cook the lasagna Saturday morning, and return them to the church between 8am-10am (MUST be returned by 10am).  Please respond to this email if you would be willing to pick up, cook, and return lasagna.  
    
2. Not only are we delivering a lunch for all the Staff & Health Care Workers at the MUSC COVID-19 Testing Site at Citadel Mall this week, but we’ve added another group of Healthcare Workers that we are feeding!  We’ll be providing a Food Truck lunch for the Pediatric Ambulatory Clinic in North Charleston this Thursday, May 7th.  Someone generously decided to pick up the tab for Wednesday’s lunch.  Now we are looking for people who might be willing to donate money to help with Thursday’s meal.  The meal will cost approximately $750.  If you’d like to help with the cost of this meal, please respond to this email or give me a call.  You can also give on our website: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/ or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337.
    
3. This Friday, May 8th, 8am-2:30pm at the Elks Lodge on Sam Rittenburg Blvd., Coastal is teaming up with the Veteran’s Administration and Soldiers’ Angels to supply local low-Income veteran families with food assistance at the mobile food distribution.  Many of Charleston’s veterans rely on the food assistance provided by this event, and without volunteers these veterans would go without.  This project can support up to 40-volunteers.  Any time that you can volunteer would be great.  If you are interested in this event or have any questions, please contact Pastor Chris Jones, 843-870-4613.
    
4.  We’re looking for kids & families to decorate a poster (“We love our MOM!”  “Happy Mother’s Day!”  “Our Mom is the Best” – you get the idea) that will line the drive of our parking lot this Sunday for our Mother’s Day Drive Through Celebration, this Sunday, May 10, 3pm-5pm.  Drive through our parking lot, and all the women of Coastal can pick up a special gift from the church, and then everyone in the car will receive a FREE cup of Baskin Robbins ICE CREAM!  You can stop by the church to pick up the poster board for the signs!  Make it a fun project for your family – get creative!  Posters must be returned to the church by Friday, May 8.  We’re also looking for volunteers to help serve at the event itself.  Please respond to this email if you would like to serve (traffic control, take ice cream orders, hand out ice cream, etc.).
     
5. Teacher Appreciation Week at Oakland Elementary School is Monday, May 11th – Friday, May 15th.  Each year we go over the top to express our love and appreciation to the Teachers and Staff of Oakland.  And this year, in a time when they aren’t even expecting it, we want to shower these Teachers with love!  We have several special things planned (lunch, breakfast, gift cards, gifts), but one way that you and your family can help is writing handwritten thank you notes.  We need 75 of them!  You can pick up the note cards at the church, and we need them returned by this Friday, May 8.  Another way to help is through your generous giving!  All of our community outreach projects (this one included) are funded by your giving.  You can give through our website or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337.
    
6. The entire month of June is all about “Summer of IMPACT” at Coastal as we saturate Charleston with a variety of outreach projects.  From feeding the hungry, to sewing pillowcases for sick children, to ministering to the homeless – there is a serving opportunity nearly every day of the month!  Click on this link: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/outreach/ to explore all of the different projects that are available this Summer and SIGN UP TODAY! 
    
7. Several years ago, a very generous family made a donation to our church that enabled us to purchase our very first video camera.  Obviously, we have since added lights, cameras, hardware, software, etc.  It is all of that equipment and technology that enables us to do everything that we now do online.  And now more than ever before, we can all see the value in what we’re able to do.  But it was that donation, that first camera, that set the stage for all of it.  As our church continues to grow, we must continue to invest in our online presence and capabilities – expanding our Tech Booth, cameras, lights, equipment, etc. The generosity of our church never ceases to amaze me.  Several people have asked if there are any projects that could use funding during this season – this is one of them.  If you’re interested in giving toward this project, give me a call and I’ll be glad to give you the specifics. 

Many people have asked when are we going to return to our building for worship services?  Trust me, I’m ready for that day too!  However, I don’t have an answer for you yet.  Just as we did when we made the decision to go completely online, we are praying, talking to other church leaders, and listening to local and state officials.  We want to make the best decision for the safety, health, and well-being of our church and surrounding community.  As soon, as we make those decisions, I promise we’ll let everyone know quickly.  But in the meantime, please continue to pray and be gracious as we all maneuver these decisions.  

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

P.S.  This is not a serving opportunity, but don’t forget that Janet and I will be hosting another Facebook/Instagram LIVE event this Wednesday night at 8pm from my personal page/account.  Send me a Friend Request if we’re not already friends.  No real agenda, just a fun time of hanging out and maybe a little bit of Q & A!  This week I will be grilling Bone-in Boston Butts (PULLED PORK BARBECUE)!  Janet will be making a Swiss Cake Roll!  And as always, we’ll be GIVING IT ALL AWAY to a lucky viewer!  And this week Janet will also be giving away a CHILDREN’S DRESS!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true – TODAY IS MAY 1ST!  And that means Summer is fast approaching!  One of the ways our church marks the coming of Summer and sharing the love of Christ is through “Summer of IMPACT!”  For the entire month of June, our church will saturate Charleston with a variety of outreach projects.  From feeding the hungry, to sewing pillowcases for sick children, to ministering to the homeless – there is a serving opportunity nearly every day of the month!  What better way to show that we are followers of Jesus than by serving the people in our community!  “Summer of IMPACT” is one of the ways we do just that!  Click on this link: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/outreach/ to explore all of the different projects that are available this Summer. 

You can sign up for one or more projects, many of which are kid and family-friendly.  Once you complete a brief online form, you’ll receive an email soon afterwards from our Pastor of Outreach just to thank you for signing up and to answer any questions you might have.  You’ll receive a second email from the project leader, a week prior to your project date, with all the details of the serving opportunity you’ve signed up for. For most of the projects, you simply sign-up and then show-up. Everyone who serves will also receive a FREE “Making an Impact” t-shirt (if you don’t already have one – haha) as our way of saying thanks for serving with us!

As the current crisis continues to unfold, we will assess and reassess our projects with the safety of our community and those who call Coastal home as the priority.  In doing so, we will also continue to do our best to be a beacon of hope and of love in Charleston.  We are Coastal, and that’s what we do. So check out the projects and join with us as we labor in love to MAKE AN IMPACT!  Reach out to Pastor Chris Jones if you have any questions or if you have a project idea you’d like to share.

May also means Mother’s Day – Sunday May 10th!  I’m so excited about Mother’s Day this year!  Even though our services will be online, we’re going to go out of our way to make this Mother’s Day special for Moms.  First of all, we’re kicking off a new series called, “Women of the Word.”  Each week for 4 weeks we’re going to be looking at a different woman in the Bible, and the message is going to be delivered by 4 different women here at Coastal – hence, Women of the Word!  We also have several women sharing their  testimony during the series.  And on Mother’s Day afternoon, 3pm-5pm, we’re inviting everyone from Coastal to go on a fun Sunday afternoon ride over to the church for something we’re calling a Mother’s Day Drive Through Celebration!  Drive through our parking lot, and all the women of Coastal can pick up a special gift from the church, and then everyone in the car will receive a FREE cup of Baskin Robbins ICE CREAM!  We’re also asking our kids & families to decorate a poster (“We love our MOM!”  “Happy Mother’s Day!”  “Our Mom is the Best” – you get the idea) that will line the drive of our parking lot.  You can stop by the church to pick up the poster board for the signs!  Make it a fun project for your family – get creative! Posters must be returned to the church by Friday, May 8.

The other thing that May always marks is Teacher Appreciation Weed at Oakland Elementary School – Monday, May 11th – Friday, May 15th.  Each year we go over the top to express our love and appreciation to the Teachers and Staff of Oakland.  And this year, in a time when they aren’t even expecting it, we want to shower these Teachers with love!  We have several special things planned (lunch, breakfast, gift cards, gifts), but one way that you and your family can help is writing handwritten thank you notes.  We need 75 of them!  You can pick up the note cards at the church, and we need them returned by next Friday, May 8.  Another way to help is through your generous giving!  All of our community outreach projects (this one included) are funded by your giving.  You can give through our website or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337. 

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. This Saturday, May 2nd, 11am-1pm, will be week 7 of our FREE “Grab & Go Meal Drive-Through.”  This week we are planning on feeding over 1,000 people in our community Hamburgers/Hotdogs, baked beans, cole slaw, and dessert – plus a free roll of toilet paper for every family!!  If you’re hungry, in need, or know someone who is, we’d love to help!  Feel free to pick up a box and deliver it to someone you know. It’s our way to love and serve our community! Help us spread the word!  At this point and at this scale, the BIGGEST WAY TO HELP is donating money. You can sponsor a meal by giving on our website: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/ or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337 and use the key word “meals” (ex. $100 meals).  The Drive Through is also a great opportunity to drop off non-perishable food items for our Community Food Bank.
2. Interested in officially making Coastal Community Church YOUR church home?  Sign up for our next Membership Class!  For this Membership Class we’re going to do something we’ve never done before. We’re going to offer a virtual Membership class, an online class.  It’s going to be this Monday night, May 4th, 7-9PM.  You can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday or sign up right now from our website.  We’ll email you the notes for the class and the Zoom link.  Next week you will receive your Membership Packet in the mail.
3. Each Wednesday morning, Janet Rollins will be hosting an online Zoom meeting for Coastal Kidz!  There will be two 30 minute sessions:  9:00AM – Preschoolers ( 2 yr. olds – Kindergarten).  11:30AM – 1st-5th Graders.  Both Groups will participate in a Zoom “PET PARTY” this week!  To participate in any of our Coastal Kidz Zoom Connections, please go to https://zoom.us/j/4864196205 just a couple of minutes before your child’s scheduled time to join the meeting.  Parents, also don’t forget to take advantage of our Coastal Kidz online services/resources on our website! 
4. Operation Christmas Child has grown so much at Coastal that it is now a YEARLONG Mission of our church!  Each month we will feature a “donation of the month” to help us better prepare for the thousands of boxes we will pack and wrap in the Fall.  This month (May) we are encouraging everyone to bring coloring books.  Even though our Sunday morning Services are online right now, you can still drop off OCC items during the week at the church.  You can even pick up shoeboxes & wrapping paper to start wrapping shoeboxes.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Teresa Spell.
5. On Wednesday, May 6th, our church is going to be providing lunch for all the Staff & Health Care Workers at the MUSC COVID-19 testing site at Citadel Mall.  We’ll be purchasing the meal from a local restaurant.  We look at it as a “win – win”!  We get to help feed and encourage those working on the front lines of this crisis, and we also get to help and support our local restaurants that have been hit hard financially at the same time.  The meal will cost approximately $800.  If you’d like to help with the cost of this meal, you can give on our website: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/ or simply text ANY amount to 843-277-8337 and use the key word “meals” (ex. $100 meals).  We’d also like to write “Thank You” cards that we’ll deliver with the meal.  You can pick up the note cards at the church and start writing!
   
   P.S. One week from today – Friday, May 8^th 8am-12:30pm – Coastal is teaming up with the Veteran’s Administration and Soldiers’ Angels to supply local low-Income veteran families with food assistance at the mobile food distribution.  Many of Charleston’s veterans rely on the food assistance provided by this event, and without volunteers these veterans would go without.  If you are interested in this event, sign up on your online Connect Card. This project can support up to 40-volunteers. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Chris Jones.