I hope you and your family are all having a great week and a great Friday!  I’ve had a little bit of a strange week – my wife Janet has been gone this week seeing her mom in North Georgia, so I’ve been “bach-ing” it.  She drives home today, so please keep her travels in your prayers.  Because of COVID-19 she hasn’t seen her mom since January.  I know there are so many of you who are or have been in that same boat.  Please know that you continue to be in our prayers!  And speaking of prayers, I can’t say enough good things about our online night of Prayer and Worship.  Our Worship Team, Tech Team, and Prayer Team all worked together to create a very powerful experience.  I hope you and your family were blessed.  And how about our Beach Baptism this past Sunday night (see picture above)?!  We baptized 8 people!

As always, there are so many great things happening at Coastal right now that I want to share with you!  First of all, our Fall Semester LIFE Group Catalog is now available!  For those of you who didn’t pick up a physical copy on Sunday, don’t worry.  We’ll be mailing one out this week.  But the easiest thing to do is simply go to our website, check out all the groups and sign up today!  And yes, you can sign up for multiple groups.  There are a variety of groups (both in-person and/or online) on almost every day of the week.  Groups start the week of September 20th!  YOU NEED THIS!  WE NEED THIS!  So check them out and starting signing up!

We had our Preconstruction Meeting this week with the City of Charleston for our new building!  In fact, this coming week we meet with the Project Manager with Hill Construction.  All of which means that site work will start soon (tree fencing, barricades, etc.), quickly followed by demolition and actually putting a big shovel in the ground!  Woohoo!  So exciting!  Trust me, we’ll be keeping you updated on everything that happens.  If you’ve forgotten what we’re doing or what you’ve been giving toward, go to our Daring Faith page on our website and check out the videos.  If you’d like to start giving toward this project and be a part of a move of God at our church and leave a legacy for future generations, simply use the key word, “daringfaith” (all one word if you’re TEXTing to give).

As school (whatever that might look like for you) gears up, you might be wondering what’s going on with our Waves Student Ministry (6th-12th Grade).  They will be kicking off the week following Labor Day, September 8th.  The first three weeks of the month our students will meet in small groups designed for their specific age and gender. The final week of the month they will all come together for a night of worship and fellowship. Even though the semester may not look like “normal,” we are excited about the opportunity for our students to grow both closer with each other and deeper in their faith. Individual groups and times are listed in our life group catalog and on our website.  If you have any questions about Student Ministry please reach out to Pastor Ryan Spell.

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Our next Saturday Serve is Saturday, September 5th!  We meet at the church at 8:30am.  The leaders of the different service projects give a quick “pitch” of their project, we pray, and then we disburse to go serve!  It’s that simple.  You just show up, choose, and serve.  All projects are typically finished before lunchtime, so it’s not a sacrifice of your entire Saturday.  Come make an IMPACT in our community by being the hands and feet of Jesus!  If you have any questions about Saturday Serve or ideas for future projects, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. We just announced some exciting news this week!  Our church has decided to purchase a site license for something called, “Dave Ramsey+”.  What that means is that beginning Tuesday, September 8th, we will share an access code that makes ALL of Dave Ramsey’s best selling resources and tools available to our entire church FREE for 1 year!  This includes 5 classes (Financial Peace, Legacy Journey, Smart Money Smart Kids, the Jump Start Course and a new Budgeting course), the Everydollar+ budgeting tool, and a host of other resources designed to help families track their progress through the baby steps. You’ll have access to everything for an entire year at your own pace, on your own schedule.  So be on the lookout for the link and access code on September 8th!  We want to be known as a generous church, and we also want to do everything we can to equip our church and community to experience true financial peace in these difficult times! 
3. It’s hard to believe that it’s back – it’s time to start stacking and packing chairs after our service on Sunday and then setting them up again for church on Saturday mornings (tomorrow) at 9:30am.  It’s a great way to serve, meet some other people, and even get in some exercise.  If you’re looking for more of a “behind the scenes” way to do all those things and get involved at Coastal, this is it.  With approximately 10 people it only takes about 30 minutes.  Ken Bartlett leads this LIFE Team.  If you would like to be a part of this Team, you can respond to this email, reach out to Ken, or simply show up & serve and introduce yourself.  For the most part, this is a task that has to happen every Saturday.  But even if you can help only once a month, that makes a huge IMPACT!
4. It’s hard to believe that it’s back – it’s time to start stacking and packing chairs after our service on Sunday and then setting them up again for church on Saturday mornings (tomorrow) at 9:30am.  It’s a great way to serve, meet some other people, and even get in some exercise.  If you’re looking for more of a “behind the scenes” way to do all those things and get involved at Coastal, this is it.  With approximately 10 people it only takes about 30 minutes.  Ken Bartlett leads this LIFE Team.  If you would like to be a part of this Team, you can respond to this email, reach out to Ken, or simply show up & serve and introduce yourself.  For the most part, this is a task that has to happen every Saturday.  But even if you can help only once a month, that makes a huge IMPACT!
5. What’s your Next Step here at Coastal?  If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception.  Our next Newcomer’s Reception is Sunday, September 13th, in the Welcome Center immediately following the 9:30am service (at approximately 10:45am).  This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people.  Childcare provided.  RSVP online or on your Connect Card.  Or maybe your next step is officially making Coastal your church family by becoming a Member.  Our next Membership Class is Monday evening, September 14th, 6pm-8:30pm. You can respond to this email or sign up on our website.  For both the Newcomer’s Reception and the Membership Class, you can join us either in-person or online through Zoom. 
   
   P.S. Our church is throwing an online virtual Baby Shower for Ashley Hojnacki THIS Sunday, August 30th at 6pm through all of our normal online platforms (church online, website, and facebook).  For those of you who don’t know, Ashley is our church’s Office Manager.  This is Ed & Ashley’s first child.  They are having a girl – Blake Rose.  Here is a link to their registry:  https://www.babylist.com/babyhojnacki.  Gifts can still be dropped off at the church this Sunday.

These are very difficult and stressful times to say the least.  People are fearful about the future and many people feel like they are hanging on by a thread.  One of the biggest fears people are facing right now is their finances.  Many people have lost jobs and are struggling to survive.  Even if you haven’t lost your job or are on the verge of losing your home, financial stress is typically huge for most people. However, that stress is multiplied exponentially right now.

At Coastal, WE WANT TO HELP!  I’ve got some exciting news to share with you!  Our church has decided to purchase a site license for something called, “Dave Ramsey+”.  What that means is that beginning Tuesday, September 8th, we will share an access code that makes ALL of Dave Ramsey’s best selling resources and tools available to our entire church FREE for 1 year (kind of like our access to Right Now Media)!  This includes 5 classes (Financial Peace, Legacy Journey, Smart Money Smart Kids, the Jump Start Course and a new Budgeting course), the Everydollar+ budgeting tool, and a host of other resources designed to help families track their progress through the baby steps.  If you were to sign up for this on your own it would cost $130.  NOT NOW!  All of that and more will be FREE for our entire church!  You’ll have access to everything for an entire year at your own pace, on your own schedule.

We see this as an investment in you, your finances, and your future!  It’s a way to practically express our generosity and love toward you and our community and to be a real source of help.  Think about it – what if you had gone into the “shutdown” debt free and with money in the bank?  What if you could have hope for your life, including your finances? That’s what Dave Ramsey+ is all about – giving you a plan and hope so you can experience financial peace.

By the way, we are offering a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Virtual LIFE Group (sign up today!) this semester.  You’ll watch the videos on your own and then each week (Tuesday’s at 7pm) we’ll meet together on Zoom for discussion and accountability.  But this year, all the resources are FREE!  However, you don’t have to sign up for the Group to have access to all the material.  We will give you the link and make it available, starting Tuesday, September 8th (the day after Labor Day).  

So be on the lookout for the link and access code on September 8th!  I hope you’re as excited about this as I am.  And more importantly, I hope you’ll access the material.  We want to be known as a generous church and we also want to do everything we can to equip our church and community to experience true financial peace in these difficult times!  

I Love You & I Love Being Your Pastor!
Pastor Chris

P.S.  If you are excited about this, I’d love to hear from you!  Simply respond to this email.

There are so many great things happening this weekend here at Coastal that I’m excited to share with you!  First of all, TONIGHT at 7:30pm we’re having our online night of prayer & worship!  Let me clarify, this is ONLINE ONLY.  The only people who will be “in-person” or in the building will be our Worship Team, Tech Team, several members of Prayer Team, and our Pastors.   For everyone else, this is an online service. Simply tune in to any of our normal online platforms (church online, facebook, YouTube) and engage with your church family.  Now, more than ever before, as we head into the Fall and a new school year and an election and so many unknowns and fears, we need to cry out to our God and depend on Him.  In fact, we’re encouraging you to leave a comment and submit your prayer requests online during the service.  Members of our Prayer Team will literally be on their knees praying for your prayer requests and you by name.  So join us tonight at 7:30pm!  It’s going to be a powerful night of worship and prayer!!

And then this Sunday, at 5pm out at Folly Beach County Park, we’re having our end of the Summer Beach Baptism!  Come out early and make it a fun day for your entire family!  If you are interested in being Baptized, simply respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card, or go to our website and sign up online.  Even if you’re not being Baptized, make plans to come out to the beach with your friends and family and celebrate with those who are!  Especially for those of you who have not yet joined us “in-person”, this is a great way to fellowship outside and make it a fun day for the whole family!

Oh and one other big thing this weekend – our Fall Semester LIFE Group Catalogis now available online!  The physical catalog will be available in-person on Sunday, and we’ll also be mailing it out to everyone.  As always, there are multiple ways to sign up for a group (online, on your Connect Card, or at the LIFE Group Tables starting next Sunday), but you only have to sign up one time, one way.  And yes, you can sign up for multiple groups.  There are a variety of groups (both in-person and/or online) on almost every day of the week.  YOU NEED THIS!  WE NEED THIS!  We were made for community, for connections, to do LIFE with people.  And the primary way for that to happen at Coastal is through LIFE Teams (serving/volunteering) and LIFE Groups (relationships).  The majority of our LIFE Groups all begin the week of September 20th (one month away).  So check them all out this weekend and starting signing up!

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Coastal continues to serve and love our neighbors in the community.  Here are two opportunities next week where you can Make an Impact!  On Wednesday, August 26^th from 9:15am until 1pm, we’re partnering with Tricounty Family Ministriesassisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution.  Many of Tricounty Family Ministries’ clients are the same people our church serves at the North Charleston Tailgate and our monthly Saturday Serve.  Also on Friday, August 28^th from 10am until 12noon, we’re teaming up again with Lowcountry Orphan Relief in their distribution center. You will have the opportunity to assist several local children in crisis situations. If you would like to join the team, sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday, respond to this email, or contact Pastor Chris Jones at chrisjones@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
2. Attention all LIFE Group Leaders, Assistants,& Hosts: LIFE Group Leader Training dates (online or in-person) are either (choose one): Tuesday, 8/25, 6pm-8pm OR Saturday, 8/29, 9-11am.  Please select a training date and sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, respond to this email, or connect with Pastor Scott Huff.
3. It’s hard to believe that it’s back – it’s time to start stacking and packing chairs after our service on Sunday and then setting them up again for church on Saturday mornings at 9:30am.  Chair Set-up starts tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30am!  It’s a great way to serve, meet some other people, and even get in some exercise.  If you’re looking for more of a “behind the scenes” way to do all those things and get involved at Coastal, this is it.  With approximately 10 people it only takes about 30 minutes.  Ken Bartlett leads this LIFE Team.  If you would like to be a part of this Team, you can respond to this email, reach out to Ken, or simply show up & serve and introduce yourself.  For the most part, this is a task that has to happen every Saturday.  But even if you can help only once a month, that makes a huge IMPACT!
4. Attention all Coastal women & friends: Chosen Women’s Conference is going VIRTUAL for the first time ever, and Coastal is hosting a watch party on Thursday, September 17 (7:00–9:00 pm) and Friday, September 18 (7–9:30 pm). What is Chosen? It’s a live-worship, guest-speaker, community-building, faith-strengthening event designed specifically to equip and empower women of all ages to walk in the freedom God has given us. 2020 guest speakers include Christine Caine, Irene Rollins and Wendy Perez. Tickets can be purchased at www.chosenwomensconference.com. RSVP for the Coastal Watch Party to Rachel Speer rachel@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
5. To build a stronger online community we are seeking volunteers to join the Online Engagement Team. This team of volunteers will connect with our online members and guests in the chat during the 9:30am, 11:15am, and 6:00pm services. Training will be provided. You’ll have the opportunity to choose the service time and the date to serve. You’ll also choose the platform to serve on. The main emphasis of the Online Engagement Team is to meet and greet those who are online, answer questions, and make those who are tuning in feel welcome.  It’s an easy and fun way to make an impact while serving here at Coastal (or while home during this season of social distancing). If you are interested in serving on this Team or have any questions, you can respond to this email or reach out to Chris Jones – 843-870-4613. 
   
   P.S. Our church is throwing an online virtual Baby Shower for Ashley Hojnacki on Sunday, August 30th at 6pm through all of our normal online platforms (church online, website, and facebook).  For those of you who don’t know, Ashley is our church’s Office Manager.  This is Ed & Ashley’s first child.  They are having a girl – Blake Rose.  Here is a link to their registry:  https://www.babylist.com/babyhojnacki.  Gifts can be sent to their home through their online registry or dropped off at the church between now and the shower. 

I’m really excited about our online night of prayer & worship next Friday night, August 21st, at 7:30pm!  Our staff, worship & tech team have all been working hard to make this an impactful evening. Simply tune in to any of our normal online platforms and engage with your church family.  Now, more than ever before, as we head into the Fall and a new school year and so many unknowns and fears, we need to cry out to our God and depend on Him.  So mark your calendars now and join your Coastal family online for worship and prayer next Friday night!!

On a personal note, our daughter Lydia and her husband Andrew have been in town this week!  They are both working remotely so they decided what better place to work than in Charleston with us!  They’ll be heading back to Tennessee tomorrow, but we’ve had a blast – laughing, grilling & cooking, and staying up late talking!  It’s been a reminder to me that while phone calls, FaceTime, and technology are all great, we also need in-person, face to face connections.  We were created for community, to do life with people.  

My encouragement to you in this difficult and stressful time is simple – leverage all the technology you can, but also seek out and cherish those face to face, in-person connections.  Like most things in life, it’s not either/or; it’s both/and.  If you are sick, immunocompromised, elderly, or caring for those who are, please continue to stay home, stay safe, and leverage all the technology you can, while seeking out and cherishing those small moments of personal, face to face interactions that you can.  We will continue to do our best to help you stay engaged.  

If you don’t fit into any of those categories and you’re going to work, taking your kids to daycare/camps and getting ready to take them to school, going to grocery stores, the beach, or eating in restaurants – you might need a gentle, loving, Pastoral nudge to get back in the habit and join us for in-person worship.  Like anything else in life, it’s easy to get out of the habit of going to church.  And yes, at Coastal we don’t just “go to church”, and no the church is not a building.  We don’t teach that and never have.  But the church is a body, and the church is called to gather or assemble and to do life with one another.  And just like an infant will experience “failure to thrive” without human contact and connections, so will followers of Jesus without community.  

So, if possible, mask up, be smart, and get back in the habit of gathering in-person for worship.  If for you it’s still not wise, stay engaged online and cherish those moments and people in your life where you can connect.  And no matter what, in-person OR online, as always at Coastal we will show love and grace to everyone, and do it all to the glory of God!  I love you, and I love what we get to do together!  I can’t wait to see you Sunday – online OR in-person!

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Tomorrow is “Saturation Saturday”!  The 3rd Saturday of every month we simply encourage everyone from Coastal to pray and come up with a tangible way to serve and love your neighbor.  If you’re looking for suggestions, we have a group serving at the Lowcountry Food Bank from 9am-12noon.  Also we are taking our “Tailgate Party” over to the Suburban Hotel on Dorchester Road to feed Veterans and 180Place transitional residents.  Meet at the church at 10am to prep.  If you are interested in being a part of either of these specific opportunities, reach out to Pastor Chris Jones – 843-870-4613.  But either way, find a way to be the hands and feet of Jesus!
2. Attention all LIFE Group Leaders:  Please turn in all of your LIFE Group details to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.  LIFE Group Leader Training Dates (online or in-person) are either (choose one): Tuesday, 8/25, 6pm-8pm OR Saturday, 8/29, 9-11am.  Please select a training date and sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.
3. On Sunday, August 23rd, 5pm out at Folly Beach County Park, we’re having our end of the Summer Beach Baptism!  Come out early and make it a fun day for your entire family!  If you are interested in being Baptized, simply respond to this email, sign up on your connect card, or go to our website and sign up online.  Even if you’re not being Baptized, make plans to come out to the beach and celebrate with those who are!  Make it a fun day for the whole family!
4. Attention all Coastal women & friends: Chosen Women’s Conference is going VIRTUAL for the first time ever, and Coastal is hosting a watch party on Thursday, September 17 (7:00–9:00 pm) and Friday, September 18 (7–9:30 pm). What is Chosen? It’s a live-worship, guest-speaker, community-building, faith-strengthening event designed specifically to equip and empower women of all ages to walk in the freedom God has given us. 2020 guest speakers include Christine Caine, Irene Rollins and Wendy Perez. Tickets can be purchased at www.chosenwomensconference.com. RSVP for the Coastal Watch Party to Rachel Speer rachel@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
5. To build a stronger online community we are seeking volunteers to join the Online Engagement Team. This team of volunteers will connect with our online members and guests in the chat during the 9:30am, 11:15am, and 6:00pm services. Training will be provided. You’ll have the opportunity to choose the service time and the date to serve. You’ll also chose the platform to serve on. The main emphasis of the Online Engagement Team is to meet and greet those who are online, answer questions, and make those who are tuning in feel welcome.  It’s an easy and fun way to make an impact while serving here at Coastal (or while home during this season of social distancing). If you are interested in serving on this Team or have any questions, you can respond to this email or reach out to Chris Jones – 843-870-4613. 
   
   P.S. Our church is throwing a virtual Baby Shower for Ashley Hojnacki on Sunday, August 30th at 6pm.  We’ll give you the link and details soon.  For those of you who don’t know, Ashley is our church’s Office Manager.  This is Ed & Ashley’s first child.  They are having a girl – Blake Rose.  Here is a link to their registry:  https://www.babylist.com/babyhojnacki.

I love being a part of a church that values serving – being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.  And this week there are multiple opportunities to serve!  We will be assisting Tricounty Family Ministries (TFM) with their Grocery Distribution tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12th, 9:45am-1pm.  TFM is a Christian, non-profit ministry providing food, clothing, medical care, counseling, job training & placement, shelter, financial assistance and other vital services to the less fortunate in the Tricounty area.  They are a one-stop shop for just about anything and everything a person might find themselves facing. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, their services have been greatly reduced. However, their Wednesday Emergency Grocery Distribution is one adaptation that has allowed them to continuously serve their clients’ need for food.  They have struggled in recent months to find volunteers. I can assure you, the staff of TFM are committed to their mission, and they are so grateful for the help we are providing.  Many of TFM clients are the same people we serve at the North Charleston Tailgate.  We’ll meet at TFM.  They are located at 2105 Cosgrove Ave. in North Charleston. 

And then this Friday, August 14th, 8am-1pm, we’ll be teaming up with the Veteran’s Administration and Soldiers’ Angels.  We will be preparing groceries for distribution and then loading them in the vehicle trunks of our local veteran heroes who need the food assistance for themselves and their families. These veterans are always grateful for Coastal being there consistently month after month.  The event is going to be held at the Elks Lodge in West Ashley (where we will meet), 1113 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.  Coastal has served on this project for the past seven months, and we’ve developed a strong relationship with this organization. This is an outdoor event that happens rain or shine so please dress accordingly.  Bottled water and snacks are provided by Soldiers’ Angels.

Be sure to wear your Coastal Making an Impact t-shirt for either of these events.  Although outside, both events require face coverings. If you are interested in being a part of either of these opportunities, or need a Coastal t-shirt, please respond to this email or reach out to Pastor Chris Jones (843) 870-4613.

This Saturday is “Saturation Saturday”!  Saturation Saturday is the 3rd Saturday of every month.  It’s an organic, church-wide effort of flooding our community with random acts of kindness.  It can be anything from restocking one of our 5 blessing boxes in the community, preparing lunch for a neighbor, purchasing a cup of coffee for a complete stranger, mowing the lawn of an elderly neighbor, or baking a batch of cookies for someone you know who is in a tough season. It can literally be any simple act of service and kindness.  You decide.  Pray about it – get creative!  The idea is to demonstrate the love of Jesus in a practical way.  It can be done alone, with your family, or even team up with another family!  And while you’re serving, wear your Coastal shirt (maybe you’ll see someone from Coastal wearing theirs).  If someone asks why you’re serving and what the meaning of the shirt is, you can simply answer, “LOVE!  We love Jesus and we love people!”  And then you can tell them about Coastal.  If you’re able, take a few pictures of whatever you decide to do and share them with us on Facebook and Instagram under #CCCSaturationSaturday.

And then of course you can always drop off non-perishable food during the week or on Sunday for our Food Bank.  You can also drop off supplies/gifts for Operation Christmas Child (the August gift is school supplies).  I love you Coastal, and I love what we get to do together – sharing and experiencing the LIFE & LOVE of Jesus with Charleston and the world! 

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

P.S.  Janet and I will be back on Facebook LIVE this Wednesday evening (tomorrow night) at 8pm from my own personal Facebook page!  In fact, we have special guests – our daughter Lydia and her husband Andrew!  We’ll be cooking a meal (and giving it away to a lucky winner), talking about all things Coastal, and as always laughing and having fun!  We would love for you to join us!

I just wanted to remind you that here at Coastal we care deeply about you and whatever it is that you might be going through.  We also believe in the power of prayer.  Each Monday morning our Pastors and Staff take the time to read through each and every prayer request submitted and lift up our church in prayer.  Feel free to simply respond to this email and share any prayer requests that you might have.  On our website, if you scroll down on our Missions page, we also have a Get Help Form where you can request assistance picking up groceries, food, or urgent supplies, a Pastoral phone call, or prayer requests.  If you need anything, please let us know.  You are not alone!

I want to let you know about a new ministry that you might be interested in joining.  As Coastal’s online presence continues to grow, our church is reaching people online from literally all over the world. You can view our services on Church Online, Facebook and on our YouTube channel. Our church has invested time, energy and money to improve our online services.  I hope you’ve noticed the investment.

If you’ve attended an online service, you are likely aware of the chat that is available on each of the platforms we use to host our services on the web. Today, our church staff monitors the chat and engages online guests at the 9:30am, 11:15am, and 6:00pm services.  On any given Sunday, the chat is filled with people who call Coastal home, those who may be new to the area, families who are searching for a new church home, individuals who are unfamiliar with the Christian-faith, as well as those who are curious and seeking. It is a great opportunity for us to share Jesus with people who otherwise may never come to church or hear the message of salvation. This is why we need your help.

Currently, our online chat is managed by one person. To build a stronger online community we are seeking volunteers to build The Online Engagement Team. This team of volunteers will connect with our online members and guests in the chat during the 9:30am, 11:15am, and 6:00pm services. Training will be provided. You’ll have the opportunity to choose the service time and the date to serve. You’ll also chose the platform to serve on. The main emphasis of the Online Engagement Team is to meet and greet those who are online, answer questions, and make those who are tuning in feel welcome.  It’s an easy and fun way to make an impact while serving here at Coastal (or while home during this season of social distancing). If you are interested in serving on this Team or have any questions, you can respond to this email or reach out to Chris Jones – 843-870-4613. 

Speaking of being online, I want to thank so many of you for continuing to be faithful, consistent, and generous in your giving!  Coastal is 100% fully funded by the generous, consistent giving our our people.  We could not do what we do without you!  And whether we gather in-person or online, the ministry and impact of Coastal never ceases.  If anything, our outreach has increased!  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.    If you need us to mail you offering envelopes, step you through online giving, or TEXT Giving (text any amount to 843-277-8337), please respond to this email or call the church office (843-571-1777).  Thank you so much for your faithfulness!

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. We have two great serving opportunities this coming week!  Coastal will be assisting Tricounty Family Ministries with their Grocery Distribution on Wednesday August 12th, 9:45am-1pm.  Many of Tricounty Family Ministries’ clients are the same people we serve at the North Charleston Tailgate.  And then on Friday, August 14th, 8am-1pm, 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.  If you are interested in being a part of either of these opportunities, sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday (online or in-person) or reach out to Pastor Chris Jones.
2. Attention all LIFE Group Leaders:  Please turn in all of your LIFE Group details to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.  LIFE Group Leader Training Dates (online or in-person) are either (choose one): Tuesday, 8/25, 6pm-8pm OR Saturday, 8/29, 9-11am.  Please select a training date and sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.   
3. On Sunday, August 23rd, 5pm out at Folly Beach County Park, we’re having our end of the Summer Beach Baptism!  Come out early and make it a fun day for your entire family!  If you are interested in being Baptized, simply respond to this email, sign up on your connect card, or go to our website and sign up online.  Even if you’re not being Baptized, make plans to come out to the beach and celebrate with those who are!  Make it a fun day for the whole family!
4. On Friday night, August 21st, at 7:30pm, Coastal is having an online night of worship & prayer!  Now, more than ever before, as we head into the Fall and a new school year and a divisive election and so many unknowns and fears, we need to cry out to our God and depend on Him.  So mark your calendars now and join your Coastal family online for worship and prayer!
5. The Operation Christmas Child “donation of the month” for August is school supplies!  So, while you’re picking up school supplies for your own children, pick up some extra for OCC!  We are also looking for people who might be able to temporarily store our shoeboxes (We are running out of storage space).  You can now drop off all OCC items at church on Sunday mornings or during the week. If you have any questions or would be willing to store shoeboxes, please reach out to Teresa Spell.
   
   P.S. Attention all Mother’s of Preschoolers:  MOPS is returning this Fall!  It will look a little different, but you’ll still experience the same great encouragement, inspiration, and support!  MOPS will meet once a month on Tuesday evenings, 6:30pm-8:30pm (no childcare).  There will be a MOPS Registration & Orientation Evening this Tuesday night, August 11th at 6:30pm.  The Fall MOPS meeting dates are:  Sept. 15th, Oct 13th, Nov 10th, Dec 12th.  If you have any questions or if you’d like to express your interest, please reach out to Morgan Wessel.