Well, this is my semi-annual reminder to change your clocks this weekend!  But don’t worry, this is the “good one” – haha – your clocks “Fall Back” one hour.  So even though it’s Halloween this Saturday night, you’ll have no excuse to miss church this Sunday!  And speaking of this Sunday, I’ll be in 1 Peter 3:13-22 in our “Hope In the Dark” series as we make our way through 1 Peter.  My message this Sunday is all about sharing your hope.  1 Peter 3:15 says this, “And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

For a lot of believers though, this is the sticking point.  “I just don’t know the Bible that well.  I’m not that quick on my feet.  I don’t think that fast.  If I go out there and try to share my hope, some skeptic is going to tie me in knots with some philosophical problem that I can’t answer.  Having hope is one thing, but sharing it and explaining it?  I don’t think so.”

This is the beauty of sharing your hope.  It’s YOUR hope.  It’s YOUR story.  That’s what a personal testimony is all about.  It’s your story of how you came to know Jesus and what a difference He’s made in your life.  Peter’s not saying, “Have a snappy rebuttal for every argument that can be tossed at you.”  No, he’s just saying, “Have a reason for your hope.  It’s your hope;  it’s your story.”

You and I don’t have to know all of the answers to make an IMPACT on people.  You just have to tell them how your life has been changed.  “This is who I was.  This is who I am.  And the difference is Jesus.”  If you are a follower of Jesus, you have a story to tell.  And God will use your story to make an IMPACT in the lives of the people around you.  Sure, there are going to be some that will have questions.  Sure, there will be some who will doubt.  There might even be a few Pharisees in your life who will want to argue with you about your story (see John 9).  But, some will be amazed.  Some will believe.

You see, your story really can change the world.  And if you have had an encounter with Jesus, you have a story to share.  So here’s a question for you:  Are you ready and willing to share your story of hope with the people that God has put in your life?  Share your story – share your hope!

LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Upcoming Outreach Projects:
   Coastal is constantly and continually engaged in being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.  Here are this week’s opportunities! 
   Tricounty Family Ministries –  We will be assisting with the Emergency Grocery Distribution Wednesday, November 4th, from 9am until 12:30pm.
   Saturday Serve –  The foundation of all of our serving opportunities at Coastal really starts with Saturday Serve – the first Saturday of every month.  The next Saturday Serve is Saturday, November 7th.  We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!  Make plans NOW to be there!
   Blood Drive –  We’re serving our community by rolling up our sleeves! As part of our November 7th Saturday Serve, Coastal is hosting a blood drive from 8:30am-1:30pm at the church. You can easily sign up for a convenient time slot by clicking here: https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/152069. Every donor will receive a $20 gift card. You can use that gift card to meet your own needs or you can donate the gift card back to the church where we’ll use it to help struggling neighbors in our community. Let’s come together as a church and donate life! 
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613. 
2. Many of you might not be aware of this, but our church has a Grief Share Group that meets on Monday nights, 6:30pm at the church.  Grief Share is a support group for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one and need support, encouragement, and hope.  On Monday night, November 16th, 6:30pm-8:30pm  our group is hosting a “Surviving the Holidays” seminar.  This event will help you discover how to deal with emotions, give helpful tips on how to survive holiday social events, and discover hope for the future.  Contact Sue Muoio at s.muoio@outlook.com to RSVP or for more information or register at www.griefshare.org.  Spread the word – the Group and this event are open to the public!
3. One of our favorite missions that we support here at Coastal is Operation Christmas Child (OCC) – sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel through gifts & supplies in a simple shoebox.  What we are asking our church (YOU) is to simply pray and ask God how many shoeboxes He wants you to fill, take home the shoeboxes we provide, pack them as a family, and then bring back your completed boxes to the church between now and Sunday, November 15th.  There will be a table in the back of our auditorium with shoeboxes ready to take home each Sunday.  This would be a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus.  You can go to OCC’s website for a great list of suggested gifts/items for the shoeboxes.  We believe that we still have an opportunity to pack hundreds and hundreds of shoeboxes and share the love of Jesus with children all around the world!  Pray about how many boxes your family would be willing to pack, step out in faith, grab a few shoeboxes on Sunday, and help us do just that!
4. If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception.  Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, November 8th, in the Welcome Center immediately following the 11:15am service (at approximately 12:30pm).  This will also be available online!  This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. RSVP online or on your Connect Card.
5. Interested in officially making Coastal your church family by becoming a Member?  Our next Membership Class is Saturday morning, November 14th, 9am-11:30am. You can respond to this email or sign up on our website.  You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom.  
   
   P.S. Young Adult Gathering – Friday, November 6th, 6:30pm-9:30pm at Coastal!   Join other young adults for a gathering at the church for volleyball, other games, food, and fellowship! Please invite any other young adults to join you who might enjoy connecting with other young adults in Charleston.  For more information, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff.

Well, we’re getting real close to having all the inside demolition work done on our old facility!  There are still a few more projects to complete, but I think you’ll notice some progress on our campus this week.  In the next 10 months you’ll probably get sick of all of the building illustrations I’ll share, but with everything going on around here, it’s hard not to see the parallels.  To build something great, something strong, sometimes you’ve got get back to the foundation.  And to do that, you’ve got to do some demo work – you’ve got to be willing to tear some stuff out and throw some stuff away.  

Maybe at first you don’t notice the structural weakness; you can’t see how big the problem really is.  All you can see is a small crack in the wall, a water stain on the ceiling, a sag in the roof.  You hope if you just throw some paint on it, or hide it with some well placed furniture or pictures (or buy something online, or take a vacation), that the problem will just go away.  But as we all know, it doesn’t work that way in homes, cars, finances, or marriages.  And once you start pulling up that carpet, peaking behind that plumbing, going up in that attic (or having those hard conversations), you discover that the problem is bigger than you ever realized, and you can’t neglect it any longer.  You’ve got to do the hard and dirty demo work of getting back to the foundation.  But if you’ll put in the sweat equity and do the hard work, you’re able to move forward with confidence that the foundation is strong, the problem has been cleaned out, and the home, the relationship, or the marriage is stronger than ever!  

Maybe COVID-19 has revealed a weakness in your spiritual life, your marriage, or a relationship.  Don’t mask it.  Don’t conceal it.  Don’t neglect it.  Instead, confess it, repent of it. Cooperate with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and do the hard work of cleaning up the mess.  But I promise you this: if you’ll build on the rock solid foundation of a personal and growing relationship with Jesus and put His words into practice, you’ll build something strong and beautiful that will last a lifetime and beyond!  It will truly be even better and stronger than before!

Jesus said it like this, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”     

Laying a Strong Foundation for Future Generations With You!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Upcoming Outreach Projects:
   Coastal is constantly and continually engaged in being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.  Here are this week’s opportunities! 
   Tricounty Family Ministries –  We will be assisting with the Emergency Grocery Distribution Wednesday, November 4th, from 9am until 12:30pm.
   Saturday Serve –  The foundation of all of our serving opportunities at Coastal really starts with Saturday Serve – the first Saturday of every month.  The next Saturday Serve is Saturday, November 7th.  We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!  Make plans NOW to be there!
   Blood Drive –  We’re serving our community by rolling up our sleeves! As part of our November 7th Saturday Serve, Coastal is hosting a blood drive from 8:30am-1:30pm at the church. You can easily sign up for a convenient time slot by clicking here: https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/152069. Every donor will receive a $20 gift card. You can use that gift card to meet your own needs or you can donate the gift card back to the church where we’ll use it to help struggling neighbors in our community. Let’s come together as a church and donate life
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Not only has construction started, but our Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry has gone portable!  During construction Coastal Kidz is meeting across the street (where most of you park) at Orange Grove Middle School! We set up Coastal Kidz every Saturday morning at 8:30am.  We would LOVE for you to join us!  If you are interested in being a part of the Coastal Kidz Set-Up Team, respond to this email or reach out to Janet Rollinsat 843-442-8299 or just show up on Saturday morning.
3. One of our favorite missions that we support here at Coastal is Operation Christmas Child (OCC) – sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel through gifts & supplies in a simple shoebox.  What we are asking our church (YOU) is to simply pray and ask God how many shoeboxes He wants you to fill, take home the shoeboxes we provide, pack them as a family, and then bring back your completed boxes to the church between now and Sunday, November 15th.  There will be a table in the back of our auditorium with shoeboxes ready to take home each Sunday.  This would be a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus.  You can go to OCC’s website for a great list of suggested gifts/items for the shoeboxes.  We believe that we still have an opportunity to pack hundreds and hundreds of shoeboxes and share the love of Jesus with children all around the world!  Pray about how many boxes your family would be willing to pack, step out in faith, grab a few shoeboxes on Sunday, and help us do just that!
4. If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception.  Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, November 8th, in the Welcome Center immediately following the 11:15am service (at approximately 12:30pm).  This will also be available online!  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.
5. Interested in officially making Coastal your church family by becoming a Member?  Our next Membership Class is Saturday morning, November 14th, 9am-11:30am. You can respond to this email or sign up on our website.  You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom. 
   
   P.S. Many of you might not be aware of this, but our church has a Grief Share Group that meets on Monday nights, 6:30pm at the church.  Grief Share is a support group for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one and need support, encouragement, and hope.  On Monday night, November 16th, 6:30pm-8:30pm  our group is hosting a “Surviving the Holidays” seminar.  This event will help you discover how to deal with emotions, give helpful tips on how to survive holiday social events, and discover hope for the future.  Contact Sue Muoio at s.muoio@outlook.com to RSVP or for more information or register at www.griefshare.org.  Spread the word – the Group and this event are open to the public!  

This Sunday I’ll be in week 5 of our “Hope in the Dark” series.  And if you thought last week was intense as I talked about being faithful in suffering and submitting (the dreaded “S” word) to authority, just wait until this Sunday!  I’m in 1 Peter 3:1-7 where in part Peter says, “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands. . . Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner.”  I’m pretty sure there are some women reading this who are worried that I’m going to say that in the original Greek language the word “submit” means “make me a sandwich.”  Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean that, and I won’t be saying that (not if I value my life at least – haha)!  But I will do my best to unpack this passage.  I hope I’ve peaked your interest and that you’ll either join us in person or tune in online.  The truth is families are hurting today, and just like in every area of life – God’s way works!  It’s actually kind of interesting that we’re in this particular passage, because I’ve had 3 weddings this week!!  The picture above was from one of them.  Can anyone guess where it’s at?  The first 5 people who respond with the correct answer will receive a card for a FREE ice cream from Baskin Robbins!  Now I’ll see who really reads this thing – haha! 

Last Sunday, we put our little “You’re Invited” cards in the bulletin, and I challenged our church to give them away to people and invite them to Coastal.  I even challenged you to leave them (with a generous tip) for your server at any restaurant you might go to.  I actually had two families either send me a picture or share a story about reaching out to their servers and leaving a generous tip!  Pretty cool!  Keep it up Coastal!  People are hurting, and it’s those small acts of kindness done consistently that still make the biggest IMPACT! 

Many of you might not be aware of this, but our church has a Grief Share Groupthat meets on Monday nights at the church, 6:30pm-8:30pm.  Grief Share is a support group for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one and need support, encouragement, and hope.  On Monday night, November 16th, 6:30pm-8:30pm  our group is hosting a “Surviving the Holidays” seminar.  This event will help you discover how to deal with emotions, give helpful tips on how to survive holiday social events, and discover hope for the future.  Contact Sue Muoio at s.muoio@outlook.com to RSVP or for more information or register at www.griefshare.org.  Spread the word – the Group and this event are open to the public!

LIFE & LOVE!
(We exist to share and experience the LIFE & LOVE of Jesus with Charleston & the world!) 

Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Upcoming Outreach Projects:
   Coastal is constantly and continually engaged in being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.  Here are this week’s opportunities! 
   Suburban Hotel Tailgate –  Let’s make an impact together by serving local veterans and persons transitioning from a local homeless shelter in Charleston into permanent housing at the Suburban Hotel in North Charleston!   This Saturday (TOMORROW) from 10am until 1pm we’re sending a Tailgate Team who will provide grilled burgers and hot dogs for those in need. We meet at Coastal in the Welcome Center! This is a project that is suitable for the whole family.
   Tricounty Family Ministries –  We will be assisting with the Emergency Grocery Distribution Wednesday, October 21st, from 9am until 1pm.
   Lowcountry Orphan Relief –  Lowcountry Orphan Relief provides support services and aid to meet the needs of Lowcountry children identified as at-risk or suffering from abandonment, abuse and/or neglect. Coastal has a long standing relationship with LOR, and next Friday (we’re actually there today as well), October 23rd from 9am-11am we’re sending a team to build emergency care kits for children in the community.  We meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston
   
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613. 
2. Not only has construction started, but our Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry has gone portable!  During construction Coastal Kidz will be meeting across the street (where most of you park) at Orange Grove Middle School! We will be setting up Coastal Kidz every Saturday morning at 8:30am.  We would LOVE for you to join us!  If you are interested in being a part of the Coastal Kidz Set-Up Team, respond to this email or reach out to Janet Rollins at 843-442-8299.
3. One of our favorite missions that we support here at Coastal is Operation Christmas Child (OCC) – sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel through gifts & supplies in a simple shoebox.  What we are asking our church (YOU) is to simply pray and ask God how many shoeboxes He wants you to fill, take home the shoeboxes we provide, pack them as a family, and then bring back your completed boxes to the church between now and Sunday, November 15th.  There will be a table in the back of our auditorium with shoeboxes ready to take home each Sunday.  This would be a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus.  You can go to OCC’s website for a great list of suggested gifts/items for the shoeboxes.  We believe that we still have an opportunity to pack hundreds and hundreds of shoeboxes and share the love of Jesus with children all around the world!  Pray about how many boxes your family would be willing to pack, step out in faith, grab a few shoeboxes on Sunday, and help us do just that!
4. If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception.  Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, November 8th, in the Welcome Center immediately following the 11:15am service (at approximately 12:30pm).  This will also be available online!  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.
5. Interested in officially making Coastal your church family by becoming a Member?  Our next Membership Class is Saturday morning, November 14th, 9am-11:30am. You can respond to this email or sign up on our website.  You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom.
   
   P.S. This Sunday there will be a Volunteer Insert in the Bulletin for our 1st Impressions Team and our Security Team.  As more and more people make their way back to in-person worship, we’ve got to build back up our Volunteer Teams.  If you’ve served in the past, we need you!  If you’re new to Coastal, and haven’t started serving, we need you!  But let me be clear, we don’t need you simply because there are spots to fill.  We need you because Jesus said that you find LIFE by giving your LIFE away in service to others.  You see, YOU need it!  If you are interested and willing to serve, fill out the insert on Sunday or respond to this email.  You can also reach out to Chris Ranew  (706-941-2044) or Pastor Scott Huff (859-230-5129) if you’re interested in serving. 

This Sunday we’re in week 4 of our “Hope in the Dark” series.  I hope you’re enjoying this journey through 1 Peter.  The truth is, we all need hope.  Hope is one of those necessary elements of life.  I mean there are some things in life that you just can’t do without.  Or at least you can’t go very long without.  For instance, food.  How long can you live without food?  Some of you didn’t have breakfast, so you’re thinking in just about an hour or two you’re going to starve to death.  But, we know you can at least live 40 days without food.  Jesus Himself, and others fasted for 40 days from solid foods.  How about water?  How long can you last without water?  Studies show three days.  72 hours. We need water more than we need food, because our bodies are made up mostly of water.  How long can some of you live without your smart phone?  Not very long.  What about air?  How long can you live without breathing?  Your body can survive for eight minutes without oxygen.

But, let me ask you this, how long can you live without hope?  The answer is not one moment.  You can’t live without hope.  You need hope in order to cope with all that life throws at you.  Hope is not something you only need when you’re in trouble, or when you’re facing problems, or when you feel like you’re drowning.  You need hope every moment.  You need hope now.

Some of you are having a really tough year.  You lost a job.  Or maybe you’re struggling financially.  Some of you, you went through a breakup, or maybe you received a bad diagnosis at the doctor.  Or maybe in the last year you lost someone who you loved a great deal.  And you need hope.

And listen, the people in your life need hope too.  Because the people in your life who don’t know Jesus, you know what they’re placing their hope in?  They’re placing their hope in things that don’t last.  They’re placing their hope in their bank account, in their job, in their career, in a relationship.  In other words, they put their hope in things that are temporary.

We all need hope, but where do we find it?  Hope, real and lasting hope, can only be found in one place.  Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”  God is the ultimate source of our hope.  Not a Presidential candidate.  Not a bank account.  Not a job or a person.  God is the source of our hope.  And we, as the church, we are God’s chosen means of taking His hope to a lost and broken world.  We are the only organization that Jesus left behind to communicate God’s love to a world who desperately needs it.  And what that means is when we’re really being the church, when we’re doing what the church is supposed to do, the church is the hope of the world!  Who do you know in your life, in your circle of influence, where you live, work, parent, and play, who needs a shot of hope?  Share your story, share your faith, and invite them to a place – Coastal Community Church – where they will be introduced to the true Hope of this World!  See you Sunday – in-person and/or online!

LIFE & LOVE!
(We exist to share and experience the LIFE & LOVE of Jesus with Charleston & the world!) 

Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Upcoming Outreach Projects:
   Coastal is constantly and continually engaged in being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.  Here are this week’s opportunities!
   Lowcountry Orphan Relief –  Lowcountry Orphan Relief provides support services and aid to meet the needs of Lowcountry children identified as at-risk or suffering from abandonment, abuse and/or neglect. Coastal has a long standing relationship with LOR and on Friday, October 16th from 9am- 11am we’re sending a team to build emergency care kits for children in the community. We meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.   
   Suburban Hotel Tailgate –  Let’s make an impact together by serving local veterans and persons transitioning from a local homeless shelter in Charleston into permanent housing at the Suburban Hotel in North Charleston! On October 17th from 10am until 1pm we’re sending a Tailgate Team who will provide grilled burgers and hot dogs for those in need. We meet at Coastal in the Welcome Center! This is a project that is suitable for the whole family.
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Not only has construction started, but our Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry has gone portable!  During construction Coastal Kidz will be meeting across the street (where most of you park) at Orange Grove Middle School! We will be setting up Coastal Kidz every Saturday morning at 8:30am.  We would LOVE for you to join us!  If you are interested in being a part of the Coastal Kidz Set-Up Team, respond to this email or reach out to Janet Rollins at 843-442-8299.
3. One of our favorite missions that we support here at Coastal is Operation Christmas Child (OCC) – sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel through gifts & supplies in a simple shoebox.  What we are asking our church (YOU) is to simply pray and ask God how many shoeboxes He wants you to fill, take home the shoeboxes we provide, pack them as a family, and then bring back your completed boxes to the church between now and Sunday, November 15th.  There will be a table in the back of our auditorium with shoeboxes ready to take home each Sunday.  This would be a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus.  You can go to OCC’s website for a great list of suggested gifts/items for the shoeboxes.  We believe that we still have an opportunity to pack hundreds and hundreds of shoeboxes and share the love of Jesus with children all around the world!  Pray about how many boxes your family would be willing to pack, step out in faith, grab a few shoeboxes on Sunday, and help us do just that!
4. If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception.  Our next Newcomer’s Reception is Sunday, November 8th, in the Welcome Center immediately following the 11:15am service (at approximately 12:30pm).  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.
5. Interested in officially making Coastal your church family by becoming a Member?  Our next Membership Class is Saturday morning, November 14th, 9am-11:30am. You can respond to this email or sign up on our website.  You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom.  
   
   P.S. This Sunday there will be a Volunteer Insert in the Bulletin for our 1st Impressions Team and our Security Team.  As more and more people make their way back to in-person worship, we’ve got to build back up our Volunteer Teams.  If you’ve served in the past, we need you!  If you’re new to Coastal, and haven’t started serving, we need you!  But let me be clear, we don’t need you simply because there are spots to fill.  We need you because Jesus said that you find LIFE by giving your LIFE away in service to others.  You see, YOU need it!  If you are interested and willing to serve, fill out the insert on Sunday or respond to this email.

Many of you probably didn’t know this, but when the sanctuary of our old building was originally built, the wooden ceiling with the large trusses with a cross carved out in the center, that ceiling went from one end of the building to the other end.  You just never saw it because it was always closed in.  Some of us were aware of it because we’ve been up in the attic.  Well, during demolition that beautiful ceiling has once again, after all these years (approximately 70 years), been “uncovered.”  In fact, if you look closely in the picture above you can see the large trusses still wrapped in the original brown paper that they were shipped in before construction back in the 1950’s!  In our new plans that space is going to be offices.  Here’s the exciting news. We’re working with our engineers and builder to leave a large portion of those ceilings open and exposed!  What a wonderful tribute to the history of this place!

You know our lives are kind of like that ceiling.  Our beauty and potential are sometimes hidden.  A few people have a seen a glimpse, but most people are unaware of what lies beneath.  But then God does His “demo” work in our hearts through His word, the Holy Spirit, and the Cross of Christ, and what God knew all along is finally revealed for all the world to see.  And that’s the journey, becoming more and more everyday as God already sees us and has seen us all along.  In fact, this Sunday I’ll be speaking about our true identity in Christ – what God says about us, who we really are.  And that’s what we need to be reminded of on a regular basis, especially in seasons of difficulty and pain and in a world of negativity like we all live in.  So I hope you’ll join us this Sunday for part 3 of “Hope in the Dark.”  Meditate on this verse as you prepare your hearts for Sunday, 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”  

Don’t forget that starting this Sunday, both of our in-person services (9:30am & 11:15am) will have Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry!  If you are interested in volunteering in Coastal Kidz in any capacity, please respond to this email or reach out to Janet Rollins at 843-442-8299.  Just like pre-COVID, our 9:30am service is definitely the larger service. If it doesn’t matter to you which service you attend, would you please consider coming to the 11:15am service.  It would help us to continue to spread people out. 

I mentioned last week that we now have a Sign Language Interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing in our 9:30am service, in-person only.  Well beginning this Sunday, it will also be available ONLINE during the 9:30am service!  If you know of any individuals who would benefit from an interpreter, please help us spread the word!

LIFE & LOVE!
(We exist to share and experience the LIFE & LOVE of Jesus with Charleston & the world!) 

Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. Upcoming Outreach Projects:
   Saturday Serve –  The foundation of all of our serving opportunities at Coastal really starts with Saturday Serve – the first Saturday of every month.  The next Saturday Serve is THIS Saturday (tomorrow), October 3rd.  We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!  Come and join us THIS Saturday!   
   Tricounty Family Ministries –  We will be assisting with the Emergency Grocery Distribution THIS Wednesday, October 7th, from 9am until 1pm.
   Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution NEXT Friday (1 week from today), October 9th, 8am-1pm.   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects or have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Not only has construction started, but our Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry has gone portable!  During construction Coastal Kidz will be meeting across the street (where most of you park) at Orange Grove Middle School! We will be setting up Coastal Kidz every Saturday morning at 8:30am.  We would LOVE for you to join us!  If you are interested in being a part of the Coastal Kidz Set-Up Team, respond to this email or reach out to Janet Rollins at 843-442-8299.
3. One of our favorite missions that we support here at Coastal is Operation Christmas Child (OCC).  Well, because of COVID-19, OCC is going to look a little different this year at Coastal.  We will not be having our big “Wrapping & Packing Party.”  Instead our OCC Team here at Coastal and a few other volunteers will pack & wrap boxes with the current gifts/supplies we already have on hand (You can sign up on your Connect Card to be a part of that Team).  From this point forward, what we are asking our church is to simply take home the shoeboxes we provide and pack them as a family and then bring back your completed boxes to the church between now and Sunday, November 15th.  Weather permitting there will be a table right outside our building with shoeboxes ready to take home each Sunday.  This would be a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus.  You can go to OCC’s website for a great list of suggested gifts/items for the shoeboxes.  Different is not bad.  We really believe that we still have an opportunity to pack hundreds and hundreds of shoeboxes and share the love of Jesus with children all around the world!  Pray about how many boxes your family would be willing to pack, step out in faith, grab a few shoeboxes on Sunday, and help us do just that!
4. LIFE Groups have started!!  But it’s still not too late to join one!  Go online right now and check out the Fall Semester LIFE Group Catalogand sign up for a Group 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.  YOU NEED THIS!  WE NEED THIS!  So check them out and join one today!
5. As a part of the series (“Hope in the Dark”), we’re providing a daily devotional (5 days a week) and a weekly memory verse for the duration of the series as we read, study, and pray through 1 Peter together as a church. If you haven’t already done so, sign up for the devotional (it will be emailed to you daily)!  I really believe this is going to be a great study and a great series for our church and our community!  As always, invite and bring a friend to Coastal – either in-person or online.
   
   P.S. Attention Ladies!  Have you ever walked through a season where you just felt stuck? You’re invited to an in-person watch party of the “Dare to Be” Women’s Event at the church THIS Sunday, October 4th at 8pm as Charlotte Gambill & Natalie Grant help us discover that God has already given us what we need to MOVE BEYOND!  And, guess what?  Our church has paid the ticket price for this event, so it’s FREE to you and anyone who wants to attend. Invite and bring a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, or a family member that needs a moment to reconnect and recharge in an evening of worship and Bible Study lead by women, for women of all ages.  For more information or to RSVP, please reach out to Rachel Speer or Dawn Judd.

We just want to let everyone know that beginning THIS SUNDAY, October 4th, our Coastal Kidz Children’s Ministry (Birth-5th Grade) is available in BOTH MORNING SERVICES – 9:30am & 11:15am!  And of course, don’t forget that Coastal Kidz is now meeting across the street (conveniently where you park) at Orange Grove Middle School.  If you’re concerned at all about social distancing, the 11:15am service is definitely the better service to attend.  In fact, if it doesn’t matter to you, we’re encouraging you to come to  the 11:15am service to help alleviate the crowd in the 9:30am service.

One vitally important part of Coastal Kidz being portable right now during construction is our Coastal Kidz Set-up Team!  Each Saturday at 8:30am a group of volunteers meet at our storage container behind Orange Grove Middle School to unload and set-up all of our equipment.  It usually takes about 45 minutes.  And then every Sunday immediately after both services we take everything down and pack it back up.  WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS MINISTRY!  If you are interested in serving in this Ministry, simply respond to this email or reach out to Janet Rollins at 843-442-8299.

Also, for those of you with children who are watching our Sunday Services online, please take advantage of Coastal Kidz Online!  In fact, I don’t know if you know this or not, but Coastal Kidz Online is updated each week with the same lesson our children are learning in-person.  So whether you’re at home, out of town, or sick, it’s a great way stay up with your child’s class and keep them engaged. 

LIFE & LOVE! 
Pastor Chris

P.S.  This Saturday our Coastal Kidz Set-up Team will be one of our Saturday ServeProjects!  So meet in the church Welcome Center this Saturday at 8:30am!