My wife Janet and I and all the Pastors & Staff at Coastal want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!  Instead of focusing on how this Christmas may or may not look a little different, or lamenting over how crazy 2020 has been – forget about all of that and simply be PRESENT, right here, right now, TODAY, and focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  

Luke 2:10-11, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Read those words again slowly.  Let each phrase sink in.  Don’t be afraid!  What’s got you locked up in a prison of fear today?  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”  Good News!  Get off social media, tune out the news and all the negativity of this world and remember that we have GOOD NEWS!  And Good News is always meant to be shared!  Great Joy!  “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Savior.  Messiah.  Lord.  That’s what Christmas is all about – a Savior has been born, the Messiah, the Lord!  The question is . . . is He yours?  If He is, that’s all that matters today and every day!  Merry Christmas!

Don’t forget that there are NO IN-PERSON SERVICES this Sunday, December 27th!All of our services this Sunday, 9:30am, 11:15am, and 6pm, will be ONLINE ONLY!  As always,  you can watch all of our services on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel, or at https://coastalcommchurch.churchonline.org.  This would be a great week to really help us get the word out about our online services!  Check in on Facebook and share the service!  And also keep in mind that on Sunday, January 3rd, there will only be 1 in-person service, the 9:30am service.  But again, all other services will be online.

Merry Christmas!
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! 
   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, January 2nd.  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!  I can’t think of a better way to kick off 2021!
   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. Our goal for our 8th Annual Christmas Offering is $75,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 10th (3 weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to this year’s Christmas Offering.  To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping “description”, online through Paypal, or TEXTing (843-277-8337).  You can give your gift during these 3 weeks at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing, our website, or our App. 
   
   So what are we going to do with that $75,000?  Mainly 3 things: 1. We’re going to fully fund our 2 current monthly Tailgate Parties where we feed hundreds of people each month.  2. We’re going to buy a “Box Truck”!  We’re super pumped about all the outreach possibilities of this truck – equipment and supply transportation for the tailgate parties, advertising for the church, disaster relief, community events, and more.   3. We’re going to purchase indoor and outdoor playground equipment for our new Children’s facility.  So, start praying about what you and your family can give toward this offering.  Remember, this offering should be over and above what you regularly give.  If you’re not regularly giving (weekly, monthly), use this time of year and this offering to start.  If you’re not tithing (10% of your gross income), step out in faith and start tithing.  Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what God can do through our church as together we stretch our faith.  Again, simply use the the keyword “Christmas” whenever and however you give toward the Christmas Offering.
3. We are preparing now for the next semester of LIFE Groups – Winter/Spring 2021!  If you are interested in leading or assisting a LIFE Group, please let us know.  If you have already connected with Pastor Scott about leading a Group, please turn in your Group Information – study, day, time, location, style (in-person/online).  LIFE Group Leader Training will be Tuesday, January 19th, 6:30-8pm OR Saturday, January 23rd, 10-11:30am. (You just need to attend one.)  Both sessions will be offered online or in-person.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff – 859-230-5129.
4.  If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception.  Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, January 10th, 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. Okay Coastal, it’s time to show your generosity once again! Grab an ornament with a teacher wishlist item from a classroom over at Oakland Elementary School. There are books, supplies, small things, big things, and “dream items”! Drop off or ship your gifts to Coastal Community Church (456 Arlington Drive, Charleston, SC 29414) between now and early January.  Label items with the tag number. To claim a tag virtually, email rachel@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
   
   P.S. Start the New Year off right!  Don’t forget that simply because you are a part of the Coastal family, ALL of Dave Ramsey’s best selling resources and tools are available to you for FREE!  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 have access to everything for an entire year at your own pace, on your own schedule.  Here’s the link:  https://www.financialpeace.com/hosts/coastalcommunity?pc=94671724.  Sign up today!  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 just wanted to personally invite you to attend one of our 3 Christmas Eve Services this Thursday at Coastal – in-person OR online!  Our service times are 3pm, 4:30pm, & 6pm.  This year’s services are not going to be a “big production.”  We’re going to sing some of your favorite Christmas songs, I’m going to share a message that God has laid on my heart, and we’re going to light candles to remember that Jesus is the Light of the World.  Simple.  The whole service will last under an hour.  But I promise you, it will be just what you need to start Christmas off right!  Nursery (Birth-2 year olds) will be provided at Coastal Kidz, which meets across the street from the church at Orange Grove Middle School, during all 3 services.  We’re inviting all other children to sit in the service with their family (an activity/treat bag will be provided for each child). 

Also, it’s not too late to invite a friend!  People expect to be invited to Christmas Eve services!  Call up that friend, reach out to someone on social media, and invite them to be your guest.  You never know the power of a simple invitation.  This could be the first day of the rest of their life with Jesus!  Can’t wait to see you and your guests in-person OR online!

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Chris

P.S.  Our entire offering on Christmas Eve is going toward our Annual Christmas Offering!  Our Christmas Offering helps to fund all of the community outreach we do here at Coastal.  As always, you can give through our website, our App, or TEXT any amount to 843-277-8337.

I just want to take a moment to share with you a couple of ways how your generosity makes an IMPACT in our community – ways that you might not even realize.  On Friday (yesterday) we were made aware of a need in our community at MUSC Children’s Hospital.  Normally, the Hospital takes drop off toy donations for the children who are staying at the Hospital during Christmas.  However, because of COVID, the decision was made not to do that this year, instead relying on online donations and orders.  They came up short.  So today our church gave $2,000 in gift cards to help purchase toys for the children staying in the Hospital over Christmas.   Here is part of the email we already got back from the Hospital:

• “Thank you so much for your extremely generous gift for the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.  We are so incredibly grateful for your willingness to help during this time of need.  Your gift of $2,000 in the form of gift cards will be a huge help in getting our patients toys during their stay in the hospital during the holidays.  I can not thank you enough for your generosity.  We are so incredibly grateful!” 

And then on Thursday of this week our church gave its annual t-shirt gift to all the students, faculty, and teachers at Oakland Elementary School – 685 t-shirts (over $4,600)!  Usually the entire school goes outside and forms a particular picture or sign and takes a big “family picture.”  This year because of COVID each classroom took a picture wearing their shirts holding up a letter that spelled out, “Proud to be an Oakland Orca” (see picture). Today on their last day of school before Christmas Break, I was overwhelmed with hundreds of handwritten thank you notes from the kids and teachers.  And by the way, those same children and teachers donated over 2700 canned goods and non-perishable food items to our Food Bank yesterday!

Coastal, these are just two examples of your generosity in action this week alone – not even counting everything that’s happening today with the Christmas Party at the Suburban Hotel or our Annual Christmas Offering. Now, if you feel led to help cover the cost of the gift to the Children’s Hospital or the t-shirts at Oakland – great – reach out to me and let me know OR better yet, simply give this weekend.  But just know that when I say, “It is the generous, consistent giving of our church that enables us to do everything we do,” I mean it.  Coastal, we are known as a generous church that is making an IMPACT in our community!

When I read 2 Corinthians 9:13-15, I can’t help but think of you, “As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”  So, thank you Coastal!  Thank you for your continued generosity!  I am so proud to be your Pastor and to serve with you at a church like ours!

Merry Christmas!     

Pastor Chris

It’s here!  It’s here!  What’s here you say?  Our CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE SUBURBAN HOTEL – this Saturday (TOMORROW), December 19th, 10am-1pm! I hope you are as excited as we are!  All the praying, planning, prepping, and giving have all come down to the actual event itself – where we get to be the hands and feet of Jesus for the people who call the Suburban Hotel home.  If you don’t know, the Suburban Hotel provides transitional housing for homeless Veterans and former residents of the 180 Place Homeless Shelter.  We’ve been serving there for the past 6 months, building a relationship with the residents.  I can’t thank Chris Jones and his amazing Volunteer Team enough for all of their hard work leading up to this weekend.

So, here’s how you can help at this point:

Packing Party:  TONIGHT at 6:30pm we’re meeting in the Welcome Center at Coastal. This will provide us the opportunity to pray together for Saturday and to make final preparations to ensure a smooth-running event. We’ll break down into several teams: Stocking packing, gift preparation, kitchen preparation, coffee bar staging, and equipment staging. Each team will be explained on Friday evening. Remember, many hands will make for quick work. So, if you can make it, we’d love for you to come.

Christmas at the Suburban:  On Saturday morning (TOMORROW), December 19th the church will be open at 8am. We’ll be setting up chairs for Sunday in the auditorium and setting up Coastal Kidz across the street at Orange Grove Middle School (both things have to happen each week).  We’ll need volunteers doing both.  If you are donating any food items, please bring them to the church between 8am-9am.  In fact, if you are volunteering for the event itself, please plan on being at the church by 9am. We’ll provide another briefing, pray and load everything for the trip to the Suburban. If you’ve ever been to a Saturday Serve – the format will be very similar. The plan/goal is to be at the Suburban between 10-10:15am setting up for the event.  The Suburban Hotel is located on Dorchester Road right across the road from the Harley Davidson dealership off of Hwy. 526.

Please have all donations for the stockings and gifts at the church by TODAY at 12noon. This will help with the staging for the Packing Party tonight. Also, be sure to wear your “Making an Impact” t-shirt on Saturday! We’re going to flood the Suburban with a sea of Coastal Blue! If you need a Coastal t-shirt, we’ll have them available on both Friday night and again on Saturday morning.  Children are more than welcome, and in fact, they are regularly with us on the Tailgates. If they are coming to serve, simply remember that they are your responsibility to watch them and keep them safe.

It’s going to be an amazing weekend!  Please continue to pray for people to not only see Jesus, but to come to know Him personally!  We as a church, can’t save anyone, but we know who can, and it’s our job to plant seeds and point people to Jesus. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Chris Jones – (843) 870-4613. I can’t wait to see everyone over the weekend!

Merry Christmas!
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 (TODAY), December 18th, 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.
   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, January 2nd.  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!  I can’t think of a better way to kick off 2021!
   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. Our goal for our 8th Annual Christmas Offering is $75,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 10th (4 weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to this year’s Christmas Offering.  To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping “description”, online through Paypal, or TEXTing (843-277-8337).  You can give your gift during these 4 weeks at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing, our website, or our App.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 3 Christmas Eve Services (Thursday, December 24th, 3pm, 4:30pm, & 6pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering. 
   
   So what are we going to do with that $75,000?  Mainly 3 things: 1. We’re going to fully fund our 2 current monthly Tailgate Parties where we feed hundreds of people each month.  2. We’re going to buy a “Box Truck”!  We’re super pumped about all the outreach possibilities of this truck – equipment and supply transportation for the tailgate parties, advertising for the church, disaster relief, community events, and more.   3. We’re going to purchase indoor and outdoor playground equipment for our new Children’s facility.  So, start praying about what you and your family can give toward this offering.  Remember, this offering should be over and above what you regularly give.  If you’re not regularly giving (weekly, monthly), use this time of year and this offering to start.  If you’re not tithing (10% of your gross income), step out in faith and start tithing.  Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what God can do through our church as together we stretch our faith.  Again, simply use the the keyword “Christmas” whenever and however you give toward the Christmas Offering.
3. We are preparing now for the next semester of LIFE Groups – Winter/Spring 2021!  If you are interested in leading or assisting a LIFE Group, please let us know.  If you have already connected with Pastor Scott about leading a Group, please turn in your Group Information – study, day, time, location, style (in-person/online).  LIFE Group Leader Training will be Tuesday, January 19th, 6:30-8pm OR Saturday, January 23rd, 10-11:30am. (You just need to attend one.)  Both sessions will be offered online or in-person.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff – 859-230-5129.
4. We’re having 3 special Family Christmas Eve services with nursery provided on Thursday, December 24th at 3pm, 4:30pm, and 6pm.  Coastal Volunteers make sure you reach out to your Ministry Team Leaders about signing up to serve.  Most importantly, be praying about who you will invite and bring.  Also, please make note that the Sunday after Christmas (December 27th), services will be online only – no in-person services.
5. Okay Coastal, it’s time to show your generosity once again! Grab an ornament with a teacher wishlist item from a classroom over at Oakland Elementary School. There are books, supplies, small things, big things, and “dream items”! Drop off or ship your gifts to Coastal Community Church (456 Arlington Drive, Charleston, SC 29414) over the next few weeks. Gifts can even be dropped off in early January.  Label items with the tag number. To claim a tag virtually, email rachel@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
   
   P.S. Don’t forget that simply because you are a part of the Coastal family, ALL of Dave Ramsey’s best selling resources and tools are available to you for FREE!  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 have access to everything for an entire year at your own pace, on your own schedule.  Here’s the link:  https://www.financialpeace.com/hosts/coastalcommunity?pc=94671724.  Sign up today!  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!

First of all, before I give you the details about this weekend, I want to brag on you for just a moment.  This past Sunday I told you that we still needed about $700 to purchase 70 more (100 total) Bus Passes to give away at the Christmas Party at the Suburban Hotel this Saturday.  Honestly, I made a pretty strong plea that we should have no problem reaching that goal by the end of services on Sunday and that we also needed personal hygiene items (soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving supplies, etc).  Well, the generosity of our church never ceases to amaze me!  Coastal, you guys gave 4 times what we needed for the Bus Passes and personal hygiene items have been pouring in!  We literally have everything we need and more!  With the extra money that came in we’ll be able to get everything we need for Saturday, plus it will help purchase food for other Tailgate Parties there at the Suburban in the months ahead.

And let me just say this: that’s exactly what our Christmas Offering is all about – OUTREACH!  This year’s offering will help purchase food and supplies for both monthly Tailgate Parties, a wrapped box truck that will be used for both Tailgate Parties, community outreach, and disaster relief, and playground equipment for our new facility.  Our goal this year is BIG – our biggest ever – $75,000!  Honestly, at first I thought that might be too big of a number during a pandemic.  But get this, right now we are already over $46,000!  I believe that we can reach our goal and exceed it before January 10th (the last Sunday to give toward it).  This will be the last update on the number.  You’ll have to wait until after January 10th to hear the final number.  So pray about what God wants you to give and go for it!  Simply use the keyword “Christmas” however and whenever you give towards the Christmas Offering.

Now, back to the Christmas Party at the Suburban.  I’m hoping you are as excited as we are!  We’ve prayed, we’ve planned, we’ve given, and now get to experience the Lord’s hand at work in the lives of the people who call the Suburban home!

Here’s how you can help at this point:

Packing Party:

On Friday night, December 18th at 6:30pm we’re meeting in the Welcome Center at Coastal. This will provide us the opportunity to pray together for Saturday and to make final preparations to ensure a smooth-running event. We’ll break down into several teams: Stocking packing, gift preparation, kitchen preparation, coffee bar staging, and equipment staging. Each team will be explained on Friday evening. Remember, many hands will make for quick work. So, if you can make it, we’d love for you to come. 

Christmas at the Suburban:

On Saturday morning, December 19th the church will be open at 8am. We’ll be setting up chairs for Sunday in the auditorium and setting up Coastal Kidz across the street at Orange Grove Middle School (Both things have to happen each week).  We’ll need volunteers doing both.  If you are donating any food items, you can bring them to the church as early as 8am. However, we will need all food items at the church by 9am. In fact, if you are volunteering for the event itself, please plan on being at the church at 9am. We’ll provide another briefing, pray and load everything for the trip to the Suburban. If you’ve ever been to a Saturday Serve – the format will be very similar. The plan/goal is to be at the Suburban between 10-10:15am setting up for the event.

Please help us by having donations for the stockings and gifts at the church by Friday at 12noon. This will help with the staging for the Packing Party occurring on Friday night. Also, be sure to wear your “Making an Impact” t-shirt on Saturday! We’re going to flood the Suburban with a sea of Coastal Blue! If you need a Coastal t-shirt, we’ll have them available on both Friday night and again on Saturday morning. 

Children are more than welcome, and in fact, they are regularly with us on the Tailgates. If they are coming to serve, simply remember that they are your responsibility to watch them and keep them safe. 

It’s going to be an amazing weekend!  Please pray daily for this event – most importantly for people to not only see Jesus, but to come to know Him personally!  We as a church, can’t save anyone, but we know who can, and it’s our job to plant seeds and point people to Jesus. So, please pray in these final few days.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Chris Jones – (843) 870-4613. I am so thankful for Chris and his amazing team of volunteers who have laid all the ground work for this event.  I can’t wait to see everyone over the weekend! 

LIFE & LOVE,
Pastor Chris

Let me go ahead and cut to the chase.  If you want to make an IMPACT this Christmas, if you want a practical way to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. . . help us put on a huge Christmas Party for the residents of the Suburban Hotel, on Saturday, December 19th, 9am-1pm!  It’s going to be one of our biggest outreach events of the year for our church!  The Suburban Hotel provides transitional housing for homeless Veterans and former residents of the 180 Place Homeless Shelter.  We’ve been serving there for the past 6 months, building a relationship with the residents.  The Suburban Hotel is located on Dorchester Road right across the road from the Harley Davidson dealership off of Hwy. 526.We’re planning on serving a holiday meal with turkey and sides. We’re collecting items to build a personal care package for each resident that includes things like soap, shampoo, and other personal items. We are going to provide gifts (candles for the women and travel mugs for the men) to go along with those personal item care kits. We’re also going to provide a Christmas stocking stuffed full of fun and practical items. We’re going to have Christmas music, a tree, and even Santa might make an appearance!  This will be an event for the whole family! 

There are three links below. Each link will lead you to an area of need: the food, the gifts, or the stockings. Choose where you’d like to contribute, click on the link, choose the items you’d like to provide, and then sign-up!

To help with the Christmas meal click here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AADAD28A0FBC16-christmas

To help with the Christmas gifts click here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44ADAB2CA0F94-suburban

To help with the Christmas stockings click here:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0c4cada929abf58-stockingsYou can also sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday or contact Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613 for more details.  I love you Coastal and I love your heart for serving our community!  Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Merry Christmas!
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! 
   Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, (TODAY) Friday, December 11th, 8am-1pm.
   Tricounty Family Ministries –  We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, December 16th, 9am-12noon.
   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, December 18th, 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. Our goal for our 8th Annual Christmas Offering is $75,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 10th (5 weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to this year’s Christmas Offering.  To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping “description”, online through Paypal, or TEXTing (843-277-8337).  You can give your gift during these 5 weeks at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing, our website, or our App.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 3 Christmas Eve Services (Thursday, December 24th, 3pm, 4:30pm, & 6pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering. 
   
   So what are we going to do with that $75,000?  Mainly 3 things: 1. We’re going to fully fund our 2 current monthly Tailgate Parties where we feed hundreds of people each month.  2. We’re going to buy a “Box Truck”!  We’re super pumped about all the outreach possibilities of this truck – equipment and supply transportation for the tailgate parties, advertising for the church, disaster relief, community events, and more.   3. We’re going to purchase indoor and outdoor playground equipment for our new Children’s facility.  So, start praying about what you and your family can give toward this offering.  Remember, this offering should be over and above what you regularly give.  If you’re not regularly giving (weekly, monthly), use this time of year and this offering to start.  If you’re not tithing (10% of your gross income), step out in faith and start tithing.  Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what God can do through our church as together we stretch our faith.  Again, simply use the the keyword “Christmas” whenever and however you give toward the Christmas Offering. 
3. We are beginning to prepare for the next semester of LIFE Groups – Winter/Spring 2021!  If you are possibly interested in leading or assisting a LIFE Group in 2021, please let us know.  You don’t have to have it all figured out yet – study, day, time, location, style (in-person/online) – we’re just curious if you’re interested.  If you are, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff or simply respond to this email.
4. We’re having 3 special Family Christmas Eve services with nursery provided on Thursday, December 24th at 3pm, 4:30pm, and 6pm.  Coastal Volunteers make sure you reach out to your Ministry Team Leaders about signing up to serve.  Most importantly, be praying about who you will invite and bring.  Also, please make note that the Sunday after Christmas (December 27th), services will be online only – no in-person services.
5. Okay Coastal, it’s time to show your generosity once again! Grab an ornament with a teacher wishlist item from a classroom over at Oakland Elementary School. There are books, supplies, small things, big things, and “dream items”! Drop off or ship your gifts to Coastal Community Church (456 Arlington Drive, Charleston, SC 29414) over the next few weeks. Label items with the tag number. To claim a tag virtually, email rachel@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
   
   P.S. DON’T FORGET – we offer our Coastal Members and regular attendees free access to RightNow Media, an online church video library.  It’s just one of the many ways to express our generosity to our church family.  Essentially, RightNow Media is a Netflix for Bible studies with videos for kids, students, singles, parents and married couples by teachers like Dave Ramsey, John Piper, Max Lucado, Tim Tebow, and more. All the content can be accessed from any computer or smart television and through the RightNow Media app on a phone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV, etc.  If you haven’t already  done so, click here to set up your account!

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!”  If you happened to be at the church yesterday, you would have heard me singing those words loudly over and over again.  I’m a big believer in “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”  But can you believe that it’s now December and Christmas is exactly 3 weeks from today!!  Some of you are excited, but many of you are now panicking!  But the reason I kept singing that line is because we were decorating the church for Christmas!  I can’t wait for you to see it on Sunday!  Plus we’re kicking off our “Christmas at Coastal” series this Sunday!  The theme of this year’s Christmas series is one of hope.  Each week we’ll be looking at different people in the Christmas story and talking about how Jesus came to bring them hope.  This Sunday, I’ll be talking about an old couple that often gets overlooked in the Christmas story – Elizabeth and Zechariah.  If you’d like to prepare yourself for the message, go ahead and read Luke chapter 1.

By the way, this is a great time of the year to invite and bring someone to church – in-person OR online.  People are truly hurting and they are searching for help and hope.  They just need a simple invitation and nudge from you.

Speaking of help and hope, tomorrow, Saturday, December 5th, is one of my favorite days of the month – Saturday Serve!  We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve our community!  It’s that simple, and it doesn’t take the whole day.  Most projects are completed by 12noon.  Make plans, NOW to be there!  Consider that a “nudge” from me!

Merry Christmas!
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! 
   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 tomorrow, Saturday, December 5th.  
   Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Friday, December 11th, 8am-1pm.
   Tricounty Family Ministries –  We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, December 16th, 9am-12noon.
   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, December 18th, 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. We recently announced our Annual Christmas Offering! Our goal is $75,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 10th (6 weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to this year’s Christmas Offering.  To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping “description”, online through Paypal, or TEXTing (843-277-8337).  You can give your gift during these 6 weeks at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing, our website, or our App.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 3 Christmas Eve Services (Thursday, December 24th, 3pm, 4:30pm, & 6pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering. 
   
   So what are we going to do with that $75,000?  Mainly 3 things: 1. We’re going to fully fund our 2 current monthly Tailgate Parties where we feed hundreds of people each month.  2. We’re going to buy a “Box Truck”!  We’re super pumped about all the outreach possibilities of this truck – equipment and supply transportation for the tailgate parties, advertising for the church, disaster relief, community events, and more.   3. We’re going to purchase indoor and outdoor playground equipment for our new Children’s facility.  So, start praying about what you and your family can give toward this offering.  Remember, this offering should be over and above what you regularly give.  If you’re not regularly giving (weekly, monthly), use this time of year and this offering to start.  If you’re not tithing (10% of your gross income), step out in faith and start tithing.  Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what God can do through our church as together we stretch our faith.  Again, simply use the the keyword “Christmas” whenever and however you give toward the Christmas Offering.
3. We are beginning to prepare for the next semester of LIFE Groups – Winter/Spring 2021!  If you are possibly interested in leading or assisting a LIFE Group in 2021, please let us know.  You don’t have to have it all figured out yet – study, day, time, location, style (in-person/online) – we’re just curious if you’re interested.  If you are, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff or simply respond to this email.
4. Our “Christmas at Coastal” series kicks off on Sunday, December 6th!  We’ll have 3 special Family Christmas Eve services with nursery provided on Thursday, December 24th at 3pm, 4:30pm, and 6pm.  Coastal Volunteers make sure you reach out to your Ministry Team Leaders about signing up to serve.  Most importantly, be praying about who you will invite and bring.  Also, please make note that the Sunday after Christmas (December 27th), services will be online only – no in-person services.
5. Christmas at the Suburban Hotel!  The Suburban Hotel provides transitional housing for homeless Veterans and former residents of the 180 Place Homeless Shelter.  On Saturday, December 19th, 9am-1pm, Coastal is going to throw an Outdoor Christmas Party & Traditional Holiday Meal for all the folks at the Suburban!  We’re planning on serving a holiday meal with turkey and sides. We’re collecting items to build a personal care package for each resident that includes things like soap, shampoo, and other personal items. We are going to provide gifts (candles for the women and travel mugs for the men) to go along with those personal item care kits. We’re also going to provide a Christmas stocking stuffed full of fun and practical items. We’re going to have Christmas music, a tree, and even Santa might make an appearance. 
   
   There are three links below. Each link will lead you to an area of need: the food, the gifts, or the stockings. Choose where you’d like to contribute, click on the link, choose the items you’d like to provide, then and sign-up!
   
   To help with the Christmas meal click here:
   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AADAD28A0FBC16-christmas
   
   To help with the Christmas gifts click here:
   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44ADAB2CA0F94-suburban
   
   To help with the Christmas stockings click here:
   https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0c4cada929abf58-stockings
   
   You can also ign up on your Connect Card on Sunday or contact Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613 for more details.