Happy New Year everyone – well almost!  2022 is just about here!  But guess what?  Jesus is still on the throne, God is still in control, and our mission is still the same – “to share and experience the LIFE and LOVE of Jesus with Charleston and the world!” 

I sincerely hope you and your family have had a wonderful Christmas!  And let me say how awesome Christmas Eve was at Coastal, both in-person and online!  I want to thank all of our volunteers who served so joyfully!  We could not do what we do without you!  I especially want to thank all of our Tech Team & Worship Team who came very early and were here for all 3 services!  There is just something special about lighting candles and worshipping together.

For those of you who have had some time off from work this week, I hope you’ve been able to rest, refresh and enjoy spending time with family.  This is a great time of the year to reflect on 2021 (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and dream about 2022.  One great way to do that is to ask questions.  Dorothy Grooms (author, motivational speaker) once said, “The quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask yourself.”  Here’s a few to get you started:

1. Am I closer to God today than I was on Jan 1, 2021?
2. What is my spiritual growth plan for 2022?
3. What drained me emotionally in 2021? 
4. What fills me emotionally?
5. Is there anyone whose forgiveness I need to seek or forgiveness I need to give?
6. Where is the clutter in my life?
7. Would I rate my marriage a 10? Would my spouse (you might want to ask over a nice dinner)? If it’s not a 10 ask this question, “What would it take in 2022 to make it a 10?”
8. Have I scheduled my date nights for January?
9. How much do I weigh? Is that OK?
10. Do I have a Physical/Mammogram scheduled between now and March 31?
11. What’s my major physical focus area for 2022?
12. Are my finances in order?
13. Do I have debt beyond my mortgage?
14. What’s my next step in my giving?
15. How am I growing as a leader?
16. What are my reading goals for 2022?
17. What caused me the most stress in 2021?
18. How am I going to fix that in 2022?
19. What am I pretending NOT to know?
20. What is my calling?  

You see, at some point in all of our lives, we’ve all heard or said this widely accepted saying, “Experience is the best teacher.”  But guess what?  It’s a myth!  It’s just not true.  Experience is not the best teacher.  EVALUATED experience is the best teacher!  And one way to evaluate and learn from your experiences is to ask and answer the right questions.  I’m sure many of you have a love/hate relationships with resolutions.  I get it.  I prefer the word goals.  Over the next several days, I would encourage you to evaluate this past year and set some goals for 2022.  There is tremendous power in simply writing them down and then sharing them with someone else.  I truly believe that 2022 is going to be a great year at Coastal!  

And as you’re praying about goals and changes you want to make in 2022, can I encourage you to include making Coastal a priority?  Jesus called the church His Body, His Bride.  Jesus died for the church.  Jesus started the church.  The church is the Family of God and the only thing that will last on into eternity.  The church is the hope of the world, and when done right, there is nothing greater or more powerful than the local church.  However, there is no perfect church – because the church is made up of people, you and me, and there are no perfect people.  Church attendance/involvement is just like any other habit – it’s easy to make excuses and get out of the habit (especially if you’re trying to stay engaged online).  So, my advice, make a commitment and push through.  If it’s been a while, get back in the habit this year.  If you already attend regularly, maybe it’s time you started serving.  Maybe this is the semester that you join a LIFE Group.  How does your giving reflect your commitment to the church?  Is it consistent?  Generous?  Maybe this is the year you officially become a Member of Coastal.  Our next Membership Class is Monday night, January 24th, 6-8:30pm.  And how about this – invite and bring someone with you to church (again, in-person OR online)!  You never know the power of a simple invitation.

Don’t forget that we’re only having ONE IN-PERSON SERVICE this Sunday, January 2nd at 9:30am (no 11:15am in-person service)!  However, as always, you can watch all of our services (9:30am, 11:15am, and 6pm) on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel, or at https://coastalcommchurch.churchonline.org.  

Happy New Year!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
   Saturday Serve –  There will be NO Saturday Serve on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1st.
   Neighbors Together Grocery Distribution –  We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, January 5th, 9:45am-12:30pm.  Meet at: 2105 Cosgrove Ave. North Charleston.
   PINK House –  The PINK House is a community center in the Ardmore subdivision in West Ashley.  We are going to be putting on a community Tailgate Party, Clothing Distribution, on Saturday, January 8th, 10am-1pm. Meet at the church at 10:00AM.
   Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, January 11th, 8am-1pm.  Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
   Clothing Team –  Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes Friday, January 14th, 9:30am-11:30am.  Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up now on our website.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Only 2 weeks left to give toward our 9th Annual Christmas Offering!   Our goal is $125,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 9th (2 more 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 2 weeks at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing, our website, or our App.    With this year’s offering we are purchasing a second box truck and remodeling our old auditorium (turning it into a Chapel). 
3. We’re excited to announce that starting January 1st, 2022 we’re going to be reading through the Bible together this year at Coastal!  We’ll be following the One Year Bible reading plan (a daily reading of the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs).  We’ll have a limited number of One Year Bibles for purchase at the church ($10) if you’d like a hard copy, or you can purchase them online.  You can also simply choose the One Year Bible reading plan through the YouVersion app or Bible.com.  You can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, and we’ll add you to an email list for regular encouragement and Study notes throughout the year!  If you’ve never read through the Bible, this would be a great way to get started! 
4. SPRING LIFE GROUP LEADERS! If you are interested in Leading, Co-Leading, or Hosting a Spring 2022 LIFE Group in-person or online, sign up on your Connect Card.  For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.  There is a LIFE Group Leader Training on Saturday, January 8th at 9am or Monday, January 10th at 6:30pm.
5. Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Monday night, January 24th, 6-8:30pm. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.  You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom.
   
   P.S. Our WAVES Student Ministry (6th-12th Grade) resumes on Wednesday night, January 12th, 6pm-8pm.  Make sure your Student is there for a night of Food, Games, Groups, Worship, & a Message!  As always, invite and bring friends!  Also, if you would like to help pay for a scholarship for one of our Students to go to the Winter Retreat (January 15th-17th in Pigeon Forge, TN), the full cost is $225.  You can pay any amount using the keyword “winter retreat.”  You can use Venmo @coastalcommunitychurchchs or texting any amount to 843-277-8337 (ex. “225.00 winter retreat”) and following the prompts. If you have any questions about Student Ministry, reach out to Pastor Scott Huff, 859-230-5129.

So, are you ready for Christmas?  Well, ready or not, it’s ALMOST here!  Which means of course, that we’re having our 3 Christmas Eve Services, TONIGHT – 3pm, 4:30pm & 6pm!  I hope you areready to invite & bring your friends!  Remember, it’s not too late to invite someone.  Make the ask!  What’s the worst thing that could happen?  Better yet – what’s the BEST thing that could happen?  Think through all your contacts – social media, work, neighbors, friends, family – and invite them to come!

Also, Christmas Eve is one of those times where it is “all hands on deck.”  In other words, if you serve in ministry and you’re not out of town, we need you to serve.  Contact your Ministry Leader and let them know which service you are available ASAP.  Every ministry needs plenty of volunteers (and extra volunteers) to pull off Christmas Eve and create a welcoming atmosphere.

Pray for me & my message.  Pray that people give their lives to Jesus and get saved!  Pray for our Worship Team that they would lead people to worship Jesus.  Pray for all our Ministry Volunteers, that they would serve Jesus by serving others.

Here are a few other important reminders:

• Be helpful, friendly and welcoming to all our guests!
• Introduce yourself & talk to people you don’t know.
• This is important – park over at Oakland to make more room for guests.  The further away you park, the better.
• Fill out your Connect Card.  This encourages others to do the same. 
• Sit to the front & center of each section of the auditorium.
• Coastal Kidz (Birth-5th Grade) will be fully operational during all 3 services.  
• If you are serving during a service, PLEASE COME EARLY.  Our V.I.P. Volunteer meeting will be at 2:30pm in the Gathering Space as usual.

Don’t forget that our entire offering on Christmas Eve (all 3 services) will go toward our Christmas Offering! Prayerfully consider what you and your family can give.  You might also consider making a year end sacrificial gift. 

Well, I think that’s about it.  For those of you who are traveling or out of town – HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Safe travels and please keep us in your prayers!  And remember, if you can’t make it in person, you will be able to watch all of our services live online.  Can’t wait to see the rest of you and your guests tonight!  Also, don’t forget that there are NO IN-PERSON SERVICES on Sunday – ONLINE ONLY (9:30am, 11:15am, 6pm – all online)!

Merry Christmas Eve!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
   Saturday Serve –  There will be NO Saturday Serve on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1st.
   Neighbors Together Grocery Distribution –  We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, January 5th, 9:45am-12:30pm.  Meet at: 2105 Cosgrove Ave. North Charleston.
   PINK House –  The PINK House is a community center in the Ardmore subdivision in West Ashley.  We are going to be putting on a community Tailgate Party, Clothing Distribution, on Saturday, January 8th, 10am-1pm.
   Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, January 11th, 8am-1pm.  Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
   Clothing Team –  Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes Friday, January 14th, 9:30am-11:30am.  Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up now on our website.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Our goal for our 9th Annual Christmas Offering is $125,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 9th (3 more 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.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 3 Christmas Eve Services (Friday, December 24th, 3pm, 4:30pm, & 6pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering.  With this year’s offering we are purchasing a second box truck and remodeling our old auditorium (turning it into a Chapel). 
3. We’re excited to announce that starting January 1st, 2022 we’re going to be reading through the Bible together this year at Coastal!  We’ll be following the One Year Bible reading plan (a daily reading of the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs).  We’ll have a limited number of One Year Bibles for purchase at the church ($10) if you’d like a hard copy, or you can purchase them online.  You can also simply choose the One Year Bible reading plan through the YouVersion app or Bible.com.  You can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, and we’ll add you to an email list for regular encouragement and Study notes throughout the year!  If you’ve never read through the Bible, this would be a great way to get started!
4. SPRING LIFE GROUP LEADERS! If you are interested in Leading, Co-Leading, or Hosting a Spring 2022 LIFE Group in-person or online, sign up on your Connect Card.  For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.  There is a LIFE Group Leader Training on Saturday, January 8th at 9am or Monday, January 10th at 6:30pm.
5. Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Monday night, January 24th, 6-8:30pm. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.  You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom.
   
   P.S. We’ll have 3 special Christmas Eve Services TONIGHT, December 24th at 3pm, 4:30pm, and 6pm.  Childcare (Birth-5th Grade) will be provided for all 3 Christmas Eve services with a Christmas Pajama Party for children 2 years old and up.  Sunday, December 26th, there will be NO IN-PERSON SERVICES.  All services will be ONLINE ONLY.  Sunday, January 2nd, there will be one in-person service at 9:30am.  As always, the service will be online live at 9:30am, and rebroadcast online at 11:15am and 6pm.

Well, the weekend is finally here!  And that means our Christmas Party at Joseph Floyd Manoris finally here!  It’s one of our biggest outreach events of the year – and I can’t wait!  It’s going to be awesome!  Joseph Floyd Manor is a public housing building in downtown Charleston. It’s been a fixture in Charleston for a long time.  It’s home primarily to limited income, disabled, and older residents of our city.  And it’s a great opportunity for us, as a church, to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus!

I can’t thank all of you enough for how you have responded to this opportunity.  I talked to Pastor Chris Jones last night, and he told me that all of the food, supplies, and gifts have been purchased or accounted for.  At this point, simply drop off everything you’ve signed up for by 6pm tonight at the church.  And speaking of 6pm, we’re having a Packing & Prep Party tonight at the church to prepare and stage everything for tomorrow.  We’d love for you to join us.

And then tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30am we’ll gather at the church and load everything up (actually, feel free to join us at 8:30am to help set up our chairs in the auditorium).  Please park over at Orange Grove Middle School.  Since there is limited parking at JFM, and we have so many people who have signed up to volunteer, we have a Bus that will be taking a large number of people from the church – leaving at 10am and leaving from JFM at 12:45pm.  I’m calling it the Coastal Party Bus!

Truthfully, tonight and tomorrow at JFM will be a great example of what I call Holy Spirit Controlled Chaos!  But that’s something we embrace at Coastal.  I heard a long time ago that you can either structure your church for control or for growth, but you can’t have both.  Now don’t get me wrong, Chris Jones and his Team Leaders have been meeting, praying, planning, and preparing for this event for weeks (and I can’t say enough good things about all of them and the job they have done).  But we will have more volunteers on site than we have specific roles and at times, especially at first, it will appear chaotic.  However, the greatest role for EVERYONE is simply speaking with and loving on the residents of JFM.  Ask someone their story – where they’re from, their families, what they did for a living, their faith journey.  And then just listen.  That’s why we’re there.  And if together, we focus on that – it will be a great success!

As always, if you’d like to join us at JFM or any of our various upcoming Outreach Projects, go to our website and sign up today: https://www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/missions.  If you have any questions about this or any of our other Outreach Events, please respond to this email or reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.

And finally, I want to share with you something that happened this week.  We discovered yesterday morning that someone had vandalized our Box Truck.  They cut out and stole the two catalytic converters from the truck.  Apparently, they get about $300 a piece for the metal found in these parts.  Of course, it cost our church about $2100 to get it fixed.  When something like this happens it’s easy to get angry, sad, frustrated,  disappointed, and ultimately distracted from our mission.  Honestly, it’s simply a reminder to me that there is evil in this world and that people need Jesus.  But what someone meant for evil, we’re going to turn around and literally use it for good!  And not only that, after this year’s Christmas Offering, we’re going buy, wrap, and equip a second Box Truck to multiply our community outreach effort!  I love you Coastal and I love being your Pastor!  Join us, as we continue to “share and experience the LIFE and LOVE of Jesus with Charleston and the world!” 

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Chris

Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
   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 will be serving there, Friday, December 17th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
   Christmas at JFM Prep –  We’ll be packing and staging everything for our BIG Christmas Party at Joseph Floyd Manor on Friday night, December 17th, 6-8pm at the church!
   Christmas Party at JFM –  We’re putting on a HUGE Christmas Party at Joseph Floyd Manor!  Joseph Floyd Manor is a public housing building in downtown Charleston. It is home primarily to limited income, disabled, and older residents of our city.  The event is this Saturday (TOMORROW), December 18th, from 9:30am (meet at the church at 9:30am) until 1:30pm.  We’ll have a volunteer Bus leaving the church at 10am and returning from JFM at 12:45pm.  Please park over at Orange Grove Middle School.
   Seacoast Church Warming Shelter –  We will be assisting with meals for the new homeless warming shelter right around the corner from our church at Seacoast West Ashley.  Breakfast Bag Team, Monday, December 20th, 6-9pm.  Meet at Coastal’s Welcome Center.
   Neighbors Together Grocery Distribution –  We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, December 22nd, 9:45am-12:30pm.  Meet at: 2105 Cosgrove Ave. North Charleston.
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up now on our website.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Our goal for our 9th Annual Christmas Offering is $125,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 9th (4 more 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 (Friday, December 24th, 3pm, 4:30pm, & 6pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering.  With this year’s offering we are purchasing a second box truck and remodeling our old auditorium (turning it into a Chapel). 
3. We’re excited to announce that starting January 1st, 2022 we’re going to be reading through the Bible together this year at Coastal!  We’ll be following the One Year Bible reading plan (a daily reading of the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs).  We’ll have a limited number of One Year Bibles for purchase at the church ($10) if you’d like a hard copy, or you can purchase them online.  You can also simply choose the One Year Bible reading plan through the YouVersion app or Bible.com.  You can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, and we’ll add you to an email list for regular encouragement and Study notes throughout the year!  If you’ve never read through the Bible, this would be a great way to get started!
4. SPRING LIFE GROUP LEADERS! If you are interested in Leading, Co-Leading, or Hosting a Spring 2022 LIFE Group in-person or online, sign up on your Connect Card.  For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
5. Young Adults Ice Skating Night – all young adults are invited to the Carolina Ice Palace TONIGHT, Friday, December 17 for ice skating from 8-10pm. The cost is $14 which includes skates. We will meet at the Ice Palace at 7pm to eat before we skate.  If you would like to join us or if you have any questions, contact Pastor Scott Huff – scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.

P.S. THIS Sunday, December 19th, is going to be “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” at Coastal!  We’re encouraging everyone to break out and wear that ugly Christmas sweater! We’ll have 3 special Christmas Eve Services on Friday, December 24th at 3pm, 4:30pm, and 6pm.  Childcare (Birth-5th Grade) will be provided for all 3 Christmas Eve services with a Christmas Pajama Party for children 2 years old and up.  Sunday, December 26th, there will be NO IN-PERSON SERVICES.  All services will be ONLINE ONLY.  Sunday, January 2nd, there will be one in-person service at 9:30am.  As always, the service will be online live at 9:30am, and rebroadcast online at 11:15am and 6pm.

WOW – what a great kick off to “Christmas at Coastal” this past Sunday!  All the decorations were a huge hit, we had a big crowd, lot’s of guests, 24 people stuck around for our Newcomer’s Reception, we sold out of our One Year Bibles (we got more for this Sunday), and one person gave their life to Jesus!  It just doesn’t get any better than that!

If you haven’t heard yet, one of the biggest things we are doing this year for Christmas is putting on a HUGE Christmas Party for the residents of Joseph Floyd Manor.  And the event is just ONE WEEK AWAY!  Joseph Floyd Manor is a public housing building in downtown Charleston. It is home primarily to limited income, disabled, and older residents of our city.  The date of the party is Saturday, December 18th, from 9:30am (meet at the church at 9:30am) until 1:30pm. We’re hoping to provide a huge holiday meal with turkey & all the trimmings, a Christmas stocking packed with goodies, and a Christmas gift for every resident! This is a wonderful opportunity because the gifts are actual items the residents have requested.  What’s important to know is the Christmas party we’re hosting on the 18th will be the only Christmas many of these residents will experience.  It’s a great opportunity for us, as a church, to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus!

Picture in your mind all the gifts, stockings, food, a Christmas cookie decoration station, games with prizes, and a coffee & hot chocolate bar!  And then we’ll top off the event with singing Christmas carols!  This will be an event that will positively impact the community and help the residents of the manor feel loved and appreciated.  And by the way, this event is family friendly, and all are welcome (a great way to show your kids the true meaning of Christmas). 

Now, a project this size needs two things:

1. Lots of volunteers!  We want to flood Joseph Floyd Manor with love.  Go to our website, give us your contact info, scroll down to this event/date & click, and then scroll down and hit the “click here to register” button. 
    
2. An event this size also requires lots of supplies and resources. Your help is needed to help provide the meal (right now probably the biggest need), the gifts, the Christmas cookie decorating supplies, and the goodies for the stockings (see sign up lists below). 

 There are multiple sign up lists to help out:

The Meal:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CADA929ABF58-christmas

The Gifts:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044FA4A929A1FA7-joseph

The Stockings:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CADA929ABF58-stockings1

The Cookies:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094aa8a92fa0fa7-jfmcookie

To Serve:
https://www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/missions

If you have any questions about this event, please respond to this email or reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:

1. UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
   Clothing Team –  Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes TODAY, December 10th, 9:30am-11:30am.  Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
   PINK House –  The PINK House is a community center in the Ardmore subdivision in West Ashley.  We are going to be putting on a community Tailgate Party, Clothing Distribution, this Saturday (TOMORROW), December 11th, 10am-1pm.
   Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, December 14th, 8am-1pm.  Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
   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 will be serving there, Friday, December 17th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
   Christmas at JFM Prep –  We’ll be packing and staging everything for our BIG Christmas Party at Joseph Floyd Manor on Friday night, December 17th, 6-8pm at the church!
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up now on our website.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Our goal for our 9th Annual Christmas Offering is $125,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 9th (5 more 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.  With this year’s offering we are purchasing a second box truck and remodeling our old auditorium (turning it into a Chapel). 
3. We’re excited to announce that starting January 1st, 2022 we’re going to be reading through the Bible together this year at Coastal!  We’ll be following the One Year Bible reading plan (a daily reading of the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs).  We’ll have a limited number of One Year Bibles for purchase at the church ($10) if you’d like a hard copy, or you can purchase them online.  You can also simply choose the One Year Bible reading plan through the YouVersion app or Bible.com.  You can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, and we’ll add you to an email list for regular encouragement and Study notes throughout the year!  If you’ve never read through the Bible, this would be a great way to get started!  
4. SPRING LIFE GROUP LEADERS! If you are interested in Leading, Co-Leading, or Hosting a Spring 2022 LIFE Group in-person or online, sign up on your Connect Card.  For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
5. Young Adults Ice Skating Night – all young adults are invited to the Carolina Ice Palace on Friday, December 17 for ice skating from 8-10pm. The cost is $14 which includes skates. We will meet at the Ice Palace at 7pm to eat before we skate.  If you would like to join us or if you have any questions, contact Pastor Scott Huff – scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
   
   P.S. Sunday, December 19th, is going to be “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” at Coastal!  We’re encouraging everyone to break out and wear that ugly Christmas sweater! We’ll have 3 special Christmas Eve Services on Friday, December 24th at 3pm, 4:30pm, and 6pm.  Childcare (Birth-5th Grade) will be provided for all 3 Christmas Eve services with a Christmas Pajama Party for children 2 years old and up.  Sunday, December 26th, there will be NO IN-PERSON SERVICES.  All services will be ONLINE ONLY.  Sunday, January 2nd, there will one in-person service at 9:30am.  As always, the service will be online live at 9:30am, and rebroadcast online at 11:15am and 6pm.

We need your help! I am reaching out everyone at Coastal to help us provide a wonderful Christmas to the residents of Joseph Floyd Manor.  Joseph Floyd Manor is a public housing building in downtown Charleston. It is home primarily to limited income, disabled, and older residents of our city.  Coastal is partnering with “Friends of Joseph Floyd Manor” (one of our many ministry partners) to host a Christmas Party at the manor on Saturday, December 18th, from 9:30am (meet at the church at 9:30am) until 1:30pm. We’re hoping to provide a huge holiday meal with turkey & all the trimmings, a Christmas stocking packed with goodies, and a Christmas gift for every resident! This is a wonderful opportunity because the gifts are actual items the residents have requested.  What’s important to know is the Christmas party we’re hosting on the 18th will be the only Christmas many of these residents will experience.  It’s a great opportunity for us, as a church, to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus!

Picture in your mind all the gifts, stockings, food, a Christmas cookie decoration station, games with prizes, and a coffee & hot chocolate bar!  And then we’ll top off the event with singing Christmas carols!  This will be an event that will positively impact the community and help the residents of the manor feel loved and appreciated.  And by the way, this event is family friendly and all are welcome (a great way to show your kids the true meaning of Christmas). 

Now, a project this size needs two things:

1. Lots of volunteers!  We want to flood Joseph Floyd Manor with love.  Go to our website, give us your contact info, scroll down to this event/date & click, and then scroll down and hit the “click here to register” button. 
    
2. An event this size also requires lots of supplies and resources. Your help is needed to help provide the meal (right now probably the biggest need), the gifts, the Christmas cookie decorating supplies, and the goodies for the stockings (see sign up lists below). 

 There are multiple sign up lists to help out:

The Meal:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CADA929ABF58-christmas

The Gifts:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044FA4A929A1FA7-joseph

The Stockings:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CADA929ABF58-stockings1

The Cookies:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094aa8a92fa0fa7-jfmcookie

To Serve:
https://www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/missions

If you have any questions about this event, please respond to this email or reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.

Merry Christmas!
Pastor Chris

P.S.  Again, right now the food for the meal is probably the biggest need.  Go to this link and sign up today:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CADA929ABF58-christmas

One of the challenges that most of us face every Christmas is connecting with the Christmas story with a fresh set of eyes that hasn’t been glazed over with familiarity.  A lot of us have heard the story of Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, and the Wise Men so many times, that our brains can easily shift into neutral whenever we hear it.  In fact, it’s easy to mentally check out because we already know the story.  I mean, we LOVE the story, but we sometimes no longer HEAR the story.

And so to combat that tendency, each year we Pastors try to look at the story from a slightly different angle –– not so much to see “new” things –– but to see the same great truths with a new freshness!  And this year I want us to experience the wonder and joy of the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the Wise Men and the gifts that they brought Jesus.  

Matthew 2:1-2 says, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  Verse 11 of that same chapter says, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”  So who were these Magi or Wise Men from the East?  And what if anything is the significance of these gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh?  Join us this Sunday, December 5th, as we kick off “Christmas at Coastal” and discover the answers to those questions and so much more!

And speaking of Christmas at Coastal – a few other things to make note of:  

• Our facility looks AWESOME (thank you Teresa Spell for your vision and all your hard work)!  You’re definitely going to want to get family pictures in our facility!  
• Sunday, December 19th, is going to be “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” at Coastal!  We’re encouraging everyone to break out and wear that ugly Christmas sweater! 
• We’ll have 3 special Christmas Eve Services on Friday, December 24th at 3pm, 4:30pm, and 6pm.  Childcare (Birth-5th Grade) will be provided for all 3 Christmas Eve services with a Christmas Pajama Party for children 2 years old and up.  
• Sunday, December 26th, there will be NO IN-PERSON SERVICES.  All services will be ONLINE ONLY.
• Sunday, January 2nd, there will one in-person service at 9:30am.  As always, the service will be online live at 9:30am, and rebroadcast online at 11:15am and 6pm.

Invite and bring someone to church during the Christmas season!  Let me ask you a question – how did YOU find Jesus?  My guess is that Jesus drew you to Himself through His Spirit and His Word.  But He also provided a “star,” a travel guide, someone to help lead you to Jesus.  It might have been your Mom and Dad who pointed the way.  It may have been someone at work, a neighbor, a close friend, a teacher, a pastor – someone that God had cross your path.  It was probably someone whose light was bright, whose love was real.  Well, guess what?  God wants to use you as His star!  Who do you know in your “universe” (where you live, work, parent, and play) who needs to be guided to Jesus?  Daniel 12:3 says, “…and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever.”  Be that guiding light, that bright star, and invite and bring someone to Coastal.  And you never know, maybe, just like the Wise Men, they will bow down and worship Him!
LIFE & LOVE!
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 tomorrow, Saturday, December 4th.  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!
   Neighbors Together (formerly Tri-County Ministries) –  We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, December 8th, 9:45am-12:30pm.  Meet at: 2105 Cosgrove Ave. North Charleston.
   Patriot Villas Veterans Tailgate –  We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Veterans at Patriot Villas on Thursday, December 9th, 6-8:15pm.  Meet at Coastal’s Welcome Center.
   Clothing Team –  Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes Friday, December 10th, 9:30am-11:30am.  Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
   PINK House –  The PINK House is a community center in the Ardmore subdivision in West Ashley.  We are going to be putting on a community Tailgate Party, Clothing Distribution, Saturday, December 11th, 10am-1pm.
   If you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up now on our website.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones at 843-870-4613.
2. Our goal for our 9th Annual Christmas Offering is $125,000!  Now through the second Sunday of the New Year, January 9th (6 more 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.  With this year’s offering we are purchasing a second box truck and remodeling our old auditorium. 
3. We’re excited to announce that starting January 1st, 2022 we’re going to be reading through the Bible together this year at Coastal!  We’ll be following the One Year Bible reading plan (a daily reading of the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs).  We’ll have a limited number of One Year Bibles for purchase at the church ($10) if you’d like a hard copy, or you can purchase them online.  You can also simply choose the One Year Bible reading plan through the YouVersion app or Bible.com.  You can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday, and we’ll add you to an email list for regular encouragement and Study notes throughout the year!  If you’ve never read through the Bible, this would be a great way to get started!   
4. SPRING LIFE GROUP LEADERS! If you are interested in Leading, Co-Leading, or Hosting a Spring 2022 LIFE Group in-person or online, sign up on your Connect Card.  For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
5. If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception.  Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, December 5th, in the new Gather Space next to the cafe 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.  You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.  Childcare provided.
   
   P.S. We’ll be back at Joseph Floyd Manor on Saturday, December 18th for a HUGE Christmas Party! We would love for you to join us! You can sign up to bring food, buy gifts, stuff stockings, and/or assist at the cookie decorating station here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4cada929abf58-christmashttps://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044fa4a929a1fa7-josephhttps://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4cada929abf58-stockings1https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094aa8a92fa0fa7-jfmcookie