Monthly Archives
No, you’re not seeing double and you don’t need to check your eyes – that’s 2 BOX TRUCKS in the picture above! And it was made possible by your generosity (the Christmas Offering). We hope to put it out on the road very soon, serving and loving our community (think simultaneous Tailgate Parties). We still need to “outfit” it with all the necessary equipment, but it should be ready soon. Next week, however, we are going to use it to load up and deliver all of the gifts and supplies for Oakland Elementary School (another example of your generosity). But the real requirement for operating two Box Trucks and two Tailgate Parties is people – YOU! In fact, sign up to serve at our next Saturday Serve, Saturday, February 5th to show your support and your commitment to community outreach. Go to our website, sign up today, and then show up next Saturday morning at 8:30am, and make it obvious that we have plenty of volunteers to man two Tailgate Parties!
This Sunday at Coastal is going to be a lot of fun! We kick off a new series called, “The Names of God.” Over the next several weeks, we’re going to be looking at some of the names through which God has revealed himself in the Bible. My message this Sunday is an overview of the series, titled, “What’s In a Name?” As a part of the series kickoff on Sunday we’re asking everyone to wear a Name Tag. We’ll have several “Name Tag Stations” setup as people are entering the building.
And that goes along perfectly with the other exciting thing happening this week – it’s LIFE Group Sunday!! What is LIFE Group Sunday? I’m glad you asked. Think Job/College Fair, but for LIFE Groups! Before and after both Sunday morning services everyone is invited to our Welcome Center/Gathering Space where you’ll get to visit a booth/table representing all the different LIFE Groups this semester! You’ll get to meet the leaders, ask any questions, meet other people just like you checking out all the groups, and enjoy some great food (snacks at every table)! You’ll even get to vote on the Best Overall Booth, Most Creative, Best Sales Pitch, Best Food/Snacks, etc. Don’t miss it! Most importantly, sign up for a LIFE Group!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:
We just unveiled our 2022 Fall Semester LIFE Group Catalog (it’s available online)! We would love for you to check out all of our different Groups (there’s something for everyone) and sign up to join a LIFE Group this semester (10-12 weeks)! By the way, our LIFE Groups are for everyone – whether you’re a member of our church, an occasional attender, or even if you’ve never attended on a Sunday. We’re called Coastal COMMUNITY Church and you (and your friends and family) are a part of our community. There are all types of Groups – online, in-person, activity, women’s, men’s, support, marriage, Bible study, and more!
By the way, not only can you view the catalog online, but you can sign up for a Group online! Once you sign up for a group, your Group Leader will contact you before the semester begins. Unless otherwise stated in the catalog, all Groups begin the week of February 13th.
I also want to invite you to attend LIFE GROUP SUNDAY, this Sunday, January 30th at Coastal! We have 2 services – 9:30am & 11:15am. Before and after both services you’ll be able to visit a table/booth representing each one of our 35 different LIFE Groups (kind of like a Job/College Fair, but for LIFE Groups)! There will be food & drinks, you’ll be able to meet other people checking out all the Groups, meet the different Group Leaders, and ask any questions you might have. I promise it will be a great day and a lot of fun! Hope to see you on Sunday! Start signing up for a LIFE Group today!
LIFE is Better Together!
Pastor Chris
I wanted to send a “shout out” to Coastal’s Sewing Group! Check out the picture and article above! They made the paper! Truthfully, our Sewing Group at Coastal is really more of an Outreach Group. Yes, it’s full of folks who love to sew and with those who want to learn to sew (Evalyn & Beth can teach ANYONE to sew). But over the years, Coastal’s Sewing Group has made blankets for NICU babies, bags for our Blessing Bags, zipper bags for Tailgate Parties, stockings for Joseph Floyd Manor, pillowcases for MUSC Children’s Hospital, and dresses for the Operation Christmas Child. And the Sewing Group is just of ONE of 35 DIFFERENT LIFE GROUPS this upcoming semester!
Which leads me to today’s BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Our Spring Semester LIFE Group Catalog is now available online and you can start signing up TODAY! The physical catalog will be available in-person this Sunday, and we’ll also be mailing it out to everyone. As always, there are multiple ways to sign up for a LIFE Group (online, on your Connect Card, or at the LIFE Group tables), but you only have to sign up one time, one way. And yes, you can sign up for multiple groups. There are a variety of groups (both in-person and/or online) on every day of the week. YOU NEED THIS! WE NEED THIS! We were made for community, for connections, to do LIFE with people. And the primary way for that to happen at Coastal is through LIFE Teams (serving/volunteering) and LIFE Groups (relationships). The majority of our LIFE Groups all begin the week of February 13th (less than one month away) and last for 10-12 weeks (depending on the group). So check them all out this weekend and start signing up!
The other BIG ANNOUNCEMENT is that next Sunday, January 30th, is LIFE Group Sunday!! What is LIFE Group Sunday you ask? Think Job/College Fair but for LIFE Groups! Before and after both Sunday morning services everyone is invited to our Welcome Center/Gathering Space where you’ll get to visit a booth/table representing all the different LIFE Groups this semester! You’ll get to meet the leaders, ask any questions, meet other people just like you checking out all the groups, and enjoy some great food (snacks at every table)! You’ll even get to vote on the Best Overall Booth, Most Creative, Best Sales Pitch, Best Food/Snacks, etc. Don’t miss it – it’s always A LOT of fun! And most importantly, you’ll get to sign up for a LIFE Group!
On a personal note, Janet and I made it safe and sound through the snow and ice up to Knoxville, TN this week to see our daughter and her husband. We’ve had a great visit and by the time you read this, we should be heading home – just in time to arrive in Charleston for some potentially, pretty nasty weather. Keep our return trip in your prayers. Can’t wait to see you and your friends and family in church this Sunday – in person or online!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:
I’ve got some exciting news to share – our Christmas Offering! First of all, let me say that there is no doubt that we set a big goal this year – our biggest ever – $125,000. Now, that was based partly on how you responded to our Christmas Offering the year before. Our goal last year was $75,000 and you gave $117,000! So, $75,000 or even $100,000 just didn’t seem like faith to me – we’ve done that already. So, after much prayer and thought, we decided to set the goal at $125,000! I know what you’re thinking, “Pastor Chris, you’re killing me! Just tell me the final number!” Well, here it is. . . drum roll please! Coastal, for this year’s Annual Christmas Offering you gave $141,747! Coastal, your faith, your generosity, never ceases to amaze me! And don’t think for a second that that money came mainly from one family or from just a few families – no, not at all! It came from SO MANY people! It’s what we’ve learned time and time again, that when all of us give together, that’s when God shows up and does a miracle! And show up He did! What do we always say, “Let’s work, and serve, and give like it all depends on us, let’s pray like it all depends on God, let’s walk by faith and trust Him, and then let’s celebrate the results!” Let’s celebrate!
And now you might be asking, “What are we going to do with that money?” Simple – we’re going to do what we set out to do! In fact, we’ve already purchased the Box Truck, tagged it, insured it, wrapped it, and wired it (sound & lights). Now we need to “outfit” it – supply it with everything we need to do what we do, serving and loving our community (tables, chairs, tents, grills, etc.). Hopefully, it will be up and on the road very soon! And all of that is made possible through your consistent, faithful generosity!
Because of the Christmas Offering, we’re also going to be able to remodel our old, original sanctuary and turn it into a brand new Chapel. We’ll be able to use that space for worship overflow (think Easter Sunday), LIFE Groups, community space, Student Ministry, funerals, weddings, and so much more. Even doing most of the work ourselves, it’s an expensive undertaking (the technology alone will cost us around $40,000), but the Christmas Offering sets all of that into motion. Our realistic goal is that the space is functional and ready to use by Easter Sunday, April 17th. We’ll do our best to give you updates along the way and announce any projects that we could use help with (ripping up and throwing away old carpet for example).
So for those of you who consistently and generously give to Coastal – thank you! I say it all the time, but it’s true – we could not do what we do without you! Remember, God owns it all. We’re simply the managers of everything He’s given us. And one day we will stand before Him and give an account of how we managed His stuff – our time, our gifts and talents, our resources, and yes, even our money. It’s all His. We’ve simply been blessed to be a blessing. I pray that He finds us faithful. I love you Coastal and I love being your Pastor! I can’t wait to see you Sunday! We’re in week 3 of our series called, “The Word,” and I’ll be giving you some very practical instructions on how to have a Quiet Time!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:
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.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/hosts/coastalcommunity?pc=44091003. 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!
WOW – what a great start to our new series, “The WORD!” This past Sunday we laid the foundation for the series by trying to answer the question as to why you should read the Bible in the first place. We talked about how the Bible is unique, it’s accurate, and it’s inspired. This coming Sunday we’re going to take it a little bit further and personalize it for you as we talk about what are some of the benefits of reading and studying the Bible. But what I was really excited about is that right now, approximately 200 people have made a commitment to read through the Bible with us this year! Is that awesome or what?! I can’t wait to see how God speaks and moves in your life this year! And it’s not too late to join in with us. Simply respond to this email or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday. And then the easiest thing to do is to go to youversion.com or your Bible App and sign up for The One Year Bible reading plan. So what if you didn’t get started on January 1st – your year can start today! The devil will give you all kinds of excuses. Don’t listen to him! There is nothing in my life that Satan has fought me harder and more consistently with over the years than trying to keep me from reading my Bible and having a Quiet Time. The reason should be obvious. He knows the power found in God’s Word.
This Sunday is also the last Sunday to give toward our Christmas Offering. We set a Big Goal this year – $125,000. But with that goal we’re going to do some great things. First of all, we’re going to purchase and outfit a new Coastal Box Truck for outreach in our community. And then we’re going to remodel our old auditorium into a Chapel that can be used by our church, children, students, and community. So where are we with our goal? Great question. All I’m going to say right now is that we’re close, but we’re still short. If you haven’t given anything yet toward this special offering, I hope you’ll do so this week/weekend. What we’ve learned over the years is that when all of us give together, that’s when God shows up and does a miracle. Every gift counts – no gift is too small or too big. To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping “description”, online through Paypal, our App, or TEXTing (843-277-8337). I will announce our Grand Total next Sunday and together we’ll celebrate what God did in our midst!
And don’t forget that we’re back to our regular in-person Sunday morning service schedule this Sunday – 9:30am & 11:15am. And 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.
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:
SUNDAYS
8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am
460 Arlington Drive,
Charleston, SC 29414
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