“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” – at Coastal that is! If you weren’t here this past Sunday, I can’t wait for you to see our campus over the weekend! You’re definitely going to want to get a family picture!
There are so many exciting things happening at Coastal:
– First of all, tomorrow is SATURDAY SERVE! Show up at Coastal at 8:30am, hear a “pitch” from the Leaders of all the different projects, choose where you want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and then go serve! I seriously can’t think of a better way to start the Christmas season!
– And then, this Sunday, we continue our “Christmas at Coastal” series! I’ll be preaching about experiencing peace in relationships. Don’t miss it! This Sunday also happens to be “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” (or simply something “Fun & Festive”).
– And then on Saturday, December 15th, you can serve at our DowntownTailgate or you can help with a Children’s Christmas Craft Station in the Carolina Bay neighborhood. If you live in Carolina Bay, we’d especially love your help (see details below).
– On Saturday, December 21tst, we’re hosting DOUBLE CHRISTMAS PARTY, one at Brighton Place, and one at Charleston Vets! It’s basically a huge Christmas Party with music, a home-cooked meal, Christmas gifts, and stockings, at both locations. For those of you who picked up a “Gift Tag” off of one of our trees, make sure you bring back your tagged, unwrapped gift no later than Sunday, December 15th.
Here are some other specific ways you can still help with Christmas Parties:
1. Link for Meal Signup (our biggest need at this point):
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E45A5A92FA0F58-53039467-double#
2. Link for Stocking Stuffers Signup:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E45A5A92FA0F58-53037711-double#
4. Signup to serve at the event (or any of our other outreach events): https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/missions/
– Make plans to now to attend, serve, and invite someone to one of our 4 Christmas Eve Services: Monday, December 23rd, 6pm; and Tuesday, December 24th, 2pm, 4pm, & 6pm. Please be in touch with your LIFE Team Leaders about serving!
– And finally, during all of this, don’t forget to give to this year’s Annual Christmas Offering! As you can see, there is so much Outreach that happens at Coastal. Much of it is funded every year through our Christmas Offering. Our goal is $150,000. What we’ve discovered is that we reach our goal when EVERYONE participates. We can’t all give the same amount, but we can all make a sacrifice. Every gift counts, every gift matters. When you give, simply use the keyword, “Christmas.”
Coastal, let’s leverage this season and all the miracles associated with it! Invite & bring a friend each week of this series and on Christmas Eve. Invite someone to come and serve our community with you. Let’s make this the best Christmas ever! I love you Coastal, I love being your Pastor, and I love what we get to do together!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
(friend me on Facebook if we’re not already friends)
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, TODAY, Friday, December 6th; Monday, December 9th; Friday, December 13th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: TODAY, Friday, December 6th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
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, TODAY, Friday, December 6th, 9:30am-11:30am. 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 TOMORROW, Saturday, December 7th. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve!
Bolton’s Landing Holiday Market: We’ll have a Team setting up and overseeing a Children’s Craft Station at the Bolton’s Landing Neighborhood Holiday Market, TOMORROW, Saturday, December 7th, 11am-2pm (leaving from the church at 9:45am to set up).
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, December 10th, 8am-12:30pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
Food Pantry Sort & Stock: Coastal feeds an enormous amount of people. Come to the church and help keep our Food Pantry organized (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Thursday, December 12th, 11:30am-1pm.
Lowcountry Orphan Relief: Lowcountry Orphan Relief provides support services and aid to meet the needs of Lowcountry children identified as at-risk or suffering from abandonment, abuse and/or neglect. Coastal will be serving there, Friday, December 13th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Meeting Street Tailgate: Saturday, December 14th, 10:30am-1:30pm.
2nd Saturday/2nd Meal: Saturday, December 14th, 9am-12noon. Come serve with us as we prepare a hot meal in the Coastal kitchen and then deliver those meals to one of our awesome ministry partners – organizations like Charleston Vets, S.C. Strong, Brighton Place, Joseph Floyd Manor and more!
Children’s Christmas Craft Station in the Carolina Bay Neighborhood: We’ll have a Team setting up and overseeing a Children’s Craft Station at the Carolina Bay Holiday Festival, Saturday, December 14th, 11am-3pm (leaving from the church at 9:45am to set up).
As always, 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. - If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, December 8th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. Pizza and childcare provided. You can sign up on our website today.
- We are in the planning stages for our SPRING LIFE GROUPS! LIFE Groups are the primary vehicle at Coastal for community – learning, friendships, fellowship, and care. We typically have all different types of Groups – Bible studies, book studies, activity groups, support groups, men’s/women’s groups. Would you possibly be interested in leading, assisting, or hosting a LIFE Group this new year? The Spring Semester begins in February and depending on the Group, lasts for 8-12 weeks. Sign up on your Connect Card or contact Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.orgif you are interested in leading a Group.
- This Sunday is “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!” That’s right, on Sunday, December 8th, come to Coastal in your “ugliest” Christmas Sweater (or just fun, festive Christmas attire)! It’s going to be a lot of fun, and we’ll even have a gift for you!
- Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is THIS Monday, December 9th, from 6pm-9pm, in the Chapel. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card (let us know if you need childcare) on Sunday. Food & childcare provided!
P.S. Make plans to now to attend, serve, and invite someone to one of our 4 Christmas Eve Services: Monday, December 23rd, 6pm; and Tuesday, December 24th, 2pm, 4pm, & 6pm. Pick up “You’re Invited” cards and start inviting people now! Please be in touch with your LIFE Team Leaders about serving!
