So, have you signed up for a LIFE Group yet? If you haven’t heard, we unveiled our 2025 Fall Semester LIFE Group Catalog! And just like college, your preferred classes (LIFE Groups) will fill up fast! So, go to our website right now, check out all the different Groups and sign up today. Most of our Groups start the week of September 14th. Next Sunday, September 7th, is LIFE Group Sunday! Don’t miss it – it’s always a lot of fun!
This weekend is Labor Day weekend. Most people have Monday off from work. A lot of people will be taking that last hurrah, that last getaway, that last trip to the beach this weekend before the rhythm and routine of the Fall sets in. Even though schools have been back in session for almost 2 weeks now, Labor Day weekend feels like the end of Summer and beginning of the Fall.
So let me ask you, what does the rhythm and routine of your life look like right now? And most importantly, where does your spiritual life fit in? Is it a small piece of the pie that you’re desperately trying to fit in to an already overcrowded, busy schedule? Or is it the most important thing, permeating every part of your life, the priority through which everything else flows? Does the rhythm and routine of your life include reading your Bible, gathering together regularly with your church family in worship, LIFE Group, fellowship, prayer, giving, serving?
Here’s the good news. You choose the rhythms and routines of your life. You set the priorities. If you don’t, the urgent will always win the day. And the urgent, regardless of how pressing it feels in the moment, is usually not the most important. For example, join a LIFE Group this semester. Make it a part of the rhythm of your life. I can already hear some of your excuses. And here is the biggest one of all, “But Pastor Chris, I just don’t have the time. I’m too busy.” Hear this with all the love I can muster. You have time to do whatever it is you value – tv, social media, sports, hobbies. It’s just not that important to you yet. So, as we move into the Fall, think about what matters most in this life, let that determine your values and priorities, and in turn let those values and priorities set or reset the rhythms and routines of your life.
One last thing – who have you been inviting to church with you lately? I sincerely believe that every Sunday is a great opportunity to invite someone to church, but we do have a couple of “Big Days” coming up at Coastal. Next Sunday, September 7th, is LIFE Group Sunday. And then on Sunday, September 14th we kick off a new series on the New Testament book of Ephesians. And all of our LIFE Groups kick off that week! In other words, leverage this season and these opportunities to invite someone to Coastal. God is up to something BIG at our church, and I believe we’re going to see the fruit of that this Fall. Pray about who you will be inviting. Step out in faith, be bold, and make the ask! If at all possible, come to the 8:30am service or the 11:30am service (the 10am service is quickly reaching capacity). And no matter which service you attend, please park over at Oakland Elementary School to help us make room and a smoother transition between services. Remember Coastal, it’s not about you.
On a personal note, my Mom turns 80 this Sunday, August 31st! For those of you who know her and love her, we’re having a very informal, drop-by 80th Birthday Party for her in the Coastal Chapel this Sunday, 2pm-4pm. I know it’s Labor Day weekend and many of you will be out of town, but if you’re available, drop by, wish my mom “Happy Birthday,” and grab a piece of cake (and some finger food of course)!
I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love serving alongside of you! See you over the weekend! If you are out of town, make sure you catch us online!
Laboring Alongside You!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! TODAY, Friday, August 29th, 4pm-6pm. 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, August 29th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Sewing Project: Sewing experience not required! Come and acquire a new skill while helping others in the community. This team of volunteers will work on zippered pouches, lap quilts, and blankets. Meet at Coastal on Wednesday, September 3rd, 5pm-8pm.
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, September 4th, 11:30am-1pm.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: Friday, September 5th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! Friday, September 5th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
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, September 6th. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve!
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. - For the month of August, there has been a real push on finding a place to serve in the family here at Coastal on Sunday mornings. In fact, we’ve said, if you call Coastal your home, you should be able to answer this question, “What is my ministry and where am I serving on Sunday mornings?” This Sunday we’re highlighting our Prayer Team & our Safety Team!
Pastor Chris Jones oversees our Prayer Team. Aside from receiving our Prayer Requests each week, our Prayer Team Volunteers also come forward at the end of each Sunday service to pray with people.
Police Officer Cody Howlett oversees Coastal’s Safety Team. Each and every Sunday our Safety Team Volunteers work closely with our City of Charleston Police Officers to provide a safe experience for all of our guests on campus.
If you’re interested in joining either of these amazing LIFE Teams, you can sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday or go online and sign up today! - Attention Coastal Young Adults! We’re having a Fall Beach RetreatNovember 14th-16th at Folly Beach! We will meet there for check-in between 6pm-7pm Friday. We will have discussion, community, games, activities relating to our theme, food and more! Sign up now for the best price! The cost is $50/person. Register here now! Contact Morgan Rainey with additional questions at morgan@coastalcommunitychurch.org
- Our Fall Volunteer Training for Coastal Kidz Volunteers is just around the corner! This time, our trainings are area-specific, so you will only attend the training that relates to you. Each training will be held after services from 12:45pm-2pm on their specific date.
If you serve in multiple areas, pick the area you serve in most.
If you are a buddy volunteer, pick the area you serve in most.
If you are a check-in volunteer, there is no training this time around.
Save the dates to your calendar and register at the links below.
*Childcare and pizza provided*
Click on the link below to sign up for your Training:
9-14: Nursery Volunteers
9-21: Preschool Volunteers (2’s, 3’s, 4-K)
9-28: Elementary Volunteers - Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, September 20th, from 9am-12noon, 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). Breakfast & childcare provided!
P.S. Coastal Student Ministry (6th-12th Grade) Fall Kickoff will be Sunday, September 7th, 5:30pm-7pm (doors open at 5pm)! This is going to be a really fun night with open gym, food, games, and more! We invite your student to connect with other students and their adult leaders. We pray this night builds relationships that will last a lifetime! We hope to see your student there! REMIND THEM TO INVITE A FRIEND!
