Well, I’ve got some EXCITING NEWS to share with you! Our Christmas Offering Goal for this year was $150,000. Drumroll please . . . .we reached and SURPASSED our Christmas Offering Goal with a grand total of $203,332.68!! Wow! Just WOW! We will definitely be increasing our goal for next year – haha! Your generosity never ceases to amaze me Coastal! It is your consistent (not just at Christmas or special occasions), generous (above and beyond) giving that enables our church to do all that it does here, in the community, and around the world!
This past Sunday at Coastal we had 1232 people in attendance! Coastal that is the first time we’ve broken 1200 in attendance on a non “Big Day” (Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, etc.). And not only that, but the “spread” of people between the 3 services was great! The 10am service didn’t feel uncomfortably full. And it appears as if the people in the 10am service did a better job of sitting toward the front and center of each section, not leaving space between people. Now it helps when we have a large Coastal Kidz training immediately after the 3rd service, but either way, it showed me that it’s possible to keep growing with our current 3 services. In fact, I think we can grow to around 1500 with our current configuration. Next steps will be another service and yes, another building. Keep up the good work Coastal! Make Sunday morning worship a priority, but more than that invite people to join you. You never know the power of a simple invitation.
This Sunday, and for the next 6 weeks, we’re back in our series called, “Blessed” on The Sermon on the Mount. Hopefully, you recall that we wrapped up chapter 6 right before Christmas. So, for the next 6 weeks we’ll finish up with chapter 7. This Sunday, I’ll be in Matthew 7:1-6 and be talking about probable the most quoted verse in the entire Bible – no, not John 3:16. Can you guess what it is? Come on Sunday and find out! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love what we get to do together! And I can’t wait to see you on Sunday!
In His Service & Yours!
Pastor Chris
- 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, TODAY, Friday, January 17th; Friday, January 24th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Hope Center Tailgate: The Hope Center, managed by the city of Charleston, serves as a one-stop shop in downtown Charleston to assist those who are homeless or who are at-risk of being homeless. We’re sending a Tailgate Team to serve dinner to anyone who is hungry. We meet at Coastal on Tuesday, January 21st, 12noon-3pm.
Brighton Place Tailgate: We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Brighton Place community (here in West Ashley – near Citadel Mall) on Wednesday, January 22nd, 6-8:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
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, January 23rd, 11:30am-1pm.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: Friday, January 24th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! Friday, January 24th, 4-6:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
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. - As we begin 2025, we are having a Coastal Kidz Volunteer Training for all Coastal Kidz adult and student volunteers. We’ve already had one Training and this next one is: Saturday, January 25th, 9AM (childcare provided). CLICK HERE to register for the Coastal Kidz Volunteer Training. You can also text the word “training” to 843-571-1777. Childcare is available by REGISTERING HERE or texting “trainingchildcare” to 843-571-1777.
- Training for new Spring Life Group Leaders will be offered in-person TOMORROW, Saturday, 1/18 from 9-10:30am OR Tuesday, 1/21 from 6:30-8pm. Returning leaders’ training will be online on Thursday, 1/23 from 8-9pm. All leaders only need to attend one session. RSVP on your Connect Card this Sunday. Contact Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org if you have any questions.
- Grieving the loss of a loved one or know someone who is? GriefShare’s 13 week cycle begins on Monday, February 10th at either 2pm or 6pm. Contact Sue Muoio for more information.
- Coastal Young Adults Weekly Streaming of “The Porch!” If you are in your 20’s or early 30’s you are invited to our NEW weekly gathering to stream “The Porch” including small group discussion! Every Monday night, 6:30pm-8:30pm in the Coastal Chapel, beginning Monday night, January 27th! For more information, please contact Pastor Scott Huff.
P.S. What’s your Next Step at Coastal? Here are two possible next steps:
– Newcomer’s Reception: If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. 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. Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, February 9th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). You can sign up on our website today.
– Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, February 15th, 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) on Sunday. Breakfast & childcare provided!
