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”:
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Warming Shelter – We will be assisting with meals for the homeless warming shelter right around the corner from our church at Seacoast West Ashley. Breakfast Bag Team, Tuesday, January 25th, 6-8pm. Meet at Coastal’s Welcome Center.
Joseph Floyd Manor Tailgate – Our Tailgate will be rolling and serving our friends downtown at the Joseph Floyd Manor – Thursday, January 27th, 9:30am-12:30pm. (Meet at the church at 9:30am)
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, January 28th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Neighbors Together Grocery Distribution – We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, February 2nd, 9:45am-12:30pm. Meet at: 2105 Cosgrove Ave. 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 Saturday, February 5th. 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!
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. - We’re excited to announce that we are having a SUPER BOWL PARTY in our new facility on Sunday, February 13th at 6pm! Come watch the Big Game being played simultaneously on all 6 HUGE screens! We’ll provide pulled pork BBQ, drinks, and paper products. You bring your favorite sides or game snacks to share! Childcare is not provided; however, the playgrounds and Coastal Kidz will be open (you are responsible for your children). Come join the fun and invite and bring friends!
- Please continue to bring back the “Oakland Orca” items (unwrapped) you signed up for at the church by the end of January. If you lost your Orca and have forgotten what you signed up for, or if you have any questions, just call the church office – 843-571-1777. If you would like to donate money toward purchasing any items not taken, simply give to the church in any of the different ways and let us know. Let’s show the love and generosity of Jesus to our neighbors across the street – Oakland Elementary School!
- New to Coastal? Join us in the Coastal Cafe or online on Sunday, February 6th immediately following the 11:15am service for our next Newcomer’s Reception. Learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, and get plugged in. Lunch & childcare provided. RSVP online or on your Connect Card on Sunday!
- 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. You should be receiving your 2021 Giving Statement from our church this week in the mail. If you have any questions about your statement or do not receive yours, please contact the office (843-571-1777) and speak with Ashley Hojnacki. Your consistent, faithful, generous giving enables our church to make its IMPACT.
