WOW! There are so many exciting outreach opportunities going on at our church right now – from our Disaster Relief Trip to Nicholls, GA next week, collecting ongoing Disaster Relief Supplies, Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, Oakland Elementary School Teacher/Classroom Supply Drive, and then of course all the regular outreach opportunities including Saturday Serve this Saturday!
Let me give you a quick rundown of those outreach opportunities (and a new one):
– Disaster Relief Trip to Nicholls, GA. Hopefully by now you’ve seen my earlier email and all the social media posts about our trip to Nicholls, GA on Wednesday. We’re leaving from the church at 6am and putting on a “Double Tailgate” – giving away food, supplies, and a hot meal to people in need in south Georgia.
– And speaking of Disaster Relief Trips, all the details are not yet finalized, but we are planning an overnight work trip to western NC on Thursday & Friday, October 17th & 18th. We will be going to Barnardsville, NC, just north of Asheville. It’s in the Buncombe County area (one of the hardest hit counties). We have a connection from our church with people in the area. And they definitely need physical labor help. We would leave early, early Thursday morning, work all day Thursday, probably sleep in a church somewhere (that’s being coordinated now), get up and work most of the day Friday, and then leave for Charleston early Friday afternoon. This is a work trip, not a trip for children. We’ll be taking shovels, gloves, chainsaws, and other equipment like that. If you have any interest in going, please let me know. I’d love to see us take 10-15 people ready to jump in and help!
– For the next several weeks we will be collecting Disaster Relief Suppliesthat will not only go to Nicholls, GA, but to people in need all over the Southeast. As people from our church and community make trips to various places in need, we are asking that you come by the church, load up your vehicle with supplies, and deliver them to people and places in need.
– Beginning this Sunday, you’ll be able to take home Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes to fill up with toys and gifts. I know it might seem crazy talking about Christmas in early October, but if you’ve visited any retail stores the last couple of weeks, Christmas displays are already out. Well, one of our favorite missions that we support here at Coastal is Operation Christmas Child (OCC) – sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel through gifts & supplies in a simple shoebox for children in troubled countries/areas all around the world. Our kiosk in the Welcome Center will be filled with the remaining shoeboxes ready to take home each Sunday (until they’re gone). There will be an insert in the bulletin this Sunday with suggested items to fill the box. This would be a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus. Help us reach our goal of packing over 1000 shoeboxes this year and share the love of Jesus (and the Gospel in their own language) with children all around the world! Pray about how many boxes your family would be willing to pack, step out in faith, grab a few shoeboxes on Sunday, and help us do just that! Shoeboxes must be filled and returned by Sunday, November 17th.
– Oakland Elementary School Teacher Classroom Wishlist Tags! Our church has a beautiful, special relationship with Oakland Elementary School (one of the schools across the street from our church). This relationship has been forged over 20 years of serving, giving, and loving. Well, one of the things that has become a yearly tradition for us is our Oakland Elementary School Teacher Wishlist Tree/Tags. The Tree and Tags are located in the Welcome Center in front of the auditorium. Each tag represents a need in a classroom (paper, pens, notebooks, markers, wipes, snacks, etc. – nothing too expensive). And if you know Teachers, you know they are notorious for taking care of the needs themselves, making do, or even worse, going without. We don’t want to let that happen! So choose a “leaf” from the tree, purchase the items, and then return them to the church (tagged, but not wrapped) by Sunday, October 27th. Questions? Contact Rachel at rachel@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
Whew! I know that sounds like a lot, all going on at the same time, and it is. But that’s okay, that’s what we do, and we serve a great God who supplies all our needs – AMEN! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love what we get to do together!
Reaching Out Together!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: TODAY, Friday, October 4th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, TODAY, Friday, October 4th; Monday, October 7th; Friday, October 11th, 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 TOMORROW, Saturday, October 5th. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve!
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, October 8th, 8am-12:30pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
Disaster Relief Double Tailgate: We’re heading down to Nicholls, GA on Wednesday, October 9, to pass out supplies, food, and a hot meal. Leaving from Coastal at 6am. Returning to Coastal around 8pm.
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 Thursday, October 10th, 11am-2:30pm.
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, October 10th, 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, October 11th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Double Tailgate Day: Meeting Street & Joseph Floyd Manor: Saturday, October 12th, 10:30am-1:30pm. Meet at the church and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to serve.
2nd Saturday/2nd Meal: Saturday, October 12th, 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!
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. - Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, October 26th, 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!
- YOUNG ADULTS social at the Charleston Battery game on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7pm. The cost is $20 which includes a ticket to the Ultra Lounge private deck, soft drinks, & snacks. Parking is not included in the cost of the ticket. Sign up on your Connect Card or on this link to reserve your spot today! Email Pastor Scott with any questions scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
- If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, October 6th, 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.
- Sunday, October 27th is BAPTISM SUNDAY at Coastal – all 3 services, 8:30am, 10am, and 11:30am! The only requirement for Baptism is that you have personally given your life to Jesus. Baptism is a public profession of your faith, and it’s a great celebration! It beautifully illustrates Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. If Baptism is your next step, sign up online today!
P.S. 2025 PERU MISSION TRIP INFO MEETING! There will be informational meetings with Q&A between the 1st and 2nd services and between the 2nd & 3rd services in the Coastal Chapel on Sunday, Nov. 17th. Please stop by to meet with Pastor Scott and hear about the trip, cost, and dates for our Peru Mission Trip in 2025!
P.S.S. There will be an important Safety & Security Team Meeting for all current members and those interested in joining the Team on Saturday, October 19th, 9am, in the auditorium.
