On Monday of this week, we delivered almost 1800 Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child to the local OCC distribution site! And then on Wednesday morning we took 38 turkeys over to CE Willams Middle School for families in need. Coastal, your love and generosity never ceases to amaze me!
Speaking of generosity, hopefully by now you’ve heard that this Sunday marks the beginning of our 13th Annual Christmas Offering. So Coastal, it’s now time to start giving! To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, online, or TEXTing (843-571-1777). You can give your gift over the next 8 weeks (starting this Sunday, Nov. 23rd – Jan. 11th) at any of our regular Sunday morning services, or anytime through TEXTing or our website. You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 4 Christmas Eve Services: Tuesday, December 23rd, 6pm; and Wednesday, December 24th, 2pm, 4pm, & 6pm. Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering. The money will be used for New Life Children’s Home in Peru, Soldier’s Angels Food Distribution, Summer of IMPACT, VBS, CSM Summer Camp Scholarships, Box Truck Maintenance/Upkeep, & Auditorium Lighting. The money is also used for Benevolence & General Outreach. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. The easiest and fastest way to give to the Christmas Offering is through TEXTing the word “GIVE” to 843-571-1777 and follow the simple instructions. Just make sure you designate your gift “Christmas.”
This Sunday we’ll be starting Ephesians chapter 6, the last chapter of the book. Make sure your students are in church with you this Sunday, because Ephesians 6:1 starts off with, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Last week was all about husbands & wives, this week Paul addresses parents and children & slaves and masters. What?! I wonder what I’ll be preaching about! You’ll have to come to find out! But seriously, make sure your Middle & High School students are with you! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love growing in Christ with you!
Much, Much Love,
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: TODAY, Friday, November 21st, 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, November 21st, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Kid Friendly Clothing Packing Party: Equipping the future of our church, we will be hosting a Kid-Friendly Clothing Night! This project is designed to get our youngest members involved and understanding what our amazing clothing ministry really does for the people of Charleston. This is a great project for families to do together, serving alongside each other, packing and prepping our clothes to be handed out at Clothing Distributions, Tailgates and more! TODAY, Friday, November 21st, 6pm-7:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
Brighton Place Fellowship Activity & Devotion: This project will allow us to spend some time with the residents and get to know them better through a lively game of Chair Volleyball, a meal, and devotion. Kid Friendly! Tuesday, November 25th, 1:30pm-3pm. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
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)! Tuesday, November 25th; Thursday, December 4th, 11:30am-1pm.
Brighton Place Tailgate: We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Brighton Place community (here in West Ashley – near Citadel Mall) on Wednesday, November 26th, 6-8:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! Friday, November 28th, 4pm-6pm. Meet at Coastal.
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, December 3rd, 5pm-8pm.
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. - There are lots of exciting things happening during Christmas at Coastal:
– First of all, we’ll be decorating our campus on Monday, December 1st at 9am! If you are able and available, we could definitely use the help. However, please keep in mind that this is not a job for children. If you’ve seen the finished product or have helped before, you know there is a lot of lifting, moving, getting up and down on ladders, and some very detailed decorating. But again, we could definitely use the help!
– This Sunday, you’ll be able to take the remaining gift tags off of one of the Christmas Trees just outside the auditorium to help supply a Christmas gift for the residents of Brighton Place and a gift card for the Veterans of Charleston Vets. The gift cards for Veterans need to be returned by Sunday, December 7th. The Charleston Vets Christmas Party will be Wednesday, December 10th. Once you sign out your tag for the residents of Brighton Place, simply bring the gift back to the church, unwrapped, with the tag attached by Sunday, December 14th. The Brighton Place Christmas Party will be Saturday, December 20th!
– Sunday, December 7th is “Christmas Attire Day” (formerly Ugly Christmas Sweater Day) at Coastal! Come to church with your most festive or “ugliest” Christmas attire! It’s going to be a lot of fun and we’ll even have a gfit for you!
– On Sunday, December 21st, our 4 year olds – 5th Grade Coastal Kidz will be singing two Christmas songs on stage during all 3 services! They are practicing now on Sunday mornings. If you have any questions, please see Aly. Don’t miss it as our children help lead us in worship!
– We are having 4 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services this year: Tuesday, December 23rd, 6pm; Wednesday, December 24th, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm. Start praying and planning for who you will be inviting!
– On Sunday, December 28th (the Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s Day) we will only have 2 Sunday morning worship services: 8:30am & 10am. - Baptism is a public profession of a believer’s faith in Christ. THIS Saturday (TOMORROW), November 22nd, at 10am, we will be hosting a “polar plunge” Beach Baptism at Folly Beach County Park. Even if you’re not getting Baptized, come out and celebrate with those who are! There will also be opportunities to be Baptized in all 3 of our services on Sunday, November 23rd. If Baptism is your next step, sign up online.
- I know it’s hard to believe, but 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. Text the word LIFEGROUPLEADER to 843-571-1777 and click on the return link to let us know you are interested in being a Life Group Leader in Spring 2026. If you have any questions about LIFE Groups, please contact Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
- 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, December 7th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). You can sign up on our website today.
P.S. Who have you invited to church lately? The holidays and Christmas in particular are great times to invite people to church. Yes people are busy, but they are also hurting, searching for hope and help. We have the answer! Pick up a little stack of “You’re Invited” cards and hand them out over the holidays! Pray for all the people who will be invited to our church for Christmas Eve. Ask God to use our church, our people, YOU, to draw people to Himself as we lift up Jesus in our community!
