WOW! WOW! WOW! Grand Opening Weekend was truly AMAZING at Coastal! Honestly, we really didn’t know what to expect at the Open House on Friday night. Would anyone actually show up and drop-by? Well, show up you did! In fact, several hundred people showed up! And then Sunday came – the Grand Opening – our first official Sunday using our new space. I was speechless! It all started with our VIP Volunteer Meeting at 9am. We were two deep with Volunteers in our circle in the new Gather Space. And speaking of Volunteers, I can’t say enough good things about all of our Sunday morning LIFE Team Volunteers. You guys ROCK! From First Impressions, to the Cafe, to Security, to Coastal Kidz, to Worship and Tech, and the Prayer Team – all of you showed up in full force and served with love, joy, and excellence! I am so proud of all of you and can’t thank you enough! We had 662 people in person and another 475 people online! I think my jaw was sore Sunday afternoon from all the smiling. Finally seeing all the children in their classrooms, playing on the playgrounds, seeing all the people in the Gather Space getting coffee and snacks from the new Cafe, talking and connecting before and after services – it all filled my heart with so much joy and gratitude!
But like I said on Sunday, God is not finished with us and we’re just getting started! We’re going to keep loving, keep serving, and keep sharing and experiencing the LIFE and LOVE with Jesus with Charleston and the world! The new facility is just a tool to leverage towards that end. We’re going to use it, fill it up, add another service and keep growing!
If you were unable to be a part of Grand Opening weekend in-person, no worries! I can’t wait to see you this Sunday or very soon. And for those of you who came in person for the first time in a long time, I can’t tell you how great it was to see you. You made my day! There’s just something about the “gathered church” that being online can’t replace. It’s a great tool, one that we’re going to continue to use and improve, but don’t think for a second that it’s the same. It’s not. For those of you who have not yet returned to in-person worship, it’s time to come home. Use the opening of the new facility as a great time to return. In fact, the opening of the new facility is an opportunity for all of us to use to invite and bring friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to come and see.
For those of you who were a part of our “Daring Faith” Giving Campaign or you have given generously and consistently to our church, thank you! We could not do what we do – including this new facility – without you. Now let’s finish what we started. We have 1 year left in our “Daring Faith” Campaign. Continue to give in faith. For those of you who weren’t a part of “Daring Faith” or who don’t give consistently or generously, it’s time to start – not for us, but for you. You are missing out on the joy of giving and the blessing of God.
Back to Volunteers for just a moment – don’t think for a second that we have all the Volunteers we need and that there’s not a place for you. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a place for you and you are needed! Go to our website, check out all the LIFE Teams, and sign up to Volunteer today!
One last thing, speaking of leveraging our new facility. If there are any stay at home parents with small children looking for a fun play date, feel free to use our indoor & outdoor playgrounds, Monday-Thursday, 9am-3pm. And yes, feel free to invite and bring other friends with kids to join you. Or maybe you’re looking for a quiet place to work, use the internet, get away from your office or home office for a bit, feel free to utilize our great Gather Space during those same times. We have a great facility – now let’s use it!
I jump back into our series on the Fruit of the Spirit this weekend, and I’ll be talking about faithfulness. Read Luke 7:1-10 in preparation for my message on Sunday. And this Sunday is Time Change! Enjoy that “extra” hour as your clocks “Fall Back” one hour. I love you Coastal, and I love being your Pastor! I hope to see you Saturday at “Saturday Serve” and on Sunday for worship!
LIFE & LOVE
Pastor Chris
- Just a couple more weeks to pick up and return your shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! Simply pray and ask God how many shoeboxes He wants you to fill, take home the shoeboxes we provide, pack them as a family, and then bring back your completed boxes to the church between now and Sunday, November 14th. Our kiosk in the Welcome Center is filled with shoeboxes ready to take home! This is a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus. You can also build and send these boxes directly through OCC’s website without even leaving your home! Go to Coastal’s Build a Shoebox Online Challenge Page and for only $25 you can build shoeboxes that are used to reach “the ends of the earth – hard to reach places” by abiding by strict custom regulations. Here’s the link https://sampur.se/3Ao3bXv. Help us reach our goal of packing over 1000 shoeboxes this year and share the love of Jesus with children all around the world!
- Winter Retreat signups are open for all 6th-12th graders!Winter Retreat is Jan. 15-17 in Pigeon Forge, TN with worship led by Rush of Fools & concerts by Crowder & Kari Jobe. Speakers are: Scott Dawson, Ed Newton, KB, & Ben Stuart. The cost is $225. Students can sign up on their Connect Card or on www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/connect/students/
Sign up today for the best weekend of the year! - UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
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 THIS Saturday (tomorrow), November 6th. 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!
Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, November 9th, 8am-1pm.
Neighbors Together (formerly Tri-County Ministries) – We will be assisting with their Emergency Grocery Distribution, Wednesday, November 10th, 9:45am-12:30pm. Meet at: 2105 Cosgrove Ave. North Charleston.
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, November 12th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
PINK House – The PINK House is a community center in the Ardmore subdivision in West Ashley. We are going to be putting on a community Tailgate Party, Clothing Distribution, Saturday, November 13th, 10am-1pm.
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 serving our community by rolling up our sleeves – literally! As part of our November 6th Saturday Serve, Coastal is hosting a Blood Drive from 8:30am-12:30pm at the church. Every donor will receive a $10 gift card. You can use that gift card to meet your own needs or you can donate the gift card back to the church where we’ll use it to help struggling neighbors in our community. Let’s come together as a church and donate life! You can easily sign up for a convenient time slot by clicking here: https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/179413.
- Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday morning, November 13th, 9-11:30am. 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.
- Our Divorce Care Support Group is having a “Surviving the Holidays” seminar on Tuesday night, November 16th, 6:30pm-8:30pm. To RSVP or for more information on Divorce Care contact Tracy Trunkle at tandttrunkle@aol.com or register at www.divorcecare.org/holidays. This event will help you discover how to deal with emotions, give helpful tips on how to survive holiday social events, and discover hope for the future. Spread the word – the Group and this event are open to the public!
P.S. Mark your calendars now! Coastal will be hosting a Night of Worship on Friday night, November 19th, from 7-8:30pm. Invite your friends and family to join us for an evening of worship, prayer, and encouragement. Childcare will be provided for Birth to Kindergarten.
