“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” – at Coastal that is! I can’t wait for you to see our campus over the weekend! You’re definitely going to want to get a family picture!
There are so many exciting things happening at Coastal:
– First of all, tomorrow is SATURDAY SERVE! Show up at Coastal at 8:30am, hear a “pitch” from the Leaders of 8 different projects, choose where you want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and then go serve! I seriously can’t think of a better way to start the Christmas season!
– And then on Sunday, we kick off our “Christmas at Coastal” series! Over the next 3 weeks we’re using the 3 different “angelic encounters” (Zechariah & Elizabeth, Mary & Joseph, the Shepherds) to tell the Christmas story. As always, you won’t want to miss it! This Sunday also happens to be “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” (see below).
– On Saturday, December 9th, there are 3 more serving opportunities. You can serve on a Tailgate at Joseph Floyd Manor. Or you can help with a Children’s Christmas Craft Station at either Bolton’s Landing or Carolina Bay. If you live in either neighborhood, we’d especially love your help (see details below). The cool part is that both neighborhoods reached out to our church to help. Of course, we said yes!
– On Saturday, December 16th, we’re hosting Christmas at Charleston Vets! It’s a Christmas Party with music, a home-cooked meal, Christmas gifts, stockings, and coffee & hot chocolate bar. This will largely be the only Christmas these veterans will get. In other words, Coastal is Charleston Vet’s Christmas.
Here are some specific ways you can help with Christmas at Charleston Vets:
1. Link for Meal Signup (We’re providing pulled pork BBQ)
2. Link for Stocking Stuffers Signup
3. Christmas at Charleston Vets “Gift Tag Tree” in the lobby, outside the auditorium on Sunday, December 3rd and December 10th. Secure a tag with “wish list items” for veterans at Charleston Vets. Return the gifts, unwrapped with the gift tag from the tree, no later than Wednesday, December 13th. Volunteers will be available at the tree, at all three services on the 3rd and the 10th to help with questions and assisting with signing up.
4. Signup to serve at the event (or any of our other outreach events)! coastalcommunitychurch.org/missions
– 4 Christmas Eve Services: Saturday, December 23rd, 4pm & 6pm and Sunday, December 24th, 4pm & 6pm (no Sunday morning services on the 24th). Please be in touch with your LIFE Team Leaders about serving!
– And finally, during all of this, don’t forget to give to this year’s Annual Christmas Offering! As you can see, there is so much Outreach that happens at Coastal. Much of it is funded every year through our Christmas Offering. Our goal is $125,000. What we’ve discovered is that we reach our goal when EVERYONE participates. We can’t all give the same amount, but we can all make a sacrifice. Every gift counts, every gift matters. When you give, simply use the keyword, “Christmas.”
Coastal, let’s leverage this season and all the miracles associated with it! Invite & bring a friend each week of this series and on Christmas Eve. Invite someone to come and serve our community with you. Let’s make this the best Christmas ever! I love you Coastal, I love being your Pastor, and I love what we get to do together!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, TODAY, Friday, December 1st; Monday, December 4th; Friday, December 8th, 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, December 2nd. We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – Friday, December 8th, 8:30am-11am. 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, Friday, December 8th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Joseph Floyd Manor Tailgate: Saturday, December 9th, 10am-1pm. Meet at the church and then head downtown to put on a Tailgate for the residents of Joseph Floyd Manor.
Bolton’s Landing Holiday Market Serve Team: Saturday, December 9th, 9am-1pm. We’re setting up tents and tables with Christmas Crafts for the children of Bolton’s Landing. Meet at the church.
Carolina Bay Christmas Festival Serve Team: Saturday, December 9th, 1pm-5pm. We’re setting up tents and tables with Christmas Crafts for the children/families of Carolina Bay. Meet at the park at Carolina Bay.
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 at 843-870-4613. - This Sunday is “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!” That’s right, on Sunday, December 3rd, come to Coastal in your “ugliest” Christmas Sweater (or just fun, festive Christmas attire)! It’s going to be a lot of fun, and we’ll even have a gift for you! Don’t forget, we’re having 4 Christmas Eve Services: Saturday, December 23rd, 4pm & 6pm and Sunday, December 24th, 4pm & 6pm (no Sunday morning services on the 24th).
- Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Thursday, December 7th, 6-9pm in the Chapel. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday. Dinner & childcare provided!
- If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, December 3rd, 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!
- There will be two informational meetings with Q&A in between services in the Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 10. Please stop by to meet with Pastor Scott and hear about the trip, cost, and dates for our Peru Mission Trip in 2024!
P.S. 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. Sign up on your Connect Card or contact Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org if you are interested in leading a Group.
