So, are you ready for Christmas? Well, ready or not, it’s ALMOST here! Which means of course, that we’re having the FIRST of our 3 Christmas Eve Services, TONIGHT at 7pm! And then 2 more services tomorrow, Saturday, December 24th, 4:30pm & 6pmI I hope you are ready to invite & bring your friends! Remember, it’s not too late to invite someone. Make the ask! What’s the worst thing that could happen? Better yet – what’s the BEST thing that could happen? Think through all your contacts – social media, work, neighbors, friends, family – and invite them to come!
Also, Christmas Eve services are one of those times where it is “all hands on deck.” In other words, if you serve in ministry and you’re not out of town, we NEED YOU TO SERVE. Contact your Ministry Leader and let them know which services you are available ASAP. Every ministry needs plenty of volunteers (and extra volunteers) to pull off Christmas Eve and create a welcoming atmosphere.
Pray for me & my message. Pray that people give their lives to Jesus and get saved! Pray for our Worship Team that they would lead people to worship Jesus. Pray for all our Ministry Volunteers, that they would serve Jesus by serving others.
Here are a few other important reminders:
- Be helpful, friendly and welcoming to all our guests!
- Introduce yourself & talk to people you don’t know.
- This is important – park over at Oakland to make more room for guests. The further away you park, the better.
- Fill out your Connect Card. This encourages others to do the same (yes, we’re giving away Christmas Hams at the end of each service).
- Sit to the front & center of each section of the auditorium.
- Coastal Kidz (Birth-5th Grade) will be fully operational during all 3 services.
- If you are serving during a service, PLEASE COME EARLY. Our V.I.P. Volunteer meeting will be at 6:15pm tonight and 3:45pm on Saturday in the Gathering Space as usual.
Don’t forget that our entire offering on Christmas Eve (all 3 services) will go toward our Christmas Offering! Prayerfully consider what you and your family can give. You might also consider making a year end sacrificial gift.
Well, I think that’s about it. For those of you who are traveling or out of town – HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS! Safe travels and please keep us in your prayers! And remember, if you can’t make it in person, you will be able to watch all of our services live online. Can’t wait to see the rest of you and your guests tonight and tomorrow! Also, don’t forget that there are NO IN-PERSON SERVICES this Sunday, Christmas Day – ONLINE ONLY (9:30am, 11:15am, 6pm – all online)!
Merry Christmas Eve!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – Friday, January 6th, 8:30am-11am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes Friday, January 6th, 9am-11am. 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 Saturday, January 7th. We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, January 10th, 8am-1pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes Friday, January 13th, 9am-11am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
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. - If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, January 8th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:15am service (at approximately 12:30pm). This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. You can sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.
- Our goal for our 10th Annual Christmas Offering is $125,000! And guess what? We’re almost half-way there!! Now through Sunday, January 15th (4 weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to this year’s Christmas Offering. 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 during these next 4 weeks (until January 15th) at any of our regular Sunday morning services, or anytime through TEXTing (text “give” to 843-571-1777), or our website. You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 3 Christmas Eve Services (Friday, December 23rd, 7pm, Saturday, December 24th, 4:30pm, & 6pm). Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering. With this year’s offering we are purchasing a 15 passenger van, sound equipment, golf carts, and buying Christmas gifts for all of the children of the New Life Children’s Home in Peru.
- SPRING LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING! Training for new Spring LIFE Group Leaders will be offered in person on Monday, January 23rd, 6:30-8pm or Saturday, January 28th, 9-10:30am. Returning Leader Training will be online on Thursday, January 26th, 8-8:30pm. ALL Leaders need to attend one session. RSVP on your Connect Card. For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff.
- Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday morning, January 21st, 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.
P.S. New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday this year – Sunday, January 1st, 2023! And to celebrate we’re having a Baptism Service! We can’t think of a better way to start the new year right, than by being buried with Christ through Baptism, and being raised to walk in the new life (Colossians 2:12). It’s a new life for a new year! There will only be one service that day – 9:30am. If you would like to participate, sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up on our website!
