We had such a great kick-off to our “Christmas at Coastal” series on Peace this past Sunday! We had a great attendance (over 700 in person and another 500 online), lots of guests, lots people we haven’t seen in a while, and I saw lots of people taking family Christmas pictures in front of our Christmas trees! I know I sound like a broken record, but please leverage this time of year, pull out all the stops, and invite and bring someone to church in December. In this post Christian culture that we live in today, Christmas still carries with it a sense of mystery, intrigue, wonder, and the miraculous in people’s minds. And whether or not they even recognize that it’s Jesus and only the Peace that He offers that they are searching for – they ARE searching. They are searching for anything that might fill that hole in their soul, something bigger than themselves that will give meaning and significance. The truth is that we were all created with that longing and we will never be satisfied until we find our satisfaction, meaning, purpose, and significance in a personal relationship with Him.
And once you’ve experienced that for yourself (and I know many of you have), you have a mission, a reason for living – to share that message with the people God brings into your life. So, who are you praying for this Christmas? Who are you inviting to Coastal? Who are you inviting and bringing to one of our 3 Christmas Eve services (Friday, December 23rd, 7pm, and Saturday, December 24th, 4:30pm, & 6pm)? Because we make this promise, this commitment – if you invite and bring them to Coastal, they will see and experience Jesus and hear the Good News of the Gospel. We either believe that people are dying and going to Hell without Jesus . . . or we don’t. And if we do, it shapes everything we do. Acts 20:24, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
Coastal, don’t forget, we are a Battleship, not a Cruise Ship. For those of you who have been on Cruises, you know that once you get on that ship, it’s all about you, your needs, your wants. Food? Drinks? Sun? Relaxation? Sit back and let us take care of you. Forget everyone and everything you left behind. A Battleship, however, is quite different. There is a Commander. You have a mission. You’re working together to fight a common enemy, and take back territory that was stolen. You won’t leave anyone behind and together you’ll do anything it takes to rescue those behind enemy lines. It’s not about you and your needs, it’s about the mission. And you will sacrifice everything you have to see that mission accomplished. Sadly, more churches and Christians behave like they’re on a Carnival Cruise than on a Battleship for God. I love you Coastal, I love being your Pastor, and I love that we get to lock arms, march out into this world, beat down the gates of Hell, and rescue people one life at a time together!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – today Friday, December 9th, 8:30am-11am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes today Friday, December 9th, 9am-11am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
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 9th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Joseph Floyd Manor Tailgate: Saturday, December 10th, 10am-1pm. Meet at the church.
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, December 13th, 8am-1pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
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 16th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
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. - We’re planning for Christmas at Charleston Vets! On Saturday, December 17th, we’ll descend on Charleston Vets in North Charleston and provide the veterans with a Christmas Party like no other: a homecooked Christmas meal, a Christmas stocking packed full of home-baked Christmas cookies, Christmas gifts for every veteran, a coffee and hot chocolate bar, a craft table so the kids can make gifts for the veterans, Christmas music and more!
Want to help? Sign up to serve by going to: www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/missions
All of the gift tags on our “Adopt-A-Vet” Christmas Tree have been taken! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Please bring your gifts back to church this Sunday, December 11th, wrapped or in a gift bag with the Vet tag attached. - Our goal for our 10th Annual Christmas Offering is $125,000! Now through Sunday, January 15th (6 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 6 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 LEADERS! If you are interested in Leading, Co-Leading, or Hosting a Spring 2023 LIFE Group, sign up on your Connect Card. For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff.
- Calling all 55+ youthful seniors – you’re invited to a potluck style Christmas Luncheon THIS Monday, December 12th, 11:30am-1pm in the Coastal Chapel! Contact Peggy Austin or Karen Laughlin for more details.
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!
