Our Spring semester of LIFE Groups started this week! I’ve heard nothing but GREAT things! We have awesome leaders, and I can’t wait to hear the stories of community, connection, and LIFE change! Many of our Groups are full, but for those that aren’t, it’s still not too late to join. Go to our websiteand sign up today! If you have any questions about Groups, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff.
This Sunday at Coastal we wrap up our series on The Sermon on the Mount. I’ll be in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Storms really are a part of life, whether we give them names like Hugo, Andrew, Katrina, Floyd, or Helene, OR names like depression, sickness, bankruptcy, cancer, divorce, and death. I’ve said it many times over the years, “You’re either coming out of a storm, heading into a storm, or you’re smack dab in the middle of one right now.” God never promises us a storm free life, not even to the faithful. But He does promise to walk with us through the storm. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. And if we let Him, He even has the miraculous ability to use our greatest storm, our deepest pain, for our good and His glory. There is help. There is healing. And there is hope. His name is Jesus. And that’s not just a trite saying, a t-shirt, or a bumper sticker. If you will draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.
But there is another storm we must all face – death and standing before God at the judgement. That’s the impending storm that Jesus is warning His followers about in the closing section of the Sermon on the Mount. In fact, here in vss. 24-27, He uses the illustration of two home builders – one who builds his home on the rock and one who builds his home on the sand. Being from Charleston, we don’t have to guess which home stands strong when the storm hits. The real question Jesus wants his followers to wrestle with and answer is, “Who or what are you building your life on?”
Speaking of death and eternity, one of our own, Teresa Anderson, recently passed away. There will be a visitation for friends and family, this Sunday, March 2nd, 4-6pm, at Stuhr’s Funeral Home on the Glenn McConnell. Her funeral service will be this Monday, March 3rd, 11am, at our church, in the Auditorium. There will be a graveside immediately following the service at Live Oak Memorial on Hwy. 61. While her death was unexpected to those who knew and loved her, it was not unexpected to God. And while we mourn her passing, we also celebrate her life and the decision she made to build her life on the rock solid foundation of a personal relationship with Jesus! And because of that, Teresa simply “passed over” from death to LIFE, and we will see her again! In John 5:24 Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” That’s what happened to Teresa, and that’s worth celebrating! What about you? The storm is coming, coming for all of us, in this life and in the next. Who or what have you built your life on? I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love what God has called us to do together – sharing the life and love of Jesus with Charleston and the world!
Much, Much Love!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
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, February 28th; Friday March 14th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, TODAY, Friday, February 28th; Friday, March 7th; Monday, March 10th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! TODAY, Friday, February 28th, 4-6:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
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, March 1st. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve!
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)! Thursday, March 6th; Thursday, March 13th, 11:30am-1pm.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: Friday, March 7th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Double Tailgate Day: Meeting Street & Joseph Floyd Manor: Saturday, March 8th, 10:30am-1:30pm. Meet at the church and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to serve.
2nd Saturday/2nd Meal: Saturday, March 8th, 9am-12noon. Come serve with us as we prepare a hot meal in the Coastal kitchen and then deliver those meals to one of our awesome ministry partners – organizations like Charleston Vets, S.C. Strong, Brighton Place, Joseph Floyd Manor and more!
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, March 11th, 8am-12:30pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
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. - Coastal’s Annual 40 Day Easter Fast begins Monday, March 10th, and goes through Friday, April 18th! Start thinking now about what you’re going to give up to help prepare yourself and our church spiritually for Easter. Sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday to let us know that you will be participating in the fast.
And speaking of Easter – mark your calendars now, Coastal will be having 7 Easter Services over 3 days: Friday, April 18th, 7pm; Saturday, April 19th, 4:30pm, 6pm; Sunday, April 20th, 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am, 1pm. Remember it’s all hands on deck! Sign up now to serve in multiple services! - At Coastal, we believe in making an impact one life at a time. We’re hosting an Impact Evangelism Seminar, Sunday, March 16th, 5pm-8pm, in the Coastal Chapel. Come learn practical tools to help build your confidence to share your faith without fear. Sign up online or RSVP on your Connect Card, and let us know if you’ll need childcare! Dinner provided.
- Coastal’s Young Adults (20’s & early 30’s) are having a Pickleball Night on Friday night March 21st, 6-9pm, in the Coastal Auditorium. Scan the QR code above or go to this link to sign up! Dinner provided! If you have any questions, reach out to Morgan Rainey.
- 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, April 6th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). You can sign up on our website today or on your Connect Card on Sunday!
P.S. Coastal Community Church’s Internship Program is an eight-week, Summer Ministry experience designed to give participants a glimpse into life in ministry. Passionate & gifted participants will gain valuable experience while working alongside Coastal staff members in areas of Administration, Outreach, Worship Arts, Production & Communications, Children’s, or Student Ministries. We will accept mature, older High School Students, but we are mainly looking for College Students and/or young adults. If you’re interested in providing housing for out of state interns, please reach out to rachel@coastalcommunitychurch.org. Find out more and apply by visiting our internship program page at www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/connect/internships. Also, if you know anyone who might be interested, please feel free to share!
