March 1st – can you believe it?! Well, either way, it’s here. And that means one thing – EASTER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!! In fact, the first of our 6 Easter Services is now 28 days away! Here is the schedule: Friday, March 29th, 7pm; Saturday, March 30th, 4:30 & 6pm; Sunday, March 31st, 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am!
This Sunday, make sure you pick up all the Easter Invite Tools: tickets, invite cards, & yard signs! And yes, go ahead and go to Easter at Coastaland let us know which service you plan on attending and how many people you’re bringing with you. While you’re there, make sure you download our shareable graphics to use on Social Media. We really want to encourage our Coastal people to attend on Friday and Saturday, to make more room on Sunday. If you need to come that Sunday, please try to come to the 8:30am or the 11:30am service. Typically, the 10am service is PACKED! But the most important thing is to come to the service that you can get your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to join you. And if you’re serving, come to the service that best suits your service schedule.
Talk to your Ministry Leaders now and please volunteer for multiple services. 6 services means that it’s “All Hands On Deck.” We need everyone! And if you’re not serving on Sunday morning yet, Easter is a great time to start. Sign up to volunteer on your Connect Card this Sunday, and we’ll get you plugged in. It will be one of the most worthwhile things you do, being used by God to be a link in the chain of people taking next steps and coming to know Jesus! If you’re not sure where to volunteer, 1st Impressions and Coastal Kidz is a great place to start.
And finally, I want to share something with you that’s deeply sad. Justin Mysock, a 43 year old man who had been coming to Coastal for about the last 6 months, tragically took his own life on Sunday night. Honestly, not a lot of people at our church knew Justin, but those who did, knew that he struggled deeply. Family, friends, and those at Coastal who prayed with him or talked with him, offered help and encouraged him to seek professional help. Even last week, he was in my Wednesday morning Men’s Group and shared that he was struggling. Multiple men encouraged him, offered to help, and gave him their number. But, one of the things that I’ve learned over the years, is that we can’t force people to accept or get the help they need. We can’t take responsibility for their actions. And obviously, when someone gets to that point, they’re no longer thinking clearly.
But it is a wake up call for all of us that what we do here at Coastal matters, that people need the Lord, they need help, and they need hope. It’s a reminder to open our eyes and our hearts to not only see the hurting and hopeless all around us, but to act. Make that phone call. Have that conversation. And if YOU are hurting, struggling, and need help, we’re here for you, and we have resources. Not only do we provide LIFE Groups and Pastoral Counseling, but we have a list of recommended professional counselors that we regularly share with those in need. Rudy Polito, from our church, works with an organization (NAMI) that provides support and resources for those who struggle with mental illness. We have Celebrate Recovery that meets regularly on Tuesday nights, 6:30pm in the Chapel. Celebrate Recovery is not just for those who battle alcohol and drug addiction. It’s for anyone who struggles with hurts, habits, or hangups (pretty much includes all of us). Then, of course, we offer Grief Share, for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Grief Share meets here at the church on Mondays at 2pm and then again at 6pm. Pray for Justin’s family & friends that he leaves behind, including his 2 boys, 12 year old twins. Pray for our Pastors and Staff as we communicate the love of Christ to a hurting world. And pray for all the people that together we will be reaching out to this Easter. Jesus truly is the hope of this world! Now let’s make sure they know it! Make sure you tell and show the people in your life today how much they are loved! Speaking of which, I love YOU! I love being your Pastor and leading alongside such an awesome team here at Coastal! And I love what we get to do together!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – Today, Friday, March 1st, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, Today, Friday, March 1st; Monday, March 4th; Friday, March 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, March 2nd. We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!
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, March 8th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Double Tailgate Day: Meeting Street & Joseph Floyd Manor: Saturday, March 9th, 10:30am-1:30pm. Meet at the church and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to serve.
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. - At Coastal, we believe in making an impact one life at a time. We’re hosting an Impact Evangelism Seminar next Sunday, March 10th, 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.
- As a part of our Financial Freedom series, we are offering a FREE Will & Legacy Planning Seminar! The Seminar will be in our Auditorium THIS Sunday, March 3rd, at 4pm (come a few minutes early, seminar will start ON TIME). Childcare provided (come early if you need childcare, seminar will start ON TIME). Go online and sign up today! During the seminar we will be drawing names and giving away a Will Package with an Attorney.
- Coastal Day at the Riverdogs! Join us on Sunday, April 21st, at 5pm at the Charleston Riverdogs baseball game! Reserve your FREE tickets by texting TICKETS to 843-571-1777. Tickets will be distributed digitally to your email. Questions? Contact Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
- On Saturday, March 23rd, from 4-7pm, our church will be participating in the Carolina Bay Spring Fling/Easter Egg Hunt! We’ll be providing a craft area for all the children. We’ll have our Coastal tents, tables, and supplies for 300+ children! Here’s what we need – VOLUNTEERS! Now, there are A LOT of Coastal people who live in Carolina Bay. If you would be willing to be a volunteer and simply welcome and greet people, help children at a craft table, help set up / break down, and be a Coastal Ambassador, please sign up online. Even if you can help for an hour or two, just let me know. Set up begins at 3:00PM. And you don’t have to live in Carolina Bay to help – anyone is welcome!
P.S. Coastal’s Young Adults (College-30ish) are invited to join us at the SC Stingrays hockey game at the North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday, March 16th, at 6pm. Tickets are $10 per person. Email Pastor Scott at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org to reserve your spot by Sunday, March 10th.
