Wow – it just seems as though God is moving in a powerful way through our church right now, and something is stirring. It feels like God is preparing us for something big. In the last month alone we’ve had 60 1st & 2nd Time Guest Connect Cards filled out representing well over 100+ new people! In that same time we’ve had over 20 different decisions for Christ and almost 1 baptism each week (by the way, you can go ahead and sign up for our BEACH BAPTISM – see below)! This year alone (3 months) we’ve given away almost 4,000 items of clothing to our community and served over 2,200 meals at 13 Tailgating Events, not counting the bags and bags of groceries we give away each week at our Food Pantry or the boxes and boxes of groceries we supply at our 7 Blessing Boxes in the community. Last month we had over 100 Volunteers show up for Saturday Serve (the next Saturday Serve is TOMORROW – see below), loving and serving our community. On top of all of that we have hundreds of people in LIFE Groups this semester, reading through the Bible together this year as a church, our 40 Day Easter Fast, the Night of Worship – again, God is moving at Coastal!
On top of all that, last Sunday we had 683 people in-person for worship and another 511 online! In fact, it’s time to bring out more chairs for the 9:30am service and to get back into the habit of asking everyone to sit toward the front and center of each section of chairs to help make more room. And if it doesn’t really matter to you or you don’t have a preference, please start coming to the 11:15am service. Eventually, when we add a 3rd service it will be 8:30am, 10am, and 11:30am (like this Easter), but until then let’s do everything we can to make room for people. And then what’s really exciting is that we had 195 kids/volunteers in Coastal Kids this past week (34 children in the 4-K room and 31 children in the 1st-3rd room in the first service)! That could have never happened in our old facility.
All of that to say, Easter Weekend is going to be something special at Coastal! And it’s now 2 weeks away! Our service times are: Friday, April 15th, 7pm; Saturday, April 16th, 4:30pm, 6pm; Sunday, April 17th, 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am. Go to www.easteratcoastal.com right now and let us know which service you and your guests will be attending. This helps us to know when a service reaches capacity. The general rule of thumb is come to the service your friends can attend. Historically, Sunday morning at 10am & 11:30am are the largest services. Unless your guests are coming to one of those services, please try to attend one of the other services to make room. Our goal is to have our Chapel ready for overflow.
While you’re on the Easter at Coastal page make sure you click on the “Download Shareable Easter Invite Images for Social Media” button. A zip file containing a folder of different images will automatically download on your computer (like the one above). Or you can simply click on this link and download them now! Start using these images on Facebook and Instagram to get the word out and invite people to Coastal for Easter.
Pray for God to draw people to Himself at Coastal, asking Him to go before us and prepare the soils of people’s hearts. Pray for me and my message. Pray for people to respond to the Gospel and take next steps. Pray for our volunteers. Pray for the 94,000 postcards that will get sent out into our community. Like we always say, “Pray like it all depends on God.” And now it’s time to do our part, “Work, like it all depends on us.” And what do I meant by that? Make the ask! Reach out to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and invite them to one of our 6 Easter Services. Send a text, send an email, make a phone call, hand out tickets, post something on social media, put out a yard sign. And speaking of Yard Signs, more came in this week and are ready to go. You can pick one up at Saturday Serve or at church on Sunday. Strategically place them in neighborhoods, shopping centers, high traffic areas, and intersections. Take a picture of your sign and share it on social media with the hashtag: #easteratcoastal.
One final thought – I know I said it on Sunday, but I want you to hear it again loud and clear. All of those exciting things that are happening here at Coastal, could not happen without the generous, consistent giving of our people – YOU! Thank you for your generosity! This Sunday in our “At the Cross” series, we’ll be looking at the cross through the eyes of another Mary – Mary, the mother of Jesus. Don’t miss it! I love you Coastal and I love what we get to do together!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
Here are this week’s “Friday 5”:
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Clothing Team – Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes Friday, April 1st & Friday, April 8th, 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 THIS Saturday (tomorrow), April 2nd. We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am (come at 7:30am to set up chairs), project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve! Two different Tailgate Parties go out from Saturday Serve! There’s something for the entire family! Bring the kiddos as they will be working on a craft that will go to the residents of Patriot Villas. The kids are sure to have a great day, and the “adult kids” will also have a great time too!
PINK House – The PINK House is a community center in the Ardmore subdivision in West Ashley. We are going to be putting on a community Tailgate Party, Clothing Distribution, on Saturday, April 9th, 10am-1pm. Meet at Coastal.
Soldier’s Angels – We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, April 12th, 8am-1pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
Joseph Floyd Manor Tailgate – Our Tailgate will be rolling and serving our friends downtown at the Joseph Floyd Manor – Thursday, April 14th, 10am-1pm. Meet at the church.
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 would like your family to participate in the Baby/Child Dedication on Mother’s Day (May 8th), sign up on your Connect Card. Include the child’s full name and the service you will be attending. Coastal’s Baby Dedication is a special time for our parents and children. The purpose of our Baby Dedication is not for the child’s salvation. It is more of a prayer/renewal time for the parents as they commit to raise their child the way God wants them to and a time of prayer for the child to grow to be the man or woman God has called them to be. It is also a time for our church family to commit to you, the parents, to be the support that you need. Most people think of a Baby Dedication as just for our newborns, but we’ve had all different ages participate. If you’ve never had that special prayer time for you and your child, we’d love for you to sign up and participate.
- We are planning our Annual BEACH BAPTISM out at Folly Beach County Park on Sunday, June 12th, at 5pm. You can sign up for it on our website. The only requirement for Baptism is that you have personally given your life to Jesus. Baptism is a public profession of your faith. At Coastal we call it “going public” and it’s a great celebration! It beautifully illustrates Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. If you’re unable to participate in our Beach Baptism, remember at Coastal we’re ready for you to get Baptized any service, any Sunday. If you are interested in getting Baptized simply respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card, or sign up on our website.
- New to Coastal? Join us in the Coastal Cafe or online Sunday, May 1st immediately following the 11:15am service for our next Newcomer’s Reception. Learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, and get plugged in. Lunch & childcare provided. RSVP online or on your Connect Card on Sunday!
- Are you grieving the loss of a spouse or do you know someone who is? You are invited to join our FREE “Loss of a Spouse” Seminar through our Grief Share Support Group on Thursday, May 5th, 6:30-8:30pm at Coastal. Discover practical advice, support, prayer, and encouragement from others who’ve been there. Learn what to expect in your grief and how to cope with life without your spouse. Register at www.griefshare.org or call Freeda (540-903-5030) or Sue (616-443-6553).
P.S. 6 Services over 3 days for Easter means that it’s “all hands on deck.” WE NEED YOU TO PULL OFF EASTER WEEKEND! Make sure you reach out to your Ministry Leader NOW to let them know when you can serve over the Easter Weekend! Attend one service and then serve in MULTIPLE services! If you aren’t serving anywhere right now, Easter is a great time to start! Go to our website right now and sign up to serve! Or you can respond to this email or on your Connect Card on Sunday, and we’ll direct you to a Ministry.
