he next couple of weeks are going to be super exciting at Coastal with 2 BIG DAYS! First of all, this Sunday, September 7th is LIFE Group Sunday!! That’s right – THIS SUNDAY! So, what is LIFE Group Sunday you ask? For those of you who are new to Coastal, let me explain. Our Sunday morning worship service is pretty much the same, but just a little shorter. We do that because we want to make plenty of time before and after each service for you to visit a table/booth representing each one of our 74 different LIFE Groups (kind of like a Job/College Fair, but for Groups)! You’ll be able to meet other people checking out all the Groups, meet the different Group Leaders, enjoy some yummy snacks, and ask any questions you might have. There will even be FREE Kona Ice outside for everyone! I promise it will be a great day and a lot of fun! But most importantly, GO ONLINE AND SIGN UP FOR A LIFE GROUP!
And then the following Sunday, September 14th, we kick off a brand new series on the New Testament book of Ephesians. The book of Ephesians is divided into two simple sections. It has six chapters. The first three chapters focus on our “position,” our identity – who we are in Christ. The last three chapters focus on the application of that. They address our “practice” in Christ. In other words, on the basis of who we are, this then is how we should live. In fact, let me give you a really helpful homework assignment to help prepare you for this Sunday and this series. I want to encourage you to spend the rest of the month reading through Ephesians several times using different translations.
Ephesians 1:18 is my prayer for you during this series, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.” Be sure to notice that phrase, “the riches of His glorious inheritance.” Because God is your Father, you are an heir of God! Now, you may not be acting like it, or you may have never realized just how wealthy and blessed you are spiritually.
Let me borrow your imagination for just a minute. Imagine that today, when you go out to your mailbox, you discover a certified letter from an attorney. The letter says that your great aunt, whom you can barely remember from when you were a kid, has died and made you the sole heir of her estate. You’d be thinking, “Wow, that’s something.” But you keep reading and the next paragraph says that her estate is valued at more than 100 million dollars!
If you were to receive a letter like that and it was on the level and not a hoax, what would your reaction be? It would change your life and the way you think about everything! I mean, one moment you’re saying, “How am I going to pay the bills?” and the next, it’s like, “How am I going to invest all this money?” It would change your whole outlook on life!
Now, the minute that will was probated you became a millionaire, you just didn’t know it! It was only after you read the letter that you realized, “I’m an heir of 100 million dollars!” You were already rich, but reading the letter enabled you to discover it.
And so my prayer for all of us during this study is that as we open this letter of Ephesians, the Holy Spirit will open the eyes our of heart to who we really are in Christ and to how wealthy we are as an heir of the Father. Some of your eyes may be closed to that. But I guarantee, if you have discovered it, if you will discover it – it will forever change your life! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love digging into God’s Word with you!
Blessed Beyond Measure,
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: TODAY, Friday, September 5th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! TODAY, Friday, September 5th; Monday, September 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, September 6th. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve!
JFM Fellowship Activity & Devotion: A fun project for kids! We’ll serve at Joseph Floyd Manor (JFM), a public housing facility in Downtown Charleston, playing BINGO with the residents. Monday, September 8th, 1pm-2:30pm. Meet at JFM.
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, September 9th, 8am-12:30pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
Brighton Place Fellowship Activity & Devotion: This project will allow us to spend some time with the residents and get to know them better through a lively game of Chair Volleyball, a meal, and devotion. Kid Friendly! Tuesday, September 9th, 1:30pm-3:30pm. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
Sewing Project: Sewing experience not required! Come and acquire a new skill while helping others in the community. This team of volunteers will work on zippered pouches, lap quilts, and blankets. Meet at Coastal on Wednesday, September 10th, 5pm-8pm.
Charleston Vets Activity & Devotion: Charleston Vets is home to 35 struggling, local veterans who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation. Join us as we head out to connect with these veterans, share an evening meal, laugh alongside them, play some lively rounds of Bingo and share a devotion to help them grow closer to the Lord! Wednesday, September 10th, 6pm-8:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
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, September 11th, 11:30am-1pm.
2nd Meal: Saturday, September 13th, 9am-11am. 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!
Double Tailgate Day – Meeting Street & Joseph Floyd Manor: Saturday, September 13th, 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. - Grieving or know someone who is? One of our Support Groups – Grief Share – begins its 13 week cycle this Monday, September 8th with sessions available at 2pm or 6pm. Contact Sue Muoio (s.muoio@outlook.com) for more information.
- Attention Coastal Young Adults! We’re having a Fall Beach RetreatNovember 14th-16th at Folly Beach! We will meet there for check-in between 6pm-7pm Friday. We will have discussion, community, games, activities relating to our theme, food and more! Sign up now for the best price! The cost is $50/person. Register here now! Contact Morgan Rainey with additional questions at morgan@coastalcommunitychurch.org
- Our Fall Volunteer Training for Coastal Kidz Volunteers is just around the corner! This time, our trainings are area-specific, so you will only attend the training that relates to you. Each training will be held after services from 12:45pm-2pm on their specific date.
If you serve in multiple areas, pick the area you serve in most.
If you are a buddy volunteer, pick the area you serve in most.
If you are a check-in volunteer, there is no training this time around.
Save the dates to your calendar and register at the links below.
*Childcare and pizza provided*
Click on the link below to sign up for your Training:
9-14: Nursery Volunteers
9-21: Preschool Volunteers (2’s, 3’s, 4-K)
9-28: Elementary Volunteers - Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, September 20th, from 9am-12noon, in the Chapel. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card (let us know if you need childcare). Breakfast & childcare provided!
P.S. Coastal Student Ministry (6th-12th Grade) Fall Kickoff will be THIS Sunday, September 7th, 5:30pm-7pm (doors open at 5pm)! This is going to be a really fun night with open gym, food, games, and more! We invite your student to connect with other students and their adult leaders. We pray this night builds relationships that will last a lifetime! We hope to see your student there! REMIND THEM TO INVITE A FRIEND!
