SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian church that has become known for “giving you gas” will be living up to that reputation once again with its Seventh Annual Gas Buy-Down come September. But in order to provide discounted gas, it needs the community’s support.
Coastal Community Church, which meets at Sebastian River Middle School, is seeking donations from both its congregation and the community at large to provide gas at 50 cents less than the day’s current price. Drivers can get up to 20 gallons of discounted gas.
The event, which will be held at the Shark Mart Mobil at the corner of County Roads 510 and 512 in Sebastian on Sept. 8, precedes the church’s annual, free community block party at Riverview Park on Sept. 15.
In order to put on both events, the church needs to raise $2,250. So far, it has raised $500.
“As our church continues to grow, we want our expressions of love to grow,” said Seth Goldsmith, pastor of Coastal Community. “We started hosting these events six years ago in a much smaller way. Thanks to our congregation’s love for people and their commitment to generosity in our community, we have the tremendous privilege to communicate the unconditional love of God with no strings attached.”
Last year, drivers began to line up an hour before the 4 p.m. gas buy-down to ensure they would be able to get the discount gas. Among those to line up was Patti Bough, 70-something, who relies on Social Security to make ends meet and is always looking to save money, including monitoring how much gas she buys.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said during last year’s event. “I don’t know how they can do it, but it’s wonderful. Thank the church and God.”
The community block party, which is open to everyone, is a way for the church to reach out to the public, according to Pastor Goldsmith. Despite being a “church” event, the music is non-religious and there is no preaching.
Everything during the block party is free – the food, the games and the entertainment.
Among the activities lined up is a dunk tank, in which Mayor Jim Hill is expected to take a seat and be plunged into the water below. He participated in the dunk tank last year, as well.
The block party will be held Sept. 15 from 3 to 6 p.m. There will also be a live DJ, food including barbecue pork, hot dogs, snow cones and cotton candy, face painting, games, bounce houses and a bungee run.
Anyone interested in either donating to the events or learning more about them is encouraged to call (772) 202-0121 or visit www.SebastianChurch.com.
