Congregational meeting Feb. 14

As we have mentioned these past two Sundays, we will be having a congregational business meeting on Sunday, February 14, right after the service. We will discuss and vote on the Leadership Team's unanimous proposal to sell our current building. The LT believes this is the best option available to us for our current property, and we believe it is an important part of God leading us to a new facility that will better support our ministry.

Please continue to be in prayer about our ongoing search for the building that is right for us. If you have questions or comments, contact any member of the Leadership Team.

Midweek Musings (1-14-09)

Sunday was an adventure. It always is when God shows up, isn't it? We heard so much from our youth who went to the One Thing prayer conference. God met them there in new and powerful ways. I would encourage you to ask any of the people that went about their experience. They would love to share what God has done for them.

God is moving in new ways, not only among our youth, but everywhere within our church. I don't know exactly where we are going, but with God at the fore, it is going to be an amazing journey. What we are asking of you as a church is to be in prayer, for us to be sensitive to God's voice and direction. Jeremiah 33.3 says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." He will lead us where we are to go, and that is going to be difficult in some places and easy in others. But one thing is without a doubt: God's plans are always good. I look forward to the journey with you.

Please pray

I want to encourage all of our community to be in regular prayer for Cornerstone. We are headed into a time of change. We are exploring different options for a building so that we can better meet our needs. We also are trying to build the programs that are already strong and strengthen programs that are just getting started.

As we do all of this, it's important that we are seeking to grow in God, to follow the Spirit, and to be in God's Kingdom, not building our own kingdom. The only way I know to do that is for us to be rooted and covered in prayer.

So please pray for our church. Pray for us to have unity, to manifest the fruit of the Spirit, to follow God's leading.

New LT candidate/s announced

The Leadership Team is happy to announce that we have a new candidate, or rather, pair of candidates, for the open Leadership Team position of Sunday Worship: Rick Barto and Molly Roark.

Rick, who has previously served on the Leadership Team, will serve as the Sunday Worship liaison while mentoring Molly to take over the position in six months or so.

If you know of any reason why either of these people are not qualified to serve, please let a pastor or one of the co-chairs (Carl Gerriets and Greg Carlson) know.

Please keep these two and all the members of the LT in your prayers.

Sunday Summary 3/15/09

Title: Passing the Torch

This last week we moved from Abraham to his son Isaac.  In order to continue God's promise-plan, and not halt it in its tracks, Isaac needs to find a wife and have kids of his own.  Abraham's fear is two-fold: Isaac should not take a wife from the area in which they live who knows nothing of God, and he cannot be allowed to go back to where they came from.  Abraham's solution?  Send his servant to find a wife for his son from among the family they left behind so long ago.

The servant prays for God's guidance in this task, and prays very specifically.  He wants a wife for Isaac that is kind, generous, hospitable to strangers... and sure enough, that is what God provides.  Rebekah offers not only to give the servant some water, she waters all of his camels (this was a task that probably required her to make about 150 trips to the well).  

The real provision that God makes here is what he still does for us today.  He gives Isaac exactly the teammate he needs to continue in Rebekah.  Rebekah has strengths that complement Isaac perfectly.  That is what the church is made up of today.  We are truly family together that have various talents, gifts and strengths.  Not one of us can make it on our own.  

We have an amazing gift here at Cornerstone to be surrounded by so many people with so many incredible gifts.  

Songs: Friend of God, Enough, Mighty to Save, Rescue, How Great is Our God, He Reigns

As always, please feel free to continue to ask questions that may have come up for you during the week, or comment on what God has been teaching you through this lesson.

Leadership Team

This Sunday Greg introduced our proposed slate of leadership team members. Many are returning members (Carl, Greg, Terri, Lorie, Sue, Brian) even if the roles are shifted, and several are new candidates (Mary Feikema, Kitty Petraw, and DeAnne Leone).

Co-chairs: Carl Gerriets and Greg Carlson
Treasurer: Mary Feikema
Secretary: Terri Wade
Facilities: Kitty Petraw
Missions: Lorie Sauro
Spiritual Care: Sue Fisher
Children/Youth: DeAnne Leone
Community: Brian Thoreen

I am excited about this slate. Our leadership team and pastoral staff have been in prayer about this selection and are pleased that these have all volunteered to serve Cornerstone.

We still have one opening for a leadership team member that is willing to volunteer to help oversee our Sunday morning ministries (Greeting and Ushering, Communion, and Hospitality). Please be in prayer about this opportunity to serve.

The Cornerstone body will be asked to vote to approve this slate on April 19th at our Annual Business Meeting. This will mark the start of their terms. Please be in prayer about this over the coming weeks. Please feel free to talk to a leadership team member or Scott or Barry if you have concerns or questions.

I have been very blessed to be able to serve this body over the last couple of years. The experience has been humbling, and has offered me an opportunity to grow in my faith and to form many close friendships that are such an important part of my life today. Thank you all.

In Christ,
John

Sunday Summary 3/8/09

Title: Finish What You Started

We reach the point in Abraham's journey where he starts to say goodbye.  In Gen 23, he loses his wife, Sarah, and looks for a place to bury her.  As a nomad in this land, he doesn't have a place to bury his wife and must purchase one.  This marks the first piece of fulfillment of God's promise of a land for this nation that Abraham will father.  He has received a son of promise, who is the beginning of this great nation; he has received wealth and a great name in this country; now he begins to take possession of the land itself, according to God's promise.

Hebrews talks about Abraham's faith in God, even though he never truly got to see the end result of his faithful following.  In Heb. 11, we see ourselves with Abraham, waiting for this heavenly land, and our King who will welcome us home.  

Songs: Wonderful Savior, Bless the Lord, You Are Good, Call to Worship, Take Me In, Lord Let Your Glory Fall, Our Great God, Shine, You Never Let Go, All Creatures of Our God and King

As always, please feel free to continue to ask questions that may have come up for you during the week, or comment on what God has been teaching you through this lesson.  

Next Week: Gen 24