Dear Cornerstone Family,
Over the last year, but especially over the last six to nine months, we’ve been foretasting as a congregation thewonder and joy of that final verse in the hymn, “How Sweet and Awful is the Place.”
“We long to see Thy churches full; that all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart and soul, Sing Thy redeeming grace.”
The one-voice unity, the centrality of redeeming grace, the influx of new believers: all of these beautiful evidences of God’s work are on display in our fellowship right now. We praise God for this and give Him all the glory!At the same time, every blessing poses new challenges. One of the main challenges we’re experiencing relatesto limited space. You experience this challenge personally each week as you try to secure seats in the chapel forworship! Can I get an amen?
To help ease overcrowding, we’ve added an overflow room upstairs, which is being utilized in both services every week. Six weeks ago, we asked our Home Fellowship Groups to consider rotating through the overflow room to help free up even more space. They kindly obliged. Making this shift has opened up anywhere from 15-25 seats on average, but that space is filling up quickly.
Please know that your leaders are exploring together how to best address the “good problem” of growth.We’ve taken time this month to pray regularly and concertedly for wisdom and direction. We’ll be engaging you more on this matter soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, please continue (or begin!) praying with us as we seek God’s face for the future of Cornerstone’s ministry.
Speaking of the future, I have great news. We’ve just hired a brand-new, part-time Hospitality Coordinatorto help lead our Hospitality Team and execute fellowship initiatives at the church. It’s someone many of you know and love already. With no further ado, we’re pleased to welcome our own Mr. Dan Fiedler to the Cornerstone staff as Cornerstone’s first Hospitality Coordinator!
I asked Dan to share a little about himself, so those of you who don’t yet know him can get to know him a bit better:
Like many of you reading this, I didn't grow up here. I grew up in Central Illinois and then served as a missionary in Japan before moving to Nashville. I have been in Middle Tennessee for eighteen years, worked as an event manager with World Vision for fifteen years and have been a member of Cornerstone for nine years. I am married to Lisa, and we have two daughters: Grace (5) and Liberty (3). Speaking of Grace, my first experience at a PCA church ended with me telling the friend who invited me that the pastor talked about grace too much! Looking back, I can clearly see how the Lord has been gracious with me and has invited me over the years through the body of Christ, and through Cornerstone specifically, to experience His grace in new and practical ways. I am very excited to share the grace and hospitality I have been shown in this new role as the Hospitality Coordinator.
Your servant,
