Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 6, 2018

Changes are underway!

As you arrived at church today, you may have noticed that a few more of our beautiful stained glass windows were removed this week for restoration. The restoration will take an estimated eight weeks. If everything stays on course, the windows should be back in place by July.

You might have also noticed some upgrades to the landscape, especially across the front and side of the chapel. The new flowerbeds and bushes are just the beginning of the big plans the landscaping team has in store! To let you further in on the “resurrection story” that’s begun with the landscape, Ruling Elder Joe Haworth and I are going to talk through the vision for the landscape and how you can partner with us. Stay tuned!

Through your faithfulness in giving, we’ve been able to more than manage the regular repairs on the chapel as a part of our normal budget. Moreover, the Lord has provided ample resources, through your generosity, to take on several small upgrades around the building as well as contribute substantially to increases in ministry—including new staff positions and the new church plant in Spring Hill. We are so very blessed.

The time has come, however, for us to move forward with several substantial upgrades. Here are four upgrades we are in the midst of or looking to do in the days ahead:

·      Stained Glass Windows – Thanks to designated gifts over the last year, we were able to get the four windows facing Church St. restored. We need roughly $46,000 additional dollars to finish the stain glass restoration.

·      Louvered Wooden Panels – In the chapel tower, you’ll notice that the white wooden panels are deteriorated and need to be repaired and replaced. This project is roughly $5000.

·      Landscaping – If we were to address the need for beautification, child safety, and outside fellowship gathering space, the total cost would be somewhere in the range of $120,000-150,000   

·      Chapel Lighting – We need to replace or augment the lighting in the chapel to increase visibility and maintain a pleasing worshipful environment. One lighting technician has evaluated the chapel already. We do not yet have a firm estimate on the cost, but we anticipate receiving one very soon. 

If you take all these projects together, we’re in the neighborhood of $170,000-220,000. That’s a lot of money! Presently, we are unable to meet the needs of these larger projects through our regular budget. This morning we’re asking you to pray with us about all these needs, as together we look to the Lord to provide all we need—in His time and in His way. Further, we ask you to consider giving over and above your tithe to help provide the funds needed for these important projects. In a very real sense, we’re inviting you to join a new “resurrection story,” trusting the God who owns everything will give us all the life we need for the long-term growth and health of Cornerstone! 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 29, 2018

When we purchased the chapel in 2012, we were thrilled at the prospect of being located in the heart of downtown Franklin. With all its quaintness and quirks, we fell in love with the chapel. It’s architectural beauty and its storied history was certainly part of the charm and attraction. More importantly, however, was the incredible blessing to occupy a prominent corner of downtown for the heralding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And what a tremendous blessing the last six years have been.

When we purchased the chapel, we also knew that maintenance on such an old building would be a continual need. From roof leaks and plaster repairs to replacing fascia boards and foundation supports, we strive to stay on top of the growing number of maintenance needs.

In the weeks and months to come, there are a number of repairs and upgrades that are going to take place on the building. I want to take a minute to make you aware of a few of the most significant ones.

First, through the designated contributions from a number of you, this past year we repaired the four stained glass windows facing Church Street. As a second phase in the project, the large stained glass window in the back of the chapel and all the windows in the narthex will be removed in the next couple of weeks for full restoration.

Secondly, in addition to the stained glass, we are also making preparations to do a significant landscape redesign and upgrade. Next week in service Joe Haworth is going to give a report from the landscape team, informing you on the hopes and dreams for making the Cornerstone grounds beautiful and serviceable. Stay tuned on that.

Thirdly, the chapel lighting is old and needs either to be upgraded or for additional lighting to be added. A lighting technician has come in to evaluate the situation. We are in the process of considering various options for increasing the lighting in the sanctuary in order to enhance visibility and to set a pleasing worshipful atmosphere.

Finally, as we reported the end of last year, the Franklin Fire Marshall’s office required Biscuit Love (next door) and us to put in a sprinkler system. The underground work to tie into the city’s water was finished late last year. We are pursuing final approvals for the city of Franklin and working with the timeline of our contractor for installation. If things continue to go as planned (a big IF in construction!), the installation will happen this summer.

As these various projects get underway and more information comes forth, we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 6, 2018

Changes are underway!

As you arrived at church today, you may have noticed that a few more of our beautiful stained glass windows were removed this week for restoration. The restoration will take an estimated eight weeks. If everything stays on course, the windows should be back in place by July.

You might have also noticed some upgrades to the landscape, especially across the front and side of the chapel. The new flowerbeds and bushes are just the beginning of the big plans the landscaping team has in store! To let you further in on the “resurrection story” that’s begun with the landscape, Ruling Elder Joe Haworth and I are going to talk through the vision for the landscape and how you can partner with us. Stay tuned!

Through your faithfulness in giving, we’ve been able to more than manage the regular repairs on the chapel as a part of our normal budget. Moreover, the Lord has provided ample resources, through your generosity, to take on several small upgrades around the building as well as contribute substantially to increases in ministry—including new staff positions and the new church plant in Spring Hill. We are so very blessed.

The time has come, however, for us to move forward with several substantial upgrades. Here are four upgrades we are in the midst of or looking to do in the days ahead:

·      Stained Glass Windows – Thanks to designated gifts over the last year, we were able to get the four windows facing Church St. restored. We need roughly $46,000 additional dollars to finish the stain glass restoration.

·      Louvered Wooden Panels – In the chapel tower, you’ll notice that the white wooden panels are deteriorated and need to be repaired and replaced. This project is roughly $5000.

·      Landscaping – If we were to address the need for beautification, child safety, and outside fellowship gathering space, the total cost would be somewhere in the range of $120,000-150,000   

·      Chapel Lighting – We need to replace or augment the lighting in the chapel to increase visibility and maintain a pleasing worshipful environment. One lighting technician has evaluated the chapel already. We do not yet have a firm estimate on the cost, but we anticipate receiving one very soon. 

If you take all these projects together, we’re in the neighborhood of $170,000-220,000. That’s a lot of money! Presently, we are unable to meet the needs of these larger projects through our regular budget. This morning we’re asking you to pray with us about all these needs, as together we look to the Lord to provide all we need—in His time and in His way. Further, we ask you to consider giving over and above your tithe to help provide the funds needed for these important projects. In a very real sense, we’re inviting you to join a new “resurrection story,” trusting the God who owns everything will give us all the life we need for the long-term growth and health of Cornerstone! 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 22, 2018

In the early part of the 20th century, the mainline denominational seminaries in America began slipping away from the foundational truths of the Christian faith. With Biblical authority being jettisoned among boards and faculty members, the bedrock Christian doctrines like the virgin birth and the deity of Jesus Christ were treated with suspicion at best—and outright denied at worst.

Seeing the drift away from the Bible’s authority and historic teaching of Christianity, Dr. J. Gresham Machen and a small band of professors left the prestigious Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey to establish Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS) in Philadelphia, PA. With prized faculty members, Dr. Cornelius Van Till and Dr. John Murray, and the esteemed New Testament professor, Dr. Machen, at the helm, WTS became one of the most widely respected Reformed seminaries anywhere in the world. Over the last century, WTS has trained some of the most notable Christian leaders and teachers in the world, including Dr. John Piper and Dr. Timothy Keller.

We have the privilege today to have one of the newest members of the faculty of WTS with us, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Gibson. Before joining the faculty at WTS, Dr. Gibson earned a Ph.D in Hebrew Studies at Cambridge University in England and served as Associate Pastor of the Cambridge Presbyterian Church. 

In January 2017, Dr. Gibson crossed the pond to America to become Assistant Professor of Old Testament at WTS. He is a contributor to and coeditor (with David Gibson) of From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. He is also the author of historical and biblical articles in Themelios: Journal of Biblical Literature and the Tyndale Bulletin, as well as “Obadiah” in the NIV Proclamation Bible. Most recently, he contributed to and edited an invaluable resource entitled, Reformation Worship: Liturgies from the Past for the Present.

In addition to preaching for us from Psalm 84 today, Dr. Gibson will be joining me in the Sunday School hour for a Cornerstone Forum. We’ll be reflecting on the book of Genesis and tracing the unfolding theme of Covenant in the Scripture for understanding the redemptive story of the Bible. Please make plans to join us!