Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 16, 2021

Dear Cornerstone Family,

As more and more people receive COVID-19 vaccines and the number of active cases in our area and across the country continues to drop, Cornerstone, like many other churches, has been scaling back towards normal. Back in March, we started increasing our capacity and ceased with designated seating. Three weeks ago, we conducted our last mask-required service as registrants for that service moved to our earlier services after vaccination. And this week we ceased requiring registration for worship. Each Sunday things are looking a bit more normal.

Another area where we want to start moving back to normal is communion. For those of you who have joined Cornerstone in the last year, a little history might be in order. Pre-COVID, the bread for communion was sliced into small pieces and placed in two silver trays on the middle communion table. As you came forward, you would stop by the middle table and partake of the bread and then move toward the side tables to partake of the cup. For health concerns, we augmented that practice and went to stackable cups with bread on the bottom and wine/juice on the top.

Starting today, we are returning the bread to the center table, but not exactly in pre-COVID form. Instead of a tray of bread, an individual piece of bread will be in a cup. As you come forward today, please stop by the middle table and partake of the bread. After receiving the bread, you’ll carry your plastic cup with you and move to the outer tables where you’ll partake of the wine/juice. You will then throw both cups away. Though not all the way back to normal, this is closer to our ordinary practice and (hopefully) a move in the right direction.

Also, for those of you who are new to Cornerstone, we did not have ushers leading us row by row to communion before COVID. Over the next few weeks, our plan is to phase out the use of ushers during communion and invite the congregation to come on their own, row by row, filling the aisle on the way to the table as was our custom previous to COVID. For this morning, however, ushers will once again be present to help us, but please note they will be moving you to communion more quickly since the need for social distance during communion has passed.

In closing, I want to thank Todd Russell, David Steffens, Martha Brooks, and the whole Reopening Team for the way they’ve served so faithfully behind the scenes this last year. From registration for worship, to socially distant seating charts, to additional cleaning measures, to communion preparation and a dozen other details; the brothers and sisters on this team have served the church tirelessly and without complaint. I can’t even begin to express how thankful I am for them. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their service, and I want to encourage you to make it a point to thank them personally for their loving care of us.

Your servant,

 



Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 9, 2021

Since the beginning of Cornerstone, we have had the wonderful opportunity to invite young people to participate in various ministries—in formal and informal ways—for the purpose of identifying gifts and encouraging the call God has placed on their lives. I asked Greg Wilbur to talk about this aspect of the ministry of Cornerstone.

In the midst of a full and busy ministry, the Apostle Paul invested time, instruction, encouragement, and himself in the discipling of Timothy. Paul understood his role of shaping and developing the gifts God had given Timothy for the good of the Church. Furthermore, in 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul exhorts Timothy to do the same: to take what Paul taught Timothy and entrust it to faithful men and women who would be able to teach others. The description we see here is four generations of discipling and equipping—Paul to Timothy, to faithful men and women, to others.

Paul also speaks of the presence of gifts within God’s people as a “manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12). We utilize our gifts not for ourselves but for the good of the Body— both as individuals and as a Church. As Jesus instructs us in the parable of the talents, the stewardship of what has been entrusted to us is a matter of faithfulness and joy (Matthew 25). As a church community, we have the opportunity to develop and nurture gifts for the good of the Church—not just here and now but also for later and in other parts of the Body of Christ.

Throughout the years at Cornerstone, we have intentionally identified young men and women to serve within the church for the purpose of discerning gifts under the oversight and discipling of pastors and staff. These interns have worked with women’s ministry, missions, youth, worship, and discipleship. And we have stewarded our own gifts and resources to share wisdom, ministry opportunities, and our own failures and obstacles in order to assist them in the pursuit of God’s call on their lives and to train them for a life of serving others as a successive generation.

Some of the practical ways that works out in our life as a church is encouraging younger musicians to grow in their ability to play in worship, to take extra time in helping a less experienced teacher prepare a lesson, to provide feedback and helpful critiques. You may have noticed our Psalm for May was written by our worship intern, Noah Aikens—this is another example of our commitment to give space in our Body life for the development of gifts.

As a church, this allows us all to play a discipling role by recognizing that the experience of actually doing ministry work—such as write a Psalm for worship, teach a lesson for Vespers, instruct the youth, participate in leading the liturgy—is a more effective means of instruction than just talking about it conceptually. We have a long-term, kingdom-minded approach to raise up those to follow us and prepare and outfit them for faithful service.

I am personally thankful for the patience church families had for me: when I started playing piano for worship at the age of 16 and when I took over as worship leader/choir director at my church in college at the age of 20. Their encouragement and loving exhortations helped to shape me, overcome my deficiencies, and move forward after failing.

We are thankful for the opportunity Cornerstone has with our current interns, Ethan Vroom and Noah Aikens, as well as for past interns who are completing seminary training, degrees in counseling, serving overseas and in missions, and moving into roles to serve the Church for the life and hope of the Gospel in the world. God has blessed the Cornerstone body with gifts and talents, and we prayerfully seek to steward those and train faithful men and women who can teach others for the common good.



Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 2, 2021

Dear Cornerstone Family,

When you hear the word missions, what comes to mind? Do you think of a missionary moving to foreign country? What about a church planter establishing a new church in an underserved place? Or what about a campus minister evangelizing at a university, or a non-profit organization serving the poor or needy in a community? Those are all important mission initiatives, but did you know mission doesn’t just happen outside the church? Mission happens inside the church, too!

A few years ago, we began the church year with a brief sermon series entitled, “From Generation to Generation.” In that series, we explored the mission-critical call of the church to pass down the faith from one generation to the next, to answer King David’s call in Psalm 145:4, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”

I’ve asked our Children’s Coordinator, Mrs. Meredith Suits, to share with you about an amazing opportunity we have to pass the torch of the gospel onto the next generation this summer:

Like many in our congregation, I have fond memories of Vacation Bible School. I couldn’t wait to spend a week with my friends playing games, eating fun snacks, making crafts, and listening to the adults in my church teach us about the Bible through stories, skits, and songs. For years, I’ve held on to a pillow I made at our “Good News Stampede” (a particularly entertaining wild-west-themed VBS from the mid- 90s) simply because it reminds me of the precious memories I made as a child at my church and at VBS.

Cornerstone will hold its first official VBS this summer at Jim Warren Park from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on June 2-4. After so much missed time together, the VBS team is thrilled to be preparing for a big event for the children of Cornerstone. Our theme is “Run the Race,” and we will focus all our activities around the idea that the Christian life is often like a race— a race we can prepare for through spiritual disciplines like scripture reading and prayer, a race we can run with perseverance when we learn to keep our eyes fixed on the power of Jesus Christ, and a race we won’t run alone because we have our church family to help us. Our prayer is that our children leave VBS with a stronger connection to the community of believers that will help them live as disciples of Christ and finish the race marked out for them.

We currently have over 20 volunteers signed up to help with VBS in a variety of ways, and our team is so grateful for all the interest and enthusiasm we have heard from you in the past several weeks. Please mark your calendars on June 2-4 to pray for the children of Cornerstone—that VBS would be a time to reflect on their relationship with God and others and a time when they feel so deeply loved and cared for by their church—and please let me know if there are ways you’d be willing to help as we take this exciting step forward in our children’s ministry.

Let’s throw our heart and hands behind the mission of VBS and ask the Lord to use this effort to extend the legacy of faith to the next generation!

Your servant,

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Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 25, 2021

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Every few months, the leaders of Cornerstone will hear me say, “You don’t typically take people farther than you’re willing to go.” This phrase usually gets voiced at a point where initiative is needed in a difficult situation— when it’s clear God is calling us to step outside of our typical comfort zones, and we’re afraid to do it.

Leadership often feels this way. This is why leadership books and podcasts always talk about courage. It’s scary to stick your neck out there, take responsibility, and have others look to you for help and direction. In my experience, one always feels ill equipped for the task and thus overwhelmed by it. Who is fit for these things?

Every one of us is called to lead in one way or another. For instance, if you’re only six years old, and you have a sibling that’s three years old, you’re a leader. For good or bad (and it’s likely both!), the three-year-old is going to look to (and ‘up to’) the six-year-old for direction and help. Even though the six-year-old didn't sign up for it, she is in an informal leadership role, because she has influence over the three-year-old by virtue of age, relationship, and proximity. This informal leadership dynamic is at work around us all the time!

Let’s apply this to the church. You may not be a leader in a formal sense right now in the church. You’re not a church officer, or a team leader, or a Sunday School teacher. But you have influence. Maybe you’re a junior or senior in the youth group. How could you use your unique position to bless, encourage, and support the middle school students joining the youth group this summer? Maybe you have years of experience raising children. How could your experience benefit the younger parents wrangling their littles in the pews each week? Maybe you’re retired after decades of experience in business. How can you open up pathways with younger businessmen and women to help them live for Christ in the workplace? Ask yourself, “What stewardship has God given me, and how can I use it to influence others for God’s purposes and glory?”

Now, almost as soon as you do this, you’ll become fearful and overwhelmed. Why? Because you feel ill equipped and afraid to fail. These are the emotions that show up whenever we’re called to something that’s going to stretch us beyond where we’re comfortable. But let me challenge you: don’t give into those feelings. You feel them because you’re looking at the task and then at yourself, and you’re thinking, “There’s no way God can use me!” You’re wrong. Your feelings and thoughts are lying to you.

Instead of trusting your feelings and thoughts, let the always trustworthy voice of God rise above your fears. In other words, let the truth of the Word take up the throne of your heart, quieting your fears and strengthening your resolve to answer God’s call. Yes, you are weak and foolish. I know that. I’m right there with you! It just so happens that God uses people just like you. It just so happens that he’s chosen “what is foolish in the world to shame the wise... what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27). That’s right, it’s not the best and brightest he needs. No, he uses the failing and faltering assuring them that, “My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

My college pastor once said to me, “Nate, don’t bury your talent” (Matthew 25:14-30). Now, go ahead and replace my name with yours: “_____, don’t bury your talent.” Together let’s commit not to squander the stewardship God has given us. Let’s refuse to leave a sad legacy of missed opportunities. Instead, let’s trust God and let the promise of his presence and power lead us to use whatever influence he’s given us for the good of the church and the glory of Christ.

Your servant,

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Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 18, 2021

Dear Cornerstone Family,

As always, it was a special privilege to gather this week with the elders and deacons of Cornerstone for our monthly Leadership Meeting. I cherish the time we spend together, and I’d like to highlight a few key items of business arising out of our most recent meeting.

First, our brother, Kevin McClung, is taking a step back from active service on the diaconate. As some of you know, Kevin is taking a turn vocationally and is pursing some additional education over the next year, which will keep him very busy. We are grateful for all the ways Kevin has served Cornerstone over the last eight years, and equally grateful to extend to him a yearlong sabbatical as he devotes his time and energy in a new vocational direction.

Second, you don’t have to been around Cornerstone very long to pick up on the fact that we take raising up the next generation of church leaders seriously. In the way that Paul trained up Timothy for the ministry, we believe it’s the responsibility of pastors and church leaders to be identifying and raising up future leaders to carry the torch of the gospel to the next generation. This happens in a number of informal ways, but it happens formally through our intern program.

Currently, Mr. Noah Aikens is serving with Mr. Greg Wilbur as our Worship Intern, and, just this week, the elders voted to hire Mr. Ethan Vroom as a Pastoral Intern. Though a good portion of Ethan’s ministry training will be spent with me, the lion’s share of his ministry hours will take place in youth ministry serving alongside Mr. Taylor Thompson and Rev. Ben Griffith. Ethan is originally from Canada but landed in Franklin eighteen months ago or so to study at New College Franklin. Ethan has been actively involved in the life of Cornerstone already, and we are delighted to see him join the ranks of the Cornerstone staff. We look forward to seeing how the Lord will grow him in the days to come.

Finally, please take a moment to look over the 3rd quarter financial numbers, for we have so much to be thankful for. Through your faithful giving, the ministry of Cornerstone continues to advance!

3rd Quarter Financial Report 2021

3rd Quarter 2020/21 9 Months 2020/21

Actual Budget Difference Actual Budget Difference

Giving $287,243 $209,976 $77,267 $823,101 $696,838 $126,263

Expense $232,838 $227,837 $5,001 $729,964 $671,788 $58,176

Deficit/Surplus $54,405 -$17,861 $72,276 $93,136 $24,049 $69,086

Cash Position As of March 31, 2021

Operating Account $90,093

Building Fund Acct $34,990

Money Market $292,103

Emergency Fund $82,870

TOTAL CASH $500,056

Your servant,

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