Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 25, 2023

Dear Cornerstone family,

The fiscal year at Cornerstone runs from July 1 to June 30, which means we’re headed into the final few days of our 2022- 2023 fiscal year. As we draw this fiscal year to a close, we want to thank you for the generous way you’ve given to the work of ministry. Through your gifts, God has provided all we need and more, and for this we rejoice!

During the last two years, our membership and ministry has grown exponentially, and with growth comes increased needs. As we embark on a new fiscal year, we humbly ask you to maintain and even prayerfully consider increasing your giving to Cornerstone this year. With added staff, expanded ministries, a new building and renovations, the next fiscal year will be the most financially demanding year in Cornerstone’s existence.

Praise God, we are entering the next fiscal year in a healthy position, and we have every reason to believe that our Good Shepherd will supply all our needs yet again through your faithful and sacrificial giving (Philippians 4:19). We will be back in touch with you soon regarding the 2023-2024 Cornerstone budget presentation. Please be on the lookout for that!

Now, as we continue our emphasis on missions this June, I asked Rev. Tony Giles to update us on his leadership coaching work with Serge. Please give close attention to his report:

My grandmother was the neighborhood seamstress. I can close my eyes and hear her vintage Singer sewing machine whirling from the spare bedroom. I think of her most every time I explain what it is I do in my role with Serge.

A “serger” is a sewing machine with a specific design and purpose. It takes two ragged edges of cloth and forms them into a beautiful seam. Wholeness and beauty where once were frayed edges. That’s just what the gospel does in our lives! The gospel takes the frayed, torn, and broken parts of our lives and brings them together into a whole—made beautiful by the transforming power of the gospel.

Serge is an international missions organization bringing together mission and spiritual renewal. The tagline is “Grace at the Fray.” No surprise, becoming a pastor or ministry leader doesn’t exempt you from the trials and failings of being a sinful, broken person. At Serge, we realize we need the grace of the gospel in our own lives, even as we take the message of God’s grace to others. Our work consists of helping people experience on-going gospel transformation and equipping them to move outward into mission.

My role at Serge is in the Renewal end of things working with pastors and church leaders all over the country in two distinct ways:

  • Church Leader Development is individualized coaching through online meetings twice a month with a three day site visit somewhere along the way. The issues and challenges of each leader are unique. Find out more about how it works here: serge.org/church-leader-development

  • Beginning this fall, I will be facilitating Leadership Lab, a nine-month online leadership course for emerging, developing or seasoned Christian leaders in a local church setting. After a year of editing and testing the material, it’s now ready to go. Pray as we launch this new initiative with two cohorts this fall. You can learn more at: serge.org/leadership-lab

    “Grace at the fray” describes my need to a “T.” I desperately need your prayers. If any of you would like to receive the update/prayer letter I send out a few times a year, just let me know. I remain so very grateful for the Cornerstone Session’s readiness to allow me this time to serve beyond the walls of the church I love.

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 18, 2023

Dear Cornerstone family,

On the behalf of your commissioners––Ron Moffat, Jim Payne, Tony Giles, and yours truly–– thank you for praying as we served this week at the PCA General Assembly in Memphis, TN. The Lord heard your prayers! The business was conducted decently and in order, the doctrinal commitments of our denomination were upheld, and a warm spirit of collegiality was enjoyed by elders and pastors alike. It was a wonderful week of spiritual encouragement and God- honoring business.

This year was the 50th anniversary of the PCA, our Golden Jubilee year. In the Scripture, the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25) was a year of recognizing God’s favor and celebrating God’s grace. Appropriately, at this year’s GA we spent time rehearsing our denominational history and giving testimony to God’s faithfulness to the PCA over the last fifty years. My heart is full of thanksgiving for the PCA and its enduring commitment to Scriptures, the Reformed Faith, and the Great Commission.

Now, speaking of the Great Commission, I am delighted this morning to welcome Rev. Andy Young, a Cornerstone supported missionary/church planter, to the Cornerstone pulpit. Andy is ordained with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales and is the Pastor of Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian

Church in Oxford, England. Andy has been married to Davina for 20 years and together have four wonderful daughters: Alicia (17), Emelia (15), Beatrice (13), and Arabella (8). By his own admission, Andy loves people, books and all sports. Coffee is addicted to him (not the other way around). And, as a native Welshman, Andy has, sadly, been consistently overlooked by the Welsh Rugby Union for selection to the national team. J

Andy is a gifted preacher, a faithful minister, and a dear friend. Last summer I had the privilege to spend a day with Andy in Oxford and see first-hand the work the Lord is doing through Andy and Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church. I am deeply grateful for his willingness to serve God’s Word to us today, and I am thrilled that you have an opportunity to sit under his ministry.

Your servant,

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 11, 2023

Dear Cornerstone family,

Next week the national meeting of the Presbyterian Church in America will take place in Memphis, TN. Rev. Tony Giles and yours truly, along with two of our ruling elders, Mr. Ron Moffatt and Mr. Jim Payne, will be attending as commissioners this year.

If this is your first Presbyterian church to be a part of, let me give you a brief—very brief—crash course in Presbyterian government. Historically, there are three ruling bodies, or courts, in Presbyterian polity. First, there is the Session which is the name given for the ruling body of a local church (e.g. the eldership of Cornerstone Pres). Second, there is the presbytery, which is the name given for the ruling body of a particular region. The presbytery is made up of all the teaching elders (pastors) and commissioned ruling elders from each member church in that region (e.g. Nashville Presbytery) Lastly, there is the General Assembly. This is the name given for the ruling body of the entire denomination. It’s made up of all commissioned teaching elders and the prescribed number of ruling elders from every church in the denomination.

Once a year the General Assembly (GA) of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) meets together for worship, discipleship, fellowship, and to conduct the business of the church. Before I attended my first General Assembly (GA) in 2005 as a seminary student, I wondered, “What happens at GA?” For simplicity sake, let me identify four main purposes of the GA.

First, GA is where our denominational organizations and agencies like Mission to the World, Mission to North America, Covenant College, Covenant Theological Seminary, Reformed University Fellowship, etc. meet yearly with pastor and elder representatives to submit budgets, make personnel changes, give reports on ministry health, and address other pertinent matters of business relating to their organization or agency.

Second, GA is a time for pastors and elders to receive ongoing education and training for the work of ministry. Every year there are dozens of seminars led by ministers, counselors, and scholars on a vast array of theological, historical, and practical subjects. (Our own Nancy Guthrie will be speaking at a couple of women’s events at GA this year!)

Third, GA is also a time for the whole denomination to come together for worship and fellowship. Each day’s session of GA is closed with a worship service, and the breakfast, lunch, and dinner slots are reserved for organized and casual opportunities for pastors and elders to spend time together in fellowship.

Fourth, the leading purpose of the GA is to address mission critical denominational matters of business. This includes, but is not limited to, matters of theological, cultural, and ecclesiastical importance to the denomination and its churches. As always, there are a number of significant matters of business facing the GA this year.

As per usual, I will pull together a brief summary of highpoints and key actions within a week or two of GA. In the meantime, if you have interest in learning more about the business of GA, please visit pcaga.org and click through the GA Overtures links. Most importantly, please take time to lift up the commissioners of GA and the PCA specifically this week. May all that is done bring glory to God (Heb. 10:22; 1 Cor. 10:31)!

Your servant,

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 4, 2023

Dear Cornerstone family,

We explored the richness of Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts last week in worship. Following the message, a number of you asked questions about how to identify spiritual gifts. As I pondered your excellent questions, several practical instructions came to mind.

First, pray for wisdom and guidance. Since the Lord is the gracious giver of all spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:7), it makes sense that we would seek His face for clarity regarding our spiritual gifts. I can’t tell you the times where I’ve been confused or perplexed about this or that, and, then, as a last-ditch effort, I will (finally) give concentrated time in prayer to the matter and, lo and behold, clarity comes. If you’re unsure as to the gifts God has given to you, or you would like to have greater clarity on how to best invest the gift God has given, start with prayer (Matthew 7:7- 11).

Second, give an honest assessment of your gifts, aptitudes, and abilities. Pay attention to what the Lord has given you a desire to do. Consider the kinds of things people come to you for. Reflect on the ways people look to you for direction and help. Note where you seem to make an impact. But do all this honestly. We have a remarkable ability to be deceived, don’t we? We’ve all had that roommate who sings in the shower and thinks himself to be the next big discovery on American Idol while everyone within earshot is cringing as if fingernails are being applied to a chalkboard. Involve people––preferably wise, godly people––who you know and trust to weigh in on what they see in you. I have found that doing this guards against the tendency to either exaggerate or dismiss gifts while laying foundations for an honest assessment of your gifts (Proverbs 11:14).

Third, look for opportunities to serve, and serve. It is interesting that the New Testament speaks of gifts often but spends almost no direction in how to find or identify your spiritual gift. A question more in keeping with the New Testament’s instruction regarding spiritual gifts would be, “Where is the need, and how can you best serve to meet it?” Studying and analyzing gifts will only get you so far. Ultimately, you must enter into the work of service and let clarity regarding spiritual gifts naturally emerge. You see it’s not musing about gifts, but, rather, active participation of service where clarity regarding spiritual gifts is revealed.

Your servant,

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 28, 2023

Dear Cornerstone family,

As you can tell, renovations continued this week. Those heart pine floors you see were hiding out underneath the carpet. Once we saw how beautiful they are and considered the rich history of worship in the chapel, we simply couldn’t cover them back up. So, next week the hardwood underneath the pews will be refinished while the aisles, entrance ways, and the floor upfront around the platform will be recarpeted. I can’t wait to see the finished project!

During the Sunday School hour today, we are enjoying a church-wide coffee and donut fellowship on the church yard and at 203 3rd Avenue South. That’s right, it’s an open house! Please make your way safely across the street and take a gander at the new building.

As we near the end of our budget year (June 30), there will be several staff changes taking place. Let me briefly tell you about a few staff changes taking place in June.

Maxwill Shell and Kelley Crampton

·      Miss Kelley Crampton (soon to be Shell) was hired as a Youth Ministry Assistant (starting June 1). She will be discipling our junior and senior high female students and provide added support to the youth ministry as a whole. In addition, Kelley will be our next Administrative Assistant for Discipleship (starting July 15), a role currently occupied by Mrs. Martha Brooks. Martha has done a fabulous job in this role, but this transition will free up some of her time to focus on women’s ministry and her family, which is where her gifts are best served, and her greatest sense of call resides. We are excited to see Kelley’s gifts deployed in these two roles.

·      Mr. Maxwill Shell was rehired as Worship and Music Assistant (starting June 1). Max was a Worship and Music Intern this last year, but upon completing his internship and graduating from college, his title changed to match this slightly expanded role. We are delighted to have Max for another year on staff.

Noah Aikens

·      Mr. Noah Aikens has served as a Worship and Music Intern for three years. He completes his internship on May 31, 2023. Noah has served Cornerstone faithfully, and we are going to miss his presence on staff. Thankfully, Noah isn’t going anywhere right away. Noah will remain at Cornerstone this next year as he finishes his studies at New College Franklin.

Ethan Vroom

 ·      Mr. Ethan Vroom was rehired as Pastoral Assistant (starting June 5). Ethan has been a Pastoral Intern for two years at Cornerstone. Upon completing his internship and graduating from college, his title changed to match his slightly expanded role. We are grateful to have one more year with Ethan on staff.

Simply put, the Cornerstone staff is the best. They are selfless and hard working. They are creative and steady. They are tremendously gifted. I’m always learning from them! It’s a joy to be partnered up with them in the work of the gospel.