Pastoral Notes for Sunday, August 18, 2024

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Today we welcome Dr. Derek Thomas to the Cornerstone pulpit. Dr. Thomas is a native of Wales. He is the Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary and the recently retired Senior Minister at First Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Columbia, SC. 

Before his ministry in Columbia, Dr. Thomas served as the Chairman of the Theology Department at Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson, MS), the Minister of Teaching at First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Jackson, MS, and the Robert Strong Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (Atlanta, GA).

While I was a student at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, I had the privilege of studying with Dr. Thomas. I had the further privilege of serving alongside him on staff at First Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Thomas is a prolific author with more than twenty books to his name, including Praying the Savior’s Way, Strength for the Weary, and Heaven on Earth: What the Bible Teaches about the Life to Come. At our staff meetings this fall, we are reading his excellent work on Romans 8 entitled, How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home. You will find copies of these books on the Cornerstone Bookshelf in the Fellowship Hall this morning.

Dr. Thomas and his wife, Rosemary (a big Atlanta Braves fan), have two grown children and two grandchildren, as well as two dogs named Luther and Gracie-Spangles, and a somewhat dysfunctional cat named Chloe. Dr. Thomas is passionate about classical music and opera. Ask him about Wagner and the Ring Cycle if you get the chance.  

Before I go, several of you queried this week, “How long before season two of our church podcast, Life at the Corner, releases?” I’m pleased to say, the wait is over. Bright and early tomorrow morning the first episode of season two will drop!

If you are not already a Life at the Corner listener, go to wherever you listen to podcasts (Spotify, Apple, etc.) and subscribe to the Life at the Corner podcast. Episodes range from 20-30 minutes, which means you’ll be able to take in a full episode during your morning run or on your commute to school or work.

Over the course of the fall, yours truly will explore a number of important biblical, theological, and cultural matters. I’ll also engage in scintillating discussion and ridiculous banter with a number of surprise guests. So, tell your friends and neighbors and tune in tomorrow and every Monday this fall.

Your servant,

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, August 11, 2024

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Welcome to Lord’s Day worship services! Today is Promotion Sunday. This is the one Sunday of the year where our children and youth students are “promoted” to their new Sunday School class and have the opportunity to meet their new teachers and be introduced to what they will learn this year in Sunday School. Needless to say, children’s ministry volunteers have been working all week preparing Sunday school classrooms and planning for a great fall semester.

As a guide to parents of children and to help all of us pray for Sunday School teachers and assistants, our Children’s Director, Meredith Suits, supplied me with the important information below about each children’s Sunday school class.

Our preschool 3s class, led by Joe and Joy Marlo and Faith Crampton, will read stories from the Old Testament this year, as well as singing songs together and memorizing Scripture. Our seasoned preschool leaders have a great weekly routine established for this class. They will meet in room 205.

Our preschool 4s class, led by Ronda Laventure and Teresa Whittaker, will use a Show Me Jesus curriculum called “Serving the Savior,” a series of lessons on the book of Acts. We are adding this 4s class to our Sunday school programming because we have so many sweet preschoolers signed up for Sunday school this year. They will meet in room 204.

Our early and middle elementary classes, led by Alli Faulk, Carl Ware, Sarah Bingham, and Julie Finch, will be using The Biggest Story curriculum again this year. Our teachers really enjoyed using this new curriculum last year! The K/1st grade and 2nd/3rd grade classes will be on the 3rd floor in rooms 301 and 302. 

The upper elementary classes, led by Matt O’Roark, Sean Kelley, Dave Raymond, and Sabrina Brewer, will be continuing with the curriculums we have used the last few years. Matt and Sean will lead the 4th and 5th graders through a study of the Ten Commandments using the Show Me Jesus curriculum. They will meet in room 303. Dave and Sabrina will lead our capstone Sunday school class for the 6th graders using the New City Catechism. This is always a favorite for our oldest kids who are ready to address deeper theological questions. They will meet at The Corner House. 

On the youth side of things, Drew Abercrombie and the youth team will be exploring the Old Testament in a series entitled, The Story of Redemption: Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament. Leaning on the interpretive principle of Luke 24:44, the youth will study the major movements in God’s plan of salvation with a focus on how all of God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

For questions related to children’s ministry, don’t hesitate to contact Meredith Suits (865-250-3579; elementary@cstonepres.org). For questions related to youth ministry, please reach out to Drew Abercrombie (407-489-1724; drew@cstonepres.org).

Last but not least, while children and youth are in Sunday School, all adult communing members will gather today in the chapel for an officer election. If you are a communing member of Cornerstone, please make plans to participate in today’s election.

Your servant,

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, August 4, 2024

Dear Cornerstone Family,

In case you missed the announcement two weeks ago, Sebastian Bjernegård, our new Assistant Pastor candidate, his wife, Ainsley, and their two children, Theo and Felicity, have landed on middle Tennessee soil. In between our two services today, please join me for a Q&A with Sebastian as we formally welcome the Bjernegårds to Cornerstone. 

Looking ahead, the next three weeks at Cornerstone are special Sundays. Next Sunday, August 11, is promotion Sunday for our Sunday School ministries. Children of all ages will make their way to their new classes as we focus in worship on the importance of discipleship for every age and stage. In addition, we will conduct an important Officer Election in the chapel during the Sunday School hour. All communing members of Cornerstone are strongly encouraged to participate in the election. Please pray for our elder candidates, Mr. Sean Kelley and Mr. William Tice, and our deacon candidates, Mr. Matt Michaud and Mr. Carl Ware, as they look for the confirmation of the Lord’s call to officership through the election.

The following Sunday, August 18, we’ll have the distinct privilege of sitting under the ministry of Dr. Derek Thomas. Many of you will have benefited from Dr. Thomas’s preaching and writing ministry. Dr. Thomas recently retired as the Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. He is a teaching fellow with Ligonier Ministries and a Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology with Reformed Theological Seminary. In addition to his teaching ministry, Dr. Thomas is a regular contributor toTabletalk magazine and Banner of Truth, and he is the author of more than twenty books.

Finally, if the officer candidates are sustained in the election on August 11, we will conduct an officer ordination and installation worship service on Sunday, August 25. This is a special service wherein officer candidates make vows of service, receive the laying on of hands, and enter formally into the work of officership. We will take time that Sunday to be challenged by the Scripture’s teaching on officers as shepherds of the flock of God. We will also conduct a Cornerstone Family Meeting during the Sunday School hour to give an end of the fiscal year report and present the 2024-2025 budget. 

Please be sure these important dates are on your calendar, so you can fully participate in the ministry. Moreover, pray fervently for the effectiveness of the church’s ministry throughout the busy month of August. “Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

May God be glorified in all we do!

Your servant,

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, July 28, 2024

Dear Cornerstone Family,

The Shurdens are enjoying some vacation time away as a family this week. We look forward to being back with the Cornerstone family next week. For today’s Pastoral Notes, I’ve asked Greg Wilbur to talk about the ways in which folks in the congregation can serve Cornerstone by volunteering and participating in the music and media ministries of the church—not only on regular Sunday mornings, but also for special services and other opportunities.

One of the great honors and pleasures in my life is the opportunity to assist in planning and leading worship at Cornerstone. I love our church, the leadership, and the families of the congregation. Part of that joy is the privilege to work with a host of volunteers in the music and media ministries of the church.

Each Sunday, the volunteer players and singers gather at 7:00 a.m. to run through the music and prepare for the services. At the same time, others are setting up the sound system, video cameras, and livestream. These tasks are beautiful ways to serve the congregation and support the work and worship of the Church.

Part of the joy of leading the music at Cornerstone is the opportunity to work with seasoned musicians as well as those who are growing in their musicianship and desire to serve. Our calling is to serve the Body with the gifts that God has given us. Part of that calling is to equip players and singers to continue to lead in worship for years to come. For Sunday mornings, we need a larger rotation of singers and instrumentalists of all kinds. (Contact: Maxwill Shell at max@cstonepres.org)

In addition to playing or singing on Sundays, the seasonal choir will start rehearsals in mid-September to prepare for a combined Reformation Service in late October with other churches in our presbytery, the Christmas Concert in early December, and the annual Lessons and Carols service. Choir is a wonderful time to meet other folks in the church, fellowship, and sing beautiful music. Singing together unites our voices and our hearts as one. You don’t have to be a trained singer or necessarily read music. For instrumentalists, these same services provide an opportunity play as part of a chamber ensemble. It would be great to add more singers and players to these choral services. (Contact: Greg Wilbur at greg@cstonepres.org)

The needs for the media teams are similar—a knowledge or proclivity towards sound or video is helpful, but not necessary. Everett Vencel and Jay Palm are happy to train people on the equipment and prepare them for serving in this area. There are weekly needs as well as needs for special services, concerts, and other church events, so if you have any inclination towards one of these areas and are not already serving within the body please reach out to us (Sound contact: Everett Vencel at everett@cstonepres.org, or Video contact: Jay Palm at jlpalm2@att.net). We would all be glad to talk to you, explain the roles, and have you serve the needs of the Body on Sunday mornings.

Your servant,

Greg Wilbur

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, July 21, 2024

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Over the years, the Lord has graciously supplied Cornerstone with a steady stream of young men and women interested in pursuing ministry vocationally. To help identify calling to ministry and assess aptitude for ministry, we started an intern program nearly ten years ago. Our interns are provided opportunities to study with pastors and ministry leaders, observe the work of the church from the inside, and gain practical ministry experience through serving in the church.

As the Lord would have it, most of our interns move on to pursue additional seminary level education in view to becoming pastors, missionaries, educators, and counselors. As a support to our interns, the church partners with interns financially by helping alleviate a portion (typically one-third) of the seminary tuition and book costs each year.

However, we have noticed over the years that students often need additional support while in seminary. There are number of reasons why additional support may be needed. A student may have an emergency (medical procedure, vehicle repair, etc.) incurring significant costs beyond what they are able to provide. A student may lose a job while in seminary and be without pay for a few weeks or months. A student may be from another country and limited by their visa as to where and how much they can work. In situations like these, which are real life situations former Cornerstone interns have faced, students are often left with one of two options: accumulate significant debt or consider taking a break from seminary to help replenish resources.

Recognizing this challenge, the Finance Committee has established a new Seminary Student Support Fund to help further support former interns of Cornerstone who are answering a call to vocational ministry and enrolled in seminary education. This fund is designed to be a support fund for former Cornerstone interns who are pursuing vocational ministry and are enrolled in seminary. The application process, approval, and disbursements from the Seminary Student Support Fund will be overseen by the Missions Committee. Only students who were interns of Cornerstone and are pursuing vocational ministry are eligible to receive help from the Seminary Student Support Fund.

Over and above your normal regular giving to Cornerstone, please consider a gift to this special fund. When you give, simply designate your gift for the Seminary Student Support Fund. If you have any questions about the fund, please contact our Mission’s Committee chairman, Mr. John Millard, at johnfrancmillard@gmail.com.

Your servant,