Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 25, 2025

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Well, it’s that time again. School is out. Pools are open. Memorial Day is tomorrow. This means one thing: summer is here. Because of that, we’re taking time today to explore the Bible’s teaching on rest. Rest is essential— even commanded. But knowing how to rest––that is, rest well––that’s another thing entirely. My prayer is today’s message will provide a measure of definition and direction for redeeming the down time of summer for good and godly rest. Please join me in that prayer.  

Starting next week, we’ll jump into a topical summer series entitled We Believe: The Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed has been used by the church for centuries to summarize and anchor the church in the most fundamental claims of the Christian faith. Reflective of the apostles teaching, the creed seeks to outline the plotline of the story of God—from creation to redemption, from Christ’s incarnation to the hope of eternal life. Over the summer, we’ll spend time unpacking its rich meaning, line by line, allowing its truth to shape our hearts, deepen our faith, and unite us as a church around the essentials of the gospel.

We Believe: The Apostles Creed

  •  6/1 – The Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

  • 6/8 – God the Father Almighty (Matthew 7:7-11)

  • 6/15 – Jesus Christ’s Life and Death (Mark 1:14-15; 10:35-45)

  • 6/22 – Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension (Acts 1: 6-11; 1 Timothy 3:16)

  • 6/29 – Guest Preacher, Rev. Josh Reiger

  • 7/6 – Judging the Living and the Dead (John 5:19-29)

  • 7/13 – The Holy Catholic Church (Ephesians 4:1-6)

  • 7/20 – The Forgiveness of Sins (Matthew 18:21-35)

  • 7/27 – The Resurrection of the Dead (1 Thes. 4:13-18)

Finally, on a personal note, the session has generously granted me an extended study leave this summer to continue work on my Doctor of Ministry degree. I am in the writing phase (dissertation) of the degree program, and it’s imperative that I make a lot of headway this summer.  

This means I will be out of the office and the pulpit this summer more than at any point in my fifteen years of ministry at Cornerstone. I will be on study leave the first two weeks of June and the whole month of July. While I’m on study leave, I will in large part be unavailable. Thankfully, Rev. Tony Giles has agreed to fill my shoes, and our tremendously capable shepherds are eager to step in and serve in whatever is needed. If you think of it, please pray that this extended time of research and writing will be renewing, fruitful, and pleasing to God.  

Your servant,                                                      

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 18, 2025

Dear Cornerstone Family,  

Whenever we see a need in the body of Christ, we don’t immediately think, “We need to hire someone.” Instead, we look first to God’s people. The reason for that is the Scripture tells us that church leaders and staff aren’t supposed to shoulder the entire ministry. Rather, leaders and staff are to raise up and equip God’s people for the work of ministry (see Ephesians 4:11-16).

Believing that, we rely on the commitment and participation of the Cornerstone membership to serve within the body. This is why we come to you each year to fill scores of volunteer ministry positions. In all our years—I’m pleased to report––you’ve never let us down! More than that, you’ve blessed us in countless ways.

Over the last few months, I’ve had several leaders and members alike relay stories of how teachers, assistants, and nursery workers are making a difference. From comforting a crying child who is new to the nursery, to helping a shy child meet new friends in 4th grade Sunday school, to teaching children the importance of singing on Wednesday nights—God is using you to make a spiritual impact among the “least of these” in our community (Matthew 19:14; 25:45).

Under the leadership of Christy Shurden, Nursery Coordinator, and Meredith Suits, Children’s Coordinator a small army of volunteers have sacrificed their time, energy, and resources to serve our covenant children this year. I want to take a moment today to honor and express thanksgiving for our many teachers, assistants, and nursery workers who have ministered on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights this year. 

As you read through the list of names, take time to mark out how these dear servants may have touched your family. If you haven’t done so already, please consider writing a brief thank you note to those servants who have ministered to your family, letting them know how much their ministry has meant to you. 

With that said, join me in giving thanks for Talula Adams, Randy & Suzann Allen, Barbie Bankes, Tristan Bankes, Martha Brooks, Mary Latta Brown, Hannah Burge, Ashleigh Chapman, Scott & Jordan Chapman, Debbie Coats, Kent Coughlin, Audrey Driskell, LaNita Eby, Lindsey Elliot, Hannah Finch, Betsy Garland, Courtney Garrett, Mary Lynn Giles, Linda Hart, Bethany Holder, Whitney Hunt, Hannah Johnson, Julie Kesler, Kristen Lee, Lucy Lilly, Laurie Mee, Linda Mello, Jessica Michaud, Allison Millard, Emily Mitchell, Celeste Nichols, Rachel O’Roark, Kris Paterson, Joanie Pittman, Tara Ralph, Andrea Roberts, Kelley Shell, Lauren Smith, Bonnie Snyder, Sue Steffens, Emily Tice, Julie Webster, Jennifer Westerbeek, Debbie Whitney, Sophia Wilbur, Joe & Joy Marlo, Faith Crampton, Ronda Laventure, Teresa Whitaker, Alli Faulk, Carl Ware, Sarah Bingham, Julie Finch, Matt & Rachel O’Roark, Sean Kelley, Dave Raymond, Sabrina Brewer, Karen Holland, Matt & Kimbra Johnston, Nic & Kayce Lane, Rebecca Hassee, Katie Ewing, Joanie Pittman, Emily Jebasingh, James Goddard, Kelly Abercrombie, Lori Tice, and Abigail Hicks.

Your servant,                                                                

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 11, 2025

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Last week in our Exploring Cornerstone class, which is our version of a new members class, we took time to unfold our vision as a local church. In a sentence, our vision is “To glorify God in the gospel together as disciples who make disciples.” In that one sentence, you see four commitments:

·      To glorify God in the gospel—Worship
·      To glorify God in the gospel together—Fellowship
·      To glorify God in the gospel together as disciples—Discipleship
·      To glorify God in the gospel together as disciples who make disciples—Missions  

Everything we do as a church fits within these four commitments: worship, fellowship, discipleship, and mission.  

The order — worship, fellowship, discipleship, and mission—is vitally important. The first, primary, and eternal call of the Christian is worship. Evangelism will end. Ministries of mercy will end. But worship will never end. Our eternal chorus will be, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever” (Rev. 5:13).

But, notice, I said, “Our eternal chorus will be...” The emphasis is on our. This isn’t lone ranger worship. This isn’t individual praise. We’re a community of worshippers. We are the body of Christ drawn together in worship of the Lamb. Therefore, our worship is an expression of our fellowship, and our fellowship will only ever be as strong as our worship. As we draw together in worship, the prayer of Jesus is answered, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one” (John 17:21).

Further, our worship and fellowship compel us forward as disciples. Worship and fellowship spills over into followership. That is, we are disciples of Jesus Christ. We are soldiers marching forward to Zion. We are pilgrims traveling to the Celestial City. Having been raise with Christ, we every day “...seek the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of the Father” (Col. 3:1).

Lastly, our worship, fellowship, and discipleship give birth to missions. A Christian can’t keep Christ a secret. It is of the nature of true Christianity to share Christ with others. We long for others to know the saving riches of Jesus Christ and to join us in worship, fellowship, and discipleship.

In a special way over the last few years, we’ve witnessed the power of the gospel at work in worship, fellowship, discipleship, and mission at Cornerstone. Praise the Lord, we are seeing more and more people come to know the Lord and grow in their love and commitment to his church.

As our Ministry Expansion Team gets underway and as we prayerfully seek the Lord’s face in planning our next season in ministry, please join us in prayer that we would walk in peace and not fear, be strengthened with power by the Spirit, and answer with faith and expectation whatever the Lord calls us to do as a church (John 14:13, Eph. 3:14-21, 1 John 5:14).

Your servant,                                                                                                                                               

 

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 4, 2025

Dear Cornerstone Family,  

For the Pastoral Notes today, I’ve asked our Children’s Director, Meredith Suits, to report on our fast-approaching Vacation Bible School on May 27-30. —Nate 

For many students in Franklin, including my own kindergartener and third grader, the countdown to the end of the school year has officially begun, and coinciding with this countdown is the children’s ministry team’s countdown to VBS 2025! We are only three weeks away from our kick-off night, and I have some important details to share and ways you can get involved in this big event in the life of our church.  

This year’s VBS is a combined effort between Cornerstone and our friends just up the road at All Saints Presbyterian Church in Brentwood. We are thrilled to have All Saints kids and volunteers join us this year, and I know they are excited as well. We will also have several families from the community at large participating. I hope you will spend time praying this month not only for the logistics of VBS (and for great weather, since our VBS will be outside at Jim Warren Park!) but also for the hearts of all the children who will attend this VBS. Many will be from homes where their faith is nurtured by Christian parents, but several are coming from homes which don’t attend church regularly. We pray that VBS will be one way God would grow the faith of our covenant children and plant seeds of faith into hearts of children who don’t hear the good news of the gospel at home.  

The theme this year is Masterpiece: Created for a Purpose. We will spend our evenings together talking about God as the master creator of our world and also of people, who are made in his image—masterpieces created anew in Christ (Ephesians 2:10). Laura Coughlin, Sebastian Bjernegård, and Nancy Guthrie will be our devotional speakers for the week. Pray for them as they prepare short devotionals for the children and lead us in the truth.  

Thankfully, we have all the in-person volunteers we currently need for each evening of VBS. This is an answer to prayer; I’m so grateful for a congregation full of people willing to spend every evening one week during May to minister to our children. What a gift!  

Even if you can’t join us in-person for VBS this year there are many other ways to help. You’ll see the QR codes below for our Amazon wish list and a sign-up genius for supplies and snacks. We have some fun crafts, snacks, and games planned for this year, and your contributions will help make this possible.  

Thanks, everyone, for your support and your prayers as we prepare for this week of learning and fellowship.

Sincerely,

Meredith Suits                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Amazon Wish List

Sign Up Genius for Supplies and Snacks

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 27, 2025

Dear Cornerstone Family,  

For the Pastoral Notes this week I’ve asked our dear sister, Liz Taylor, to report on our returning Christianity Explored program. —Nate

 

We are excited to announce that Cornerstone will offer Christianity Explored (CE) Evangelism training on Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m. CE uses the Gospel of Mark to explain Jesus Christ's identity, mission, and call.

You may recall our seven-week CE course that occurred last fall. Before we invited our friends and neighbors, we trained and prayed. In God’s faithfulness, He led us every step of the way. We had about ten consistent attendees, and it was incredible seeing God work in our hearts and in those of our guests. We addressed questions about God’s goodness and the problem of evil, we walked carefully through the Gospel of Mark, and we tried to handle objections to Christianity—specifically the exclusivity of Christ unto salvation. Praise God that He delights to change our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh (Ezekial 36)! 

Being a part of CE was an eye-opening experience to watch the Lord work. We want you to join our 2025 CE Team! We will again train and pray before running our CE course. Below is an overview of our timeline:

  • Train: May 8-9 (5:30-8:30 p.m.) – For Cornerstone members to learn about evangelism and get familiar with CE.

  • Pray: July-August (6:00-7:00 p.m.) – Four prayer meetings for our CE Team to pray for invitees.

  • Run the Course: Seven-Week Course, Tuesday evenings October-November (6:00-7:15 p.m.) – Invite friends and neighbors to explore the identity, mission, and call of Christ through the Gospel of Mark.

So, please join us! We currently need help with hospitality (coordinating food/snacks and welcoming attendees). CE training is a valuable resource both inside and outside the church. We serve a God who delights in saving sinners (Micah 7:18-19). 

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at etaylor78@icloud.com or (615) 424-5946.

Liz Taylor