Love All

It all boils down to love. Love from a savior. Love to a neighbor in need. By spending just a little less on gifts we free up our resources to love as Jesus loves by giving to those who really need help. This is the conspiracy three churches began a few years ago, and has since grown to an international movement where thousands of churches have raised millions of dollars to love others in life-changing ways.

Here is just one way in which we can love others:

Living Water International

Since its beginning, Advent Conspiracy has felt called to help Living Water International in its efforts to end the clean water crisis. With more than a billion people lacking access to clean water and sanitation, the need to support those who are bringing new hope to these communities is both apparent and critical. Because of people like you who have entered into the conspiracy, millions of dollars have been donated to drill wells all around the world. For more information on how you, your family and your church can get involved, visit LWI's website today.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

Joy! Joy! Joy!

That's what we'll be sharing this Sunday at Cornerstone MCC! Just as peace descended upon us last Sunday, we can expect joy to fill us on this third week of Advent. In addition to celebrating the joy that flowed in and out of Mary when she learned she would be the mother of Jesus, our hearts will rejoice as we enjoy a live production of "The Birth of Baby Jesus" by our children and youth.

Holiday are hard for many people. If that's you, then Joy! Joy! Joy! may be the last thing you want to experience. Yet it may be the very thing you need. So if you're willing to give it a try and invest an hour or two of your time, I am confident you will be blessed. If you don't struggle with the holiday season, look around and reach out to someone who does and invite them to join you at church. It can be as easy as posting this newsletter to your social media or forwarding it to specific people.

The theme of Advent Conspiracy this week is "Give More" and it has nothing to do with money! The best Christmas gifts are "relational gifts" and they cost little or nothing financially. You can spend less and give more this Christmas. And in so doing, you and your loved ones will experience great joy! I hope to see you Sunday at 10:45am. The gift of your presence will bring me and others great joy.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

Christmas on a Budget

Not many people like budgets, especially at Christmas. After all, God gave us the greatest gift in sending Jesus to the world, therefore we should buy the greatest gifts we can. NOT! God's gift to us in Jesus is hope, peace, joy and love. Buying presents for self and others has little, if anything to do with giving like God gives.

 

Think about it for a few moments...hope, peace, joy and love cannot be purchased...they are received, enjoyed and are to be shared. Much like a young child prefers the box the gift was in, people prefer us rather than the gifts we buy....even our children once they experience the difference.

 

Jesus said we would know the truth and it would set us free. I experience this in my life time after time. The truth is that the gift of Jesus changes us, and invites us to help change the world. Giving gifts we can't afford, and that people often do not need or want, does little if anything to change our world.

 

This Sunday we'll focus on setting a Christmas budget so that we spend less. The following week we'll focus on giving more at Christmas. Those two priorities go hand in hand. We can spend less, give more, and turn Christmas upside down so it's all about Jesus again.

 

I invite you to join us as we seek to All Come Together for Christmas. You will be blessed. As an act of outreach, consider sharing this with your friends. That's a priceless gift that may just change someone's world.

 

The December Board of Director's meeting has been changed due to scheduling conflicts. The BOD will meet this Sunday at 1:00pm to consider the Proposed Budget for 2013. Once approved by the BOD, the budget will be presented to the congregation for approval at the Annual Congregational Meeting on January 20 at 1:00pm.

 

Looking for an Opportunity to Serve? We will be electing three members for the Board of Director's in January: 1 one year term and 2 two year terms. Click on these links for information concerning the BOD responsibilities and a BOD application or pick-up this information at church on Sunday. The deadline for submitting is Sunday, December 30. Is God calling YOU?

 

Sleep Apnea? In need of a machine and supplies? Contact Rev Sandy.

 

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

 

Advent - Preparing for Christmas

We begin a new church year this Sunday and we are asking everyone who calls Cornerstone MCC home to come together for the holidays. This is a time of new beginnings and we will be more liturgical in our worship services. The church is being decorated, the choir is getting their robes ready and I am excited about wearing my new vestments.

Our theme this Sunday is "Worship Fully" and we have invited a guest ministry to come and help us do just that. Christmas is not to be about shopping and giving gifts to one another, Christmas is about worshiping and giving to others in Jesus name. 

We invite you to turn your Christmas upside down and refrain from what the world has made Christmas to be, and to take this holiday back for Jesus. Some of us will not be buying gifts and will take the money we usually spend at Christmas and give it to help provide clean drinking water to people around the world.

Realizing that not everyone is ready for such a bold change, we will also have the "Come to the Manger" drive in which we ask those who are buying presents for themselves and others, to give to the church the amount equal to your most expensive purchase. 

One of the joys of MCC is providing choices. All I ask is that you pray about which one God would have you do this year and then give with joy in your heart. Please mark your donations as either "Water" or "Manger".  And remember, this is in addition to your regular tithes and offering. Think of it as a birthday gift to Jesus. I hope to see you Sunday at 10:45am as we worship fully this first Sunday of Advent.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

The Joy of Giving Your Truth

At this season of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for so many things, especially the knowledge of the truth of God's love for all people. Like MCC, that truth is still a well kept secret. God is calling us to help change that. It may not be your family, your friends, or even a co-worker, but God has someone, somewhere, that needs you to share the truth of God's love for them.

Pay attention to those around you this week and look for someone who needs to hear those comforting words, "God love you!" Then share that truth and just smile. Joy will enter your heart and theirs. You cannot be a blessing without also receiving one. Try it and see.

This Sunday we will complete our annual stewardship campaign and bless the pledge cards. Be sure to complete yours and bring it to church with you this weekend. And if you're one of those people who believe that your giving is between you and God only, go ahead and make a pledge and omit your personal information. Let us all join together and experience the joys of giving of our time, talent, treasure and truth.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

What Does Your Heart Desire?

Jesus said, "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." There is a connection between the heart and money. Maybe that's why Jesus talked more about love and money than any other subjects. So what is the desire of your heart? You can track your spending and you will know without a doubt!

If God is your hearts desire, then you will be faithful in giving your tithes and offerings to God. It's just that simple. Through your giving to God at Cornerstone MCC, you are an active participant in the good things God is doing at our church. People are coming to know the truth of God's love for them, people are experiencing living in Christian community, people are accepted, loved and connected, people are using their gifts and talents to God's honor and glory, the gospel is going forth and you are investing in the building of God's kingdom.

Are any of those the desire of your heart? If so, we invite you to make a pledge to tithe in the New Year and experience The Joy of Giving Your Treasure. Join the happiest group of people in church, those who's hearts desire God and give of their tithes and offerings to express it.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

You Got Talent!

A talent like this was used as a unit of weight or money. It's easy to think the parable of the talents is about money. But the way Jesus used the word; it seemed to go beyond anything monetary and into something spiritual.

Stewardship drives that go beyond money often ask us to give our talent to God. And Cornerstone MCC is no different. But before we ask you to share your talent, be reminded that the talent you have is because God has invested that talent in you. The things you do well and enjoy doing, you are able to do because God invested in you. That means God believes in you and your talent. And God seeks a return on that investment. Join us Sunday as we celebrate The Joy of Giving Talent.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader