Living Disconnected Isn't Living at All

Last Sunday's worship service was energized, the food was delicious the Talent Show was fun! Thanks to Venus, the Clown, the Face-Painter, and everyone who performed in the show. We are grateful that so many of our children participated. We made $300.00 for the church and it was an awesome day!

This Sunday, September 2, we'll be kicking off our new small group ministry. In conjunction with this I will be doing a sermon series "A Place to Belong" as we promote our Growth Groups. We will bless the coordinator and group leaders in worship and you can sign-up for our Fall Growth Groups before and after services. You will also have available a link to sign-up for a group on our web site, Face book, and this newsletter. I am so excited!

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

An Unstoppable Church

Sunday we will complete our journey through the book of Acts by celebrating the good news that the church of Jesus Christ can not be stopped! We can be encouraged to carry on no matter what comes our way, knowing that we labor not in vain. The investment we make into the church yields results we can see now and into eternity. Isn't it amazing that God invites us to invest in something that is unstoppable, something that cannot fail, something that lives on long after we are gone?

 

We invite you to be a part of God's blessing at Cornerstone MCC. Other than my first Sunday here, when many of my loved ones joined us, we set a new record Sunday with 123 people in church - and on a rainy day! Keep spreading the good news and be sure to invite someone to join you this Sunday for worship, dinner and our Talent Show. Let's make it a day of celebration!

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

A Reasoning Church

I must admit, until I developed this sermon series I had not heard of this description of the church. But it seems to have been an important part of the first century church. They had a lot of explaining to do and Acts 17:2 tells us that Paul used the scriptures to reason with the people.

Perhaps we need to use that process more in our church. We are such a bright, creative, diverse group of people and at times we have conflicting ideas that arrive on the scene at the same time. Perhaps consulting scripture to seek God's perspective at such times will help us come together in one mind and accord. We might even find out that God's way is better than ours!

We are also called to reason with people who believe the Bible condemns our community. That means we share our understanding of what the Bible says and then allow the Holy Spirit to take it from there. Getting drawn into debates and disagreements concerning the scripture does no one any good.

 

However I am convinced that each of us should be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us. If you need help in that area just let me know. I have a number of resources that I can share with you.

Join us Sunday as we dig deeper into becoming a reasoning church. As always, be sure to invite someone to join you.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

Good News

Not everyone gets excited about good news. Even though that is what the early church was preaching, Paul and Silas found themselves in jail. They could have felt defeated, been angry and resentful....after all, they were doing good...but they did not let their imprisonment cause them to despair. They were praying and singing and trusting in God to take care of that situation. And God did. 

No matter where you find yourself today, you can pray and sing and put your trust in God, for God is taking care of your situation too. How we handle the difficulties of life makes all the difference in the world. Paul and Silas gave witness to this. Many people and their households came to embrace the good news of Jesus because of how they handled themselves.

What about your household? Will they come to believe because of your witness? Or will it add to there belief that faith in Jesus doesn't make a lot of difference in people? The good news is that you get to choose. Think about what others see in you - and may they see less of you and more of the Christ within you.

Join us Sunday as we celebrate the good news of God's love for all people.  Bring someone with you that needs the witness of a good news church...for there in no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

Be at Church on Sunday

Every week I try to write something that will make you want to come to church on Sunday. But even with advance planning and preparation, we never really know what all will happen when we come together in worship.

Last week the service took on a different direction and we had the opportunity to be the caring church God desires us to be. We ministered to at least three new people who had recently been rejected by their churches after years of faithful service. They needed to hear the songs we sang, the prayers we prayed and the words we spoke. They needed to know there's a church that cares for them. That need was met through our welcome, worship and fellowship luncheon.

This Sunday we focus on being an inclusive church. Our text is the account of one of my favorite stories of the New Testament, Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. I wish I could tell you what you'll miss if you're not at Cornerstone this Sunday, but I can't. What I can tell you is that God will be up to something and I hope you're there to enjoy it. Do someone a favor; invite them to join you Sunday so they can be blessed too!

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader