January 29, 2016

The Most Excellent Way

Sunday will be the last sermon I preach as the Pastor of Cornerstone MCC. I have given much thought as to what I would like it to be. I have prayed and asked what God would have it to be. And I came up empty. So I decided to do what I did for the first sermon I preached in Corpus Christi twenty-one years ago - I consulted the lectionary. And as God would have it, I'm preaching from I Corinthians 13, one of my favorite text. 

Most of us live good or very good lives and God is calling us to strive for a more excellent way of living and serving. It is the way of love. In our culture we think we fall in and out of love as fate dictates. But in God's truth, we have control and the power to choose love. I'm not suggesting that love is easy, but I do believe love is worth the effort. I also believe that the more you love, the easier it becomes.

Join us Sunday as we seek to learn more of the most excellent way - the way of love.

Rev Sandy, Pastor

January 20, 2016

Relationships Make the Church

I think we can all agree that relationships are hard and require work. We get to choose most of our relationships. But when it comes to the church, we are called to live in relationships with each other and to build relationships with new people as they enter the church. To quote Rev Elder Don Eastman, "People come to church for many reason; they stay for the relationships they form." I have found this to be true.

This Sunday we will examine what makes for healthy and holy relationships. As the church goes through the transition of pastoral leadership, relationships within the church are especially important. My last two sermons as your Pastor will give you an opportunity to focus on what Jesus said matters most - loving relationships. They make the church. And they will sustain the church during and beyond this time of change.

I cherish the time we have left together and hope to see you Sunday.

Rev Sandy, Pastor

January 17, 2016

Ready or Not, New Beginnings Arrive

We complete our New Beginnings series this week and I have found it helpful for life and also for my fast approaching retirement from ministry with MCC. Some new beginnings are planned and some take us by surprise. Either way, the door is always open and when we walk through it we find that God has gone before us and paved the way.

Our services this year have been awesome and powerful and I anticipate another time of sweet anointing this Sunday. I know it's a busy weekend with a number of MG Balls, but I hope that won't be an obstacle to the blessing that awaits you at Cornerstone MCC. We also have our annual meeting at 1:00pm. As I said to the members last Sunday, even if you can't make it to church, be sure to make the meeting.

Are you ready for your new beginning? Behold, God is making all things new....including me and you! I hope to see you Sunday.

Rev Sandy, Pastor

January 6, 2016

Forget It!

In the first chapter of first Corinthians we are told that God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. Last week I preached on remembering and this week is on forgetting. The truth is they go hand in hand and both are important parts of preparing for new beginnings. There is a time and place for everything and the trick is to know when and what to remember and forget.
What an awesome time of worship we enjoyed last Sunday. If you missed it you can watch in online. I believe some of our best times of worship together will be this month. God is preparing us for new beginnings so come and be blessed! And bring someone with you.

Rev Sandy, Pastor