Rest and Renewal

Well I made it to Texas safely, with a day to rest before class begins. Rest is such an important part of our lives, yet often it ends up low on the priority list. One of the joys of my working part-time after 17 years of work, work and more work, I am remembering the benefits of rest. I would like to encourage you to find where rest is on your list and move it up to a higher place. Look at your schedule for this weekend and try to add rest to it.

 

Rest will guide you to a place of renewal. So will being at Cornerstone this Sunday. I can hardly wait! Susie and Linda will be with us for a time of spiritual renewal. Which we all need. I have been preaching every Sunday since February...and you have been faithfully listening lol. So come and sit and soak in this life-giving ministry. You will be blessed. 

Every Sunday is an opportunity to invite and bring someone to church. I invite you to add that to your priorities as well. Let's fill up the pews Sunday!

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

A Teaching Church

The first century church was a teaching church. And we need to be one as well. I am excited to tell you we are creating a new opportunity for spiritual growth at Cornerstone MCC. Instead of small groups, we will have growth groups that follow school semesters with breaks in between. In the Fall we will have a church wide study and in Spring and Summer, groups will choose topics they want to study. 

Jesus said we are to go...and preach...and baptize...and teach. Which reminds me of the christening of baby Jordan on Sunday. Not only did we bless that family, it was an opportunity to learn of that tradition in the Christian faith. With the theological diversity among us, there's always something to teach and learn at MCC.

If you didn't play 5 Words on Sunday, share with me five words that describe worship at Cornerstone MCC. Be sure to join us Sunday as we learn more about the early church and how we can be the church God desires us to be. May we continue to be a growing, healing, bold and teaching church.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

Boldness to do the Right Thing

A growing church and a healing church is also a bold church. Peter was bold to stop and heal the man outside the Gate Beautiful, but that was just the beginning. He was arrested for acting out his faith and doing good. Then he really had to be bold as he went before the court to stand trial. His boldness paid off and he was free to continue his ministry.

When was the last time you got in trouble for doing something good because it challenged the status quo? Did it make you feel bold? Did it free you to continue your ministry?

Join us Sunday as we continue with our journey through the book of Acts and discover what boldness can bring to our church. And think about boldly inviting someone to join you. It may be the nicest things you could do for them - and Cornerstone!

Happy 4th of July. Thank God for the boldness of those who founded the USA. Thank God for the boldness of our military. Join me in praying for that day when we ALL shall be free!

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

 

Healing

Have you ever asked for one thing and been given something even better? That's what happened in our text for Sunday. A man in need of healing asked instead for money. We don't know if he had lost faith in God's ability to heal or if he was hopeless that healing would ever come to him. We just know that he could be found outside the Temple begging for money daily.

And then along come Peter and John. They saw beyond his immediate need for money and offered him healing so he would have to beg no more. No matter what you think you need today, God knows what you really need most, and God longs to meet your need.

The first century church was a healing church and Cornerstone MCC is too. Sometimes healing occurs while sitting in the pew, sometimes at Communion, and other times when you go to a Prayer Partner for prayer. Sometimes it's happens instantaneously, sometimes it is a process, and often healing comes through medicine and doctors. And then sometimes it seems to never come. There’s one thing I know for sure, it happens in God's way and time.

Do you need healing in your body, mind, and/or spirit? I invite you to come to church Sunday open to receive God's best for you, whatever that may be. Invite someone to join you as we celebrate our healing God.

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader

Acting Out

When I hear someone reference "acting out" it usually has a negative connotation relative to unacceptable behavior. While I would like to say it's something that only children do, we all know adults that do it too. When we don't get our way, we act out.  When our feelings are hurt, we act out. When someone does something we don't like, we act out.

Now let's shift gears and think of acting out as a positive behavior. As a people of faith, we are called to act out that which we believe. That's what we'll be focusing on during the weeks of Pentecost. By our actions, we show our faith for all to see. We give witness or testimony to the Christ within us.

How exciting that on Sunday, as we begin this series we will have a baptismal service and new members joining the church! How exciting that the training for our new small group ministry, Circles of Life, has begun! How exciting that attendance and giving continue to increase! How exciting to be the church of Jesus Christ at such a time as this!

Please join us as we look at the early church and learn how we can become the church God desires us to be. Be sure to invite someone to church this week...that is part of acting out your faith.

From Jesus Calling, June 19th, "I am the firm foundation on which you can dance, and sing, and celebrate My Presence. This is my high and holy calling for you; receive it as a precious gift. Glorifying and enjoying Me is a higher priority than maintaining a tidy, structured life. Give up your striving to keep everything under control--an impossible task and a waste of precious energy."

Rev Sandy, Interim Pastoral Leader