Newsletter November 15, 2024
Newsletter | November 15, 2024
Dear Church Family and Friends,
The Lord is blessing our church family with growth. This Sunday we will welcome many new members to our church family. Please join me in welcoming them, praying for them, and getting to know our new family members.
Along with church growth comes the need for additional elders and deacons to serve the body of Christ at Cornerstone. This Sunday we will begin the process of nominating new officers to potentially serve at Cornerstone. I wanted to give you a heads-up on this process as you will hear an explanation from the pulpit over the next serval weeks and there will be a brochure that is available in the narthex of the church.
Beginning this Sunday, November 17, nominations will be open. During this time, members of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church may nominate any man in the church who has been a member for at least one year. You may nominate someone for office by submitting a nomination form to the church office or by filling out a form on Sunday morning and placing it in the offering plate or handing it to a church officer. Nominations will be open until December 31.
At the beginning of the new year, the Session will then begin to meet with all nominees to determine if they are qualified and called to serve as an officer at Cornerstone. After this initial interview, if a man is qualified and called, the Session will then invite the nominee to participate in an officer training course over the spring semester. Upon completion of the course, the nominee will be tested and examined by the Session for their readiness to serve. If a man is found to be ready, the Session will then put the candidate before the congregation for election. We anticipate this taking place later in fall 2025. A man is elected to office by the congregation by a simple majority vote. There is no set number of elder and deacon positions we are hoping to fill. We simply want all the men that the Lord calls and sees fit to serve.
I also wanted to remind you that you are nominating a man for office and not specifically as an elder or deacon. The Session will meet with the nominee and at the end of the training to consult with the nominee to determine which office he may be called to and where his gifts may lead him.
This is an exciting yet humbling time. Please pray for God to raise up men to serve and pray that the Holy Spirit would guard them, protect them and their families, grow them, strengthen them, and give them the grace to take up their calling. Pray also for your Session as they interview, train, and examine these men.
As you prepare for this time, let me encourage you to listen to some sermons on biblical leadership that were given at Cornerstone some years back. Please listen in preparation:
Responding to Leadership
The Deacon
The Elder
See you Sunday!
by His grace and to His praise,
Pastor Wilson
Wilson’s Weekly
Pastor Wilson does not personally endorse everything said or written in these links but hopes these articles and/or podcasts will be helpful for Christians in cultivating a biblical worldview.
A great devotional podcast: Simply Put
Preparation for Worship
November 17, 2024
This Sunday's Sermon:
“The Sermon on the Mount: Loving the Law of Christ”
Matthew 5:17-20
Cornerstone Prayer Requests
Pray for church members caring for family - Diana Akridge, Susan Dupré, Kyle Mosier, Randy Petcher, and Mike and Carol Wellfare.
Pray for healing - Bob Cassis, Rick Dillon, Suzi and Bill Bolton, Dawn Chenault, Earl Myers, Phil Freeze, Tim and Gayle Ricks, Ruby Petcher, Marc Goldmon, Diane Brown, Jon Wren, and those sick and suffering.
Pray for our homebound friends - Ruby Petcher and Betty Baldwin.
Pray for our expectant mothers - Lauren Durr (November), Kerry McMillan (January), Bre Sullivan (February), Abigail Wood (February), Ashley Colette (March), Abby Junen (April), the Kawell family (adoption), and the Barkley family (foster).
Continue to pray for recovery efforts in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas.
Pray for our Missional Partnerships - Faith Community Church (formerly Southside), Huntsville, AL (Rev. Adam Venable) and Grace Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Albertville, AL (Rev. Jackie Gaston).
Announcements
Church-Wide Fellowship Meal - This Sunday at noon in the FLC.
The November Games - Junior and Senior High students, join us next Wednesday, November 20 from 5:30-8 pm in the FLC for our annual team game night. Dinner will be provided. Bring a friend!
Christmas Giving Announcement - This year, Cornerstone is collecting financial donations for Sacred Road Ministries and partnering with The Forgotten Initiative to provide Christmas gifts for children in foster care locally. A tree is set up in the Gathering Room with tags, each indicating a short wish list from different children in care. Feel free to pull a tag, buy and wrap the presents, and place them under the tree!
Foster Care Christmas Gifts - We are overwhelmed by the generosity of Cornerstone’s members! Most of our Christmas tree tags have been pulled from the tree in the Gathering Room! The remaining few tags contain some high-dollar items. If you’d like to contribute, please consider going in with a few other people to buy a gift. Contact Kathy Slaten with any questions: kathys@theforgotteninitiative.org.
Service Opportunity - The Forgotten Initiative will be hosting a Christmas brunch for social workers at Madison County DHR on Friday, December 6. We would love to have your help! Please contact Kathy Slaten at kathys@theforgotteninitiative.org.
Cornerstone College Exam Box Signups 2024 - Please help us fill encouraging boxes for our Cornerstone college students as they prepare for exams! Use the signup link below and bring your donated items to the church by Wednesday, November 20. There will be a collection box/area available in the Gathering Room labeled "College Exam Box". Please hand any gift cards directly to Betsy, Heidi, or Elizabeth. For more information and to sign up for an item to donate, please click here.
Advent Sermon Series - The Glory of God in the Incarnation (The Incarnation in Hebrews). Begins Sunday, December 1.
Advent Devotions Available - Free advent resources are now available in the Gathering Room.
Officer Nominations - Cornerstone members will have the opportunity to nominate men for church office from November 17 to December 31. Please pick up a nomination brochure in the lobby and place it in the offering plate or give to a church officer.
Hurricane Helene Donation Information - To donate to affected churches, you can give to our benevolence fund or directly to MNA Disaster Response here.
This Sunday, we will be welcoming our newest Cornerstone members! Interested in becoming a member? Check the bulletin for the next New Members Class (offered throughout the year). For more information, please contact office@cornerstonehuntsville.org.
Free advent resources are now available in the Gathering Room. Feel free to check out the spread and take a book!
Help Wanted! We are hiring a full-time Communications Assistant. We are looking for a good fit in someone who is computer-savvy, has an eye for graphic design, and possesses an attention to detail.
Missions Moment
Each week we want to highlight one of our missional partnerships. Please take a moment to learn about these wonderful ministries that Cornerstone has the privilege of serving alongside.
This week's highlighted ministries:
Faith Community Church (formerly Southside), Huntsville, AL (Rev. Adam Venable)
The Mission of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church is to be a community of Christ's followers who worship, grow, and serve together to glorify God in Huntsville and throughout the world.
Please contact the church office by Thursday for changes or additions to prayer requests.
The Cornerstone Newsletter is a weekly publication emailed each Friday. To notify the church office of church members in the hospital or of births and deaths, or if you have a change of address or name, please contact office@cornerstonehuntsville.org or 256-489-4625.
1413 McClung Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801
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