Newsletter December 13, 2024
Newsletter | December 13, 2024
Dear Church Family and Friends,
As we close out 2024, we have much to celebrate and many reasons to give thanks to the Lord! "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17 ESV)
I want to highlight and offer thanksgiving for some of God’s wonderful blessings to us this past year:
If you remember, this past year we spent the Advent season worshiping in the gym as we looked forward to the completion of the renovations to our current building. This year we can give thanks as we celebrate the Advent season together in our newly remodeled sanctuary!
We give thanks to the Lord for 84 souls becoming a part of our church family in the new member classes, communicants, and babies born!
We give thanks to the Lord as we were able to resume “normal” FOUNDATIONS on Wednesday nights with a great meal and discipleship classes for all ages.
We give thanks to the Lord as Chris Moody was ordained as an assistant pastor at Cornerstone.
We give thanks to the Lord as we welcomed Morgan High to serve on our student ministry staff to disciple our young ladies.
We give thanks to the Lord as I was blessed with a refreshing sabbatical for me and my family.
We give thanks to the Lord for Emily Boggs and her service to us as the Communications Assistant. We give thanks for the child she is expecting soon and for her opportunity to care for her. We give thanks to the Lord for sending Jordan Busk to step in for Emily. Welcome, Jordan!
We give thanks to the Lord for two teams that went out this past summer to work with our ministry partners on the Yakama Indian Reservation and the Joni & Friends Family Retreat. We have also had several teams go and serve with MNA Disaster Response.
We give thanks to the Lord as He is raising up a Counseling Team at Cornerstone to help care for the needs of our church family.
We give thanks to the Lord for the sale of our downtown property. With these funds, we will be able to fuel future campus projects for ministry.
Most of all, let's give thanks to the Lord for the incarnation. For unto us a Savior has been born! Christ became like us so that we could become like Him! Join us this Sunday and for Christmas Eve services as we celebrate the miracle of the incarnation and the hope that is our in Christ Jesus our Lord!
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.
Preparation for Worship
DECEMBER 15, 2024
This Sunday's Sermon:
“The Glory of God in the Incarnation: The Incarnation of Christ”
Hebrews 2:14-18
Cornerstone Prayer Requests
Pray for church members caring for family - Ed and Carolyn Pendergrass, Diana Akridge, Susan Dupré, Kyle Mosier, Randy Petcher, Mike and Carol Wellfare, and the Barkleys (foster child).
Pray for healing - Susan Hoyt, Bob and Kathy Cassis, Rick Dillon, Dawn Chenault, Earl Myers, Tim and Gayle Ricks, Ruby Petcher, Marc Goldmon, Diane Brown, Jon Wren, Walt Hodges, Suzann Dolan, Gary Abernathy, Bill Hitt, and others.
Pray for our homebound friends - Ruby Petcher, Betty Baldwin, and Bill and Suzi Bolton.
Pray for our expectant mothers - Kerry McMillan (January), Bre Sullivan (February), Abigail Wood (February), Ashley Colette (March), Abby Junen (April), Andrea Mace (May), and the Kawell family (adoption).
Pray for our Missional Partnerships - Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center and Southwood Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, AL (Rev. Will Spink).
Announcements
Christmas Poinsettias - If you would like to purchase a poinsettia in honor or in memory of someone, please fill out the order form in the chair pocket in front of you on Sunday, enclose your payment of $15 (cash or check), and place it in the offering plate.
Christmas Giving Announcement - This Sunday is the last day we will be collecting financial donations for the Sacred Road Ministries Christmas Fund. To make a financial donation, click here and select “Sacred Road Christmas Fund - 2024” from the drop-down menu.
Christmas Potluck Brunch - This Sunday, December 15 during the Sunday School hour in the FLC. To bring an item or help, please sign up here.
Sunday School - Sunday School will not meet on December 22 or 29 and will resume on January 5, 2025.
Youth Group Christmas Party - Youth students, please join us this Wednesday at 6 pm for a Christmas party at the Poppe Residence.
Christmas Eve Services - The annual candlelight Lessons and Carols services will be at 4 and 5:30 pm on Christmas Eve. To help us make plans to accommodate everybody and have adequate parking at each service, please sign up for the service you plan to attend here. We anticipate having space available for anybody who wants to come, and nobody will be turned away. When you sign up, please make sure to register for all family members and guests attending.
Nominations - Cornerstone members have the opportunity to nominate men for church office until December 31. Please pick up a nomination brochure in the lobby and place it in the offering plate or give to a church officer.
HAP December Food Drive - A bin has been placed in the Gathering Room to donate to Huntsville Assistance Program’s December food drive. Check this newsletter or the flier on the bin for a list of needed items.
Ladies Bible Study Spring 2025 - Resumes Tuesday, January 7 at 9 am in the main church building. New members of the study are welcome to join us as we continue in Acts. For more details and to register as a new member, please click here.
Creative Arts Ministry Break - Creative Arts Ministry will be taking a break from meeting until Wednesday, January 8. Contact Suzann Dolan for more information at sdolan73@aol.com.
Men’s Retreat 2025 - Save the date for February 21-23, 2025 at Alpine Camp for Boys in Mentone, AL. More details to follow.
Hurricane Helene Donation Information - To donate to affected churches, you can give to our benevolence fund or directly to MNA Disaster Response here.
Important Parking update
New Parking Lot Entrance - Our former main entrance to the church and FLC has been modified to become a RIGHT TURN and EXIT ONLY lane. On Sunday, please use our new entrance at the crown of McClung Avenue. Once in the parking lot, parking is available in both the east and west lots and spaces in the front.
The east lot entrance at Owens Drive may be closed on Sunday, and we kindly ask that the east lot be accessed from the new entrance on McClung Avenue. You may consider your footwear on Sunday due to ongoing construction in the parking lot and expected rain over the weekend.
Lastly, as a friendly reminder, the Rocket City Marathon is this Sunday morning. Please be mindful of your speed in the area and know that access to the church before 8:00 am will be by an alternate route through Blossomwood to Owens Drive.
DHR Christmas Appreciation Brunch
On Friday, December 6 volunteers from Cornerstone and The Forgotten Initiative served brunch to the DHR staff. The second annual DHR Christmas Appreciation event was a great success! Thank you for your participation, prayers, and support. We believe the workers at DHR felt loved, encouraged, and appreciated. Please see some photos from the brunch below!
How your Support Impacts our Local Missional Partnerships
Cornerstone has received letters in the mail from our some of our local partners. We wanted to pass along their gratitude for our support, funded by your generosity, and how it has made a difference in the lives of those they serve.
From our partners at RUF UAH:
To the Session and Congregation of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, You may have heard it said that RUF is the arm or even the food truck of the church. Thank you for sending me to bring the good news of Jesus to the campus of UAH. It is thanks to you and your support that I have been able to be in the lives of these students, breathing the truth of Christ that comes with grace, peace, and rejoicing! Happy Thanksgiving! - Kelley Murphree, Campus Staff
From our partners at Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center:
Your Gift Saves Lives! An abortion-minded client came in for an ultrasound already determined to end her pregnancy. Our sonographer was able to show her the baby on the ultrasound and hear the heartbeat! I spoke with her after her ultrasound, and she said that she was at least considering changing her mind and would return the next week for another ultrasound. We were praying that God would soften her heart and that she would have the courage to parent. When she came in for a repeat ultrasound, she brought the father of the baby with her, and they both are going to parent and signed up for the parenting classes! Because of your faithfulness, babies are saved!
Thank you for your prayers and generosity this past year! We ask that you continue to join us in prayer and support of our missional partnerships. For more information and for a complete list of our local missional partnerships, please visit our website.
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:
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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