Newsletter January 5, 2024

Newsletter | January 5, 2024


Dear Church Family and Friends,

Happy New Year! May the LORD bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you! 

"Very deep worship and unspeakable joy go hand in hand." Those were some deep words that Pastor Summers shared this past Lord's Day as we reflected on the Wise Men who came to visit Jesus. I think that is a great way for us to begin the New Year ... to focus our hearts, our minds, and our calendars on worshiping King Jesus! 

With that in mind, let me issue you a challenge. Here it is: Make corporate worship a weekly priority for you and your family. Let me tell you why this is important:

First, God has designed every Sunday, the Lord's Day, as a means of grace. Worshiping on the Lord's Day with the body of Christ is designed by God to help us grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prayer is hard. Reading your Bible regularly can be difficult. But showing up for worship every Sunday is very doable! God has designed the Lord's Day worship as a type of covenant renewal. In the Old Testament, God's people would demonstrate their loyalty and love for God by offering sacrifices in the temple. Offering animal sacrifices was a form of covenant renewal to demonstrate their faithfulness to God as their God. Now that Christ is the once-for-all sacrifice, we no longer offer animal sacrifices. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices through worship (Romans 12:1-2).

Second, God's people are commanded to gather together to worship! The writer of Hebrews exhorts the church to “not [neglect] to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (10:25). 

Third, weekly worship is perhaps the most important thing you can do for your personal and your family's discipleship. Have you ever thought of it that way? When we gather each week to pray the Word, hear the Word preached, and sing the Word together, it is the number one resource God has given to help you grow! The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. Our most religious experiences are not on a mountaintop alone with our Bible. God has designed the Christian life to be lived in community ... in a local church. 

With a new year comes new opportunities and new habits. Let me encourage you to make corporate worship on the Lord's Day a priority. Make it your first resolution for the New Year. 

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

January 7, 2024

This Sunday's Sermon:

“Jesus, the Righteous One”

Matthew 3:1-17

Cornerstone Prayer Requests

Pray for church members caring for family - Diana Akridge, Susan Dupré, Bryan Gassaway, Kyle Mosier, Randy Petcher, Bill and JoAnn Sneed, Bonnie Stock, Mike and Carol Wellfare, and Mark and Robbie Kimbrough.

Pray for healing - Suzi and Bill Bolton, Phil Freeze, Anne Harbarger, and Earl Myers.

Pray for our homebound friends - Ruby Petcher and Betty Baldwin.

Pray for our expectant mothers - Lauren Hudgins (February), Olivia Hitt (June), and the McMillan adoption.

Praise God for the birth of Louise Claire Clemons, born to Wesley and Olivia on December 30!

Pray for peace in Israel, Ukraine, and Sudan.

Pray for our Missional Partnerships - Brent and Selina Miller, Missionaries to Mexico and First Presbyterian Church, Russellville, AL.

Announcements

Communion - Communion will be observed next Sunday, January 14.

Manna House Serve Days - There is a great opportunity to plug in and serve the community with Cornerstone folks on Thursdays at the Manna House. Anyone can come for any amount of time between 1-6:30 pm.

Women’s Ministry Bible Studies - On Tuesday mornings for 10 weeks beginning January 16, we will be studying the Old Testament prophets in “The Word of the Lord” by Nancy Guthrie. On Monday and Tuesday evenings for 8 weeks beginning January 15 and 16, we will be discussing the video teaching of Paige Brown on the book of Daniel. For additional details and to register, please click here.

Communicants Class - A communicants class for children interested in becoming communing members of Cornerstone will be offered in January. There will be an initial meeting on Sunday, January 14 after the second service. Please contact Pastor Brian at brian@cornerstonehuntsville.org for more information.

New Members Class - January 28-March 3 during the Sunday School hour. If you’re interested in becoming a member or learning more about Cornerstone, please email office@cornerstonehuntsville.org to sign up.

Foundations - Begins Wednesday, January 31. More details to follow.

Men’s Retreat - Save the date for the men’s retreat on February 23-24 at Alpine Camp in Mentone, AL.

Yakama Summer Mission Trip - A team is forming to go back on June 1-8, 2024. If interested, please contact frank.cohee@gmail.com.

Restrooms Closed - For the next few Sundays, the restrooms on the 2nd floor, west end near adult Sunday School will be closed due to renovations. Please use the single restrooms on the 2nd floor or the restrooms in the FLC. 

Benevolence - If you are in need of financial assistance or other needs due to hardship, please see a deacon or contact needs@cornerstonehuntsville.org.

Ministry Opportunity - Interested in reaching out to our church members who need help with minor home improvements or repairs? If so, contact David Hoover at ddhoover53@gmail.com for more information.

Bookshelf Ministry - Be sure to check out this resource ministry in the Family Life Center lobby. There are free books, tracts, and audio teaching CDs for you to take or give to someone.

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:
Brent and Selina Miller, Missionaries to Mexico

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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Wilson ShirleyCornerstone Presbyterian Church (PCA)