Newsletter | February 9, 2024

Dear Church Family and Friends,

Please join me in praising God and congratulating Chris Moody on completing his ordination trials in Providence Presbytery on Tuesday, February 6th! “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15 ESV) We are very grateful that the Lord sustained Chris during his examinations.

Chris will be ordained on Sunday, February 18th during the 8:30 am worship service. Please join us! There will be a short reception right after the service before Sunday School. Chris's new call at Cornerstone will be Assistant Pastor to Students and Families.

This is the second time in four months that we have had the privilege of ordaining a man to the Gospel ministry. John Summers was ordained in November of 2023. You may have noticed in our worship bulletin or on the website that we make a distinction between an assistant pastor and an associate pastor. I think it would be helpful for me to explain the difference.

An Assistant Pastor is called by the Session and serves at the will of the Session to fulfill the work of ministry to which they have been assigned. An Associate Pastor is called by the congregation, sits on the Session, and has voting privileges. John and Chris will serve as assistant pastors and Brian Russ will continue to serve as Associate Pastor. As Senior Pastor (and once only pastor), I am called by the congregation and I serve on the Session as the moderator.

I think it would be wise for you to know why the ordination of a man to Gospel ministry is important. It is primarily important because the Lord Jesus has raised up and called men to lead His church. He does that through the elders or overseers of His church.

When a man is ordained, he is called upon to take vows before God and His people that he will take up his calling with all faithfulness to Christ and His Word. Therefore a candidate for ordination is called upon to take solemn vows in fulfilment of his ministry. The vows that an ordination candidate takes are found in our Book of Church Order (BCO 21):

Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?
Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures; and do you further promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will on your own initiative, make known to your Presbytery the change which has taken place in your views since the assumption of this ordination vow?
Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the general principles of Biblical polity?
Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?
Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to seek the office of the holy ministry from love to God and a sincere desire to promote His glory in the Gospel of His Son?
Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the Gospel and the purity and peace and unity of the Church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise unto you on that account?
Do you engage to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all your duties as a Christian and a minister of the Gospel, whether personal or relational, private or public; and to endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your manner of life, and to walk with exemplary piety before the flock of which God shall make you overseer?
Are you now willing to take this call as Assistant Pastor, agreeable to your declaration when accepting the *Session's* call? And do you, relying upon God for strength, promise to discharge the duties of a pastor?

Please be in prayer for Chris as he prepares to take up this call. Praise God for His provision to His church in raising up faithful labors to preach, teach, and lead among us.

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

February 11, 2024

This Sunday's Sermon:

“the gospel of god: Grace Alone!”

Romans 11:1-10

Click here to access the latest bulletins, listen to sermons, and watch the live stream.
Hymn of the week: He Will Hold Me Fast

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, and Mike and Carol Wellfare.

Pray for healing - Suzi and Bill Bolton, Phil Freeze, Anne Harbarger, Georgia Paulson, Earl Myers, Gayle Ricks, Brian Sommers, Craig Martin, Miyon Evans, Paul Wendorf, Ellen Brewer, Susan Hoyt, and those suffering.

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

Pray for our expectant mothers - Rebecca Nunley (April), Olivia Hitt (June), and the McMillan adoption.

Pray for ongoing construction and renovation projects.

Pray for the Lord to raise up a female Student Ministry Coordinator.

Pray for peace in Israel, Ukraine, and Sudan.

Pray for our Missional Partnerships - Third Millennium Ministries and North Hills Presbyterian Church, Meridianville, AL (Rev. Adam Tisdale).

Announcements

Ordination Service for Chris Moody - Sunday, February 18 during the 8:30 am service. Short reception to follow at the beginning of the Sunday School hour.

Foundations Spring 2024 - Continues this Wednesday, February 14 from 5:45-7:15 pm in the FLC. There will be food, fellowship, and discipleship opportunities for children, students, and adults.

2024 Men’s Retreat - Men, please join us on February 23-24 at Alpine Camp in Mentone, AL. For more details and to register, click here. The deadline to register is February 18.

Save the Date! - VBS Olympion 2024, June 3-6. More details to follow.

Yakama Summer Mission Trip Interest Meeting - This Sunday after the second service.

Joni & Friends Family Camp - June 23-28. To register, please contact Pastor Brian at brian@cornerstonehuntsville.org.

RYM - July 1-5, 2024. Current 8th graders and up can attend. To sign up, please contact Chris Moody at chris@cornerstonehuntsville.org.

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.

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.

Restrooms Closed - For the foreseeable future, 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.

A MEssage from one of our missional partners

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:
Third Millennium 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.

give

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.

Newsletter February 9, 2024