Newsletter | September 8, 2023

Do this in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:24 ESV)

Dear Church Family,

This Sunday, we will celebrate the Lord's Supper, as is our custom on the second Sunday of each month. Have you ever thought about the fact that this ordinance is commanded by our Lord Jesus? He told us, in the simplest terms we can think of, to "do this". It is another reminder of how God not only blesses us but He often commands His blessing. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is for our spiritual good!

You may be thinking, “What exactly is a sacrament?” The word “sacrament” comes from an old Latin word that means holy or set apart. It is most commonly understood to be a sacred religious ceremony. A helpful definition comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism #92 which states, “A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.”

The Lord Jesus was gracious and clear when he gave the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion to the Church. Baptism is a visible sign of an invisible reality that demonstrates that believers and their children belong to the family of God. The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace whereby we are reminded of Christ’s death for sinners and thereby strengthened in the Gospel every time we partake of the supper.

Christ has given the Sacraments to us to help us grow spiritually. We need them! They are a vital part of our Christian life. In fact, we cannot grow spiritually without the Sacraments. The great reformed theologian John Calvin gives a helpful introduction to our understanding of the Sacraments as a means to our spiritual growth. He states,

It is an outward sign by which our Lord represents and testifies his goodwill toward us, in order to sustain and strengthen the weakness of our faith. Alternatively, it may also be defined as a testimony of God’s grace, made visible by an outward sign. Here we see that the sacrament never exists without the word of God preceding it, but that it is added to it as an appendix, designed to seal, confirm, and more effectively crafty it to us, since the Lord knows how much the ignorance of our mind and the infirmity of our flesh require it.

Let us prepare our hearts to receive this means of grace by praying:

That God would spiritually nourish us by it
That our hearts and minds would remember Christ's sacrifice
That the Spirit would invigorate our souls to love Christ more

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

September 10, 2023

This Sunday's Sermon:

“no condemnation now I dread”

Romans 8:1

Click here to access the latest bulletins, listen to sermons, and watch the live stream.
Hymn of the week: Jesus Paid It All

Cornerstone Prayer Requests

Pray for church members caring for family - Diana Akridge, Susan Dupré, Bryan Gassaway, Rick McCann, Kyle Mosier, Randy Petcher, and Bill and JoAnn Sneed.

Pray for healing - Suzi and Bill Bolton, Phil Freeze, Anne Harbarger, Mary Allen Junen, Matthew Lawrence, Mari Carmen Wendorf, Abby Reese Wren, Gary Abernathy, Susie Shelton, Kendall Junen, Linda Granger, and Kelly Davenport.

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

Pray for our expectant mothers - Melanie Bray (September), Olivia Clemons (January), and Lauren Hudgins (February).

Pray for our transition time during construction.

Pray for our church officers.

Pray for our Missional Partnerships - Hope City Church Madison, Madison, AL (Pastor Amos Williams) and Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church, Cullman, AL (Pastor Jason Ellerbee).

Announcements

Fall 2023 Women’s Studies - The evening women’s study of Jonah will begin Monday and Tuesday, September 11th and 12th from 7-8 pm. For questions, please contact Heidi Honeywell at heidi@cornerstonehuntsville.org.

CPR Training - Interested in receiving your adult/pediatric CPR training? Please join us for a CPR class this Sunday, September 10th in the Fellowship Hall of the main building after the second service. The class will end around 2:30 or 3:00 pm. Lunch is provided. The cost for the class is $40 per person. Please RSVP to Christina Wendorf at christina@cornerstonehuntsville.org as soon as possible if you would like to attend.

Senior High Sunday Night Fellowship - High school students, please join us on September 10th from 7-8:30 pm at the Roberts’ home for a time of fellowship, followed by a discussion led by John Summers on the question, “Can I trust the Bible?”

Ladies’ Monthly Prayer Time - September 15th at 10:00 am in the FLC gym.

FOUNDATIONS - On Wednesday nights for 6 weeks, beginning September 20th from 5:45-7:15 pm in the FLC. Fellowship and refreshments begin at 5:45 pm, followed by discipleship at 6:15 pm. This is a great opportunity to come together each week for food, fellowship, and foundations in God’s Word! There will be discipleship opportunities for children, students, and adults. To RSVP, please click here.

The Doctrines of Grace: How Calvinism Points Us to the Heart of Christ - This month’s seminar will be held on Wednesday evenings during FOUNDATIONS, beginning September 20th in the Family Life Center.

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 located in the lobby of the Family Life Center. There are free books, tracts, and audio teaching CDs for you to take or give to someone.

The FOUNDATIONS adult seminar will be taught by Pastor Wilson Shirley, Brian Russ, John Summers, Fred Schlich, and Ed Pendergrass.

Adult/Pediatric CPR Training

If you are interested in receiving your adult/pediatric CPR training, please join us for a CPR class this Sunday, September 10th. The class will be held in the Fellowship Hall in the main building following the second service. Lunch will be served. The cost of the class is $40 per person.

We will promptly begin with lunch after the second service and the class will end around 2:30 or 3:00 PM.

Please RSVP to Christina Wendorf at christina@cornerstonehuntsville.org as soon as possible if you would like to attend.

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:
Hope City Church Madison, Madison, AL (Pastor Amos Williams)

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 September 8, 2023