February Cornerstone Chronicler]
CORNERSTONE CHRONICLER
From our Pastor…Andy Silman
The Men’s Breakfast/Bible Study begins February 1st and continues until March 7th. I’m excited about spending time together with the men. My plan is that we go back to spiritual boot camp or basic training to be “recertified” in basic disciplines of the Christian life. We are at war – not against flesh and blood foes, but against principalities and powers commanded by the prince of the power of the air (aka Satan). He is crafty and cunning, far more powerful than we are when left unarmed and lacking in discipline. So, after an introduction to the study wherein I attempt to make my case for revisiting some of the basic Christian disciplines, I will in subsequent gatherings focus our thinking on five of them as follows:
Week Two: Bible study
Week Three: Prayer
Week Four: Worship
Week Five: Service
Week Six: Stewardship
It will require rising early for some. Biscuits (with or without sausage), coffee and juice will be ready at 7:30 sharp. It will also require a commitment to participate in each of the six sessions. Each session will include time for one-on-one intercession with a prayer partner or buddy. You’ll keep the same prayer partner for the six weeks, and call one another to remind him to come to the study that week. Hopefully, in the process, a tighter bond of friendship will also be formed. This will be good for us!
Then, beginning Wednesday, March 14th and continuing for six weeks until April 18th, the church will gather at 6:00 p.m. for supper. The team of ladies headed by Rebecca Hagedorn will be preparing supper for us as was done last fall. After supper, small groups of 6 to 8 will meet for discussion and prayer.
I’m going to begin a new sermon series on Sunday morning, March 11th (topic to be announced later) with study guides for use on Wednesday evenings to facilitate discussion and application of those sermons. I believe this format will be helpful in our spiritual and relational formation. If the time together is deemed to be helpful, then we’ll use the same format for two more six-week sessions, one in the summer and another in the fall.
Please be in prayer for the men as we launch our Bible study in February, and for the small groups that will meet for discussion and prayer after supper beginning in March. May God be pleased by His Spirit and Word to work in our lives and church for His glory and our growth in the grace, knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.
FROM OUR SESSION
New Literature Rack is coming!! Watch for this new rack of good Reformed reading material including Tabletalk and newsletters. Facing the sanctuary, you can find this rack to be positioned on the right side in the foyer.
2012 Budget – The Session spent most of their January 21 meeting working on the 2012 budget. Praise was given to the Lord for His faithful financial care of Cornerstone Church during the last year.
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
FEBRUARY EVENTS
Ladies’ Winter Bible Study – Thursdays - 10:00 until noon.
We have a good report concerning the Ladies’ Winter Study. We have 34 women who have started the study of Carolyn Custis James’ book When Life and Beliefs Collide: How knowing God makes a difference. It has been a really interesting study so far and lively with good fellowship and small group discussion. We have several new ladies from the community coming and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves - engaged in the discussion and challenged by the study. Here are a few comments about this study by two well-known authors you will recognize:
“This outstanding book offers the best demonstration that everyone needs theology, the best expository account of Mary and Martha, and the best trajectory for women’s ministry in modern North America that I have yet read.”- J.I. Packer
“Thoughtful, scholarly, and motivating…should inspire and encourage women for years to come.” – Joni Eareckson Tada
If you feel you have missed out on this opportunity, there is still time to participate. To sign up, contact Mary Jo McBride, Spiritual Growth Chairwoman (mmcb@comporium.net).
Ladies’ Lunch Bunch Out – Wednesday, February 22nd - 12:30 p.m. at Marco Trattoria, 204 W. Main
If you are planning to attend, be sure your name is on the sign-up sheet in the foyer to secure your reservation. These times of getting to know one another better have been so good that we will continue to get together every 4th Wednesday of the month. If you have any questions or want to sign up, call Betty Sibley (rbsibley@citcom.net). Hope to see you there!
DEACON NEWS
Have you noticed all the work our deacons put into improving the landscaping in front of the church? Thank you, deacons, for your dedication to making our building and grounds look nice!!
MEN OF THE COVENANT
Monthly Meeting: Due to the Wednesday breakfast/Bible study, there will be no monthly dinners during the months of February and March. Our dinners will resume on April 3rd at the Pisgah Fish Camp at 6:00 p.m.
Men’s Breakfast/Bible Study: This will begin Wednesday, February 1st at 7:30 a.m. (until 8:30 a.m.) at the church, and will be held each Wednesday for 6 weeks. We will be serving sausage biscuits, juice and coffee. Join us…and invite a friend!
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Sunday Morning:
Adult Sunday School Class - “Foundations for Christian Faith and Life”. This study will conclude on May 6. We will look at Church Doctrines and Church Constitution, and will use a number of reference materials in addition to the Holy Scripture. This will include the Westminster Confession, the Book of Church Order, and a guide written by David Hall and Mark Buckner used as a manual for church officer training. The Hall-Buckner book will be provided for those who would like to have it. February’s topics and leaders are:
..... February 5............. The Doctrine of Election, Creation, and Providence- taught by Adam Christiansen
..... February 12........... The Doctrine of Man – Man and Sin- taught by Mack Griffith
..... February 19........... Covenant Theology - taught by Morton Smith
..... February 26........... Man’s Will (the 5 points of Calvinism)- taught by Tom Osterhaus
Wednesday Morning: Beginning February 1st - Men’s Breakfast/Bible study 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. at the church.
Wednesday Evening Gatherings: Prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the church.
Ladies’ Bible Study – Thursday mornings from 10:00 – 12:00
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Eye Pillow Ministry – If you like to sew, pick up instructions on the WIC table in the foyer to make rice filled eye pillows for Transylvania Hospital. These take very little time and materials, but are greatly appreciated by the patients who receive an eye pillow (warmed in a microwave). Return your completed pillows to the WIC table in the designated box.
The Haven (homeless shelter ministry) – There is a need for help in different capacities. The Paul Sawyer group will provide a weekend meal in March. To help with this ministry and for more information, call Jennifer at The Haven 243-6358 or check with Barbara Cobb our Outreach Chairwoman.
Baby Bottle Boomerang – The baby bottles are out and filling up with coins, checks, or bills (whichever you prefer). The funds from this project will go to The Center for Women. Please return your filled bottle by Sunday, February 12th.
Cedar Mountain House – Cornerstone holds a worship service for the elderly residents of the Cedar Mountain House each month that has a 5th Sunday. The last opportunity to serve in this capacity was January 29 at 3:00 p.m. The next Sunday to hold this service is April 29. See Burt Mullins if you are interested in participating.
For information about being involved in other ministries in the community, contact our Outreach and Mission’s Coordinator for the Women in the Church – Barbara Cobb.
LIBRARY NEWS
The Christmas season is over; however, the cold weather will be with us for several months, which means time to sit down and enjoy a good book. Below I have listed some recent additions to our CPC library. Please remember to sign your name and date on the card in the book pocket and leave the card in the box by the window.
If you like biographies, we have added five books by John Piper. Each book includes biographies of three men of God, with a central theme carried throughout.
TAKE NOTICE
Please make the following changes in your church directory:
If you need to change your information in the directory, please notify Fred Hall (fredrep@comporium.net) or Kathy Knight (leviflat@hotmail.com) so we can post it in the newsletter and everyone can make a notation in their directory.
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