Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 19, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Jonah—4 chapters long, just 48 verses—but it’s one of the clearest expressions of the gospel’s pattern and God’s saving love for the nations in the Old Testament. Set against the backdrop of Israel’s prophetic tradition, the story of Jonah is a story of God’s amazing power to overcome every obstacle, even our stubborn hearts, to save the unlikeliest of people.

Running from God’s call, Jonah can’t escape from God’s righteous right hand. He goes down to Joppa, down into the ship, down into the depths of the sea, and finally down into the belly of the fish. But from that place of judgment, God raises him up, restores him to life, and recommissions him for service to the Lord.

Flowing from this resurrection theme is the mission of God. The Lord’s concern is not limited to Israel but extends even to Nineveh, a great and wicked Gentile city. God pursues both the rebellious prophet and the undeserving people, revealing his relentless compassion for the nations. Praise be to God, the hardness of men’s hearts is no match for the wideness of God’s mercy!

As we embark on this study, pray that as we follow Jonah’s path downward, upward, and outward, we will come to know the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:40). And pray that we learn the joy of answering the call of the mission of God in our own generation.

Finally, the end of March closed out the third quarter of our fiscal year. You will find a report of our March numbers as well as our year-to-date numbers below. As you can see, we are down in our projected giving on the year, but we have managed to keep a tight rein on expenses. As we move into the final quarter, please pray for a spirit of generosity manifested in joy-filled sacrificial giving to sweep through the Cornerstone family. For our cheerfully giving God loves cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:7).

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, April 19, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 12, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

I’m still basking in the afterglow of the beautiful Easter Sunday we shared together last week. Three packed services, glorious worship, and sweet fellowship on the churchyard—truly, a morning I shall not soon forget.  

I want to express my deep gratitude for the staff, elders, deacons, and volunteers who served us faithfully last weekend. With six services from Thursday to Sunday—and a potluck fellowship between Easter services—there were a countless number of details to manage and tasks to accomplish. Many of you put in long hours of sacrificial service, for which I am profoundly thankful. Be encouraged, your ministry was not in vain.

I want to especially thank our Worship Director, Mr. Greg Wilbur, and our Music and Worship Assistant, Mr. Max Shell, for their ministry. From preparation of services to leading in worship, these brothers served us excellently all weekend. We owe them a debt of love.

I would be remiss not to mention the tremendous blessing of the New College Franklin Cantus Chamber Choir on Maundy Thursday. Their diligent preparation was evident, and their musical offering was beautiful. Likewise, the Cornerstone choir was outstanding. From the sacred sadness of Good Friday to the soaring joy of Easter morning, they ably led us to the throne of grace to worship God.

These special services are a fresh reminder to me—and I trust for you—of the tremendous gifts the Lord has provided to our church body. We have much to be thankful for.

Speaking of gifts, we have the privilege of sitting under the ministry of Rev. Brittain Brewer today. A graduate of New College Franklin, Brittain served as an intern at Cornerstone in 2013. He was received by your session as a candidate for ministry in 2014 and was sent to Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, to prepare for pastoral ministry.

After completing his work at RTS, he spent several years working on a PhD and pastoring in Oregon. Then, in late 2025, our mother church, Parish Presbyterian Church, called him back to Middle Tennessee to plant a church down the road in Columbia, TN.

I had the joy of officiating the marriage of Brittain and his wife, Bethany, eight years ago. Since then, they have been blessed with five covenant children—Hudgins, Rutherford, Scout, Hughson, and one on the way! Alongside ministry and studies, he enjoys time with his wife, wrestling his boys, fawning over his daughter, and tending to his beloved cast iron skillet.

Please give attention and to learn more about the soon-in-coming church plant in Columbia, TN.

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, April 12, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.

Whether you are a long-time member or a first-time guest, we are grateful you are here and welcome you in the name of Jesus Christ. Today, on Easter Sunday, we gather in joy celebrating the victory of our Savior over sin and death, and we embrace again—or for the thousandth time—the certain hope of new life for all who trust in Him.

May the resurrection life of Christ be yours today!

“The Resurrection is not merely a symbol, but a fact, and upon that fact the whole of Christian faith depends.” —Dorothy Sayers

“The resurrection is the decisive event which reveals the meaning and destiny of the whole creation. —Lesslie Newbigin 

“The resurrection of Christ is the great and solemn declaration of victory over sin, death, and hell…In it, God has given assurance unto all that believe, that the debt is paid, justice satisfied, and that He who was delivered for our offenses is raised again for our justification. Herein lies the foundation of the church’s faith, the spring of its consolation, and the life of all its obedience.” —John Owen

“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” —Martin Luther

“The risen Christ is not simply resuscitated life, but transformed life—life that will never again be subject to decay.” —Fleming Rutledge

“It was fitting that, as death came through a man, so life should come through a man—and that man must rise again.” —Anselm of Canterbury

“The New Testament writers speak as if Christ’s achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe…He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so.” —C.S. Lewis

 “Christ’s resurrection is the cause of our resurrection…both as exemplar and as efficient cause.” —Thomas Aquinas

“Our Lord has risen again,
Our Lord is risen indeed:
The winter of our sins and pain
Is past, and we are freed.” —Christina Rosetti

“Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise, without delays.” —George Herbert

Your servant,

Bulletin for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026

Bulletins for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, April 2 & 3, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, March 29, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

I have some news to share—but first, a bit of backstory.

Nine years ago, our nursery coordinator, Linda VanGorden, had to step away rather suddenly to care for her aging parents in Florida. With little time to prepare, we turned to our nursery team for help. Seeing the need, my dear wife, Christy, stepped forward as a temporary solution while we searched for something more permanent.

Well…nine years later, Christy is still serving as our Nursery Coordinator.

It might be tempting to think her husband is to blame, but, in truth, Christy has no one to blame but herself! With five years of experience as a beloved preschool teacher at Clearview Baptist Church, along with her service on our nursery team since Cornerstone’s founding, she was more than prepared. Plus, she has the heart for it.

As a child, Christy dreamed of being a wife, a mother, and someone who worked with children. It has been a joy to watch the Lord bring that desire to life. For nine faithful years, she has poured herself out in love and service to the children and families of Cornerstone. I am deeply grateful, and I trust many of you are as well. 

At the same time, our church has grown, and the needs of our nursery ministry have expanded. After much thought and prayer, Christy believes it is time to step aside and entrust this work to another. I am grateful to share that our dear sister, Sharon Strawbridge, has agreed to serve as Interim Nursery Coordinator. 

Many of you already know and love Sharon. But for those who may not, I asked Sharon to share a bit of her story:

My family has been connected to Cornerstone and to New College for about 10 years. Two of my daughters, Jenna Thompson and Juli Strawbridge, graduated from New College Franklin. I grew up in Mississippi and met my husband through RUF at Southern Miss. We spent 24 years in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where I taught first grade, raised our three daughters, and served alongside my husband in pastoral ministry.

In June 2025, I moved to this area to be closer to family following the sudden death of my husband in 2022. Many of you at Cornerstone prayed for me and my family during that difficult season, and I am deeply grateful. I thank the Lord for this opportunity to love and serve the children and families of Cornerstone.

In addition to the connections Sharon mentions, I have a few personal ones. Her late husband, Gregg, served as an associate pastor in the church where I grew up. He taught me Latin, gave me my first guitar lesson, and invested in me spiritually as a teenager. And during that same season, Sharon also had the unique (and surely memorable!) experience of babysitting me. (And no, she has taken a solemn vow not to share any stories.)

As I reflect on all this, I am struck by the kindness of God’s providence. The woman who once cared for me as a child is now helping care for the children of the church I now serve. Truly, the Lord orders our steps in ways we could never script.

In the weeks ahead, please take time to meet and welcome Sharon. As her title indicates, she is “trying on” this role in an interim fashion just to make sure it’s a good fit for her and the church. Pray the Lord will confirm this path in his time and in his way.

And please join me in thanking Christy for her years of faithful, quiet, and joyful service.

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, March 29, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, March 22, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

Happy spring! It feels good, doesn’t it, to see the winter chill disappear and the spring temps show up? Every day it’s starting to look a bit more like…Easter. That’s right, only two weeks away! Do not forget to invite friends and neighbors to join us for Holy Week services at Cornerstone. It’s going to be a tremendous week of worship. I can’t wait.

As you know, we finished our series in Leviticus last week, so I’ve been peppered this week with questions (and more than a few suggestions!) about our next sermons series at Cornerstone. Given that we’re right on top of Easter, I’m going to take three weeks in the gospel of Matthew exploring the final days of Christ’s earthly ministry leading up to his death and resurrection.

Please mark your calendars and read the texts in preparation for worship. Pray for our services and for the Lord to bring renewal and blessing during this special season.

·      March 22 — True Greatness (Matthew 20:17-28)

·      April 29 — True Triumph (Matthew 21:1-11)

·      April 5 — True Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10)

After this three-week bridge in Matthew, we’ll have Rev. Brittain Brewer with us on April 12 to preach God’s Word and share about the new church plant taking shape in Columbia, TN. Then, on April 19, we’re going to pivot back to the Old Testament for a few weeks. We’ll spend five weeks in the prophet Jonah. I’ve entitled the series, A Study of Jonah: The Resurrection and the Mission of God.

Now, the mention of resurrection and mission with Jonah the prophet might seem strange at first blush. But what if I told you the story of Jonah is more than a fantastic story about a runaway prophet and a big fish? It’s a first-hand account of resurrection power and God’s relentless mission to save!  

Over the course of five weeks, we will extend the celebration of Easter, plumbing the surprising depths of God’s mercy—from rebellion and rescue to repentance and renewal. We will see why Jesus himself said Jonah points to his resurrection, and through it, God’s global mission to resurrect a people for himself from every kindred, tribe, tongue, and nation.  

That’s right, Jonah’s mission is our mission, and it’s still unfolding today…

A Study of Jonah: The Resurrection and the Mission of God

·      April 19 — The Sign of Jonah (Luke 24:38-41)

·      April 26 — On the Run (Jonah 1:1-6)

·      May 3 — Prophet Overboard! (Jonah 1:7-17)

·      May 10 — Back from the Watery Grave (Jonah 2:1-10)

·      May 17 — To Nineveh…Finally! (Jonah 3:1-10)

·      May 24 — The Merciful Heart of our Missionary God (Jonah 4:1-11)

Your servant,