Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 28, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

This past week the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America met in Louisville, KY. The General Assembly is the once-a-year national meeting of our denomination designed to address the business of the church.

I will take time soon to update you on a few key matters coming from the General Assembly this year. For now, I am pleased to report it was a wonderful week of worship, fellowship, deliberation, and decision making. I am coming back from Louisville very encouraged by the health and growth of the PCA. Stay tuned for more updates soon.

In case you missed last week’s Cornerstone Family Meeting, we reported on several important church matters. Two matters are so important and timely, I want to take a moment now to recap them for you.

Financial Update—Our fiscal year at Cornerstone runs from July 1 to June 30, which means today is the final Sunday in our fiscal year. Last week our finance team reported that despite a slow start to our fiscal year we are now on track to meet budget. That’s a big answer to prayer, and we thank God for your faithful giving to the work of ministry throughout this past year. God is using you!

In addition to a financial update, the finance team gave a brief presentation of the 2026-2027 budget. If you have any questions about our finances, or would like a copy of the handout from last week’s meeting, please feel free to reach out to Whitney Ruff in the church office at admin@cstonepres.org

Expansion Update—Now, the really big news coming out of last week’s meeting was the announcement about the property right next door to the church. We are currently under contract to purchase the historic Victorian home next door, 132 3rd Avenue South. Mr. Will Kesler, chairman of the Expansion Team, shared the story of how the property came back on the market, how we landed the contract on it, and the due diligence process we’re in the midst of right now.

Most importantly, he shared the vision for next door. We would use the existing home for ministry, fellowship, and classrooms—which we desperately need—but the real value would be the opportunity to build a new sanctuary on the back of the property behind the home. This new sanctuary—projected at 350 seats—would give us a dedicated and fitting space for the congregation to gather week by week for worship.

Now, this is all very much in process. We still have significant hurtles to jump and questions to answer with the city of Franklin. That said, we have seen the Lord open doors so far and we are prayerfully walking in faith until the path forward is confirmed one way or another.

Right now, we are asking you to pray. Pray that the Lord would continue to lead the way, to guide us according to his will, to provide the resources we need if this opportunity materializes, and to unite us as a church family around this opportunity to continue growing right where we are––on the corner of Church St. and 3rd Ave. in the heart of downtown Franklin.

Let’s seek God’s face and keep pressing on together in faith. Our faithful Lord will show the way!

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, June 28, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 21, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

In Presbyterian church government, there are historically three ruling bodies or courts. The Session governs the local church. The Presbytery governs churches in a region. The General Assembly governs the whole denomination.

Each summer, the Presbyterian Church in America gathers for General Assembly. Pastors, ruling elders, fraternal delegates, and guests from around the world come together to worship, fellowship, and perform the business of the church. This year’s General Assembly meets June 22-26 in Louisville, KY. Rev. Tony Giles, Rev. Drew Abercrombie, Rev. Sebastian Bjernegård, and I along with ruling elders Mr. Terry Cheney, Mr. Sean Kelley, and Mr. Jim Smith will attend as commissioners representing Cornerstone Presbyterian Church.

Before attending my first GA in 2005 as a seminary student, I wondered, “What happens at General Assembly?” Maybe you’ve wondered the same thing. In short, GA serves several important purposes.

First, denominational committees and agencies—such as Mission to the World, Mission to North America, Covenant College, Covenant Theological Seminary, and Reformed University Fellowship—report on their work, present budgets, recommend personnel changes, and address other matters of business.

Second, GA provides ongoing training for pastors and elders through seminars on theological, historical, and practical topics, including church planting, revitalization, leadership, worship, preaching, missions, and more.

Third, GA is a time for worship and fellowship. Each day concludes with a worship service, and each mealtime provides opportunities for pastors and elders to spend time together formally and informally to be encouraged.

Finally, GA takes up a wide variety of matters of business related to the church. Various theological, cultural, ecclesiastical, and administrative issues affecting the PCA will be considered, debated, and resolved.

One important item of business at GA this year is the nomination of a new Stated Clerk. The Stated Clerk is the chief ecclesiastical officer in the PCA. He helps the PCA conduct its official business in an orderly and constitutional way. He keeps the records of the denomination, guides the work of the General Assembly, and helps make sure the PCA follows its own rules and procedures.

The nominee for this important position is my longtime friend, Rev. Fred Greco. I attended seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, with Fred over twenty years ago, and he is one of the pastors in my “band of brothers”––eight pastor friends committed to walking together in close pastoral fellowship, encouragement, and accountability.

I’m pleased that Fred and his wife, Deb, are worshipping with us today. Moreover, it’s an honor to have Fred open up God’s Word to us in worship from John 14:25-31. Please listen closely to the Word the Lord has laid on Fred’s heart to bring to us today.

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, June 21, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 14, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

On behalf of the Session, I am pleased to announce the following men are unanimously recommended to you, the membership of Cornerstone, for election as church officers.

·    The candidates for elder: Jason Crook, Jonathan Eby, and David Horn.

·    The candidates for deacon: Al Adams, Dan Apple, Chris Holder, Matt Johnston, Eric Smith, Will Tice III, and Craig Westerbeek.

In the fall of last year, each of these men were nominated for office. Over the course of the last nine months, they have completed a rigorous officer training process, including substantial study, written examinations, oral examinations, and careful evaluation by the Session. We are grateful for the clear evidence of each candidate’s love for Jesus Christ and his church, gifting for the work of ministry, and willingness to be considered for church office.

The officer election will take place on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 9:45 a.m. in the Chapel. In preparation for the election, we will publish an Officer Candidate Booklet next Sunday, June 21, 2026, which will include pictures, biographical information, interest in ministry, and sense of calling to office. Our hope is that this booklet will help you know these men better and prepare you to vote your conscience on August 2.

Please join us in praying for these candidates, for their families, and for our congregation as we seek the Lord’s will together.

Finally, next Sunday, June 21, you will have the privilege of sit under the ministry of my dear friend, Rev. Fred Greco. Former lawyer turned pastor, Fred and I were in seminary together at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. Fred is a faithful servant of the Lord who has pastored Christ Church (PCA) in Katy, TX, for the last twenty years.

The Lord is calling Fred to a new field of service. Several months ago, the Administrative Committee of the PCA unanimously nominated him to be the next Stated Clerk of the PCA pending approval by the 53rd General Assembly in Louisville, KY, later this month. The Stated Clerk is the highest office in our denomination. It’s an honor to have Fred bring God’s Word to us. Please make every effort to join us next week for worship.

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, June 14, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, June 7, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

As a child, summers were magical for me. Even today, summer smells like freshly mown grass and sunscreen. It feels like swimming pools and sand between my toes. It tastes like hotdogs and watermelon. It sounds like a choir of crickets and the whizz of a fishing rod.

Summer meant so many things to me, but mostly it meant time. Time to watch movies and play whiffle ball. Time to listen to music and goof off with friends. Summer was like a two-and-a-half-month permission slip to do what I wanted and not feel bad for it. 

As great as my childhood summers were, there were certain temptations that went along with those special times. Still today, there are certain temptations that show up during a summer vacation that I don’t experience, at least not as poignantly, the rest of the year. If I were to boil it down to a few words, I’d call it the temptation to live for self.

Yes, the temptation to live for self is present every season of the year. But there are certain times where the temptation is heightened; we might even say the temptation is practically woven into the design of certain seasons and experiences. Like summer vacation.

Why do we go on vacation? For our own rest and enjoyment. When people hear you’re going on vacation, they say, “Go enjoy yourself.” All they mean is “Have a good time,” and that’s exactly right. But it’s easy for our sinful hearts to hear, “Go live for self.”

When we go on vacation, we often don’t rest like Christians. Some of us even “take a break” from our Christian commitments. Which means we’re walking away from the Lord of rest as we seek to rest. Not surprisingly we end up restless and irritable needing vacations from our vacations.

How about we commit to move through summer differently this year? Keep catching lightning bugs and sipping sweet tea on the back porch. Enjoy the good things God designed summer for. But let’s enjoy the Lord of summer most of all.

If we do that, we might just have the best summer yet.

“Jesus! I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.”—Jean S. Pigott

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, June 7, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 31, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

We live in a world that celebrates the platform, the spotlight, the big achievement. Consequently, we often strive for a life that can be measured, posted, praised, and seen. Scripture, however, repeatedly calls us to something slower, deeper, steadier, and quieter. In a word, Scripture calls us to a life of ordinary faithfulness. What Eugene Peterson calls, “A long obedience in the same direction.”

Ordinary faithfulness isn’t big, loud, and flashy. It’s found in simple fidelities like keeping our word, loving our neighbor, raising our children, doing honest work, bearing burdens, praying in secret, worshipping weekly, forgiving repeatedly, repenting daily, and trusting Christ when no one else sees and when it doesn’t appear to make a difference. These quiet—even obscure—acts of faithfulness are not small in the kingdom of God. They are the means from which godliness takes shape in our lives.

Despite how it may appear, such a life is not passive or weak. It takes self-control to remain steadfast when the world’s telling you to chase something newer, louder, or more impressive. It takes grace and grit to be content with hidden obedience, unseen sacrifice, and slow growth. Yet it’s right there where Christ does his best work. 

Over the course of the summer, we will consider the beauty, strength, and witness of a life rooted in Christ expressed through steady faithfulness. I’ve entitled the series, The Quiet Life of Faithfulness. My prayer is that God would use this series to increasingly free us from restless striving and to cultivate deepening contentment and renewed courage to live lives of ordinary faithfulness. Please join me in prayer toward this end.

The Quiet Life of Faithfulness

• June 7 – Aspire to Live Quiet Lives, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 

• June 14 – Bear Your Load, Bear the Burdens of Others, Galatians 6:2-5

•  June 21 – Do Not be Troubled, John 14:25-31 

• June 28 – Embrace the Will of God, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

• July 5 – Open Your Home and Your Heart, Romans 12:9-13 

• July 12 – Do Good No Matter What, Galatians 6:9-10 

• July 19 – Keep Raising Children, Deuteronomy 6:4-9

• July 26 – Everyday Witness, Matthew 5:13-16 

• August 2 – Die Well, 2 Timothy 4:6-8 

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, May 31, 2026