Pastoral Notes for Sunday, May 3, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

At our Cornerstone Family Meeting on Palm Sunday, I gave a brief update on our officer candidates and the officer training. We shared about the three phases of the officer training process:

1.     The gospel phase where we explore the central message of the Scripture and its application to all of life.

2.     The doctrinal phase where we study the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as well as the Book of Church Order.

3.     The officer phase where we consider the Bible’s teaching on the role and work of elders and deacons as well as how these roles function at Cornerstone.

In the final phase, the officer phase, candidates read a wonderful book by Dr. Timothy Witmer entitled, The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church. This volume is foundational to our vision for officers in caring for the flock of God at Cornerstone.

In the book, Witmer explores Scripture’s teaching on shepherd leadership, showing how the whole of the Bible is pointing to Jesus Christ, the true Shepherd Leader (John 10:14-15). Then, as shepherds under the Good Shepherd, he sets forward Christ as the model for officers to follow. In a word, we are to shepherd like the Good Shepherd (I Peter 5:1-4).  

From there, Witmer outlines the work of a shepherd in four ways—knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting the sheep.

1.     Knowing the sheep includes having accurate membership rolls and as well as a sense of the congregation’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, obstacles, etc. Further, knowing the sheep includes a strategy for officers to know the individual stories, needs, and gifts of each member, so they can be cared for, discipled, and deployed for ministry in Christ’s church (Ephesians 4:11-16).
2.     Feeding the sheep includes the pulpit ministry and educational programs of the church. It also includes small group ministry, individual pastor care, and other “house to house” or person-to-person teaching and discipleship (Acts 2:46, 5:42).
3.     Leading the sheep includes vision casting, ministry strategy, and committee leadership. It also includes leading the sheep by example in godliness and in decisions/priorities as well as individual counseling (Acts 20:28).
4.     Protecting includes exposing false teaching, identifying spiritual dangers, and issuing warnings. It also includes the process of church discipline for members living unrepentantly (Matthew 18:15-16)

 When your elders and deacons contact you, meet with you, pray for you, and seek to encourage you in various ways, they are attempting to shepherd like the Good Shepherd. They aren’t perfect—far from it! In fact, your shepherds are always sheep first. They need Christ as much as you do! At the same time, the Lord has set these men apart to shepherd the flock—to know, feed, lead, and protect His people (Acts 6:6, 2 Timothy 4:14).  

Knowing that, we should honor his servants and pray for them. Your elders and deacons have a big job that’s often overwhelming. They need your prayers, your patience, and your encouragement.

Finally, pray for the men in officer training. They are pressing toward the final examination. Pray for the Lord’s will to be done through this process, and, in the end, for the church’s health and ministry to be bettered through the Spirit’s work in and through these brothers.

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, May 3, 2026

Pastoral Notes for Sunday, April 26, 2026

Dear Cornerstone Family,

I heard through the grapevine the Women’s Spring Tea last Saturday was a big hit. Sounds like the Cornerstone women dressed to the nines, held pinkies high as they sipped, and had an all-around marvelous time raising money for our youth ministry. A big thanks to Lori Tice, Emily Mitchell, and Linda Hart, who helped organize the event and for all the women who came, decorated, baked, and gave financially to help our youth get to camp this summer. Ladies, you raised over $1,500! Way to go!

The men are looking forward to our fast-approaching Men’s Fellowship Dinner on Monday, May 4, at 6:00 p.m. Over delicious manly fare, we will unveil our summer plans and be reminded of our men’s ministry key verse from 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Brothers, have you registered yet? If not, do so soon! Space is limited, and we want to make sure there’s space for you. It’s going to be a great night.

Speaking of looking ahead…Kids, get ready! Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. Our Children’s Ministry Director, Meredith Suits, and her team are hard at work preparing to make this year’s VBS the best yet. The theme for this year is The True King based on a children’s book written by our very own Nancy Guthrie.

Like previous years, VBS will be at Jim Warren Park on May 26-29 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. On the first night, May 26, families are invited to join us for a kick-off night where we’ll eat pizza, make a craft, play fun games, and enjoy fellowshipping with one another. Parents, go ahead and register your kiddos and plan to kick off the summer with your church family at VBS.

Now, the typical May craziness is about to get off the dime. Between final exams, end-of-school programs, and graduations, it’s easy to feel like you must do everything and slip into a margin-less existence (what I sometimes call the do-everything-enjoy-nothing life).

Margin is the word we use for the white space on the edges of a book’s page. It’s the space where nothing is written. All of us need margin in our calendars—blank space where nothing is written.

As we enter the May blitz, let’s not forget to block off time to breathe, to smell the roses, to soak up God’s goodness, and to give thanks. In fact, go ahead and start right now. For God has given you this day, the Sabbath Day, for that purpose.

Clear the decks. Cut off the phone. Let’s focus on God and one another—worship, rest, and delight ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 118:24).

Your servant,

Bulletin for Sunday, April 26, 2026

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