Dear Cornerstone family,
Today in worship we’re looking at 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and the subject of spiritual gifts. As I reflected on how this subject intersects with Cornerstone, my heart swelled with thanksgiving for the literally hundreds of spiritually gifted servants God has given to us who are serving on the front lines of ministry.
Each week, scores of volunteers are working behind the scenes welcoming visitors, making coffee, loving kids in the nursery, teaching Sunday School, prepping communion, leading musically in worship, visiting shut-ins, taking meals to the sick, discipling youth, praying for those in need, and countless other ways.
As we reported last year, more than 65% of the Cornerstone membership is involved in an identifiable area of service. That’s more than double the average percentage nationwide. For this, we give God all the glory!
Over the last year, the Lord has drawn a host of new members into our midst. Some of you quickly found your way into an area of service in the body, but some of you are still looking for a place to serve. If you’re in that latter group, pay close attention to opportunities to serve announced in the Focus on Church Ministry Page in the bulletin. We always have needs!
It could be, however, that you need help in discerning spiritual gifts or would like to learn more about a specific ministry area in the body. If that’s you, let me encourage you to reach out to your shepherding elder and deacon to begin that discussion.
Every member at Cornerstone has a shepherding elder to help meet spiritual needs and a shepherding deacon to help meet physical needs. If you do not remember who your shepherding elder and deacon is in the body, please touch base with our Church Life Coordinator, Dan Fiedler, at dan@cstonepres.org. He would be glad to help you.
Speaking of shepherding, Cornerstone continues pressing forward in our shepherding ministry. Your elders and deacons are reaching out to you on a regular basis just to check up on you, pray for you, and learn how to better serve you. When you hear from your shepherding elder or deacon, please help them serve you by responding to their phone calls, emails, and invitations to meet with you. Your participation in the shepherding ministry of the church helps us grow together into the church the Lord has called us to be!
Finally, please go ahead and mark Sunday, April 13 on your calendar. We will have an important Cornerstone Family Meeting during the Sunday School hour that day. At that meeting, we are excited to share with you advances in our shepherding ministry and the early plans taking shape for ministry expansion. Do not miss this important meeting!
Your servant,
