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1 Vol XXXV Number 1 January 2015 Our Staff: Tim Hughes, Senior Minister Tim@CornerstoneRock.org Matt Crossman, Youth Minister Matt@CornerstoneRock.org Collin Moneymaker, Worship Arts Minister Collin@CornerstoneRock.org Ben Radant, Children s Minister Ben@CornerstoneRock.org Paula Rader, Administrative Assistant Paula@CornerstoneRock.org Elders: David Kish - Chairman Walt Brown Scott Curtis Bill Estes Secretary Steve Hassfurder Chas LaPierre Vice Chairman Ministry Team Leaders: Questions Info@CornerstoneRock.org Adult Spiritual Growth Tom Dillow Assembly Preparation Kathi Hamilton Benevolence David Berryman Communion/Baptism Ken & Vicki Tirey Community Jennifer Parker Fellowship Sherry Brown Fellowship Marilyn Wheelock Food Pantry Cheryl Kish Military Sharon Sherck Missions Dave & Carol Scudder Property Gil Edgerton Join Us for Cornerstone's 35 th Annual Birthday Celebration On Sunday, January 25 at 5:00 pm We invite everyone to this celebration of the birth of Cornerstone. We will have a catered buffet dinner of fried chicken, rib tips, cheesy potatoes au gratin, green beans, applesauce, biscuits, apple butter, and birthday cake! The cost for this event will be $5 for adults; $3 for children age 12 and under (under age 2 is free); with a maximum charge of $20 for your immediate family. Reservation envelopes are available in the lobby. Please complete the information on the front of the envelope, insert cash or check (made out to Cornerstone) and place in the offering plate on Sunday or drop it by the church office by January 11. Reservations must be purchased in advance to allow for enough meals to be prepared. The Rock / January 2015 Page 1 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org

2 Measuring Our Faithfulness: November 2014 General Rec d $79, Goal $81, Year to Date Re,cd $814,065.7 Goal $784, Average Weekly Attendance Worship 399 Sunday School 170 Food Pantry Served Families served = 156 Adults = 325 Children = 330 Bags given = 668 Turkey vouchers = 154 Families signed up for toy drive = 43 The Rock (USPS #016052) is a non-profit publication published monthly at Cornerstone Christian Church, 8930 N SR 267, Brownsburg, IN Periodical postage paid at Brownsburg, IN POSTMASTER please send address changes to: The Rock Cornerstone Christian Church 8930 N State Road 267 Brownsburg, IN Offices Fax OUT OF MY MIND Tim Hughes, Senior Minister Looking Forward to Christmas For most people, Christmas is a time to which we look forward with a lot of excitement and anticipation. Granted there are some bittersweet moments associated with Christmas as well, but in 2013 Pew Research did a study of what people most look forward to at Christmas time: percent said spending time with family and friends percent mentioned religious services or religious reflection percent look forward to the Christmas "spirit" of joy and good will 4. 5 percent said music, decorations, and shopping 5. 4 percent look forward to the end of the Christmas season I can go along with three out of the five listed above. There are other smaller and even silly personal things for me. Last year I set up an archery range in the garage and three of the grandkids and I spent hours shooting at targets. I also look forward to making lots of jerky for the family to enjoy. It has been claimed that I clog up the kitchen at inconvenient times during the holiday season. That s probably true, but at least I have the support of my wife s dog, Winston, who is always right by my side throughout the whole process. I believe that jerky time is one of Winston s personal favorites. Worship Arts Minister On a much more serious note, for centuries all of God s people looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You hear the term advent at Christmastime and just in case you wonder what that word means, it has the idea of arrival. We celebrate the arrival of God s Messiah, Jesus Christ. God had promised a Messiah, a Savior, and all creation anticipated His arrival. You may be expecting guests for Christmas. There are preparations that you will make for your guests. Please consider how much thought and energy you give to thoughts of our Savior Jesus Christ during the Christmas season. We can put so much time and energy into setting up lights and decorations, preparing meals and buying gifts that our hearts may not be prepared at all for Jesus Christ at a time when the focus should be on Him. What means the most to us? Preparing for family and friends at the Holidays, or preparing to worship Jesus and give him the honor that he deserves? I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and I also hope that you will experience the everlasting joy that only Jesus can give to those who have put their faith and hope in Him. Collin Moneymaker All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us ). Luke 1:23 We hope you will join us on Christmas Eve as we take a chance to worship our Savior and celebrate the fulfillment of a promise: Immanuel has come. God is with us! The Rock / January 2015 Page 2 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org

3 What's all the Fuss About?!?! We are encouraging everyone to read through the Bible in the upcoming year. We are beginning to talk about it now so that you can plan and muster your determination to step up to the challenge. But you may be asking what has prompted this challenge at this particular point in time? Having had many conversations with Tim, some elders, and many other Christian brothers and sisters, it seems as though the present day Christian has learned to take the good parts of the Bible but not take the Bible as a whole -- It is one story, one predicament, one solution presented by and about God. If, as a Christian, I am not aware / understand the totality of the Bible, the effect of my Christian life will be greatly lacking. For example new atheists will know more about the Bible than I do and I will have at best only an inadequate response to their accusations; my Christian life will not experience the power it needs to live rightly - resisting sin and serving the kingdom. The Bible is our objective window into knowing who God is. It gives us the response to those who question the existence of God; it provides us the understanding of God s design and intent for how our lives are to be lived. So, don't know where to begin? Tried it before but it is too boring? Tried it before but none of the books seem to relate. I have already read it Cornerstone leadership and the Adult Ed Ministry Team are providing options and help to deal with these and other concerns. Be looking for the Year of the Bible table in the lobby; peruse different versions, resources for reading plans, order a new Bible at a DEEP discount. Tom Dillow Christmas Offering The leadership is designating 11/23 through 12/21 as the time to receive our Christmas offering. You can designate all the offering to go toward one ministry or divide it up in whatever way you want. The three different choices will be 1)The Cornerstone Food Pantry currently serving an average 110 families per month or 2)Sheltering Wings which provides emergency housing for all women and children suffering from any form of domestic abuse or 3)International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES) which is a Noblesville Indiana Christian based ministry providing emergency relief to people around the globe. More information can be found on their website at IDES.org. Envelopes are available in the lobby. The Food Pantry Shelves Always Need Extra Items WEEKLY! You could help by bringing... Needed Monthly... New or Used Paper Bags Beans Beef Stew Breakfast Cereal Chicken Breast (canned) Chicken Noodle Soup Corn Crackers, Saltine Diapers (sizes 1-6) Drink Mix or Juice Drinks Fruit Fruit Cocktail Green Beans Hamburger Helper Jelly Laundry Detergent Mac/Cheese Meat, canned Muffin Mix Noodles Noodle & Rice Mixes Oatmeal Pancake or Biscuit Mix Paper Towels Peaches, canned Peanut Butter Pears, canned Peas, canned Pineapple, canned Pork & Beans or Baked Beans Potato Product Ramen Noodles Rice Products Sloppy Joe Mix Soups Spaghetti Spaghetti O s Spaghetti Sauce Syrup Taco Mixes/Kits Toilet Paper Toiletries (Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste, Deodorant) Tomato Soup Tuna Vegetable Beef Soup Vegetables, Assorted The Rock / January 2015 Page 3 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org

4 Youth Minister Matt Crossman Children s Minister Ben Radant Cornerstone Student Ministries... For teens and adults... Youth Group well meet on January 11 and 18. We will be starting a 4 week series entitled Guardrails. We will be talking about how to set up Biblical practices in our lives to help protect us from doing things we might regret later. Dodgeball, January 26, 4-7pm. Because of the Church Birthday all the chairs are removed from the auditorium which means we have an opportunity to play Dodgeball! We also have pizza for dinner. All you need to do is bring $1 to help with the cost and we cover the rest. Invite your friends and have a good time. Don t forget that we offer Sunday morning Bible study classes every Sunday at 9am for both middle school and high school. Pacers Night for Sheltering Wings Cornerstone will be attending the January 27 Pacers game verses the Toronto Raptors. The game starts at 7 pm and the tickets are $10 per seat. A portion of your ticket cost will go to Sheltering Wings. The first 25 people to sign up for tickets will have the opportunity to waive the giant Pacers flag on the floor as the players are introduced at the beginning of the game. Let s pack the house for a wonderful cause and root on the Pacers! Save the Date: SuperStart! SuperStart will be March SuperStart is CIYs Preteen conference for those students in grades 4, 5 and 6. It will be held at Traders Point and we will spend the night at Cornerstone on Friday night. Cost for the event is $65 and that pays for registration, food, and Plug N Play time. Registration deadline is February 17. To see what SuperStart is all about visit their website what-is-superstart. We are still looking for sponsors for this event. If you d like to join us for this awesome event contact Ben Radant. What's In The Bible? Our students in grades 1-3 will be going through the entire Bible in During the 9am service we will be offering the What s In the Bible curriculum. This is a great way for your children to get to know what is in the Bible. This includes historical context, fun facts, and of course the stories from Genesis to Revelation. It s a great overview of the entire book. Each week we ll have take home questions for parents to do with their children. It s a great overview of the entire Bible from start to finish! Teacher Appreciation Lunch Our teachers at Cornerstone do so much for the Children and Youth Ministries! We want to take a moment and say a huge Thank You to those many volunteers. They make such a difference in the lives of their students. If you are a teacher or volunteer for the Youth or Children s Ministries at Cornerstone we invite you to stay after church on January 18. We will provide lunch and childcare. Dear Cornerstone Parents and Members: I wanted to update you on our current volunteer situation for Children s Ministry at Cornerstone. We strive to provide the best environment in which to teach God s Word. Over this past year we have really grown in the Children s Ministry. This is an exciting time, as more families are finding a home at Cornerstone. The challenge is that we are understaffed with volunteers. The need is urgent as we approach the new year. There are different opportunities and age ranges with which to help. Please consider volunteering in one of these areas: 2s & 3s Teacher 9am (January, April, July, October) 2s & 3s Teacher Assistant 9am (February, May, August, November) Grades 1-3 Small Group Leader -9am (January, April, July, October) Grades 1-3 Small Group Leader -9am (December, March, June, September) Preteen Small Group Leader 10:30am (February, May, August, November) Snack Coordinator for 2s-K Nursery Workers 9 or 10:30am The Rock / January 2015 Page 4 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org

5 Celebrating Our 35th Birthday Sunday, January 25 Reservations Required The Rock / January 2015 Page 5 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org

6 Beginning January 4, 2015 Adult Sunday School Classes 9:00 Connecting To Be Announced Room 216 Home Builders Why I Believe Room 214 Pathfinders When You ve Been Wronged Room 212 NewGenerationLeaders The Book of Acts Room :30 Halas The Genesis Record Room 105 Philia The Early Church, Faith Lessons Room 210 Sonrise The Book of Ecclesiastes Room 214 Connecting to Cornerstone Teachers: Chas LaPierre, Alyson Lurker A new class will be announced. This class will include the elements of fellowship, Bible exploration, and discussion. The focus will be on what God has said to us in the Bible and how we can take action on that truth in today s world. Anyone may attend this new class; however, the class is designed for those who are new to Cornerstone. This class could help you develop the faith you desire, invigorate a faith you already have, or define how you want to grow and serve. You may join this class at any time. Each of the ten sessions is selfcontained. The sessions will be repeated throughout the year, so, if you miss a session, you can pick it up the next time the series is presented. Home Builders Teachers: Kevin Bayless, Scott Curtis, Tom Dillow Why I Believe Is there really a God? Why should I believe the bible? What happens when we die? Can miracles be explained? Depending on who you ask, answers to questions like these can be varied and confusing. Can we really know the truth? If we take the time to look and study, there are solid, logical answers to satisfy the heart and mind of those that are seeking truth and meaning. Join us this quarter as we take a look at some of the issues at the very core of our beliefs. Pathfinders Teacher: Scott Keller When You ve Been Wronged We will be doing a study called, when you ve been wronged. Have lies been told about you? Have you been rejected? Maybe you ve been the victim of abuse? Perhaps a broken promise or betrayal of confidence. What to do? This study talks about forgiveness and how you can make the decision to forgive. New Generation Leaders Teacher: Justin Spears The Book of Acts We will closely read and analyze Acts. We will place an emphasis on discussing the life of Christians and the church. We will use a variety of methods and supplemental materials to complete this study. Halas Teachers: Steve Matthews, Jim Harter The Genesis Record This study will focus on Genesis, God s first written word to man. We believe that all of God s scripture is inspired and true and that means the book of Genesis also. The book of Genesis records for us the origin of the heavens and earth, man, nations, governments, and sin. It also records for us God s dealing with mankind and ultimately a people of his own calling. The study will focus mainly on the first section of Genesis (Ch. 1-12) and how that compares with the last book Revelation. Philia Teacher: Bill Estes The Early Church, Faith Lessons This Bible study on the Early Church, uncovers the passion and commitment early believers displayed as they claimed Jesus in the face of fierce consequences and powerful adversaries. Filmed on location in Israel, Faith Lessons is a unique video series that brings God s Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible s fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan reveals unique insights into the Scriptures significance for modern believers. Sonrise Teachers: Dave Blanford, Walt Brown The Book of Ecclesiastes Almost 3,000 years ago Solomon spoke to a seeming dilemma that many people wrestle with today--that life is empty, hollow or meaningless. In a study of the book of Ecclesiastes, we will see Solomon s instruction that our life experiences--relationships, work, possessions, pleasures--all have value, but only in their proper place. The Rock / January 2015 Page 6 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org

7 Community Life Sermons are Available Online... If you would like a CD copy made, please complete a yellow card at the Welcome Desk and copies are available the next week Year End Contributions We will be closing out 2014 in a few weeks and will be ringing in 2015! In order for you to claim a deduction for contributions you make to the church, we must receive your contributions by the end of the year. Contributions you make in the year 2015 cannot be deducted on this years tax return even if the check is dated this year. There is one exception--a check that is written, mailed, and postmarked this year even if it is not received by the church until the new year. Our church will be following these rules in issuing receipts. Please contact Dale Steele with questions Offering Envelopes Envelopes are available in the library (Room 102) for those who regularly use the envelopes. If you do not have envelopes with your name, please sign the list for the next available envelope number. Please contact Dale Steele with any questions. Capital District Christian Men s Fellowship Way to go Cornerstone! We had a great turn out for the December meeting; the total attendance was 95 men and women representing 11 churches. The offering was $1195. The Cornerstone crew in the kitchen did a great job. No one went away hungry and we even had some pie left over. The worship service was outstanding. Cornerstone s choir was over the top and Wayne Lundberg s piano playing was magnificent. Randy said they have let the contract for their first new lodge. It came in under 10% of the projected cost. Now they need to have about 30 days of dry weather to put in the foundations. He asked that everyone be praying for dry weather. Next month we travel to Bluff Creek for Vision night. Circle January 19 on your calendar and plan on going with us. This is Vision night and the ladies are invited to join us. We need to have our reservations in by Friday, January 16 to be sure everyone can be served. The bus will leave at 4:45. We sit down to eat at 6:00. Men plan on bringing you sons and grandsons; they are the future of CDCMF. Mark your calendar for January 8 to un-decorate. Senior Adult Ministry Fellowship There were 31 of the Senior group who enjoyed the trip to Myers Dinner Theatre. We thoroughly enjoyed the Triumphant Quartet. They are one of the most popular Southern Gospel quartets. They reaffirm that their main focus is to keep God first in everything they do. They are coming back again next December; maybe we will plan going to enjoy them again. Please sign up in the lobby for our next events. Thursday, January 15: It s pitch-in time. The church will furnish the meat and you can bring your favorite dish and dessert. We will plan on eating right at noon in the multipurpose room. BINGO is planned for after the meal. Thursday, February 19: We are going to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. We will eat at the Speedway MCL. Greeters If you have moved or have a different telephone number please update those to me at hamilton.kathi@gmail.com before December 30. I will be updating our list in January for Thank you for your wonderful help with this ministry. Greeters Wanted If you are looking for a way to serve your Church, I am always looking for a few new greeters. The only qualifications are a willing heart and a warm smile. You would be required to serve every third month. If this is something you think you would like to do, I would like to talk to you. Please contact Kathi Hamilton at or hamilton.kathi@gmail.com. Ministry Team Leader Needed We are looking for someone to head up the Unlock & Lock Up Ministry. The responsibilities are straight forward. Sign up volunteers; one a month to unlock and lock up the church doors every Sunday of that month. Monitor the fulfillment of their monthly commitment. If this is something you would like to do, please contact the church office. The Rock / January 2015 Page 7 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org

8 CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE AT 6:00 PM NO CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED POSTMASTER: please send address changes to: The Rock Cornerstone Christian Church 8930 N State Road 267 Brownsburg, IN office fax CornerstoneRock.org Periodical # Non Profit Postage Paid at Brownsburg, IN The Rock / January 2015 Page 8 check for updates... CornerstoneRock.org