CORNERSTONE CONNECTION Volume 17, Issue 11 November 2017 Join us for our annual INSIDE THIS ISSUE... How Should A Christfollower Live? 2 Women s Christmas Craft Fellowship Fall Harvest Photo Highlights 2 3-6 Cornerstone Early Education Center Discover Membership Class 7 8 Blood Drive 8 Thanksgiving Day Celebration 11AM Service 11:30AM Luncheon Potluck luncheon to follow the service. Sign up at the Greeter s Table on Sundays. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalms 118:1 Cornerstone Fellowship Mililani Mauka is a non-profit organization. This newsletter is published monthly. Pastor Tim Clayton tclayton.cfmm@hawaiiantel.net 2 nd Service Worship/Youth Leader: Josiah Strowd jojostrowd@gmail.com Ministry Assistant: Vicky Kawamae vkawamae.cfmm@hawaiiantel.net Financial Secretary: Elizabeth Strong finances.cfmm@hawaiiantel.net Cornerstone Early Education Center: Christina Robinson, Director Ph. (808) 626-8798 ceec.cfmm@hawaiiantel.net Church Office: 626-7719 Website: www.cornerstonemililani.com
2 How Should A Christ-follower Live? A Christ-follower can be defined in many ways with varying words. I think Scripture informs us well As an obedient child who is strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10) When times are tough and you feel like giving up, be strong. A Christian is strong, displaying moral courage, in the face of unrelenting opposition. A Christian obeys the Father rather than relying on themselves when times are tough. As an evangelist who is faithful in sharing God s message (Acts 1:8) The word evangelist was once exclusively a Christian word, often with a negative connotation. Now, you see the word used in business and other contexts. It is the one who communicates with fervency and excitement about the benefits and joys of a product or a movement. May we be as fervent and excited about communicating the hope of the Gospel. As a good soldier of Christ Jesus who is committed to Jesus (2 Timothy 2:4) A soldier endures suffering. Following Christ is not easy. There s an old saying: Growing old isn t for sissies. Being a follower of Christ is not for sissies either. It requires strength of character and intestinal fortitude to follow the way of the cross. Never were we believers promised an easy road or a safe passage. Suffering is a badge of discipleship. Expect it. Endure it. A soldier doesn t get entangled in the affairs of the world. As soldiers, our focus is on pleasing the Lord alone. We are totally committed to our Commanding Officer, the One who enlisted us. As believers, we serve only one boss and His name is Jesus. We are in the Lord s army now. Honor Him. Obey Him. Defend Him. As a disciplined athlete who plays according to the rules (2 Timothy 2:5) J. D. Salinger in The Catcher in the Rye wrote, Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules. As believers, we play by the rules God lays down. They are recorded throughout Scripture. And, when we do, we will get our reward from Jesus Christ. As a hardworking farmer who focuses on the future harvest (2 Timothy 2:6) A farmer can t plant the seed and walk away. He must plant, weed, water, and wait. That requires work. A field left to itself will produce mostly weeds. Sharing God s message is much like a farmer, cultivating relationships, spreading the seed of the Gospel, waiting for the words to germinate. And, hopefully, the seed takes root and a person comes to faith in Jesus. Sowing Gospel seed is hard work. It requires patience. It always looks to the future harvest. As a loyal citizen who continues to fight for God s cause (Titus 3:1) Christians are citizens of heaven God s Kingdom first and foremost before they are citizens of an earthly country. We fight for God s cause. Americans have had many battle cries, such as, Remember the Alamo and Remember Pearl Harbor. A believer s war cry is Remember Jesus Christ. He died, but rose from the dead. He showed that suffering produces glory, and that seeming defeat leads to victory. This is who we are as Christ-followers. May we live like it. Living For Jesus! Pastor Tim Women s Christmas Craft Fellowship Saturday, November 11 11 AM 2 PM Potluck Luncheon. Sign up at the Greeter s Table on Sundays.
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3 Cornerstone Early Education Center by Christina Robinson, CEEC Director Our school s vision is to raise up a generation that takes the light of God into the world. We will strive to develop our students spiritually, academically, emotionally, and physically, preparing them for their life journey. We are thankful that God is allowing us to plant seeds for Him in the children of our community. CEEC s First Fridays started a year ago with 6 children and this past month we had 41 former and existing CEEC students attending. We are also grateful that we were blessed by Joel Rivera s Small Group generously giving their time to assist us in making it a success for the students and their siblings. We started with the Cornerstone Kids playing basketball then we watched the movie of Saul on the road to Damascus with a true or false short quiz and discussion afterwards. Onolicious pizza was served while we talked about the Pumpkin Gospel and how God picks us out, cleans us out, and changes us from the inside out, kind of how we can pick a pumpkin and transform it this month. Everyone enjoyed taking part in the Pumpkin Balloon Race, the Pumpkin Toss, and the Bean Bag Light Up Board. We look forward to November s First Friday on November 3 rd! Faith and Family Night was held on October 13 th with families discussing Philippians 2:14-15 Do everything readily and cheerfully so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. We walked away from this night having a better understanding of just how much we grumble and complain when instead our gratitude to God should cause us to be thankful for everything in our lives. We also discussed how our actions as followers of Jesus Christ we should shine brightly like stars as we reflect Him to the world. Everyone played games that reminded us of specific words in the verse. The field trip to the Pumpkin Patch in Waimanalo though long was fun for the students, staff, and volunteer parents who came. They enjoyed the hayride, picking their pumpkins, visiting the animals, and seeing the sunflowers. CEEC students and families were invited to CFMM s Fall Harvest held on October 20 th. Families and staff who attended enjoyed it. Children enjoyed playing games, got their passports stamped and were able to pick out a gift for coming. Each October, CEEC has a costume parade to the Plaza Senior Center and parents volunteer to show their creativity in decorating their car trunks for the Trunk or Treat event. We all enjoyed the silliness, fun, and goodies that were shared. Looking forward to November! Joyce with her team at First Friday. Kolten and mom at Faith & Family night Bible study. Joel and Marcy and their teams at First Friday.
Blood Drive Sunday, November 19 th 1-6PM Our church will be hosting a blood drive. Please sign up at the Greeter s Table to give blood that day. Only 2% of Hawaii donates blood Blood only has a 3 day shelf life Some things to keep in mind, as you consider donating: Your participation is very important! Thank you for your life giving blood! Questions? Call the Church Office Discover Membership Class Sunday, November 26, 2017 12:30PM Childcare & lunch provided. Sign up at the Greeter s Table on Sunday or online at: www.cornerstonemililani.com