January 2008 Ponderings

Can you believe it's 2008? As with most people at the beginning of a new year I find myself looking back and looking ahead. As I look back, I see a year that was stretching in so many ways. When I say this I don't just mean personally but I speak for many here at Cornerstone - 2007 was a year marked by loss due to the passing of many of our loved ones. In spite of this loss however, God continues to work and grow and prune our lives so that more fruit can come of them.

This is why, when I look ahead to 2008, this verse from Isaiah 43:19 comes to mind: "See, I am doing a new thing! See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

Cornerstone, I believe that 2008 is going to be a pivotal year for us as a church community. Your leaders and I have been eagerly working on a number of initiatives to discern, join in and follow what God is doing in our midst. We want you to know that you have an important part to play in this process. In fact, we need your help. So the leadership of Cornerstone and I are praying that you will take very seriously your calling, as part of this community, what we have outlined below. The result of doing so will be the amazing opportunity to join with God in the redemptive process of creating a pathway through the wilderness for all those who are lost in our community enabling them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

The Strategy Team is Launched

This past December the Overseers approved the formation of a Strategy Team to help move our ministries and church forward. The goal of the team is to come alongside our ministry leaders and to work with the Overseers to formulate strategies so Cornerstone lives out its mission in the most effective way possible. This team is comprised of Liz Arnold, Eric Haskins, Shanu Kothari, Joel Rech and Jon Zlabek. Please pray for them as they are currently gathering information to provide the Overseers with a relevant and real assessment of where we are as a church.

Vision Forums

You are invited and strongly encouraged to attend one of the following Vision Forums the Strategy Team is hosting for your input. At these forums you will receive an overview of the findings from two survey projects we have conducted. One survey focused on Cornerstone internally, evaluating our health according to eight biblical health indicators. The other survey is helping us gain a deeper, more accurate understanding of the community, in which God has placed us. In turn, this will help us to more effectively leverage our strengths to meet our community's felt needs, which will open doors to meet their spiritual needs.

Vision Forum Dates

Tuesday, January 29th: 6:30pm-8:30pm (3rd Floor)
Saturday, February 2nd: 10am-Noon (3rd Floor)
Sunday, February 10th: 11am-1pm (Second Story)

State of the Church Address

Be sure to be here Sunday February 3rd to hear our annual State of the Church Address. I will be sharing some of the opportunities we have developing in front of us, in the hope of spurring us on in our ongoing transformation to live as fully devoted followers of Christ, so lives can be transformed in our community.

"See, I am doing a new thing! See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

As always, please feel free to call, e-mail or set an appointment to come and talk over with me any questions, ideas or concerns you have about life here at Cornerstone.

Gladly following God's lead!

Pastor Eric : - )