Ministers Message

Well  what a year it has been, as you read through this book of reports you will see so much evidence of God’s goodness amongst us and of the many good things that have happened. I say it in that way because no church can rely on activity or busyness alone, but rather we continue to look to see where God is doing something and then be there to join in. There are far too many people than I could list here and so to everyone – well done.

It was a joy, not long after the last AGM, that we as a family were able to move into our permanent home at Sandpipers and we thank all those who supported us and encouraged us during this time of transition. It has been good to welcome many of you to our home socially or for a meeting (not forgetting Ron’s gang who kindly built our furniture) and we’d be glad to see you at any time. It has also been great to see over the last year members of my family making good friends outside the church and inside. It was a pleasant surprise when many members of the congregation shared lunch together in September to mark my first anniversary as Minister.

My work as Minister continues to expand as, in the last twelve months, we have expanded some of the things that happen at Cornerstone through the week. I am also about to become the convenor of the URC Wessex Synod Mission and Outreach Committee. I have continued to share fellowship with other leaders on the Waterside although I have been slightly disappointed to see the limited opportunities for working together with other churches. Things have also been quiet on the URC front with little contact or relationship with our new South West Area of the Wessex Synod and time will tell how this will develop or whether historic links with Southampton United Reformed Churches would be more beneficial.

I said in last year’s report that I sensed that we were entering a time of consolidation and to some degree that is true. I am very grateful to Joy Funnell who has stood in as Church Secretary for the last 12 months and for the commitment, encouragement and willingness she has shown – I am equally glad that Terry Pearce is willing to accept the Elders nomination for this post. We have also completed our review of our leadership structure and God has guided us along this way in a remarkable way reaching such consensus.

We are not far off being able to nominate a full ‘slate’ of Ministry Team Leaders who, together with the Elders, will form a new ‘Leadership Team’ and will oversee much of the day to day work of the church. This consolidation and review has also been at work in the work of our community project ‘Families Matter’ and we are making headway with this. There is plenty still to do, particularly in the area of our Youth Work and Leadership and also in the next phase of the development of our Foyer Ministry, as well as continued development of our mid week worship. These and other areas of development will need discernment and risk and I am very excited about where God may be leading us.

I am also aware of the danger of people becoming overburdened and unable to cope with all that could be done. We must always safeguard the quality of all our relationships with one another and with those with whom we have friendships outside the church, not to mention our time for rest and recreation. Our relative size as a church means that there are always issues and problems to solve and challenges to face. At times these can seem massive and they can cause us personal disturbance as people, and there are many times when I feel like this. It’s often at these times when God brings us encouragement either directly or through somebody else and I need this as much as you do. It is also true that the scale of our activities can sometimes mask some real emotional needs in our midst – these could be various and some may even relate to the painful chapter in the recent history of our church. Friends never feel that because we are moving on in many ways that there will not be a listening ear to your pain and struggling. We are at the heart of it a bunch of imperfect people all in need of God’s grace and mercy most perfectly seen in Jesus’ death on a cross for us. I hope that you will join us for our church away day on June 6th where I know God will bless, encourage and renew us as well has allowing us to have some much deserved fun together.

It has been wonderful to see that God has provided all that has been needed to continue to pay back the loan for the new building and to
continue our overall work. Thank you to all who have given financially and sacrificially to bring this about, this is surely a great sign of support for what we believe God is calling us to do here (including those who have recently joined us and our vision). It has also been good to see us relaxing a bit more with the space in our building and also developing ways of facilitating and considering the needs of others in what can be, despite its quality, limited space.

In my Home Group Team report I make mention of the URC Vision4Life process looking at Bible, Prayer & Evangelism. Because of a divergence of views about this at the time we did not formerly become part of the process. We have however continued to receive information and news about this process and if God draws us back to it then we will follow. Whatever we do we must be people of the Bible, people of prayer and people with a story to tell others about Jesus.

I’ve rambled a bit and I am sure I have missed out many things – so apologies if I have forgotten something vital. As I write this God has laid upon my heart a Bible verse which I think under-girds our desire to see lives changed through the mission and ministry here at Cornerstone.

“For when I am weak, then I am strong” says 2 Corinthians 12:10. Why? - Because then we can open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit and to his perfect way for our lives. So despite the many good things happening here at Cornerstone, I am not going to boast in these things to others but rather “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me”
2 Corinthians 12:9.

So I thank God for the privilege of serving Him here and I trust and pray that I will receive your support and prayer in the year ahead.

Your friend and Minister

Eddie Boon