March 2011 Minister's Message
Created on Thursday, 24 March 2011 11:46
Dear Friends,
Well, February has been an exciting month and it was really good to share in our Forward in Faith day on 13th February. I hope you feel that you have got an important part to play in the life and outreach here at Cornerstone. We are thinking and praying through some developments in our fellowship life, our work with young people, our worship, our support for mission projects near and far, the resourcing of our Puppet project, the way we communicate and share in the ownership of what we do, an environment to grow in numbers and in faith and discipleship, our welcome and outreach. These plans will be taking shape over the next few weeks.
None of these things will happen on their own but our prayer is that we will, over the next five years, move significantly forward as God leads. We will need more people to share this vision and to get involved practically. We will need people to prayerfully consider pledging financial support so that we can be responsible in what we do as a church. I know that God has been, is and always will be faithful and I sincerely hope that we will respond with faith, willingness and generosity to a wonderful God who leads us on. How will you respond?
We also recognize the need to nurture our informal fellowship and friendships, investing quality time with one another. This is not something that comes easily in a busy church. Perhaps this time of Lent will help you to free up some time for this. Perhaps you will spend some time encouraging someone else. Perhaps you’ll join with many who have booked on our 2012 church weekend. Another great opportunity will be our church camp at Corfe on 6th August this year - a relaxed time to spend together having fun, getting to know people better. If you don’t like being in a tent then why not book a B&B or caravan nearby and join us each day or why not just come down for the day (it’s not too far).
One of the major problems a church like ours faces is to resist becoming institutional like a business, where if you say you would like to see something happen then immediately someone will sort it all out. If we are to move on as a church we will need to be less interested in what can be done for us than we are about what we can do for others.
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:9-12)
With best wishes to you this month
Yours in Christ
Eddie
