Construction - Progress on New Building

Great progress is being made as the crews clear the church grounds in preparation for construction. Praise God! You should have seen those big machines working this week! I've captured pictures and videos - I'll try to post them later this evening.

But due to this progress, THERE ARE SOME MUDDY AREAS ON THE CHURCH GROUNDS where we used to walk to and from parking. So here are some tips:

If able, park in the main parking areas - behind the sanctuary building, or in the spaces to the side or nearest the road. This will allow you to walk into the sanctuary without walking thru dirt/mud areas.
IF the main parking areas are full, there is space is the parking lot behind the old building.
IF you park in the lot behind the old building, please drop off all passengers near the front door of the sanctuary before parking. This will minimize the number of people that have to walk thru dirt/mud or walk all the way around the church property to avoid the dirt/mud.
Also, IF you park in the lot behind the old building, follow the marked walk ways thru the construction area, which will help you avoid mud.

Thanks for you help in this area. I hope that we can fix up a walkway from the old parking lot for next week.

Please forward this information to others who may not otherwise get it. Pass the word!

Thanks,

Dave Perrin
Director of Ministry Development

Reformation Day Party - 10/30

On Sunday, October 30, 5-8pm, Cornerstone Youth Ministries will host a Reformation Day Party. The party will be for the children of Cornerstone (PreK-5th grade) and for the community of Town Creek. The youth (6th-12th grade) of Cornerstone will be hosting and serving at this event. October 31 is the day Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the door at the Wittenburg Church door. This event sparked the Reformation. We will celebrate in the following ways:

1. Yard Games (bring your Cornhole, Bocce, etc.)
2. Food cooked over the fire (hotdogs, s'mores)
3. Trunk-or-Treating

We need families to host in the Trunk-or-Treating. Trunk-or-Treat is like Trick-or-Treating, except you do it from trunk of your vehicle. We will have people park in the front parking lot of the church and pass out candy to those involved. It will be a great time for fellowship and getting to know our community.

Also, if you have a yard game you would like to bring, please do so.

This will be a great night of fellowship and a great opportunity for us to get to know our community. Please invite your friends!

Middle School - Forrest Hall Farm/Corn Maze

In lieu of middle school youth group, on October 24th, we'll be taking a trip to Forrest Hall Farm in Mechanicsville.

Who: Middle school students and their families.
What: Trip to Forrest Hall Farm to run through their Corn Maze, do a hay ride, and enjoy the various fun things at the farm.
When: Monday, October 24 - leaving the church at 5:00 pm and returning around 8:00 pm.

Cost: $6/person. Under 3 for free.

Other Notes: We'll be bringing food to the farm with us. If you have snacks that evening, plan accordingly. If you can drive, please contact Maria Matthias.

If you have questions, please call or email.

UPDATE: Service Opportunity - Hurricane Clean-up

This encouragement is from Lee Mason. Thanks to all the folks to served that family in Wildewood. The Lord is good!


My sincerest thank you for the incredible turnout this last Saturday to help Mr. and Mrs. Patterson clear the downed trees from their property. I didn't take an exact count, but I estimate that we cleared out 13 large hardwood and pine trees, including all the branches and clippings. The sheer volume of debris on Wildewood Parkway and on their cul-de-sac is a testimony to everyone's hard work and dedicated service. And we completed all the work in 4 1/2 hours, which is 90 minutes fewer than we originally planned.

I know Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are exceptionally grateful, and what a wonderful way to show God's light in what can (and is) a very dark world. My hat is off to all of you. And to that end I would like to list the Cornerstone members and friends who assisted (not in any particular order):

Eric MacQuilliam
Robert Eby
Luke Hoffman
Austin Dillow
Gabe Mason
Nate Mason
Caleb Fahrner (with dad Carl)
Matthew Eastburg
Hank Rouland (with dad Aaron)*
Carter Harris*
Samuel Harris (both with dad Wade)*
Connor Dittmar
Micah Dittmar (both with dad Josh)
Daniel Leepa*
Christina Sproul
Daniel Shoup
Andrew Whipple
Stirling Brandt

*members of Boy Scout Troop 2819

I want to give special recognition to Hank Rouland as recipient of the Cornerstone Tree Clearing Service "Turn and Burn" Award. Hank put his head down and worked diligently throughout the morning and early afternoon. Great job!

Finally, I want to give Honorable Mention to Sam Perrin, who showed up, unfortunately, right as we finished the last tree-clearing. Though he missed out on the fellowship and service project, he will have other opportunities to show some "sweaty spirituality" in the weeks to come. More to follow, brothers!

In Christ,

Lee Mason

Youth Group Schedule

Click here to download the schedule for our youth group meetings throughout the rest of the year.

The schedule is subject to change of course, but as of right now, this is it. Please call of email if you have questions.

Service Opportunity - Upcoming Children's Choir

This would be a great opportunity for our youth to serve. If you are available on Wednesday evening, I'm sure Mrs. Ashby and Mrs. Baller would love your help!

Back by popular demand…the Cornerstone Children’s Choir! We are happy to announce that Kristin Ashby and Nicole Baller have volunteered to lead a children’s choir for those in Grades K-5. The choir will practice on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-6:45pm in the Sanctuary beginning on Wednesday, September 14th. The children’s choir will sing once a month for offertory in both services. Please signup on the back of the worship registration. Questions? Please contact Kristin Ashby, kristinumd@hotmail.com or Nicole Baller, howdynicole@gmail.com.

Service Opportunity - Hurricane Clean-up

This is a letter I received from Lee Mason calling our youth (particularly our boys) into action. Hope to see you there!


Gentlemen of Cornerstone,

I am soliciting your support in helping a co-worker of mine, Mr. JB Patterson, who has ~12 trees down which need to be cut up and made ready for collection. He is a retired Navy Captain who lives on the corner of Wildewood Parkway and St. Andrew's Church Rd (at the end of Pine Needle Ct - first residential street on the right as you come up Wildewood Pkwy from St. Andrew's Church Rd). Originally he asked for my sons' help but it is just too much for so few people. His need has turned into a great opportunity for the young men of Cornerstone to serve the local community and show the light of Christ.

So here's the deal:

1) Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (understanding that there may be morning and afternoon commitments like soccer games and sports practices - just show up when you can)
2) Mr. Patterson will provide pizzas, bottled water, soda, and snacks (including healthy stuff) to keep everybody energized and motivated
3) Please bring gloves, wheelbarrows/handcarts, rakes, shovels, and - if any dads are helping - chainsaws. If you know of other good tools to bring, by all means do so.

As always, safety is paramount. This project will not include contests in dead-weight log-lifting, chainsaw battles, wheelbarrow racing (though maybe so after we're done) and tree climbing abilities. We are here to have fun AND serve simultaneously.

I encourage fathers to participate, although my principle audience for this project is the young men of Cornerstone. I know that this call for assistance is on very short notice, and I understand if you have other commitments. Nevertheless, I look forward to a good turnout for a great cause.

Please let me know yea or nay if you can assist. I can also be reached via cell or text: 301-997-5737.

In His Service,

Lee Mason