Dear Church Family,

It has been a spectacular school year. We have seen new individuals and families become a part of the Cornerstone Church family. We’ve seen individuals trust Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. The whole body (and particularly the Vision Team) labored faithfully to seek God’s face for our future. God is bringing in a harvest. Keep praying, keep serving, our labors in the LORD are not in vain.

At the same time, the year has been filled with moments of sorrow and pain. We’ve seen close friends go through illness and death. We’ve seen loved ones struggle through difficult marriages and relationships. I’m thankful that at these moments that we have Christ’s church to offer support and solace. I’m thankful for a church that deeply cares for one another.

Christ promised, “In this world you will have trials and tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world.”

A look ahead…

This Sunday May 20th…Back by Popular Demand!! Rob Taylor will be preaching from Genesis 32. Keep him in your prayers as he labors over God’s Word and prepares to speak with God’s people. I’m so thankful for Rob’s passion to study and proclaim God’s Word. He models the heart of Ezra: “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (Ezra 7:10, NIV). We’ll also be blessed as Jeff Olson leads us through the Lord’s Supper.

“Drinking Deeply in Dark Days” — Summer Series: Starting June 3 our church family will begin traveling through the Psalms. We invite and encourage every person to grab a Reading Guide so we can all read together the 150 psalms. Also, we encourage every person at Cornerstone Church (teenagers included) to identify one person to pray with on a somewhat weekly basis throughout the summer (more details to come). Call someone today and ask them if they will be your summer 2012 Prayer Partner.

Church in the Park, June 17: We will be having Church in the Park on June 17. Our worship service will start at 10AM in downtown Marion at the Depot. Bring your own picnic lunch for after the service. There will be no Sunday School, Nursery or Children’s Church. Bring chairs, a blanket, activities for kiddos (as needed), and dress for the weather.

Privileged to serve with you,

Pastor Matt

As such, we would like you to join us this summer for a 3 month pilgrimage through the Psalms.

Together as a church we will read all 150 psalms. Together we will hear and meditate on one psalm per week in the Sunday morning service. Together we will ask God to speak to the deepest recesses of our souls.

Dear Church Family,

By God’s grace, we are the bride of Christ. God loves us with a fierce and holy love. He looks on all our sin, evil, and brokenness and chooses to lavish on us grace, mercy, tenderness, and daily presence. No one is too broken for God’s healing. No one is too evil for His redemption. God forgives the ungodly and justifies the sinner. Ephesians 1:5-6 tells us, “God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves (NIV). God intentionally brought us into his family. It was his will and good pleasure to do so. Our response is simply lifelong praise of His glorious grace. We stand in awe of God’s glory. We stand in awe of His sovereign grace. He gets the glory; we get the grace. Receive God’s grace today and then return to Him in worship.

Lots of Church and Community Announcements:

Ladies Craft Night May 3^rd 7:00 p.m. at Rebecca Roush’s 2614 Bever Ave SE Cedar Rapids

Church Family Meal and Congregational Meeting, Sunday May 6: Please plan to join us for a fellowship meal right before our business meeting at New Life Community Church. Cups, plasticware, napkins, and plates will be furnished as well as water and coffee to drink. Please bring a main dish and either a salad, vegetable, or dessert to share. The church meeting will follow after the meal.

Service Opportunity: Ladies, would you like to be part of honoring our “new” moms by helping with baby showers? It’s our goal to shower them with love when they have their first baby after coming to Cornerstone. If you’d like to be part of the fun, please fill out the card that’s on the welcome table and give it to Sue Frederick, or leave it with the greeters.

Voices Of Hope – 2012: The partner ministries in the Serve The City coalition are hosting the 11th annual Voices Of Hope concert. The singers in the 100 plus voice choir are from local churches throughout the area. This is a God-Honoring Patriotic Evening that has increased in attendance every single year with 2,339 joining us in 2011. Do you like to sing in a choir? Will you sing with us this year? Sign up with Pastor Matt today! He will submit the list of singers to Serve the City before Thursday May 10th.

The 61st Annual Observance of The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 3rd. You are invited to join us at Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids from 12 noon to 1 PM. (The park is bordered by 3rd Ave, 4th Ave, and 5th St. SE) This years theme is One Nation Under God based upon Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Dr. David Jeremiah has written the National Prayer this year. This time of prayer is co-sponsored by the Linn County Association of Evangelicals and Serve The City. Updates can be located locally at www.servethecity.org or nationally at http://nationaldayofprayer.org

RAGBRAI: On Thursday July 26 20,000 bike riders will converge on the CR Metro area. The Visitors Bureau is looking for folks willing to be hosts to riders on that evening. If you are interested in opening your home to RAGBRAI riders, please sign up at www.cedarrapidsragbrai.com/housing

A forgiven sinner,

Pastor Matt