A Note From Chris June 10, 2021

As of Friday, Illinois is projected to enter Phase 5 of the reopening plan, with more restrictions lifted and greater steps toward a return to normal. While so many have struggled through deep illness and others have lost loved ones to COVID-19, we celebrate the answered prayers and the progress in our region and our nation against this awful virus.


At Cornerstone, we will continue to gradually make adjustments in the coming weeks as we move forward together. A few of those changes coming include:

• This weekend, no major changes, but the Shiloh café will be fully functional, offering food and beverages services once again. We are asking that for now you keep the food in the café.
  
  
• June 20th – We will no longer have entrance/exit only doors at Shiloh worship center, and we will no longer usher folks to seats but will offer open seating in the worship center.
  
  
• June 20th - We will no longer perform health screenings at children’s check-in area at either campus. While we are not preforming health screenings, standard and COVID related protocols remain in place.  PLEASE worship online if anyone in your family is sick.
  
  
• July 4th – Following CDC guidelines, staff and volunteers who have been vaccinated will no longer be required to wear mask. Of course, masks are always welcome.
  
  
• We will continue to provide designated seating at our Shiloh campus for folks who are still cautious and want to wear masks while attending service.

While there is no perfect way to navigate a global pandemic, I am proud of how our leaders, our team, and our church have responded to this crisis. We immediately took precautionary measures and made decisions on the fly that we believe most honored God and stood as a witness to those we long to reach with the gospel. We served our community and were the hands and feet of Jesus in times of need. We stood as a beacon of hope and light in the midst of angst and uncertainty.


As a church community, we hold tightly to our value, “Stand Together,” so that even when we have a disagreement, disappointment, or frustration with a decision or viewpoint of someone else within our body, we remain unified. We extend grace. We show love. That is what makes the church beautiful – imperfect people doing their best to diligently follow Jesus together. I for one am prayerful and hopeful for an incredible summer of growth together.


Last weekend, we launched our summer series on the book of Exodus. Why Exodus, you ask? Because the gospel is literally littered through the Exodus, and we see Jesus there time and time again. If you have not yet checked out our resource page that includes a weekly Bible reading plan, you can find it here.


Don’t miss our upcoming worship and baptism event, Cornerstone Nights, on June 27. We will gather outside at the Shiloh campus for worship, and prayerfully we will celebrate baptisms together in Jesus’ name! If you are interested in being baptized, you can respond to this email and we can get you connected. God bless!

Yours and His, 
Chris VandeLinde