A Note From Chris- April 6, 2023

This is it! This weekend, we celebrate one of the greatest and most incredible truths of the Christian faith: the tomb is empty.

The tomb is empty means....

.... Jesus conquered death.
.... Our sins have been paid for, and we are redeemed.
.... Death has no power of the power of Jesus.
.... Death doesn’t have the final word.
.... The Enemy has been defeated.
.... There is hope for everyone, no matter their story or past.
.... There is nothing you are struggling with that a resurrection can’t fix.
.... Nothing but the tomb is meant to be empty.

I could go on! The empty tomb is hope, and life, and vindication, and restoration, and meaning, and purpose, and joy, and celebration, and so many other things for those who are being saved. Thank you, Jesus, for the empty tomb.

Last weekend, we made commitments as a church family toward our This Is For Everyone vision campaign. We are still compiling totals for the commitments, as more come in every day. We will have a running total NEXT Sunday (4/16). Overall, all signs are very encouraging, and I’m blown away by our church’s generosity. If you haven’t made your 3-year commitment yet and would like to do so digitally, here’s the link.

I can’t wait to worship with you Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection. To me, Easter is one of those gatherings that should be an, “Of course I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss it!” sort of celebrations. This year, Cornerstone will be celebrating under a huge tent in the front yard near where our new worship center will be built. On top of what gathering means on Easter, this year carries an extra layer of meaning as we launch out with our vision to reach our Ones and make room for them in our family.

Here are a few notes as you prep for our Easter celebration Sunday:

•Our services are at 9:00 and 11:00, with family activities (inflatables, a scavenger hunt, petting zoo, etc.) in between and after services.
•Donuts and coffee will be available all morning, as well as a tent for Next Steps in case you bring your Ones who may need some more info on Cornerstone.
•The tent is big and awesome. This will be a memorable Easter. But the floor is grass, and we’ve had some rain. Our team is taking steps to dry it out, and this shouldn’t be a deterrent. But maybe reconsider white shoes if you have a choice.
•We are taking our First Fruits offering this Sunday toward the This Is For Everyone vision campaign. Please prayerfully consider giving Sunday to help us jumpstart the giving to the campaign. You can of course do that in person or digitally.

I’m preaching my sermon today and spending time praying for our Ones. Friends, Jesus is ready to do a major work in their lives. Let’s pray them up and invite them in!