This Week: August 26th thru September 1st

** Upcoming Events:

** Action Steps of Perseverance

Step 1: Pray & Praise - James 5:13 - Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises!

Step 2: Be In God’s Presence - Matthew 6:26 - Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

Step 3: Surround Yourself With Other Believers -  Hebrews 10:25 - "We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming".

** Each Month of 2024 we are going to have a Christian principle that we will focus on. Christian Principle for August - Forgiveness - “Decide that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay.” Jesus and the return of the prodigal son: (Luke 15:11-31

**Grief Share Group - This will be a monthly group that will meet on the 2nd Monday of the month. Our next meeting will take place on 9/9/24 at 7:00 in DeGraff. This is not a study, or a book, this is more of a support group. Pastor Mike is not a licensed counselor, but will be leading through questions and expressing our grief and walking along this path together. There will be other meetings happening, so hopefully we will not be overwhelmed and be able to find a space for privacy.

** AWAKEN is an event designed to equip you as a spiritual leader in your church and community.  This lay-center, worship-filled event is an excellent experience for you if you feel God working in your life and you want to be “all in.” Join us in Marysville, OH Sep 6-7 (Friday evening and all day Saturday) to learn how you can love and serve God more fully  Read more and register: https://alleghenywestgmc.org/awaken/

** The new website and email are active and are the new contact locations for all things Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff. https://www.cornerstonedegraff.org/ is online but still a work in progress. You are hopefully using the new [email protected] for the church email.

**We now have an online giving solution!! Simply go to:
​ https://subsplash.com/u/cornerstonefellowshipofd/give create an account and start giving online!!

** There are positions available within the church for you to get involved and belong to this body of believers. Be prayerful over the possibilities that God is desiring to use you. 
- Administrative Council chairperson - in transition
- Meeting Secretary - in transition
- Nominations volunteer - 1 spot still open
- We are also looking for a Lay Leader for the church!
There are many more ways in which you can get involved. Reach out to Pastor Mike with the ways in which God is calling you to be active!

The active Facebook page is found at: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneDeGraff
The active YouTube channel is found at: https://youtube.com/@CornerstoneFellowshipDeGraff

** Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff is a Global Methodist Church, and we are in the Allegheny West Conference and you can visit their site at https://alleghenywestgmc.org/ if you are wanting more information!  All the videos from the Annual Conference are now posted on their website!

** G.R.A.C.E. notes for this week.

G.R.A.C.E. volunteers,

An update for everyone!

1. We are getting ready to start our Pirate Power Pack weekend meal bags.
First pack - Tuesday, September 3rd, at 10:00 a.m.
For those who are helping to get everything out, please be there by 9:30 a.m.
We have been told that this year's number is 118 students. That is higher than in the past but we believe some Indian Lake families that were displaced may be living in the area.
An article on food pantry use today indicated that food pantries are seeing higher numbers.  Our numbers usually go with the same trends.

In 2023, we started with 131 and were at 109 by mid-October; 2022 went the other way with a start of 133 and 136 by mid-October.  2021 showed 141 to start and 127 by mid-October.

2. We served 1,164 meals during the Summer Lunch Program.  That is an average of 117 per week.

3/ We will provide "Soup & Sandwich Nights" in October.
Monday evenings - 5;00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
We are still looking at who is doing what week.  Here is what we have so far.  Cornerstone Fellowship & Stony Creek will each take a week that is remaining.
October 7th - Philadelphia Lutheran
October 14th - Quincy Methodist (tentative)
October 21st - ?
October 28th - ?
We have 8 ounce soup bowls with lids for use each week.
4. Our G.R.A.C.E. 30 second announcement that we won through Peak of Ohio contest will air throughout the month of September.  You cannot say much at all in 30 seconds!

Our thanks to everyone who supports G.R.A.C.E. through prayer, volunteer time, or financial donations.  It takes everyone to continue to make G.R.A.C.E. a program that is valued in the greater Riverside area.

Blessings! Thank you!

Darlene Roll

** Light Hours has been a great resource for our college age young people. If you are a college age person and would like a Bible study for your age group, let me know. We can get something started that fits your schedules!

** Our Cornerstone Women's group is planning to meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. The next meeting will take place on September 9th at 6:00 pm. 

** Our Cornerstone Men's group will be taking a break for summer. There are men looking to hold a Bible Study still, so reach out and see where you fit in!

** 5th Quarter is off and running with the beginning of High School football season last Friday! We had 128 young people come through the doors and have a safe space to be with each other after the game. We will be hosting Sept. 6th, Sept. 27th, Oct. 4th, and Oct. 18th! Volunteers are needed and appreciated!!See Janet Siders if you are interested. 

** Looking for people to join a new small group. This group will meet once a month and will tackle a tough topic that takes some reflection. Think of it as a Bible study, but a little deeper! Want to go deeper? Let us know!

**Missions Moment - What an amazing time with the Free Sale this year. Great big "thank you" to Sue Walls for always graciously organizing things and making things move. We had over 197 people come through the doors and served over 200 hot dogs!! Most importantly, God was present!!

** If you would like to purchase a Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff shirt you can follow this link and purchase your Cornerstone Fellowship swag! -  https://exodus-shirt-company.myshopify.com/collections/cornerstone-fellowship-of-degraff

** We are now collecting mac-n-cheese (mix or single serving) for the Five Loaves Food Pantry. We need 55 by Sep. 15th. They give out meals and food boxes Wed. Sep. 18th at 4:30 pm. If you would like to help carry boxes!

This Week at the Church: - August 26th - September 1st

Monday: Church Open 10-12 
 
Tuesday: Church Open 10-12 

Wednesday: Bible Study - at 10:00 am / Praise Practice 6 / Choir Practice 6:30 / Pastor Mike’s Quick Shots - Facebook and YouTube 8:00 pm

Thursday: Church Open 10-12 / Senior Lunch 11:00 / Worship Meeting 6:00 pm

Friday:  Church Open 7-9 / AA Meeting at the church 8:00 - 9:00 pm

Next Sunday - September 1st  - Cheerful Giving - James 1: 17-27 / Psalm 45: 7-10 - Adult and Youth Sunday School 9:30 / Worship 10:30 / Communion 

Two years ago we were On Mission! Worship - Reflect - Pray - Study - Serve - you can still use these methods! In 2023 we used the 5-S Method of Being The Church - Surrender - Surrounded - Spirit-Led - Self-Fed - Sent - We can still use the tools that we have been given to make sure that we have a fruitful relationship with God!

Please pray this week for those who are sick and need healing, and those who you can share the love of Christ with! Do not forget to pray for your church, your community, and your pastor.