JANUARY 2014 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1

Sunday Services

Traditional Service

9:30 a.m.

Sunday School

10:30 a.m.

Contemporary Service

11:00 a.m.

Many Americans take time at the beginning of every year to come up with New Year’s

Resolutions. There are several that appear on most people's lists.

Lose Weight and Get Fit

Learn Something New

Eat Healthier and Diet

Get Out of Debt and Save Money

Spend More Time with Family

Now that I am in my forties, I realize some of the things I used to be able to do physically

I cannot do such as touch the rim in basketball. As we get older some of us lose some

hair, we can’t run as fast, our joints creak when we get out of bed, and we slowly

deteriorate. The Apostle Paul names this.

NIV 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are

wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

The word that should be on our New Year’s Resolution List in 2014 is Transformation.

God wants us throughout our lives to be transformed in his image and likeness every day

becoming more like Jesus.

What does it really mean? A few thoughts I have personally been thinking about in my

own life.

It means that when it comes to our relationship with God we go after it setting aside

time every day to pray, study, and grow.

It means we aren’t content with the status quo with the same habits, behaviors, and

attitudes that we have always had.

It means we believe God can change us and has the power to do so.

On January 5th I will be unpacking this word transformation. Join us and

add this word transformation to your New Year’s Resolution list like I am.

Pastor Tim

What New Year’s Resolution Should be

On Our List

P A G E 2

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January Worship Highlights

Prayer changes everything! In January we will be teaching on several prayers in the Bible that could change your month, your year, and your life.

Jan 5th Living the Abundant Life John 10:10 Pastor Tim

Jan 12th Living on a Prayer Ephesians 1:18-19 Pastor Tim

Dare to Believe

Jan 19th Living on a Prayer I Chronicles 4:9-10 Pastor Tim

The Prayer of Jabez

Jan 26th Living on a Prayer John 17 Pastor Tom What Did Jesus Pray For?

Sunday morning Church Will Not Be Cancelled

With the storm on December 8th the question was asked, "Will there be church?" The answer going forward is "Yes church is on!" There are a couple reasons. One reason is that it has always been the policy to hold services no matter how bad the weather. The second reason is in this picture. Trent Williams has a large Jeep that will be picking up Pastors Tim and Tom in any storm that comes our way. Thanks Trent!!! We know not everyone is able to make it out of the house when the weather is bad. If you are able to make it out of the house and the weather is bad be assured, "Church is On!"

Pancake Breakfast

To help fund our summer mission projects, the youth here at Corner-

stone have several fundraisers during the year and it is time once again for

our annual pancake breakfast. January 5th from 8:30am to 11:00am we will be

serving up all you can eat hot and fluffy pancakes.

The menu this year includes all you can eat pancakes, butter, syrup, orange juice, milk,

coffee with three pieces of sausage. Sugar free syrup will also be available. You can get all of

this delivered to your table for just a small donation of $5.00. Please come out and support

our young people as they change the world through REAL LIFE ministries.

V O L U M E 1 1 , I S S U E 1 I N S E R T

Dear Rev. Tim, Rev. Tom and the Congregation of Cornerstone United Methodist Church,

On behalf of the children served through the ministry of HOPE that is Operation Christmas Child, thank you for partnering with our

local team once again to bring about the 6th Portsmouth Community Packing Party . You and the staff and volunteers at Cor-

nerstone were so gracious in coming along side us to provide the very best facility in which to hold this event. As you know, 8,754

shoebox gifts were packed in 4 hours by 250 folks!! Only our great God knows how many thousands of children and their fami-

lies will hear of Jesus because of this event. We could not have done this without the open hearts and willing hands of Cor-

nerstone’s church family.

What a great God we serve! We have prayed and worked and prayed some more all through 2013 and our God has been gracious

to bring forth thousands of shoebox gifts throughout the SouthEast Ohio Area directed toward this global evangelistic effort! We

want to share the good news with you!

South East Ohio Area Team: 10 counties: 40,040 shoebox gifts were packed!

The South East Ohio team had a 13% increase in the number of shoe box gifts packed

from 2012! This team has had an increase in shoeboxes packed since its beginning in 2006.

In addition, thousands of shoebox recipients will be enrolled in The Greatest Journey, a 3 month discipleship program in the child’s

language! Pray for much fruit from these efforts!

We look toward to 2014 with great anticipation and the question: What is GOD going to do

next? It will be an adventure to see His purpose! Please continue to pray for Operation Christmas Child, those who deliver the Good

News and the children and families who will be touched by the Savior’s love.

In Christ’s Service,

GOOD NEWS. GREAT JOY.

The 2013 Portsmouth

Area Packing Party Team

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Officers for 2014 were installed on Tuesday, December 10 during the annual Christmas party. Margaret Satchell, Shaw-

nee Valley District UMW Secretary conducted the installation ceremony. The officers are Carol Mascari, President; Sherrill

Day, Vice President; Fay Stewart, Secretary; Rebecca Climer, Treasurer; Connie Massie, Assistant Treasurer; Mary Beth Fike,

Mission Coordinator for Spiritual Growth; Shelby Powell, Mission Coordinator for Social Action; Donna Borden, Mission

Coordinator for Education and Interpretation; Helen Wolery, Mission Coordinator for Membership, Nurture, and Out-

reach; Stephanie Wright, Secretary of Program Resources; Patty Spriggs, Nominating Committee Chair; Mary Beth Fike,

Nominating Committee; and Barb Wagner, Nominating Committee.

Eloise White presented the Special Mission Recognition pin and certificate to Lynn Rodeheffer, our 2013 Woman of the

Year.

Entertainment for the evening featured the Portsmouth Elementary Trojan Express under the direction of Miss Emily Smith

and Mrs. Judy Smith. The students gave a great performance!

UMW meetings this month:

Tuesday, January 7 Executive Board 10:00 am Room 103

Wednesday, January 8 Rebekah Circle

Tuesday, January 14 Elizabeth Circle

Maxine Hoffman Circle does not meet in January

T H E C O U R I E R

Cornerstone United Methodist Women

Festival Choir

The Festival Choir will start rehearsals January 27th at 7pm. Our concerts will be the first weekend in May. This will be our 30th year together and will be our "farewell tour". We will sing favorite music from the past years. We would love to have everyone who has ever participated in the choir join us. We would also invite anyone who has

never sung with the choir to join us. This year's concert/service will be one to remember!!

Thank you to our Counters

Cornerstone has a wonderful group of folks that serve Christ every week after each worship service. They prepare the Sunday deposit that has been blessed to make

disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world.

Thank you Esther Swope, Lana Perry, Gail Miller, Margie Otworth, Steve Staker, Shelby Powell, and Bea Fortson.

The Courier is a

monthly publication of

Cornerstone United

Methodist Church. We

welcome any

suggestions and

submissions for our

newsletter. The

deadline for

submission is the

15th of each month.

The editor reserves the

right to edit all articles

for content and space.

Cornerstone United Methodist Church

808 Offnere Street

Portsmouth, OH 45662

740-353-2548

www.cumc-portsmouth.org

cornerstoneofportsmouth@yahoo.com

Non-Profit Organization

Permit No. 46

U.S. Postage Paid

address label here

Upcoming Events

January

5th Pancake Breakfast

11th Loaves and Fishes

12th Chili Cookoff

17th Food Pantry

18th-20th Girls Chrysalis Flight

20th Office Closed in observance of Martin Luther

King Jr. Day

23rd Chrysalis board meeting

and HOOT

February

8th Loaves and Fishes

9th Big Hug Sunday

15th-17th Boys Chrysalis Flight

V O L U M E 1 1 , I S S U E 1 I N S E R T T H E C O U R I E R

Our basketball league is off and running! We have 200 young men and women signed up this year and

tons of great things planned. What an endeavor; so many opportunities to reach out to families with the Gospel of

Jesus Christ, and at Christmastime to boot. I would like to share a couple stories from the past eight years that we

have been doing basketball and cheerleading here at Cornerstone.

My son Rob was in the 6th

grade our first year with basketball and we still tell stories about how hard it was

with only five kids on the team and having to play every period because we didn’t have anyone to come in off the

bench. Having only three players one game, we decided to conserve energy and only have two players go back

on defense, leaving one down the floor to rest. Look how far we’ve come. Rob is now a sophomore at Shawnee

State, and soon to be a junior, and now we have eighteen teams with an average of eight on each team. Isn’t it

funny how things that are fun and exciting stick out to you even eight years down the road?

Another story I would like to share is one of a family that goes to another church. The mom of one of our

basketball players came up to me toward the end of the season and she thanked us for doing the basketball

league. She wanted me to know that she and her kids had been going to church for years hoping and praying

that the kids’ father would go with them. He was a good man, but not a Godly man and she was praying so hard

that that would change. She said since halfway through that basketball season her husband was not only going

to church with them, but was getting up early on Sunday mornings and making sure everyone else was up and

ready on time. This is why we do what we do.

This year we have an awesome opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the families in our basketball

and cheerleading program. We have had great success and with your help we have provided almost $2000.00

worth of scholarships to families who wouldn’t normally be able to play because of financial reasons. Thank you so

much. We do however still have needs. We have almost $1000.00 worth of scholarship requests that have gone

unfunded so far. With your help our program is a success, and we hope to be able to continue changing lives for

God through a little game called basketball.

If you would like to help in any way please contact Doug

Shugert and

we will gladly

help you

get in- volved.

In His Ser-

vice,

Doug

ST. ANNE’S ST. ANDREW’S INVITATION

Welcome in 2014 by joining your friends at the St. Anne’s/ St. Andrew’s visitation ministry meeting on January 7th at 12:30!

Learn how just a couple hours a month can make a meaningful difference in the lives and hearts of our Cornerstone family.

The king will answer, “ Whenever you did it for any of my people, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40

Please call Gaylene at 740 353-4801 for more information.

Offering Envelopes are Available

Offering Envelopes are available to pick up in the

Welcome Center. If you do not have envelopes

and would like them please let the church office

know. Thank you for being such a generous con-

gregation that is fulfilling the great commission "Go

and Make Disciples", and the great commandment

to "Love God and Love People."

Basketball League Update

V O L U M E 1 1 , I S S U E 1 – I N S E R T

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PAGE 6

If you know a high school boy or girl you will want to know all about the upcoming

Southern Ohio Chrysalis flights. The Girls’ Flight is scheduled for Saturday, January 18

through Monday, January 20. The Boys’ Flight is scheduled for Saturday, February 15

through Monday, February 17.

So….. “what is Chrysalis all about” you might ask! Chrysalis is a three-day spiritual experience for high

school students. Here at Cornerstone we have made special arrangements to accommodate college stu-

dents as well. The three-day experience, called a “flight” is designed to bring participants closer to Jesus

Christ. There have been occasions where a young person accepts Christ for the first time during a flight.

But, more often, participants re-affirm a previously made commitment to Christ and discern how God is

calling them to use their gifts and graces now and in the future. The weekend consists of unique worship

opportunities, prayer, fellowship, speakers, small group discussions, singing, great food, and just plain

fun. The weekend leadership team consists of both youth and adults who have been well trained for the

Chrysalis weekend. It has been a joy for the past sixteen years to observe both flight participants and

team volunteers grow as Christian leaders.

If you are aware of high school students or adults who might be interested in learning more about Chrys-

alis, please refer them to Joanne Charles, Community Lay Director for the Southern Ohio Chrysalis

community, or Pastor Tom. Contact information is as follows:

*** Southern Ohio Chrysalis ***

Chili Cookoff- Saturday, January 12th, at 5:30 P.M.

Join us for this all church chili cookoff. It will be a great night of fellowship and food for a great cause.

We'll be raising money for children to attend school at Jardin De Gracia in Honduras. The cost is $1

per person. There will be a dessert auction and there will be a winner of best chili voted on by the

Cornerstone family. We need your help! If you would like to bring a pot of chili or dessert let the

church office know. If you want to come and just enjoy the evening feel free to do that as well!

Sacred Secrets Women's Bible Study

Begins on January 28th at 7 P.M.

Join the women of Cornerstone for six weeks of great fellowship, laughter, sharing,

and spiritual growth. Beth Rice will lead this excellent study from author Beth

Moore.

Jesus wants to spend secret time with you—an interior relationship that's unique to

just you two. Sacred Secrets is the new 6-session study from Beth Moore that ex-

plores the theology of secrets. Secrets can be good or harmful. Some need for-

giveness, and some should be kept between you and God. Join Beth to find out

what happens when we let God teach us "wisdom in the secret heart" (Psalm 51:6, ESV).

Sacred Secrets Women's Bible Study

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PAGE 3 V O L U M E 1 1 , I S S U E 1 – I N S E R T

Leadership Team Vision Casting

The Leadership team will be praying and vision casting for the next few years in January and February of

2014. If you have any dreams for Cornerstone please share them with anyone on the team. Members of the

team are Linda Toleman, Jeff Bradley, Carolyn Pettit, Steve Rader, Dave Todt, Jackie Scott, Dina Fraulini, Jennifer

Morgan, Beth Rice, Jeff Browne, Ron Mckenzie, and Tom Covert.

A Look Back

What a year! 2013 was an incredible year at Cornerstone. The highlights are

too numerous to count.

Sunday morning worship attendance was the highest it has ever been.

We helped more families through the food bank than ever.

Over 20 people were baptized through profession of faith.

Our children's ministry has almost doubled in size. VBS and Knost had

large groups in the summer.

Rejoicing in Recovery saw many come to Christ, and many grow in their spir-

itual journeys. Attendance has tripled in the past year as well.

The fair booth had it's best year ever.

Huge thanks to everyone for making this a very positive year financially. And

of course the building is paid off!

Our United Methodist Women, Men's Fellowship, and Sunday School

continue to be a strong force in the life of Cornerstone.

We had numerous missional opportunities-backpacks for kids, wheelchair

ramps, loaves and fishes, Chrysalis, Operation Christmas Child, Crop Walk, and

more.

The music ministry continues to shine as it always has through the years.

A new women's Bible Study ministry was launched with great success.

We have transitioned to a new leadership model with a Leadership Team.

An electronic sign was installed and is now inviting folks to Cornerstone.

Youth ministry is going strong.

Our bus ministry continues it's spirit of servanthood bringing folks to church.

We had great fellowship thanks to our radical hospitality team: a first church picnic, the harvest

dinner, hanging of the greens, mortgage burning celebration, and much more.

We acquired two properties with our dream of a green space getting closer.

We had eleven youth in a confirmation class.

Amy Lambert spoke at Cornerstone with many folks accepting Jesus.

Thanks to you all for living the dream that God has for Cornerstone to make disciples of Jesus Christ for

the transformation of the world.

V O L U M E 1 1 , I S S U E 1 – I N S E R T T H E C O U R I E R

PAGE 4

Preschool Elementary

First Service

9:30-10:30

Teacher: Jennifer Roth

Assistant: Courtney Adkins

Teacher: Ann Dissinger

Assistant: Brenda Covert

Teacher: Robbie Shugert

Assistant: Jodi Bickett

Teacher: Robbie Shugert

Assistant: Karla Coleman

2nd Service 11:00-

12:00

Teacher: Cindy Morrow

Assistant: Hetty Phillips

Teacher: Beth Rice

Assistant: Jessica Schoppe

Teacher: Robbie Shugert

Assistant: Jen Arnzen

Teacher: Robbie Shugert

Assistant: Katie Anderson

First Service 9:30-

10:30

Teacher: Robbie Shugert

Assistant: Linda Berry

Teacher: Lisa Kepler

Assistant: Robbie Shugert

Teacher: Kendra Tener

Assistant: Tener Kids

Teachers: Matt Taylor

Assistant: Danielle

2nd Service 11:00-

12:00

Teacher: Jessica James

Assistant: Robbie Shugert

Teacher: Robbie Shugert

Assistant: Kerri Galloway

Teacher: Tiffany New-

some

Assistant: Cassie Morris

Teacher: Jim & Angie

Bowling

Assistant: Jayla Bowling

Kids Schedule January

Jan.

5th

Jan.

12th

Jan.

19th

Jan.

26th

It’s a New Year. Cleaning out closets? Toy chests?

If you’re cleaning out toys, don’t forget Cornerstone

Kids Ministry. We would love to have new-to-us

games (with all the pieces) that the kids can play in

between services. We are also looking for DVD’s that

are kid friendly. If you have something to donate,

bring it to the church office or Rm 110.

Thanks!

Jennifer Roth

V O L U M E 1 1 , I S S U E 1 – I N S E R T

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PAGE 5

A Look Ahead

2014 is looking like another exciting year at Cornerstone. We don't have another building to pay off

thankfully...but we do have some exciting things to look forward to. A few of many highlights.

We are starting a new basketball league on Friday nights for Junior High and High School students.

On January 12th we will have an all church chili cookoff and dinner. It will be for a great cause in

helping children in Honduras be able to attend school.

We'll have Third Grade Bible presentations in January.

Sunday, February 9th will be Big Hug Sunday before Valentines Day. This was

a tradition of Franklin Avenue where the kids sing in worship, and give every-

one big hugs and a Hershey's Kiss. We are hoping to have fifty kids sing in the

kids choir.

We will have an all church bowling and fellowship evening at City Limits in

March.

Easter is happening on April 20th! He is Risen!

Our United Methodist Women are hosting Rev. Amy Aspey on April 27th.

In July a group from Cornerstone will go to this school in Honduras on a

mission trip.

And… We will be launching Upward Soccer...that's right, Soccer on our new green space in September.

Love To Stay Study for Couples

Sundays at 4:30 P.M. beginning on January 5th

Four Week Study

Tim and Jenn Roth will lead a study from Adam Hamilton that explores how with

God's help, we can make love last. Childcare is available. The sessions will focus

on:

What She Wants; What He Wants

The Significance of Sexual Intimacy

Habits That Hurt, Habits That Heal

A Love That Lasts a Lifetime