Community Outreach - Landscaping at Project Transitions

WHEN: Sat, May 30th, 9:30-12:00

WHERE: See Evite

Get out your shovel and gardening gloves!  We’ll be helping out with the landscaping at Doug’s House, a residential five-bedroom residential hospice for people in the final stages of AIDS. Part of Project Transitions, it is the only HIV/AIDS hospice facility in Central Texas.  By helping out with landscaping, we can help save Project Transitions money, and at the same time, show our support for the local AIDS community.  If you’re interested in finding out more about Doug’s House, check out http://projecttransitions.org/dh.shtml.

An Evite has been sent out for it... let us know if you have any questions or didn't receive it.  

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ Party

WHEN: Sat May 23rd, 11am
WHERE: Freescale Pavilion, 7700 W Parmer Ln (take a right once you enter from Parmer at Tamayo; the Pavilion will be on your right)

Andy's small group is hosting a BBQ party! Bring yourself, a big appetite, and a friend or two to come eat and have fun. We'll also have other activities (such as basketball, volleyball, games...etc.). If you have your own equipment, please bring it.

An Evite has been sent out so please let us know if you haven't received it yet. RSVP by Wednesday, May 20th, so they know how much food to purchase. They will be taking a donation ($5 per person) to cover the cost of food.

Youth Retreat Counselors Needed

We need youth retreat counselors this summer!  The retreat is at Camp Buckner from Thursday July 30th afternoon to Sunday August 2 noon.  We understand that you may have problems with their work schedules given the dates but you can still be a counselor--just come in on the Friday evening if you can't miss work.

So what does a youth retreat counselor do?  Counselor responsibilities include: love the teens, be godly role models to them, listen to them and hear them, get to know them, have fun with them, pray for them, have one-on-one times with them, participate in main sessions and organized activities, help enforce camp rules, defeat campers in camper/counselor challenges, etc. :)

You don't need to have extensive experience working with youth--just a willing heart.  We'll train you and show you the ropes.

If you're interested in being a youth retreat counselor, or have more questions, please let Josh Chen (ACC Youth Director) know.  Deadline to sign up: June 7th.

Visiting Buckner Villas Retirement Home

WHEN: Sunday May 17th, 9:30am

WHERE: Meet at ACC

Buckner Villas is a retirement home near ACC that we visited a few weeks ago.  On the morning of May 17th, we will be paying them another visit from 10-11am to sing to and chat with the elderly folks there.  We're looking for 10 of you guys to meet up at 9:30am at ACC and head over to Buckner Villas together. 

Please contact Marilyn if you're interested! 

"Grieving" - Panel of Speakers

WHEN: Friday May 15th, 7:30pm

WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg (upstairs)

None of us can escape from disappointments and tragedies in life.  One of the biggest disappointments we experience is the loss of a friend's or loved one’s life.  It is during this difficult time that we often struggle to understand the meaning of life and how to properly grieve.   How do we deal with our emotions and where does God fit in this whole picture?  In the midst of the tragedy, how can God heal our wounds?  How can we draw strength from Christ and just as importantly, how can we use this opportunity comfort others in sadness and to be salt and light for the world?

“Healing is not the resolution of our past; it is the use of our past to draw us into deeper relationship with God and his purposes for our lives.”  -Dan B. Allender, “The Healing Path”

Join us for our special panel of speakers, who will share their experiences.

"Fireproof" Movie Night & Baby-sitting - RSVP online

WHEN: Sat May 9, 6:00–8:30pm with an optional dinner beforehand from 5-6:00pm.

WHERE: ACC Taylor Hall

RSVP online if you have not done so already and plan to come.

    * Thank you to all those who have already signed up online!  That will really help us prepare for this event.

    * If you are interested in coming, it’s not too late, just sign-up online.  You can pay for your ticket by donating to ACC for the English Outreach Ministry.

    * If you have invited guests, please sign-up for them or ask them to.  Be praying for them this week, that they will be able to attend and have open hearts. Follow-up with them to make sure they know the details of when and where.  We will have a welcome table and serve dinner outside of Taylor Hall. Childcare and the movie will both be in the Taylor building.

    * For Cornerstoners who are coming to help with childcare, please make sure Edward knows you are coming to help so he has a headcount of available people-power.  If you would like to eat with us, please RSVP online.

Arrive early:

    * Please try to show up on time or early so that you can help our visitors feel welcomed.

    * From 5-6pm, we will serve dinner and whether you are eating or not, please come early and get to know people you don’t normally talk to.

    * The Austin Fire department will try to send a firetruck and firefighters to ACC from 5-6pm, so there will be some fun things and a good photo-op for kids.

    * If you are coming only for the movie, please arrive by 6pm so that we can get started and end on time.

Help with the event:

    * If you are not bringing a guest, please consider attending the movie and helping with the event.  If you would like to help, email Richard.

Prayer:

    * Even if you cannot come, you can help by praying before, during, and after this event.  

ACC Electronics Garage Sale

Our church is having an Electronics Garage Sale to raise money for our East Asia and Thailand short-term mission teams. There are two ways you can support them:

Come to the Electronics Garage Sale!
When: May 2 (Sat), 7am-2pm
Where: ACC Morrison Hall

And for that to happen, we need stuff to sell--Bring donations of laptops, software, cameras, A/V equipment, gaming equipment, cell phones, etc! Collection times are as the following...
When: May 1 (Fri) 7-8pm AND May 2 (Sat) 7-9am
Where: ACC Morrison Hall

If you have any questions, contact Adam Wong.

Potluck and Games!

WHEN: Fri May 1st, 7:00pm
WHERE: Johnson's place; 2413 Avenue N, 78727

Come join us for a night of food, fun, and fellowship - hosted by Moses' life group. An Evite was sent out earlier this week so let us know if you haven't received it yet. Sign up and let us know if you're bringing a side dish, dessert, or drinks--the meat will be provided for, but you are more than welcome to bring a meat dish if you'd like.

The Chopstick Challenge

What would you do to save a life?

In 277 BC during the Warring states period of China, a royal descendant and poet-scholar Chu Yuan became prime minister but was removed from his position because he objected to the use of force and violence.  Banished to the countryside and grieving that he could no longer save his country from the turbulent times, Chu Yuan threw himself into the Milo River of Hunan Province.

Hearing of Chu’s action, villagers gathered their boats and rushed into the river to save him.  Alas, they were too late, but their solidarity and cooperation lives on today in the tradition celebrated by Dragon Boat Festivals held around the world.

What will you do to save a life?  Will you rush into action before it’s too late? 

Help us reach out to the lost in Austin by joining us this Saturday April 25 at the 11th annual Austin Dragon Boat Festival.  We’ll be conducting a fun Chopstick Challenge and trying to glorify God by promoting the Gospel.  Volunteer with us from 10:00am-3:00pm at Festival Beach on Town Lake.  Contact Richard to sign up and for more details.  No experience, just faith required.

Outreach Event at Buckner Villas Retirement Home

WHEN: Sat April 25th, 9:30-11am
WHERE: 11110 Tom Adams Dr, Austin 78753

Buckner Villas is a retirement home near ACC. This Saturday we'll be spending morning free time with their residents--playing cards, dominos, or just chatting. We'll also be offering manicures for the elderly ladies there (so girls, please sign up and bring your supplies!). The volunteer coordinator has requested that no more than 10 people come, so please RSVP quickly to our Evite (or let us know if you didn't receive one).

Visiting Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) Professor

WHEN: Fri April 17th, 7:30-8:30pm
WHERE: ACC John Sung Bldg

Professor Robert Chisholm, of the Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, will be visiting ACC this weekend and giving a series of talks on the Books of Amos and Micah. Prof. Chisholm is a renowned scholar on the Major and Minor Prophets books and authored a number of books on the Prophets. He also served as the senior Old Testament editor of the New English Translation (NET) Bible.

See attachment for a detailed schedule for this weekend, April 17-19 (Fri-Sun). (Note, lunch is included on Saturday!)

First Base Tutoring (Background Check Information)

f you would like to volunteer for First Base Tutoring and still need to get your background check done, you can do it online!  **Make sure to complete at least 3-4 days BEFORE tutoring, as it takes 2 business days for your background check to be completed.

 - Go to their website

 - Click on "General Volunteering - 08/09 - Rodriguez Elementary" -> "Click Here For Details" -> "Sign Up" -> "New Volunteering Sign Up" -> "Ok" to authorize a background check

 - Fill out the forms (be sure to fill out the "School Preferences" and "Volunteer Preferences" field by clicking on "Open")

 - Click "Save and Exit"

After about 2 business days, if approved, you should get an email.

Good Friday Service

WHEN: Fri April 10th, 7:30pm

WHERE: ACC John Sung Bldg

Join us and the English congregation for "Portraits of the Passion" at 7:30pm in ACC's John Sung Bldg as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross. Please arrive on time.

In this week leading up to Easter Sunday, we encourage you to contemplate what Jesus' sacrifice means to you. Personally.  Christ came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28).  The death of the Son of Man was a ransom--a payment made to set you and me free from the deadly power of sin.  Our debt to God was infinite, and takes an eternity in hell to pay it off.  And when Jesus came, he overcame evil by doing what had to be done first--paying the debt--not by persuading people not to sin or to talk them out of sinning.  Only after Jesus paid our debt that we could not pay ourselves, can we enjoy being free and be declared righteous by faith. Knowing this, what does that mean to you? How is that reflected in your life?  (source: John Piper)

Easter service will be this Sunday, at 9:30am in the ACC Taylor gym.  What friends of yours can benefit from hearing about the amazing gift of life that Jesus Christ enables us to have?  As people are more willing to enter a church on Easter day, we challenge you to step out in faith and invite them!

Event with ACCCF

WHEN: Fri March 27th, 7:00pm

WHERE: UT campus, NOA 1.126 (See picture for parking information)

Most ACCCF (Austin Chinese Campus Christian Fellowship) members go to the Mandarin fellowship at ACC.  Even though many of us go to the same church, but we rarely get to hang out with each other.  This Friday, we have the rare opportunity to join fellowship with them.  Let us come together for worship and listen to the talk about cross-cultural missions. 

Our speakers will be Craig Bennett and Tommy Broyles, two adminstrative law judges from Austin.  Dinner is provided (FREE!!!!) and will be served at 7:00pm.  Make sure not to be late! We will also have an ice-breaker game and after the talk, we'll have a chance to get into small groups for discussion!!!  

Please take this opportunity to reach outside of our regular boundary and please bring a friend!!  

Reaching East Asia... from Texas

The OMF (organization founded by James Hudson Taylor, whose vision is to see church-planting movements in each of East Asia's unreached people groups) local Texas team is looking for new volunteers. Have you considered that reaching East Asia's people can happen right here and now?

They are looking for people with a passion to reach East Asia. Perhaps you can't go overseas right now, maybe you have a heart for missions and don't know where to start. BridgeAsia, the OMF volunteer ministry, offers many opportunities to use your gifts, passions and talents to serve in missions. We have positions for prayer, mentors, advocates and event coordinators. They'd even be able to mentor you along in your missions journey if you aren't sure yet.

They have a vision to see a team of volunteers right here making a global difference through these positions.

You can be the someone to make a difference today. E-mail them if you are interested or visit their website to read stories about their volunteers as well as learn more about the roles in which to serve. It only takes a few hours a month to make an eternal impact among the unreached!

If you have any questions, please contact Beth Forshee, the volunteer coordinator for mobilization.

Movie Night

WHEN: Fri March 27th, 7:30pm

WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

Join us this Friday as we watch "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," which takes a look at the debate over evolution--“Wasn’t this all settled years ago?” The answer to that question is equally troubling: “Yes…and no.” The movie challenges Darwin’s 150-year-old theory of life’s origins with new scientific evidence that has recently emerged--DNA, microbiology, The Big Bang, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, and the human genome. Each of these discoveries has, in one way or another, led a growing number of scientists to reconsider the simple view espoused by Darwin that life is a random, purposeless, chance occurrence. The universe, and life itself, is turning out to be far more complex and mysterious than Darwin could possibly have imagined.

We'll be watching the movie on the big screen in the upstairs room of Carey--accompanied by popcorn (made fresh on the spot with a popcorn maker!), candy, and drinks--followed by discussion on the movie. This is a great opportunity for you and your friends who may have lingering questions about creation and evolution. We challenge you to invite your friends!

ACC English Retreat

WHEN: Fri-Sun, March 20-22

Cornerstone will be combining our weekly event with the English retreat this weekend.  We're glad to see so many Cornerstoner have signed up to join us at Camp Buckner! We'll be back at the Carey Bldg next week with movie night.

"And They Will Become One Flesh" (Gen 2:24)

WHEN: Fri March 13th, 7:30pm

WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg, Downstairs

Leslie and Flora Keng will be sharing with us, through their friendship of 13 years and marriage of 7.5 years, about various aspect of a relationship which include dating, long-distance relationships, life decisions, love languages, marriage, and God's faithfulness through it all. 

Appreciation Party for Pastor Walton's family

WHEN: Fri March 6th, 7:30pm
WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

Come join us this Friday, when we're hosting an appreciation party for the Yuen family for their many years of service at ACC. It'll be a great time to mingle with everyone and share your experiences that you've had with them. We'll have snacks, desserts, and drinks... so see you there!

First Base Tutoring... from a player's perspective

The First Base tutoring program was set up by the youth in response to the needs unprivileged elementary school students in south Austin. Janie, a Cornerstoner, went for the first time this past January and shares how God not only used her to help a 5th grader, but also used this opportunity to encourage her! Thanks for sharing with us, Janie!

When I showed up for February's First Base tutoring, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had no idea how many students were coming, how many other fellow volunteers would be helping out, or how to even approach a tutoring situation. I don't have a lot of personal experience working with children, so I was feeling a significant amount of anxiety: How am I going to communicate with the students? Will we be able to connect? Will we have anything to talk about? Will they even like me??

It was a huge encouragement to see about 50 other volunteers show up that morning from all different lifestages in the English Congregation, and I think that was the first of many ways God showed how thoroughly his faithfulness can work that day. I personally had a lot of fun partnering up with one fifth grade student on some really difficult reading tasks because we took several breaks (mostly for my sake), where we had opportunities to talk about her interests and goals for the future. My student was very excited to tell me about how she wants to be a doctor and work with very young children, and it was very cool to be able to encourage her about her future and her interests. We also talked about the scary transition to middle school and her family before I realized we still had some more reading inferences to finish.

Since graduating from college, I've realized that personal leisure time shrinks in alarming ways, and it becomes harder and harder to be intentional with what is left of that time when it makes a lot more sense to use it for my own benefit or enjoyment. I'm grateful for the opportunity to go tutor because I was reminded of how investing in the Kingdom is worth the personal sacrafice it sometimes takes. Several of the students were asking if we came from Ms. Wong's church, and even though we may not have been in the best situation to talk explicitly about Jesus and his Gospel, it was so cool to see fellow congregation members show Christ's love and a little of who he is to the students who came for tutoring. I hope that people continue to pray for or help out with the tutoring program at the school, and that God will use this opportunity to continue drawing the students and their families to him.

Skit Night - hosted by Moses' life group

WHEN: Fri, Feb 27th, 7:15pm (note the earlier time!)
WHERE: ACC Taylor Gym

Have you ever wanted to be an actor? Got acting skills and want to show them off? Even if you don't, come out this Friday as Cornerstone combines with Wildfire for a skit night! All other groups (Lighthouse, Covenant, and Branch) are also invited to attend. Feel free to invite your friends to this event. Prizes will be awarded!

Meet in the Taylor Gym at 7:15pm so you can be assigned to a team as we will need to begin promptly at 7:30. There will be a short game show to start the evening that you won't want to miss!

Soccer Missions

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:18a

How would you like to join a Christian soccer team made up of men from all over the world and tour through a foreign land? This soccer team is dedicated to the immediate Evangelization of southeast Asia, specifically Thailand!

Sattha soccer is a ministry created by missionaries from Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF). We exist to glorify God by the urgent evangeliztion of East Asia's millions.It all started about 11 years ago with the idea of using soccer (a sport that most Thai boys and men play daily) as a tool to help local missionaries and church leaders to reach out and strengthen their witness to their communities. It took a while to figure out how this ministry could be most effective and it was decided that bringing in a team of non-Thai men to play against local teams in rural areas where they would never have the opportunity to play against foreigners. The first two week tour was about 9 years ago. The team was made up mostly of missionary kids from a school called Faith Academy. Thus, it was decided that the team name would be the Thai word for Faith..."Sattha".

For the last eight years, God has faithfully provided men to join this team for a two-three week tour each summer. Our long term vision is to help local Thai churches to develop a soccer ministry, team, and possibly a league. This ministry is not intended to play against national teams; but to provide a quality level of soccer against teams that may never have the opportunity to play against a team of foreigners or more importanly hear the gospel.

What we do:
- Yes, we play a lot of soccer! We typically play between 15-20 games in a tour.
- We play games against different universities, high schools, government agencies and detention centers. At each game, the Gospel is presented to the teams as well as the spectators.
- We go into schools and teach conversational English as well as participate in a program where the Gospel is shared.
- This is a great opportunity to build relationships with the Thai people and demonstrate our desire to see them come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.
- Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
Date: July 1st - 22nd, 2009
Cost: $350 (US) plus the cost of getting to Thailand. This will cover your meals (Thai food), lodging, uniforms and transportation.
Other short-term opportunities from US in Asia for those that don't play soccer
Questions: Contact Alice Chao

Singleness

WHEN: Fri Feb 20th
WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

How we understand singleness may not be how God understands it. While society can place undue burden and stress upon an individual who is not married, God desires all people to live out his purpose on earth, whether we are single or not. Let us discover what God's Word teaches when it comes to being single and a Christ-follower.

This Friday, we have a visiting pastor, Arthur Hsu, who is excited to share with us about Singleness. We'll bring some snacks and drinks!

Shop-Off Results

Thanks to all those who came to the Saturday Shop-Off on Jan 31st, which benefitted our Austin area teachers and also an investment in the next generation. Nita shares with us what happened with all those school supplies...

We had about 60+ people (including the kiddos) come out for the shop off. We spent $900.48, plus lots of book donations. So far, the feedback has been very positive for those who went and weren't a part of the planning. I helped Jenny drop all the supplies off, it took both of our trunks to get it to the school. The teachers were thrilled! Thank you all, for the administrative help, prayers, and most of all, for the compassion! I'm excited to see more events where we can come together as a team, and as a church to distribute the mercy and grace so lavishly bestowed unto us!

Victory Over Temptation

WHEN: Fri Feb 13, 7:30pm
WHERE: Carey Building downstairs

Temptations are a normal part of the Christian life. The good news is that God has provided ways to help us have victory over them. We will look at some of the truth and lies of temptation. Our speakers will share how God has equipped us to have victory over sexual temptation. During this time, we will be addressing some of the good questions submitted earlier, part of which will be in separate men and women sessions.

We have the privilege of hearing from some of our own ACC members, Roger and Ilan Huang, speak on "Victory Over Temptation." They are a married couple who have served at ACC for many years, currently serving on the Prayer Team and recently led the ACC English Concert of Prayer. Roger has taught Discovery Group classes, including one similar to the topic that will be discussed, and Ilan has been a part of the ACC women's ministry, Tapestry. They have four beautiful children--Bethany, Hannah, Joshua, and baby Elizabeth.

Game Night with the Tsuei's

WHEN: Friday, February 6th, 7:30pm ~ when PG and Tina decide to kick us out (hope they are not reading this.)
WHERE: Pastor Gaylord & Tina's house (map)

Are you a big time board gamer? Are you feeling lonely because you have no one to play with? Are you looking for someone to beat down on your favorite board game? Well, bring your competitive but most importantly loving spirit to Tsuei's house this Friday.

All jokes aside, just come and enjoy the fellowship. Feel free to bring your own board games to play!

Praise and Worship + School Supply Shop Off

WHEN: Friday, January 30th, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
WHERE: ACC Carey Building (direction and map)

Have you been challenged by the current financial crisis or worried about the tight job market? Even in tough times, we are really quite blessed in the United States. To help put that into perspective, Pastor Enzo Saavedra from Bolivia will be visiting to share about some of the challenges that young adults in his country face. Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, and it is experiencing some troubling political changes. Learn how God is working in Bolivia, and how God can use us (even in a recession) to truly be a blessing to people desperately in need.

Annie's life group will also be leading us in a night of praise and worship!

WHEN: Saturday, January 31th, 2pm
WHERE: ACC John Sung Building (direction and map)

Thanks to Jenny and Shelby for sharing about the tremendous need for manpower and resources at their school. Let's join together as a congregation to help these teachers and students start the new year off right by providing them with their needed school supplies!

We will meet at the John Sung Building at 2:00pm before splitting into groups and heading out to buy items on the teachers' wish lists.(Please note: We'll be taking monetary donations on Saturday to help with the cost of purchasing school supplies, so please come prepared.)

P.S. If you are not able to attend the event but would still like to help, we'll have school supply lists available on Sunday outside of Taylor Hall so that you can donate items instead of time. For more info, contact Edwin Woo at edwingwoo@yahoo.com or Nita Teng at nitayateng@gmail.com.

Capital Area Food Bank

WHEN: Saturday, January 24th, 9:00am- 12:00pm
WHERE: 8201 South Congress, between William Cannon Drive and Slaughter Lane (map)

We will be serving the city of Austin by sorting food down at the Capital Area Food Bank. Please wear closed-toe shoes (dress code requirement). If you would like to carpool down together, meet at ACC by 8:15am in the Carey building parking lot. If you will be driving on your own, meet at the food bank by 8:50am.We will come back north after we finish and have lunch together in Chinatown at Braker. Restaurant is TBD. EVITE to follow

Taste Taiwan... in Texas

WHEN: Sun, Jan 25th, 6:30pm

WHERE: Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church (5300 Duval Rd, Austin)

It's a boots 'n boba kinda night!  Free on Sunday, Jan 25th?  Of course you are!  Come taste Taiwan at Austin Taiwanese Presbyterian Church at 6:30pm.  Snacks are provided!

Why is a seemilngly "open" country so resistant to the Good News of Jesus?  What are the real needs of Taiwan? Come out and hear the answers to these and other questions through a fun & interactive time! (Also guaranteed to be challenging and enlightening.)  Speakers include Irene Nicholson & Katherine Tang, who are part of OMF--a ministry that serves throughout East Asia in evangelism and discipleship, church planting, tentmaking, student ministry, English teaching and mobilizing and equipping Asian churches for world missions.

Where did the socks go?

609 pairs were raised during the sock auction in December... Janie dropped off the socks the week after the auction; here's her awesome experience!

since we raised so many socks (hooray! God is so good!) mission possible was able to use the socks for two of their major christmas time events that week. the day i dropped off the socks, they were going to pass out ~200 free sleeping bags to people who received vouchers during a church under the bridge service or received them from people who went to the service. 3 groups of about 20 volunteers from a few local churches came in shifts to help pass out the bags + our socks! there was also a large donation of beanies, so mission possible reps were really excited to be able to offer people from the streets warm sleeping bags and accessories this christmas. apparently, a lot of the people who attended church under the bridge gave vouchers to their friends, who rode the buses with them to receive their bags.the rest of the socks were saved for a special christmas eve celebration/bible study that they held that week. usually, the center invites people on the streets to attend a bible study on tuesday and sleep at the center for the night, but they decided to move that week to christmas eve so that people would have somewhere to spend christmas morning at. they were expecting a little over 300 people to show up for the bible study/christmas night stay, so it turned out we raised the PERFECT amount of socks for their christmas activities that week! pretty exciting!

it was cool because i got to talk to some of the volunteers (including people who used to live on the streets) while waiting for the socks to be...whatever it was they needed done to them...and got to hear some really interesting stories. and it was really encouraging to see so many people coming during their holiday break to help pass out sleeping bags to people. the person coordinating the even was saying how this was a huge change from having only 2-3 people organizing this event last year.

CTI Concert

Wed, Jan 14
Dinner: 6pm @ Rudy's (183 & Duval)
Concert: 7:30pm @ ACC John Sung

CTI (Carpenter's Tools International), a music ministry that sends teams to locations around the world to work with established ministries, will be in Austin to hold a concert for us this Wednesday!  Stanley Tso, our worship intern last year, is part of the team that sings, does dramas with a clear gospel message, and give testimonies.  One aspect of their vision is to share the hope of Christ with those who don't know him.  We highly encourage you to invite your friends to this special event!

Since the team will only be here for one day, what better way to introduce them to Texas than with good ol' Rudy's? Please join us for dinner at Rudy's (183 and Duval) before the concert at 6pm.

Be the One to Save a Life

Jodie is a loving 34-year old mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. She's married to Alex, and together, they raise their 2 children--Tyler (5) and Elizabeth (1). She enjoys, baking, singingin, learning to play the guitar, and being with family and friends. Jodie is an active member of her local church.

In Nov 2008, Jodie's life was changed when she was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia (SAA). Her body can no longer produce any red or white blood cells or platelets necessary to clot her blood, provide oxygen to her body, or fight common infections. A marrow/stem cell transplant is needed for her recover completely.

You can help. Help save the life of Jodie, or someone like her, who is searching for a donor. Register to be a potential marrow/stem cell donor by filling out a form and swabbing your cheek. If you are selected as a potential match for a patient, additional testing will be asked of you. Doctors will plan to collect stem cells either from your marrow OR will plan to do a procedure to collect stem cells from your circulating blood.

There is a severe shortage of people from diverse backgrounds--including Asian and Pacific Islanders. Jodie is of Taiwanese descent and will most likely find a donor of Asian descent. YOU could be a match for her or someone else like her. There is normally a $52 cost for donor tissue typing, but because of the critical need for more ethnic minorities, this cost is completely covered by a grant for everyone of Asian/Pacific Islander descent.

ACC is having a bone marrow testing drive this Sunday at ACC from 11am to 1pm. Please stay after the English service to register and help save a life.

Cornerstone Game Night

WHEN: Fri, Jan 9, 7:30pm

WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg 

We kick off the year with our social of the month--Game Night, put on by Annie's small group.  There will be fun games and snacks... feel free to invite your friends!

Christmas Outreach Service - Drinks Requested

This Sunday's Christmas service will be followed with a time of refreshments and mingling.  Cornerstone is responsible for bringing drinks, and we need 15-20 people to bring ONE drink (like a quart of OJ, a container of apple juice, a jug of tea, a 2-liter soda, etc.).  Please respond to Justin if you can bring a drink so he will know if we will have enough.  Thanks!

And don't forget to invite your friends to our special English Christmas Service!

Trail of Lights Outreach

WHEN: Sat, Dec 20th, 4-10pm (includes day training & evening outreach)

WHERE: See website for details

Set aside some time to witness 1-on-1 with the lost at the Zilker Trail of Lights.  It's an ideal setting for sharing the true meaning of Christmas and grasp God's heart for the world (nearly 90% of Austin is unchurched).  Our God is worthy of our love and obedience. 

For details and registration, see CEBC's website.  For any questions, contact Alex via email or phone (512.560.0583).

Building Community Over Socks, Support-Raising, and Snacks!

WHEN: Fri Dec 19th, 7:30pm

WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg

Need some help around the house? Or maybe a free home-cooked meal?

Then invite your friends and join us this Friday at our first-ever Socks and Services Auction! This will be a great chance to get to know each other over some friendly bidding and yummy Christmas snacks - all for a great cause (Mission Possible).

In order to "buy" a product or a service, you'll bid using pairs of socks. We're hoping to raise 400 PAIRS OF SOCKS for Mission Possible during this event, so get out that Costco card and buy some socks!! The more socks you bring, the more stuff you get to bid on!

An Evite has been sent out... if you haven't received it, please let us know!  ***If you'd like to auction off an item or service, please include the description in your RSVP (we've included some ideas in the Evite).*** Their small group has prepared a special presentation to go with it that you also won't want to miss!

Thank You - from the Austin Samaritans

If you recall, we helped out with the Austin Samaritans organization back in October... see what your help accomplished!

Hi Yall,

 

Thank you so much for your help this year at the medical warehouse. We are shipping out a container within the next 2 weeks. This wouldn't be possible with you and your organization's help. We hope to make another shipment soon as the year 2009 approaches. Please feel free to email me if your group would like to help out again next year. The medical warehouse is already full of more supplies for schools and health clinics in Nicaragua. I am currently working on arranging volunteer groups to help out on Saturdays in Janurary and February. Just email me some dates when your group would like to help out again.  

 

Thanks again and Happy Holidays.

 

Best wishes,

               Emily Hsu

               Volunteer Coordinator

ACC Christmas Celebration - "The Christmas Offering"

WHEN: Sat Dec 13th, 7pm
WHERE: ACC Taylor Gym

This Saturday, we are having a joint celebration at ACC, in remembrance of Christ's birth. This Christmas musical celebration includes a cantata, carol singing, a silent drama, and a short message. Many people are more open to participate in celebrating Christmas the holidays, so keep in mind your friends and coworkers who could be interested (and let them know child care is provided for those 4 yrs and under). Refreshments will follow afterwards.

Youth/Cornerstone Super Relay Night

WHEN: Fri Dec 5th, 7:00 - 9:30 pm (**NOTE the start time is different than our usual time!**)

WHERE: ACC Taylor Gym

Work off all that food you ate over the holidays! With activities planned by the ACC Community Team, we are teaming up with the youth to complete relay stations around the church--so get your running shoes on and let loose your competitive spirit! I have some inside knowledge and heard there's gonna be a lot of fun activities involving random skills and some even involving food ;). If you're interested in participating, PLEASE let Janel know since they need a head count for preparation purposes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oops!  Totally forgot to post about our Thanksgiving Potluck that happened this past Friday...

As for this week, enjoy your time with your family and friends, and we'll see you next week!

Christians and Political Discourse

WHEN: Fri Nov 7th, 7:30pm

WHERE:  ACC Carey Bldg 

In light of the elections being at the forefront of the news, conversations with others, and fresh on our minds, Tina Tsuei will be speaking to us on what does the Bible have to say that can guide us when we make voting decisions to choose public officials--and how does our faith in Christ influence our views on policy options?  She will be talking about policy and politics in general, and will have a forum for different folks to share their thoughts and ideas and to wrestle with some questions that are very important for us to consider as American Christians.  

Keep in mind friends you can invite who would be interested in this topic that is relevant to all of us!  Munchies will be provided, so bring your own drink!

ACC Concert of Prayer

WHEN: Sat Nov 1st, 3pm

WHERE: ACC John Sung Bldg

A special time of corporate prayer, praise and worship beginning at 3:00pm in John Sung. Together we'll seek God's direction for our church and our individual lives, and glorify Him for what He's done.

Cornerstone will be joining the larger group for this important event! We feel that it's important for our fellowship to be pray together and seek God as part of the church congregation, not just as separate fellowships. An Evite has been sent out for this event--please let us know if you haven't received it. If you have any questions about this, please email Roger & Ilan.

ACC Missions Conference

WHEN: Sat 10/25, 4:30 and 7pm (dinner provided between sessions); ends no later than 8:30pm
WHERE: ACC John Sung Bldg

October is Missions Month for ACC, and this Saturday 10/25, we have Alvin Lee from the Dallas-Richardson area speaking. Due to this important event, we'll be canceling Cornerstone this week to encourage you to attend :).

Community Service: Austin Samaritans

WHEN: Sat Oct 18th, 9am-12pm
WHERE: See directions below

We will be helping out with the Austin Samaritans, who have been collecting donations of medical & dental supplies & equipment at their warehouse, and in turn provide them to local and international charitable clinics and hospitals. We will be boxing up supplies, helping with inventory of the supplies, organizing boxes into large pallets for shipment, and loading pallets onto trucks for shipment. We sent out an Evite, so let us know if you didn't get one. Feel free to invite your friends to come help!

Carpooling
If you're interested, meet at Edward's house at 8:30am:
12703 Red Deer Pass, Austin, TX 78729

Warehouse location
The warehouse is located in east Austin; CLOSE TO (but not exactly at) 8509 FM 969, Austin, TX. Follow these directions to get there:
1. Head east on MLK Blvd; pass Hwy 183; pass Decker Ln on your left (it is dead ended on the right) where there will be a traffic light.
2. Look for a sign for Austin Samaritans on your right (make sure to slow down after you pass Decker Lane or else you will miss your right turn). The sign is on the ground and not very big.
3. Once you turn right, pass the gate, make a left turn at the stop sign and just keeping driving on the curvy road. You will see school buildings. The warehouse will be located on your right and will have an Austin Samaritan sign on it.

Lunch
We will be eating lunch together afterwards at Baguette House, located in the new Chinatown.

Community Building: Cornerstone Urban Assault

When: Saturday 10/11, 4-7pm; dinner at 7pm, across the street at Aussie's
Where: Meet at Auditorium Shores (1st and Riverside) promptly at 4pm (Try to carpool down there since parking may be limited.) (Call Judith, 281.701.1122, if you get lost.)
Hosted by: Andy's LifeGroup

Bring: Friends, good walking/running shoes, water, and friendly yet competitive spirit. :)
Expect: To have a good time getting to know your teammates better as you work together to solve clues and visit various Austin downtown landmarks.

Cornerstone Social: Austin Park 'n Pizza

WHEN: Sat Oct 4th, 11am - whenever you want! (park closes at 11pm :P)
WHERE: 16231 North IH-35, 78660 (exit Grand Parkway #248, on the east side of the highway)

Austin's Park 'n Pizza has tons to do both outdoor and indoor: Made to order pizzas, pasta/salad bar, fountain drinks, Unlimited Video Arcade Games, Miniature Golf, Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, Little Shot, Tea Cups, Rio Grande Train, Laser Tag, and Indoor and Outdoor Climbing Walls.

Remember to invite your friends! The price for an All-Day Fun package is $21.95 (which includes all of the activities & buffet mentioned above), or for an Entry Level package is $5.95 (which includes buffet & unlimited video arcade games). Thanks to Justin who found us buy-one-get-one-free coupons! So, PRINT YOUR COUPON and join us this Saturday with a buddy, or we'll find you one! We'll be there starting at 11am, and want you to join us for a group lunch at 12:30pm. To reach us, call Judith (281.701.1122) or Kathy (314.324.0653).

Community Service: Inner-City Ministry

UPDATE!

WHEN: Sat Sept 20, 9am-12pm
WHERE: Mission Possible HQ, 1190 Chicon St, Austin 78702

THIS SATURDAY, we'll be working with Mission Possible, a ministry that serves urban communities and helps individuals through spiritual, social, and economic programs.

They offer Free Blood Pressure Screenings at their Wellness Clinic and really need the manpower to get their flyers out to the housing projects and neighborhood surrounding Mission Possible. In addition, their CrossTrainers kids program meets the 3rd Saturday of each month, and are inviting kids to join them for the kids program which starts at 11am.

Therefore, we will be working with their CrossTrainers volunteers who know the neighborhood, canvassing the government apartment and housing projects to pass out the Wellness Center flyers and the kids program flyers.

Feel free to dress casually, as you'll be walking around outside. After all that walking around, we'll need to refuel! Join us as we eat lunch together afterwards--location TBA via the Evite. If you haven't gotten it, please let us know!

Re-Defining Relationships

WHEN: Fri Sept 26th, 7:30pm
WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg

To be in Christian community is to be in relationships. God created us to be relational beings and so we desire and long to be in meaningful relationships. Yet, some of our relationships just don't seem to "work". Could it be you? or the other person? or both? We'll take a step back and look at how we define our relationships and how that helps (or hinders) our community together.

Visiting pastor, Jack Lum, is excited to speak to us on "Re-Defining Relationships." We hope you can join us!

Cornerstone Social: Bowling!

WHEN: Fri Sept 5th, 7:30 pm
WHERE: Highland Lanes, 8909 Burnet Rd

Join us this first Friday of the month at our social event, and don't forget the important part of inviting your friends! An Evite has been sent out, so if you don't receive it, please let us know and we'll make sure you get it. (There's a special bowling deal you won't want to miss!)

Hands-on Evangelism Conference

UPDATE, 9/3/08: The conference has been postponed till Spring 2009.

Something like this will challenge and stretch you! You will practice evangelism by meeting with people 1-on-1, most of whom will be strangers. At a more practical level, if you desire to be better equipped to reach your friends and family with the gospel, this is a great opportunity to practice Biblical evangelism and sharpen your skills. So what and where is this conference? Read on!

Holy Epidemic Conference
Faith Builders Church, Austin
Cost: $79

Benefits of investing your time in this:
- Glorifying God and obeying Him by sharing His Good News
- Equipping/training ourselves as disciples of Christ who are not ashamed of the gospel

If you're interested or have any questions, contact Alex.

Speaker Event: Jodi & Mike Chung

WHEN: Fri Aug 29th, 7:30 pm
WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg

This Friday, Jodi & Mike are coming from Houston just to share with us. We hope that if you're in town or have flexible plans this 3-day weekend, you'll take us up on this opportunity to welcome and glean pearls of wisdom from these out-of-town visitors!

Mike and Jodi Chung will be speaking on the topic of being surrendered to God and how that impacts our relationships, particularly between the different genders. This couple comes highly recommended from Priscilla, will be visiting us from Houston where they attend WHCC. Jodi heads up the children's ministry and Mike frequently speaks at neighboring churches. Mike and Jodi are a great example of waiting on God, and Geoff personally has been looking forward to hearing their insights.

Discussion Questions from their talk:

1) In what areas of your life do you need to surrender the most? Work, family, friends, etc?

2) What does it loook like to be surrendered in those areas?

3) What are some obstacles to leading a surrendered life?

4) Is surrender an active or passive thing? Or both? Explain.

5) What are some passages in Scripture can you cling to when struggling with surrender?

ACC Labor Day Picnic, Lunch with Quest

Coming up soon in September are two opportunities for us to get to know others at ACC better:

ACC English Congregation Labor Day Picnic
Mon Sept 1st, 12 -2:30 pm
ACC Morisson Bldg
What better way to get to know the married couples who you see at church on Sunday, and the kids that we baby-sit? It'll be a fun casual way to meet those familiar faces you've seen around... and invite your friends and coworkers (they can bring their families too)! And what's really cool... it's FREE!

For pictures, click here and select: Media -> Pictures -> Labor Day Picnic Albums 1 and 2.

Cornerstone Welcome & Lunch with Quest
Sun Sept 7th, 12:15 pm
ACC John Sung (outside)
Quest, the college ministry, will be starting up and all those college kids will be in a new city away from their familiar surroundings. We really would like the college students who come to ACC be a part of the church community as a whole, and having Cornerstoners reach out to them will be a great start. We need help setting up, serving them lunch, mingling among them, and cleaning up... and why do we need YOUR help? There's probably gonna be 60+ of them! Please respond to this email if you can help. Thanks!

Survey Results & Vision Sharing (Game with Prizes Involved!)

WHEN: Friday Aug 22nd, 7:30pm
WHERE: ACC Lighthouse/Carey Building

The new core team will be sharing the results of the Cornerstone survey with a FUN interactive game (did I mention there's prizes involved?), our thoughts about community, the vision we see for this upcoming year, and how we want to carry that out. We'll open it up for questions and comments, as this is a joint venture for all of us! Your attendance in the Cornerstone community is essential--not to mention, you wouldn't want to miss out on this important night!

Movie Night: Born Into Brothels

WHEN: Friday Aug 15th, 7:30pm
WHERE: ACC Lighthouse/Carey Building

Join us this Friday as we watch this Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature (among many other awards). This tribute to the resiliency of childhood and the restorative power of art, portrays several unforgettable children who live in the red light district of Calcutta, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Zana Briski, a New York-based photographer, gives each of the children a camera and teaches them to look at the world with new eyes.

We'll watch the movie together (bring a drink cuz we'll bring snacks!), followed by a stimulating discussion about the issues of the movie.

Curious about the movie? Watch the trailer.

Cornerstone Survey

Last week we sent out a survey and we seriously want your honest opinion in making Cornerstone a fellowship that you want to devote your time to. If you haven’t taken it, here’s your LAST CHANCE! Please take some time out because we’d love to hear from you!

Take the Cornerstone Survey

Olympics Opening Ceremony + Potluck

WHEN: Friday Aug 8th, 7-11pm
WHERE: Andy & Marilyn’s, 7901 Osborne Dr.

This Friday marks the official start of the 2008 Olympics! Moses’ small group is hosting a watching party that’s open to the community so we want to encourage you to bring your friends! It’ll be a potluck dinner—and just for kicks, bring an Asian dish! An Evite will be sent soon; let us know if you don’t get it.

Ronald McDonald House Community Service

WHEN:
Monday, July 28th at 5pm
Wednesday, July 30th at 11am
Thursday, July 31st at 5pm
WHERE:
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin
1315 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, Austin, TX 78723

Cornerstone will be volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House of Austin by preparing meals for the families staying at the facilities. For more info about the Ronald McDonald House check out www.rmhc-austin.org. For more info about the community service activity check back for our blog entries.

If you're interested and have not received an Evite or would like more information, contact acc.cornerstone@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events In the Community

Branch/Twig Fellowship Baby-Sitting

WHEN: Saturday August 2nd, 5:30pm - 9:30pm
WHERE: ACC Taylor Hall (building with the gym)

While the parents take a break, we get to play with the kids! Join us to help serve the Branch parents and have fun with the kids. We sent out an Evite so we'll know if we have enough baby-sitters. Please reply (or let us know if you didn't receive one). Thanks!


Habitat for Humanity

WHEN: Saturday August 16th, 8:00AM – 3:30 PM
WHERE: 1727 Leander St; Georgetown, TX

We will be serving our community by helping Habitat For Humanity build a home in Georgetown. I hope you can attend and/or encourage your friends, family, and Life Group members to attend. This will be a great way to serve the community as well as build our community by working alongside each other in 90+ degrees. If you can not make it all day (cuz it’s hot), I have set up times where people can come either in the morning or afternoon.

It's easy to sign up! Habitat for Humanity signup

Contact Winston if you have questions.

Out in the Field

Please pray for our brothers and sisters that are on missions trips this summer. We already have some that are on their trip currently:
• Marie and Ti are in Southeast Asia with Campus Crusade working with college students, with many who have come to Christ.
• Priscilla with Carpenter's Tools team in Guatemala.
• Kathy, Edwin, Tim L., Marilyn, Nita are in Tarija, Bolivia this week with e3 Partners. Please check the ACC English website (http://english.austinchinesechurch.net/) for updates, photos, and prayer requests.
• Geoff will be going with e3 to Bolivia in July.
• And our worship intern, Stanley Tso, will be leaving in August to join CTI for full-time ministry as well. If you know anyone else - please let us know. Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers as well as ACC as a whole - for Austin is our ministry field as well.

Practicing Community... at Rudy's!

WHEN: Friday, July 25, 2008 - 7:00 PM
WHERE: Rudy's (11570 Research Blvd.)

Next week we have lots of community service opportunities, so this week we'll take a break and enjoy food and fellowship at Rudy's (Duval/183). Take the opportunity this week to put into practice some of Walton's suggestions: look for ways to love and serve each other, and point each other to Christ.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Christian Community

WHEN: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 7:30 PM
WHERE: Lighthouse, Carey Building

Walton spoke (sorry for the late post!) about what distinguishes Christian community. If Christians are different from the world in that we have the Holy Spirit and are called to be salt and light, then our community should look different from the world. Yet, so often it seems like there is little tangible difference. So what should should the world see in us that is different? Walton has been contemplating this for the past month, so read on to hear his insight!

Introduction
We should come clean as who we are. Christians are not normal. We are still sinners, but at the end, we come as is. We are who we are and often when dealing with us, there will be failure and disappointment. This makes building a Christian community especially difficult. “Sometimes it is hard to find dynamic, but it shouldn’t be that hard.”

God’s Dream for Community
How do we foster a true Christian community in Cornerstone? Different people have different expectations or dream differently. Are those expectations the same as God’s? Dream mismatch between us and God can lead to unrealistic expectation. Even though the expectations can be “Christian” based, it may not come from God. There is so much potential and possibility for Cornerstone, but so many obstacles to keep us from forming a community.

Why is community important?
• It is at the core of who God is
o From the beginning, it begins with a community, the Trinity.
o After creating Adam, God created Eve to form a perfect community for Adam.
• It is who He designed us for
o American thinking is all about independence.
o “There is a human shape void in each of us and God wants it to be filled by community.”
• It is what God passionately longs for
o After Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, God continually seeks relationship with us.
o Gospel is about restoring relationship. It helps restore the gap between God & people. For us, it also helps bring Christians together (fellowship). It also helps bring Christians and non-Christians together (evangelism)
o God has his community (Trinity) in the beginning, but out of the over pouring love, he created us, so we can enjoy this community

Why is true community so hard to find?
• Lack of time is often an issue. The advancement of technology is supposed to help us work faster and more efficiently, but ironically, people are working harder than ever because they are forced to cram more tasks into this finite amount of time, hence the concept of multi-tasking.
• With so many things to do, there is less common bond between people. TV, movies, entertainments…etc have become an essential part of people’s lives.
• The advancement of technology, such as cell phone and email, supposed to improve our communication with each other. Ironically, it seems to have an opposite effect. People are less personal now. People would rather text or instant message than talking directly with each other.

Some Key Elements of True Community
• Unmasked
• Acceptance - We are often so focus on sins that we fail to recognize grace and the seriousness of it.
• Empathy
• Resolving conflicts
• Forgiveness
• Invitation to tell the truth
• Inclusion - Religious people try so hard to exclude those people, whom the society deems as the “sinners”, i.e. prostitutes, drug addicts, gangs…etc.
• Gratitude to God

Moving towards the Dream
A community should have:
• A real sense of purpose for meeting
• Everyone is bought into that purpose. Showing up to the meeting actually matters
• There’s an opportunity to serve and love someone every week.

Applications and Something to Think about
Think about your past friendships with other people and ask yourself:
• What have been the most satisfying elements about those friendships?
• How have those friendships drawn you closer to God (if at all)?

So How DO We Relate to Our Parents?

Bob Chin, on Friday, gave some great insights about how to relate to our parents. He challenged us to not consume relationships like our culture consumes goods and services: "Love is putting in, not taking out!" He also had some practical ideas about communicating with our parents. Although our parents tend to be unemotional and very private, we can help build deeper relationships by asking good questions about how our parents are or were feeling. ("What was it like living in China?" "What did you like about X?") Read on...

What influences our idea of relationships?

• Media, like TV: Simpsons, Hannah Montana, Everybody Love Raymond, etc.
• We want these kind of western, intimate relationships with parents, but our parents weren't born here, so integrating cultures

Our Asian parents are different, and thus, "Asian Christianty" is different, too. It's
• Logical/rational
• Unemotional
• Extremely closed about personal things
• What about Biblical Christianity:
• Logical/rational (Rom 13:8)
• Emotional - David danced (2 Sam 6:13-17)
• Not private, but relational (Rom 13:10)

What does the Bible say our relationship should be like?
• Ex 20:12 (honor our parents) Eph 6:2 (command with parents) - 1st of the relational commands, which means it is of high importance
• How we relate to our parents is how we relate to a significant other, friends, children
• The promise is, that if we relate well to parents it will go well-we relate the same way
• Transcends time and culture (in both OT and NT)

How does our environment affect our view and how we act toward our parents?
• We are a consumer society. We consume relationships, too. (Feel better, closer to God, etc) People expect to get something from people.
• Starbucks church model: people are consumers, so we built churches to provide a good product
• Consumption leads to disappointment
• Are we looking at our parents to consume?
* Love is putting, not taking out!
• If we can teach our kids to put in, rather than taking out, we have succeeded
• Relationships on the brink of divorce are when people don't think they are getting enough out of the relationship
• Show respect; give benefit of doubt, don't assume they don't know what they are talking about
• Have you spent the time to figure out your parents love language?

How can we communicate with our Asian parents?
• Ask questions. The key is asking good questions, which also causes them to talk and you to listen. Ask questions to draw them out "how do you feel about ..."
• Listen
• Watch your body language - parents know if you really care
• What goes around, comes around. Our kids will treat us like we treat our parents
• Christ has redeemed us and our relationships (Jam 1:22-24, Rom 8:22)
• Christ changes people NOT you
• Bob asks, is there a little child in my parents that is crying out?
• Bob's dad's dad died early, and he wishes he had a dad. This explains a lot of his relational aspects with wife, kids, etc. Bob's dad never related to him because he'd never seen his dad relate to him. Bob has difficulty with Pete because his dad didn't know how to relate to, but makes a point of spending time with him

Application
• How do you ask good questions? Need to learn to draw out how they *feel*. Expressing your feelings is an important part of depth of relationship.
• Seeing unpleasant aspects of seeing you are like your parents: remember Christ can redeem that
• What did you learn about relating to parents? Asking questions about them: what was it like living in China? What did you like about X? What was it like living with Grandma? What were your favorite foods? How did you handle mom? How do you love her?
• This is a lifetime process

Meeting the New Core Team

Kathy, Edward, and Judith are excited to be on the new core team this upcoming year. Our goal is to serve God and serve Cornerstone--we welcome any and all suggestions!

Let's see who they are...

Kathy is a newbie to Austin but a native to Texas. She teaches 2nd grade teacher for AISD and loves dogs, eating, and watching comedies. She was once a contender for a massive lychee-eating contest.

Edward was born in Taiwan and moved to Port Lavaca, TX when he was 10. He is a mechanical engineer. He loves playing tennis and eating ice cream.

Judith is an alumni of UT Austin with a degree in electrical engineering. She enjoys a good game of Tetris, trying out new things, and traveling. She started doing triathlons last year and will be attempting her third one this summer!

Relating to Our Parents and MORE

WHEN: Friday, July 11, 2008 - 7:30 PM
WHERE: Lighthouse, Carey Building

This Friday Bob Chin will be speaking to us on the topic of relating to our parents. What does a Christian parent-child relationship look like? What if your relationship with your parents isn't good, what can you do? Join us for Bob's insights, 7:30 pm at Lighthouse.

ALSO - We are pleased to announce the new Core Team: Edward, Judith, and Kathy will be leading Cornerstone this next year! Ti, Priscilla, and myself are really excited about the new Core Team, and are looking forward to see what God does through them! Please keep the Core Team in your prayers--it's a bit daunting at first. Plus, I (Geoff) have seen this year the truth of John 15:5: truly apart from God, we can do nothing to bring people to God, and leaders always need your prayers in this area.

Ti, Priscilla, and myself have enjoyed serving you all as leaders on the Core Team this year. It's been a privilege to organize events to bring us closer to God, and through it we've grown as leaders, been challenged in our walks with God, and grown in love for Cornerstone. It has been a joy and an honor to serve Cornerstone, and wish the same for the new Core Team. Please welcome Edward, Judith, Kathy!

Please pray for our brothers and sisters that are on missions trips this summer. We already have some that are on their trip currently, as well as Moses and Marilyn returned from New Orleans working with the ACC youth helping Katrina victims. Marie and Ti are in Southeast Asia with Campus Crusade working with college students. Coming up soon, Priscilla will leave July 8th - August 20th to work with Carpenter's Tools in Guatemala. Kathy , Edwin , Tim , Marilyn , Nita , and Geoff (in August) will be going to Bolivia with e3 partners to share the gospel there (July 17-25) . Our worship intern, Stanley , will be leaving in August to join CTI for fulltime ministry as well. If you know anyone else - please let us know. Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers as well as ACC as a whole - for Austin is our ministry field as well.

Fellowship and Praise Time

WHEN: Friday, June 20, 2008 - 7:39 PM

WHERE: Lighthouse Carey Building, ACC

Dear Cornerstone people. =) The ladies' small group (combined Annie's and Sharon/Marilyn/Pey's small groups) are inviting us to a time of fun surprise! as well as a time of praise for our Father in Heaven. =) Come this Friday to find out what we have in store for you.

ALSO - this Saturday, June 21, 2008 - Come see the musical - The Gospel Accordin' To Texas.

(A blurb from Chris Wang):
Hi y'all. You probably know by now that I'm involved with a musical in Wimberley. I'd like to invite you to come out to one (or more) performances.

The musical takes a look at what might have happened if the book of Luke was to take place in Texas. It has fun with (but doesn't make fun of) the gospel. It's a good outreach opportunity because it's still entertaining even if you don't go to church.

This Friday is opening weekend. Performances will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June at 8:15pm. Tickets are $15 each or $12 for a group of 10 or more. Student tickets (for those in middle school or high school) are $8. If you want to see it multiple times, a show pass ($30) is the way to go.

The director got the inspiration to write the musical while living in Wimberley during the 80's and early 90's. Every character is based on someone he met during his time there. There are lots of little references to Texas towns, events and people.

The EmilyAnn Theatre is an outdoor amphitheater capable of seating up to 500. Unfortunately, they don't have any flyers this year, and the only thing I can find is at http://www.emilyann.org/pdf/gat_showflyer.pdf

Because it's a long show, we have to start at 8:15 even though it's still not dark yet. However, if we start any later, the show wouldn't end until after 11. Be aware that even when there's no traffic, Wimberley is still about an hour away from Austin (depending on where you live), which means you might not get home until midnight or so.

If you're interested - please let us know! We'll send out an update later on a time and place to meet up.

Saturday Plans

EDIT: We realized that we didn't really give you all too much time to preparefor the appreciation dinner on Sat, either for planning whether you wouldbe in town, or for input in planning the dinner itself. So we feel thatit would be better to do this at a later date.
Instead, we would like to invite all of you to Ti's house on Saturday at 7 pm for a potluck.In addition to dinner, we will have some community games,and a fun time of games and hanging out. We hope you can join us in enjoying each other's company!
Thank you!
Your Core Team

Cornerstone - Appreciation Dinner

WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 7:00 PM

WHERE: Ti's house, 12227 Antoinette Pl. 78727, 832-647-2293

This Saturday (Jun 7), at 7:30 pm, we will be having a dinner to appreciate
the guys and gals of Cornerstone. The guys' gift to the gals will be

dinner and honoring them as women, and the gals will be reciprocating with a special gift.

The evening is an opportunity for the guys to value the gals as God's
daughters, and for the gals to honor the guys as God's sons. It's also
a fun opportunity to dress up in honor of each other :) We will be

sending an evite out shortly; please respond yes or no by Thursday to help with

planning.

Dinner is open to everyone, but we encourage you would play a larger role in appreciating the other gender: please contact Geoff Prewett (guys) or Priscilla Ho and Ti Le (gals).

An evite has been sent out. If you have not received it yet, please let us know and we can add you onto it.

Relationships

Cornerstone - Relationship Talk

WHEN: Friday, May 30, 2008 - 7:30 PM

WHERE: ACC Lighthouse, Carey Building

This Friday - we have the honor of David and Betty Au to speak to us on relationships. Since they've been married for awhile and have a couple of children who are also married, they have lots of advice and experiences that would be great to hear about. Please come prepared with questions to ask them since we'll be having a discussion after their talk on Friday.

Also - very soon - we'll be launching an Appreciation Dinner to honor and appreciate the opposite gender. =)

No Guts No Glory!

Softball Tournament - NO GUTS NO GLORY

This Saturday, May 24, 2008, from 10 AM to 3 PM, we'll be hosting a softball tournament at the Freescale location on Parmer.

Bring your friends and use this opportunity as an outreach event as well as fellowshipping with other churches like Vox and ATPC. This'll also be a great time to meet and hang out with people from all congregations!

Lunch will be provided but there is a $3 fee per person to play. Co-ed rules apply with every other batter being a girl so in a team of 10 - it'll be best to have 4-5 girls on the team. (Pitch to own team). Either form your own team or come individually and we'll put together teams on Saturday. Any questions - please email us back here at acc.cornerstone@gmail.com.

If you'd like to practice - we'll be having softball practice at the Freescale softball field TOMORROW (Monday) at 6:30 PM.

Stamp Out Hunger Volunteering!

EDIT: Meet at church (John Sung parking lot) at 6 PM Saturday!!

I. Cornerstone - Stamp out Hunger Volunteering!

WHEN: Saturday, May 10, 2008, 7:00-10:00 PM

WHERE: TBA

Background: This nation-wide event happens annually in mid-May. Letter carriers collect food donations to benefit those at greatest hunger risk in an effort to fight hunger during this food drive.The Stamp Out Hunger drive is a nationwide effort to provide food to local food banks and pantries, which would otherwise have depleted stocks during the summer months, to help feed the hungry on a daily basis.The nation’s 230,000 letter carriers will be collecting food donations in more than 10,000 local communities and delivering them to food bank members of America’s Second Harvest, the Nation’s Food Bank Network and other hunger relief organizations.Donations come into the Food Bank and we utilize adult volunteers (16 years old and older) to help sort the donations.
Location: CAFB, 8201 South Congress, Austin 78745
Volunteer Role: Help sort, inspect and box the food donations in our Product Recovery area.

So, Cornerstone, we need 10 volunteers for this Saturday from 7-10 PM. Please email back here if you can make it and if you want to go. Thank you! Let's serve the community together. =)