Cornerstone Social: Board Game Blowout!

When: Fri Aug 28th, 7:30pm

Where: ACC Carey Bldg, downstairs

Anyone up for Cranium? Nertz? Trivial Pursuit? Come play with us this Friday downstairs in Carey. Bring your favorite board games, card games, and friends! Snacks will be provided.

Summer Sharing: What did you do this summer?

When: Fri Aug 21st, 7:30pm

Where: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

So what have you been up to?

Did you go on a trip this summer? Did you make a new friend? Did you start a new hobby? or picked up an old one? Did God teach you something? Did He show you something unexpected? Did you start a different stage in life? Did you hit a home run? Did you hit 5? Did something happen that you will never forget?

Let's take some time as a community to share (very informally) about what's been going on in each of our lives and be encouraged by each other's stories.

Also, don't forget about the survey!

Please take some time to share your opinions with us by Friday, August 21st, 2009.

2009 Cornerstone Survey

[ACC Cornerstone] Showing This Friday...Faith Like Potatoes

When: Fri Aug 14th, 7:30 - 10:00pm (movie beings at 7:35pm)

Where: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

Here's the thing about potatoes. You plant them, and cover them with dirt, then pray like mad for rain. With most crops, you can see what you're going to eat—the fruit of your labors, so to speak. But potatoes incubate in the ground, silent and mostly unseen, while you hope for harvest. Only a farmer-turned-evangelist would know how apt a metaphor potatoes are for a life of faith in Christ Jesus.

Join us as we watch this movie based on the true story of a South African farmer and discuss its metaphor of potatoes compared to our own lives. Movie snacks will be provided!

Recap: New Faces, New Phases

Last Friday, we met the new Cornerstone core team and learned some interesting facts about them. If you weren't able to join us, make sure to ask Wender about raw whale bacon. Later in the evening, Uncle Leo, from the Master Planning Committee, shared with us about the three new building phases to expand ACC.

Please pray together with the church for:

- God's guidance on the Building Plan and next steps

- Congregation common vision and unity as well as involvement

- Building Fund re-start of initial goal of $500K

SURVEY TIME!

Please take some time to share your opinions with us by Friday, August 21st, 2009.

2009 Cornerstone Survey

New Faces, New Phases

When: Fri Aug 7th, 7:30pm

Where: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

Come this Friday to meet the new faces on the Cornerstone core team! And maybe learn a little something you never knew about us and each other as we play a few games.

We will also have the privilege of having Uncle Leo Yeung of the Master Planning Committee come share with us about the next phases in ACC's building expansion. God has really blessed us with a growing church, so what does that mean for the ACC community? for Cornerstone?

A Divine Longing (for the Cornerstone Community)

This past Friday, Pastor Walton spoke about what is a healthy, God-centered community and lead us in a discussion about God’s purpose for Cornerstone.

Reflection: How important are relationships really? How important are they to Christians? How important are they to God?

God Really Loves Relationships
God shows us the importance of relationships to Him in several different ways:

• In His Word: the Bible is story after story of people’s relationships with each other and with God
• In His action: God sent Jesus down to earth so that we can have a restored relationship with Him
• In His Being: God as the Holy Trinity (God, Son, and the Holy Spirit) shows that even before there were any people, there was already a community. In fact, our desire for relationships reflects that very community

What is a Healthy Community?
God uses imperfect people to build His community. If you are here (in Cornerstone), then God has a gift in you that He wants used in this community.

God calls every community to:
1. Love One Another
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. – John 13:34-35

In Cornerstone, we have the opportunity to show outsiders looking in about God’s love. Through faith we know that our hearts are in good hands (God’s hands), and this knowledge releases us to take risks to love other people. In this society, there is so much stress about “taking care of #1,” but we don’t need to worry about that because God will always be there to take care of us. In fact, God calls us to love lavishly, to give our hearts away like Christ did:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

2. Come Together in Complete Unity
May they be brought to completely unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. – John 17:23

What is the purpose that God has called us (Cornerstone) to do? Once we are able to identify this, then we can have the beginnings of unity.

Elements of a community that comes together in unity:

• Are we praying for each other and for our purpose together? If our purpose is not covered in prayer, then it just becomes a human effort.
• What do we talk about when we are together? Do we share about what God is doing in our lives?

The Spiritual Ecosystem
Consists of: Mission, God’s Presence, God’s Word, Spiritual Relationships. These are the larger purposes.

Vehicles: Worship Service, Special Events, Retreats, Discovery Groups, Small Groups, Fellowships, Mission Events, Discipleship. Each one has a different focus to ultimately achieve the larger purposes.

Cornerstone has a role in this spiritual ecosystem.

Women's Tapestry Event - "In His Hands"

We are excited to invite you to a special Tapestry Women's Ministry morning "In His Hands" with Rachel Raborn-Norris of Joy Pottery. In Jeremiah 18.6, God says to his people, “Like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”

Come and explore this beautiful metaphor with other women as we observe the work of a potter firsthand and listen to her story. Rachel Norris will share her faith story while creating pottery on her wheel in this unique presentation on August 8th, 11am - 1:30 pm at the Austin Chinese Church John Sung building. Please join us as we explore the rich meaning of the potter and the clay and gain new insight into the hand of God at work in your own life. Please also feel free to invite other women as guests!

To register for the event, RSVP at tapestry.acc@gmail.com. We will be providing lunch ($5 per person), so please indicate in the message if you are allergic to any food items. We will also be having a special drawing for one of Rachel Norris's pottery pieces at the end of the presentation, so you don't want to miss out! If you have any questions or concerns, please use the tapestry email address and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

- ACC Women's Tapestry Team

"God's Longing for Community" with Pastor Walton

WHEN: Fri July 31st, 7:30pm
WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

Community is something we all naturally intuitively long for.

It may look a little different from person to person, but it is wired into the core of what it means to be human. Being made in the image of God means that we also reflect God's own natural longing for relationship. And God has a blueprint for what that means, especially for those who call Him Father. How can we fulfill God's dream for our relationships here at ACC practically?

Let's find out...

Community Building - Iron Chef

WHEN: Sat July 25th, 3-6pm

WHERE: meet at the Freescale Pavilion

Love watching Iron Chef? Always wanted a chance to slay Bobby Flay or take down Morimoto in the Chairman's kitchen stadium? This Saturday, Cornerstone will host its first Iron Chef Competition! Okay, so these celebrity chefs won't be making an appearance, but YOU have the opportunity to join/compete with fellow Cornerstoners and showcase your cooking skills! Meet at the Freescale Pavilion at 3pm sharp to split into teams. Teams will shop for groceries (a donation of approx $5 will be requested) and cook at nearby houses and return to the Pavilions for judging.

If you find yourself asking:

- What's the secret ingredient?

- Will I get samples of the food?

- Are you sure Mario Batali won't be there?

*Then join us and discover the answers yourself this Saturday! Grab a friend, come on out, and find out whose cooking cuisine will reign supreme!

Community Outreach: Stretching In & Out

Closing up this year's vision of "Inside & Out: To build a Christ-centered community who intentionally loves inside and outside", this week's community outreach activity is two-fold... read on!

Inward Community
WHEN: Sat July 18th, 10am-12pm
WHERE: Meet at the Barnes & Noble (Arboretum)
On Saturday we will be working together to help the Red Cross promote their Youth Leadership Development Retreat that encourages youth (8th grade through college) to learn, express their creative ideas, and engage one another in a fostering environment. We will be forming teams to post flyers in different Austin neighborhoods; this will be a good opportunity to get to know one another while we serve the community. Breakfast will be provided so please let us know by Friday noon if you are coming!

Outward Community
WHEN: Anytime between now and Fri July 31st
WHERE: You pick!
We're challenging you to deliberately get to know someone outside our Cornerstone (and even ACC) community that you usually don't interact with. We want you to initiate an activity with them where you can get to know them on a level deeper, and maybe even bring up spiritual topics. You can meet up for a 1:1 at a coffee house, talk over yardwork, eat a meal together, or take a stroll off Town Lake (ie, watching a movie/TV doesn't count!).

We ask you to commit by pledging on our second Evite. On July 31st, when we talk about community, we hope you'll share your experiences with us!

Bowling!

WHEN: Fri July 10th, 7:30 pm

WHERE: Highland Lanes, 8909 Burnet Rd

Join us at our social event on Friday, and don't forget the important part of inviting your friends! Let us know in our Evite if you can come (and feel free to forward it on) so we can reserve the appropriate number of lanes for some friendly competition! Even if you don't feel like bowling, we'd still like for you to join us and hang out!

Happy Fourth of July!

We will not be meeting for Cornerstone this week. Have a fun and safe weekend! We'll see you next week... or this Sunday for Lunch Service! (read on!)

Chinese Food and Pizza!

What do these two things have in common? ACC lunch! In the month of July, Cornerstone has the privilege and responsibility to serve lunch at ACC. We need 14 people each week to set up the food, serve lunch, sell pizza, and help clean up from 12:00 until about 1:15pm. If you can help out on any week, sign up on our spreadsheet. Please consider helping out if you are available!

Joint Cornerstone/Quest/Youth Event - Photoscavenger Hunt

WHEN: Sat June 27th, 10:30am

WHERE: ACC John Sung Bldg

So you think you know ACC?

Do you know where the church library is? How many windows are there in the Carey Building? Come join us, Quest, and Youth on a photoscavenger hunt around ACC. Learn things you never knew about ACC while getting to know the other fellowship groups. Lunch will be provided while we view all the pictures, poses, and photographic masterpieces from each team!

Outreach - Capital Area Food Bank

WHEN: Sat June 20th, 8:50am-12:00pm (8:20am to carpool)

WHERE: Capital Area Food Bank (8201 S Congress Ave, Austin); Bear Rock Cafe to carpool (4005 W Parmer Ln, Austin)

We will be serving the city of Austin by sorting food down at the Capital Area Food Bank from 9am-12pm. We will be providing savory breakfast foods for those of you who can come help!  Please wear closed-toe shoes (it is a dress code requirement).

If you would like to carpool down together, meet at the Bear Rock Cafe parking lot by 8:20am. If you will be driving on your own, meet at the food bank by 8:50am.  An Evite will be sent out shortly - let us know if you didn't receive it; we hope to see you there!

Promiseland Children's Sunday School Teachers Wanted

Children are very important to us at ACC.

We are recruiting teachers for the new term, Jun – Nov 2009, for Children’s Sunday School. As you may know, we ask for a 6 month commitment as this is the best way to build a relationship with the children and to establish a safe and secure learning environment for them to see and feel God’s love. There are 2 time sessions for serving, 9:00–10:45am and 10:45-12:25pm. We understand that during the summer months, it may be difficult to commit for such a period of time. So even if you can serve for one month at a time, we would love to hear from you. We are especially in need in the 2 year old classes.

Please prayerfully consider and reply to me if you can help as soon as possible. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thanks for considering to serve the youngest members of our church.

God Bless You,

Sibyl Lee

ACC Children’s Deacon

Bags of Grace

WHEN: Sat June 13th, 1pm

WHERE: ACC John Sung Bldg

We're going to hold our Bags of Grace event, involving all the different English fellowships this Saturday. We'll be packing bags of food and supplies for the homeless. We'll also be selling the bags for $2 each the following Sundays so you can give them out while you're around town to someone who could use this practical gift of grace.

"Finances" with Steve Luong

WHEN: Fri June 5th, 7:30pm

WHERE: ACC Carey Bldg, upstairs

In the world we live in, everything involves money. We use money for necessities (food, housing, transportation, and savings) as well as indulgences (hobbies, luxury items, and vacations). As Christians, we are often faced with many dilemmas as to how we should wisely use the money that God blesses us with. Should we buy a nice car or give the extra money to the poor? How much money should we keep for ourselves and how much to give to others? This week, Steve Luong from Branch will share with us some guidelines as how we can have a healthy perspective on this complicated topic.

So You Think You Can (Ballroom) Dance?

Our youth will be celebrating the graduation of the high school seniors Sunday, June 7th.  And as part of their theme, “Masquerade Ball”, they were hoping to have someone come in and teach them how to ballroom dance :).  If any of you have any experience with ballroom dancing and would be interested in teaching our youth how to dance on Saturday, please let Marilyn know!