Good afternoon, Church Family
If you have been following along with the Bible Through The Year readings, we have been looking at the Story of Jacob. After Jacob tricked his brother Esau out of both his birthright and his blessing, there was great hostility between the two brothers. Right after Jacob stole the blessing from Esau, Esau pleaded with his father (Isaac) to receive something as well. Isaac then gave Esau a “secondary” blessing that said: you will serve your brother (Jacob). But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck”. (Genesis 27:40).
Over the next many chapters, we see the story of Jacob unfold. Fleeing for his life because Esau wanted to kill him, Jacob goes to live with his uncle. After around twenty years, Jacob fearfully returns home. He is terrified that Esau will still want him dead. When they finally reunite, we read this in Genesis 33:4 Then Esau ran to meet him (Jacob) and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
As I read these chapters, I was drawn to the sentence “when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck”. We know very little about Esau for the next twenty years, but we do know that when he and his brother reunite, it is good. We know that Esau has forgiven Jacob. I suspect that Esau’s “decision” to break free was that of forgiving his brother. He was able to break the yoke of his brother’s actions by forgiving him.
How many times do we hold on to a grudge, when forgiveness is the actual path to breaking free?
You sure won’t want to miss church this Sunday! We are celebrating communion AND welcoming Caleb Sigstad into church membership!
We are having our Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 23. There will be a shortened Sunday service, followed by our Meeting. Then we will have Potluck together after that. We have extended the deadline for the Annual Reports to Tuesday, February 4. Please submit them to Pastor Dyan, preferably by email. Email reports to pastordyan@cfmcpa.ca Copies of the Annual Reports should be ready by next Sunday.
Update on Noah Vankoughnett-Mouland. As you may remember, Noah was scheduled to go on a mission trip to Peru this past August. Due to his ear surgery, he was unable to go. It turns out the entire trip had to be postponed regardless, and now they are headed to Peru this May. Noah will give us an update during church next Sunday (February 9).
Week of Prayer and Fasting is January 26-February 2. For resources to help with this, check out the Free Methodist Website. Fmcic.ca
Sunday School for all ages from 10:00 – 10:40am.
Scrapbooking takes place Thursday evenings. Bible Study begins at 6:45, followed by Scrapbooking at 7:30.
Tuesday morning Bible Studies at 9:30.
Remember that there is Wednesday morning Prayer time at 9:30. A coffee time begins at 10:00 – everyone is welcome.
Extra copies of Reading Through The Bible In A Year are available in the foyer.
Cornerstone Free Methodist Church is hosting Children’s Choice Child Development Cooperative (daycare and afterschool program) weekdays for the next couple of months while they are dealing with an insurance claim. They will be at our church until some time in March. This means that the Daycare is using our Fellowship Hall, two smaller classrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, fireside room, and parking lot from 7:15am to 5:30 pm every weekday. The Fellowship Hall and kitchen will be available on weekends. Let us praise God for this partnership and how we can help with the needs of our community.
We are well into winter. Please pray for safety on the road. Pray for those who need shelter from the cold.
Please pray for Chrystal Borrowman who is in the process of a private adoption! Please pray that all the needed appointments with social workers and lawyers will be timely. Pray for the birth mom: that she would have a healthy birth and a healthy baby.
Pray for Joanne Borrowman who is due any day now. Pray for a good birth and a healthy baby.
Pray for our upcoming Annual Meeting (February 23).
Pray for Chad and Noah as they have to travel to Alberta this weekend. Pray for good weather and a safe drive.
Pray for Sossa’s brothers who are now in Canada and looking for work.
Pray for Andrew and Chrissy Clark who will be needing a new van. Pray that they will find one that works within the budget from SGI. We know that God has just the right vehicle for them.
Praise God for the connections made with the daycare/after school program.
Pray for our sermon series: The Games We Play.
Pray for Maxine Holden who has been ill for a number of weeks. She is starting to feel better, but is still not at full strength.
Pray for George Hermatiuk who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. His pain is being managed. Pray for Maryanne who has been unwell.
Pray for Caleb Sigstad and his very busy schedule. Praise God that he has chosen to become a member at Cornerstone this weekend.
Pray for Sandra Langlois who has continued to have health issues. She has started taking some good healing steps, but recovery is slow. Do pray for her continued healing
Pray for Bobbi Dorian who is still waiting for treatment to deal with her hearing and debilitating tinnitus. She needs to get in to see an ENT as soon as possible. She most likely won’t need surgery, but needs a diagnosis and treatment. Let us surround Bobbi with our prayers: that there would be a miraculous cease with the ringing in her ears and that she could see a specialist ASAP!
Pray for Lois Borrowman who just had knee surgery. Praise God that the surgery went well and that she is now home. Pray for her recovery.
Pray for Darlene Peters who has been having some long-term health concerns. Pray for the doctors, and for effective medications. Pray that she wouldn’t be discouraged.
Pray for our nation and for the USA. Pray for our leaders.
Pray for the Board: that God would give us direction for the church, and for the new programs starting and re-starting in January / February.
Please continue to pray for others in our church with health issues.
Pray for the people in our congregation, or people who are connected with those who are struggling with mental health issues, particularly with anxiety and depression. Pray that they would receive the medical help needed during these difficult diagnoses and treatment. Pray that they would hear the encouragement of our Saviour over dark thoughts.
Pray for the Prodigals in our lives – that they will remember the goodness of the Father’s House and come home.
Let us pray that our congregation will grow, and that we will be able to attentively meet the needs of our visitors and regular attendees alike.
Pray for Pastor Anne Martin (former congregant of Cornerstone) who is pastoring the Pimento Walk Church in Jamaica.
Pray for the people in our community that are struggling with housing and food insecurity in Prince Albert. Pray for the community programs ministering to them. Now that it is winter, the need for shelter becomes greater.
Pray for Pastor Dyan and the Board as they listen to what God has to say about His great plans for Cornerstone. Let us continue to pray that our church will grow.
Many of our congregants (and their loved ones) are struggling with various health and mental health issues. Pray for their healing. Pray specifically for our young people who have many stresses and anxieties.
We are so very thankful for your ongoing generosity. Cornerstone keeps its doors open and participates in ministry due to your willingness to give of your tithes and offerings. In order to pay all of our bills, we need to receive about $7,000 each month.
There will be a full financial update at our Annual Meeting on February 23.
Pray that we will meet our bills and be able to continue participating in Kingdom Building and Church Care. Please remember Cornerstone in your regular giving.
Reminder that we now have e-transfer as another way to give to the church. E-transfers go to etransfer@cfmcpa.ca Two things to remember when sending an e-transfer to Cornerstone. 1. The Security Question can be anything you like, but please ALWAYS make the Security Answer ilovemychurch (no spaces). 2. If you wish to give for a specific purpose just make a note of it in the message/comments box when you send the e-transfer.
You can also send a cheque to the church or donate during the service. 2200 – 15 Ave East . Prince Albert, Sk S6V 6J5
We have a NEW PRAY TOOL. In a church our size, it is quite “normal” for people to sit in certain seats. For 2025, let’s use a mental seating chart to pray for everyone. Each day, think / visualise a certain row(s) of seats in the sanctuary, and who normally sits there. Pray for those people.
Then, think of the empty chairs in the sanctuary. Let us pray that they will not be empty for long.
I am still including the names of everyone to make sure that no one is missed. Let us continue to be ALL IN FOR PRAYER. 1 Timothy 2:1 says I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
NOTE: If you are not on this list but would like to be, please let Pastor Dyan know.
GROUP ONE:
Cathy Bendle
Chrystal Borrowman
Gordon and Benita Borrowman
Gregory Borrowman
Scott Borrowman
Michelle Borrowman and her son Owen Rider (moved to White City)
Iris Clark
Church Leadership
Church Growth
GROUP TWO
Andrew and Chrissy Clark- Jayden and Ava
Gena and Dave Cleveland
Lynn Dernoga
Bobbie Dorian
Brendan and Marina Friesen and son Gus
Karen and Len Gaumond
Curt Graham
Verda Graham
Verna Henry
Impacting our community
GROUP THREE
Maryanne and George Hermatiuk
Maxine Holden
Wilbert and Dorothy Holmgren
Sosa Iroere (currently studying at Polytech in Moose Jaw)
Pat Kellar
Sandra Langlois
Samuel Langlois
Ewen MacLeod
Donald and Ethel MacLeod
Lorriane MacCauley
Michelle MacCauley and daughter Soleh
Church finances
GROUP FOUR
Ann Martin-Trusty (in Jamaica now)
Dave and Rose Mineau
Dyan Mouland and Chad Vankoughnett
Noah Vankoughnett-Mouland
Blake and Darlene Peters
Holly Peters and son Elijah G
Marlene Schutte
Caleb Sigstad
Church programs and those who lead them and attend them
GROUP FIVE
Norma Simpson
Virginia Stack
Danny Paquette, Brenda Smith and sons Wesley and Brendan
Darwin Szell and Debbie Schutte and daughters Sarah and Bria
Neil and Tammy Twyver and Halle and Kai
Bill and Denise Wilkinson and Jack and Charlie
Cornerstone Girls: Faith and Hope Crawford, Margaret Dreaver, Asia Borrowman, Kelsey Mineau, Kerrie Canada
Jayme Borrowman-Bonner
Listening to God’s direction
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