Newsletter April 17, 2026
Newsletter April 17, 2026
Join us for our annual Missions Fundraiser - this year, Pancake Brunch style! This Sunday, April 19, from 12 pm to 2 pm in the Family Life Center. RSVP for Brunch today! Gluten-free pancakes available!
Dear Church Family and Friends,
As it was announced many months ago, Cornerstone is now entering what we are calling “Phase 2” activities with regard to continuing efforts to remodel and optimize the existing space of our main building.
What you may not know is that when the existing building was built in the 1960s, the Christian Education space was designed using what was called "The Master Teacher Sunday School Model." This model was popular in many evangelical churches, particularly in the mid-20th century (1950s and 1960s). It emphasized gathering congregants into larger classes taught primarily by one teacher. The model suggested then breaking out into smaller rooms for discussion.
The person most closely associated with promoting and writing about the master-teacher Sunday School model in the 1950s and 1960s (and into later decades) is Elmer L. Towns. Towns was a prominent Christian educator, author, and church growth expert. He served as Sunday School editor for Christian Life Magazine starting in 1966, giving him a national platform. He co-founded Liberty University (with Jerry Falwell) and wrote extensively on Sunday School methods, large churches, and effective teaching strategies.
In his writings and research, Towns highlighted the master-teacher approach as a conviction-driven strategy, not just a space-saving fix. He believed in this approach so much that he went on to suggest that churches should design their Christian education buildings around this concept.
This Sunday School concept influenced the design of the original Mountain View Baptist Church, the first congregation of our existing campus. You may be interested in exploring the building and notice that many of our rooms have grids and tracks that enable many of the rooms to be divided up into smaller rooms according to this model. In our existing "Gathering Room" and much of our current office space, we removed all of the partitions during Phase 1.
Since that model does not fit our existing Christian Education philosophy, Phase 2 activities will consist of continuing to maximize and optimize our current square footage to open some rooms up and have more space available.
On the first floor, Phase 2 activities will consist of finishing the remodel from Phase 1 at the east end of the building. The existing Fellowship Hall and kitchen will be repurposed to include two large classrooms that can be opened up into one space, a new kitchenette and bathroom, and three new offices for staff. Additionally, the ADA bathroom will be updated.
On the second floor, the youth room will be opened up to make it larger, and the large children's classroom will be divided into two classrooms. Additionally, some of the adult classrooms will be combined to provide space for gatherings of up to 40-50 people. The upstairs bathrooms will be remodeled, and two additional family bathrooms will be added.
Finally, other improvements include updating many areas with new finishes to get our building into the new millennium, and all the windows in the building will be replaced with new double-pane, energy-efficient windows.
To be clear, none of these plans have been finalized, and there are still several steps in the process. The Session has authorized Matheny-Goldmon Architects to complete the construction drawings in order for this project to go out for bid.
Please be in prayer for this process. Please pray for the Phase 2 committee as they complete their work. Please pray that the Lord will use these activities to advance the Gospel both here at Cornerstone and in Huntsville.
See you this next Lord's Day!
by His grace and to His praise,
Pastor Wilson
Wilson’s Weekly
Pastor Wilson does not personally endorse everything said or written in these links, but hopes these articles and/or podcasts will be helpful for Christians in cultivating a biblical worldview.
Preparation for Worship
April 19, 2026
The cost of Discipleship:
The Way of the Cross
Matthew 10:34-42
Click here to access the latest bulletins, listen to sermons, and watch the live stream.
Prepare your heart for Praise and Adoration with our Spotify playlist.
Did You Know?
We now have Large Print Bulletins available on Sunday mornings! Find them on the bulletin table or ask a Greeter.
Cornerstone Prayer Requests
Pray for church members caring for family - Susan Dupré, Kyle Mosier, Paul Poppe, Kim Sweatt, Paul and Christina Wendorf.
Pray for healing - Tom Armstrong, Suzi Bolton, Steve Brewer, Bob and Kathy Cassis, Dawn Chenault, Tim and Gayle Ricks, Libby Stanfield, and Annette Sweatt.
Pray for our homebound friends - Betty Baldwin and Suzi Bolton.
Pray for our expectant mothers - Maiben Addison (June), Kerry McMillan (July), Kendra Muur (August), and Amanda Pendergraft (September).
Pray for our Missional Partnerships - Alex and Suzanne Sarran - Missionaries to France and Southwood Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, AL (Rev. Will Spink).
Pray for our nursery ministry - pray for Kendra Muur as she steps into the role of nursery ministry coordinator, and give thanks for Christina Wendorf for how she faithfully served our nursery ministry.
Pray for the marriages of our church - that husbands and wives would treasure Christ above all else.
Click here to RSVP for our Men’s Dinner, Sunday, May 17!
Announcements
Missions Pancake Brunch - THIS Sunday, April 19, after the second service. RSVP today!
Communicants Class - Continues Wednesday, April 22, from 6-7 pm.
Combined Sunday School- All classes will meet in the sanctuary next Sunday, April 26, as we begin our new series studying Ezra and Nehemiah.
Playground Playdate - Friday, May 1, from 9-11 am. Come play with other families on our outdoor playground! Contact Ashley Colette with questions.
Men’s Steak Dinner - Sunday, May 17, at 6 pm. “Leading in Love” with special guest speaker, Rev. Nate Shurden, Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN. 16oz Ribeye with all the fixin’s! Men, invite your sons (high school aged and up) to join you! $15/person. RSVP here!
VBS 2026 Registration - Please join us this summer as we investigate God’s Word during VBS and help the Scottish sleuths solve The Case of the Hidden Hero! June 1-4, 9-11:30 am. Volunteer and children registration is now open! Register here!
Women’s Summer Series - Tuesdays, June 16-July 21. “Think About These Things” - Gospel-oriented inter-generational discussion groups. RSVP coming soon. Contact Heidi Honeywell with questions.
Cornerstone Members - Please log in to CCB and update your individual and family photos, and confirm that your contact information is accurate. Questions? Contact Lauren Hill.
Missions Moment
Each week, we want to highlight one of our missional partnerships. Please take a moment to learn about these wonderful ministries that Cornerstone has the privilege of serving alongside.
This week's highlighted ministry:
The Mission of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church is to be a community of Christ's followers who worship, grow, and serve together to glorify God in Huntsville and throughout the world.
Please contact the church office by Thursday for changes or additions to prayer requests.
The Cornerstone Newsletter is a weekly publication emailed each Friday. To notify the church office of church members in the hospital or of births and deaths, or if you have a change of address or name, please contact office@cornerstonehuntsville.org or 256-489-4625.
1413 McClung Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801
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