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March Newsletter 2008 PASTOR MAX WALKER SAYS... EDITORIAL: WHERE ARE WE AT ? WHAT DO WE FACE‼ Rev 3:8 “I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn’t deny me when times were rough.” This particular piece of scripture was part of the Cornerstone planning meeting at the beginning of the year and highlights the belief we have that God has a special concern for the poor and disadvantaged in our society. Since January we have seen this scripture in action as several new doors of opportunity and service have opened up to us. In a difficult economic climate with more and more people seeking assistance and the prognosis for the future grim we were faced with the problem of maintaining the programs over the initial four months of this year. Each year we live on our reserves until July or August when grants received become available. Claiming the promise of the open door we have received donations from local Lions and Rotary clubs to keep us going. Time after time over the years we have experienced God’s provision in this way. Likewise we have seen the development of other doors of opportunity open with our partnership with Avocare, our developing relationship with UNOH as we explore hands on programs to meet the needs of the local community, as well as the provision of food for the needy as we work in conjunction with the City of Greater Dandenong. Foodbank and One Umbrella. Then there is the developing relationship with the Dove and the possibilities that are opening up in the City of Casey to meet an increasing number of people suffering difficulty. Although we are weak in so many ways God has promised to support us as we go through the Open Doors he has opened for us and to see the way these opportunities and possibly new ones develop so that we can demonstrate the love of God and the compassion of Jesus to the many hurting and needy people in our community. Pastor Max Walker. Cornerstone Programs 2008
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday April Dates May Dates Board of Management 2008/9. Chairman: Grant Renkema., A MESSAGE FROM LEVI AT THE DOVE: The Dove has had a great month, now seeing between 30 – 40 people each month again. The BBQ’s are fast becoming an intrinsic part of Doveton’s culture, still seeing over 80 people each weekend. Our volunteer base is also growing, but we’d still love to increase our team if anyone is interested in helping those in need. Cornerstone is also part of a City of greater Dandenong Taskforce (Food Agency Collaboration project)that will look at developing a pilot program in the district to provide meals for the poor in the district by utilizing the One Umbrella program. One Umbrella takes donated food and makes it into meal packs that are distributed to agencies to give out to the needy. Over the past month Cornerstone has met with Ashley Barker of UNOH to discuss ways in which new hands on programs to meet the needs of the poor can be developed centered on the Cornerstone building. This is an exciting new development A big thank you for the painting and the maintenance work done by Avocare Trade for Cornerstone program. This program has now concluded. The days of excessive heat really tested out the volunteers who did a magnificent job, turning up, putting up with the heat, and coping magnificently under very trying circumstances. A special thank you… To Tony Phillips. Community Service Chairman 2007-08. Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills (Dandenong Central Account) a big thank you from Rotary for their donation of $5000 from the Annual Mayoral Charity Golf Day. Dandenong Lions Club a foundation supporter of Cornerstone from 1994 have also indicated they will be continuing their generosity over the years with a donation of a $1000. Easter 2008: Cornerstone experienced a great Easter. Good Friday saw over 100 people attend the Drop In and share lunch. Pastor Don Cameron spoke briefly on the significance of Easter and then the people shared a special Good Friday dinner together. Through out the morning there were hot cross buns distributed and before each diner left they received a gift of Easter Eggs. The Easter Saturday night program saw also a large crowd in attendance and again Easter Eggs were distributed. Sunday Morning saw our Annual Easter Sunday Breakfast entertain the largest crowd since the breakfast commenced in 1996 with over 80 people, including a group from the Sudanese community gather for an Easter Morning Celebration and a full English breakfast. Pastor Max Walker spoke on the significance of the events of the Easter morning focusing on Doubting Thomas. Easter Eggs were again distributed to all who attended. The Drop In remained open until 11.00 am Cornerstone hosted the march Meeting of the Dandenong Ministers’ Fellowship with Avocare under the direction of Suzanne Van Rooy produced a magnificent meal, Guest Speakers were: John Graham (Alpha program) and Rebecca Wolstenholme (Big Sister Big Brother). It was a return home for Rebecca who was the general co-coordinator and then Youth Co-coordinator at Cornerstone in the early nineties Message from Pastor Don Cameron… Pastoral Care Worker. Pastor Don Cameron: Many things have happened in March and we have much to be thankful for. Boys Brigade finished an excellent first term spending every Tuesday at Hemmings park playing ball games with the regular people who gather there. Several asked ‘Are you coming back next week?’ but with winter approaching it’s too dark to meet there until next year. Another pleasing aspect of the month was seeing a few long term patients at the Dandenong Psychiatric Hospital doing much better and even exercising and looking much healthier. The MIDDWAY Cobras Football club have been training together and attracting new players to fill the void left by players who have moved on to better things. We are still looking for more players and interested people can see me or call Gary Lambert on 0438 905 067. It was great to spend Easter time at Cornerstone. On Easter Sunday morning one of our new volunteers said to me ‘This is the best Easter I have ever had’ before heading off to talk to a man who had been sitting alone for a while. Things are rarely ‘flash’ at Cornerstone with toilets, taps and other things not behaving themselves, but we regularly feel the reality of Jesus words “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) As I write this I’m about to take two boys on a road trip to Canberra as a mid-school holiday break. School holidays are often a difficult time for single parents and I’ll hopefully organise more events in the second week of the holidays. Our two Sunday Church events each month at Cornerstone have been going well with popular musician Tarun Stevenson planning to come back soon at no cost to us. Check out www.tarunstevenson.com/freedowload for a free copy of his latest song. It was great to have ten people from Rowville Baptist Church come along to Cornerstone a few Saturday nights ago. They played snooker and cards and shared a meal with the Cornerstone regulars spending lots of time listening to what our people had to say about life. We hope to have them back again soon. Our regular Saturday night team leaders are also doing a great job with more experience than ever before. The Friday afternoon prayer group is growing in numbers and we praise God for answers to prayer (see me for more details) and look forward to meeting together each week. It’s great to have so many new volunteers at Cornerstone. I’m very encouraged having Pastor Levi Sanders on board! It’s great to have so many talented people moving in the same direction and I’m very encouraged about what may take place for the rest of this year. The Cornerstone AGM is a good time to take stock of what has happened and what direction we are heading in. I aim to continue to learn, grow and get better at sharing the gospel through words and deeds with thanks to people like Pastor Max and others who have been there to guide me along the way. As always, if you have any ideas, comments or suggestions about new programs we could be running, please let me know. MARANATHA! Pastor Don Cameron Work: 9794 5654 / 0415 888 528
For further details check out the website or contact us as indicated below. * All correspondence to CEO c/o PO Box 358 Dandenong. 3175.
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