The newsletter from Cornerstone Fellowship of Mill Run provides information on upcoming church events and activities over the spring and summer months. It also includes a full-page article by the pastor discussing why church attendance has declined in recent decades and encouraging people to feel comfortable being honest about their struggles at church in order to find community and grace. The pastor argues that liberal theology and negative media portrayals of Christianity have contributed to skepticism of the church but that focusing on legalism over grace has also driven people away.

1. Cornerstone Fellowship of Mill Run’s
Quarterly Newsletter
FLOCKNOTESSpring 2014
From an Empty Tomb to an Empty Church?
Sunday, April 20th
Easter Celebration
 Early Service - 8:30-9:15
 Community Breakfast
& Easter Egg Hunt - 9:15-10:15
 Main Service - 10:30 - 11:45
Saturday, May 17th
Cornerstone Bake Sale @
Twice Cherished Children’s
Consignment Shop
- starting at 10am
Sunday, May 18th
Awana Picnic & Awards Ceremony
- 5:30-8pm
Mon. - Fri June 23-27th
VBS: Rainbow Promises of God
- 6:30-8:30pm
Saturday. June 14th
Church Rummage Sale
- 8 - 2pm
Mon - Fri July 21-25th
Day One Kid’s Camp
- 9am - 3pm
Saturday August 23rd
Community Day Festival
- 9 - 3pm
O how times have changed. What pray tell do I mean? Well with Easter
coming up in a few short weeks, churches all over the world will be
proclaiming the triumphant victory of the sacrificial death of Jesus on a
Roman cross, the empty tomb, and Jesus’s resurrection. Sounds good so far
right? Well there is just one problem and no it’s not with any statements
about Jesus I’ve just made. No, the problem is that pastors are proclaiming
this Truth to fewer and fewer congregants as the years go by. While
dwindling church attendance may not necessarily surprise you, the amount
of drop off especially recently just may raise an eyebrow.
Outreach Magazine published a national survey in 2006 stating only
about 17.7% of Americans actually attended Church on a regular basis 1
.
This is compared to roughly 40-50% attendance in the 1950’s and 60’s 2
. So
with a population north of 300 million, and less than 20% are attending
church regularly, Christianpost.com explains that, “the United States has
become the world’s fastest growing mission field.” 3
Some how I don’t
think it’s a good thing.
The obvious question that keeps pastors up at night is WHY, WHY, WHY
aren’t people wanting to come to church like they used to back in the good
ole’ days? Not so long ago, all you had to do was open up the church doors
and people would come. Since the 1960’s nearly every denomination has
seen a steady decline in attendance. So what happen? I’m glad you asked.
To figure this out let’s first look at who is NOT to blame.
This question is no simple one to answer as there are a variety of reasons.
Is the increasingly liberal media constantly attacking Christian beliefs and
values to blame? I say this is just a symptom rather than the cause. You
see, mass media publications are a product of the culture they report on.
The value system and priorities of what’s most important in any given
www.cornerstonemillrun.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 . . .

2. “If Jesus really isn’t in this tomb,
then why aren’t more people
willing to come to church?”
Continued from Page 1...
replaces God with man’s own reasoning ability as the ultimate way to determine what is true & what is false. Man’s
ability to reason as the ultimate determination of truth is the fundamental philosophy guiding pop culture, mass
media and the overwhelming majority of Americans today.
Is all media is evil? No, not at all. Remaining sheltered to the outside world, and naïve to criticisms of Christianity is
how we got into this mess in the first place. Once we understand this concept which drives the lives of most of
America today, it’s not hard to figure out why church attendance has dropped off so much. If man is in charge and
not God, who is going to voluntarily listen to a pastor say how somebody should and shouldn’t their own lives? Am I
right? Liberal theology, which came in large part from scholars and professors calling themselves Christian have
provided the fuel for Mass media’s criticism of the Bible and the resurrection of Jesus.
Let me give me an example of exactly what I’m talking about. In 2007 famous director of “Titanic” & since then
“Avatar” fame, James Cameron directed a documentary claiming to have found, “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” 4
Cameron Claims that a family tomb which had been found near Jerusalem with inscriptions of Jeshua, son of Joseph,
Mary Magdalene supposedly, and Judah. Cameron no doubt tapping into the Da Vinci code version of history,
which claimed Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married & had a son named Judah. Many Major News Outlets had
coverage on it. The documentary’s claims was quickly refuted, but the initial report was still seen by masses of
people. Guess when the release date was March 4, 2007. In 2006 National Geographic aired the “Gospel of Judas”
on Palm Sunday 5
. Think it’s a coincidence they both aired right before Easter? Me neither. Now you know why. Not
simply because the Devil made them do it. They’re merely following the lead of liberal theology at it attempts to
chip away at the foundation of the Christian faith. I myself have done a reasonable amount of digging into the claims
of liberal theology. Let me assure you if you do enough digging there are crazy smart people out there who can
defend all the major claims of the Christian faith against the claims of liberal theology and mass media criticism. In
the last 30 years especially there has been a slow but building movement to thoroughly poke holes all through the
claims of liberal theology. Unfortunately showing the error in Cameron’s argument will never get much airplay.
So the initial question I have still remains. If Jesus’s tomb really is empty, then why aren’t more people willing to
come to church? If the Bible really is historically reliable and accurate as the Word of God itself, why don’t millions
of people care? I really believe there are enough lies spread loud enough and long enough about the Church, the
Bible and Jesus most people in today’s culture are skeptical of anything that has received a lot of negative press. If
you take this skepticism on top of the fact that many people have had negative personal experiences when they
have gone to church, churches and pastors are in a real uphill battle from the start. Want evidence? The top three
opinions of 16-29 year olds about the church according to a Barna poll were; antihomosexual, judgmental, and
hypocritical. 6
Have you had a negative experience with the church?
There is a great article I came across recently which describes a common perception many have about church
titled, “Honesty in a culture of Church Taboos”.7
In it a newly married husband and wife with a good steady income,
found out they were pregnant. What should have been joy for the couple was replaced with fear as the realization
culture will be reflected in the articles and reports by the major news
outlets and media centers covering that culture. So blame the decline
on taking prayer out of school. Blame Woodstock & Watergate as
beginning the downward turn of society and church attendance. Blame
the increasingly liberal mass media that covered all of these stories if
you want. The truth is they’re all merely the product of a much more
sinister threat which had been at work for centuries prior attacking the
most fundamental parts of the Christian faith. Ladies & gentlemen,
drum roll please! I give you...Liberal Theology! Huh? What is THAT?!?
You were expecting me to blame it all on the Devil weren’t ya!!??!!
When I say “liberal theology” I DO NOT mean beliefs democrats hold
about God. Liberal theology is really an organized collection of theories
which attack the fundamental core parts of the faith. Ever heard
statements like; “The Bible contains mistakes, contains myths &
fables”, “The Bible should not be taken literally”, “The Jesus described
in the Gospels is not the historical Jesus”? At it’s heart, liberal theology
*image from Vision TV / AP

3. Continued from page 2...
sunk into her head, “I felt that not wanting my baby was deeply indicative of my irredeemable wickedness. I had no
grace for myself, so I expected no grace from others.” She explains that it’s not like they didn’t want children. They
just didn’t want children...yet. What made matters worse was that they felt alienated from the church because how
could they talk to couples in the church about their feelings of not want this pregnancy when their were couples in
the church who wanted kids so badly but weren’t able to. They felt alone and ashamed and soon left the church. No-
body knew they were hurting, nobody from the church bothered apparently to find out why they left either. Some-
thing tells me they aren’t they only ones out there that are silently carrying a load of shame of their shoulders. Past
sins and mistakes should be what drives people to church, not away from it.
The article continues, “Yet hiding behind our friendly smiles and polite pleasantries (at church) are real life issues;
the ones that don’t fit neatly into everyday conversations. Churches preach the benefits of living in community, yet
we somehow forget that living in true community is guaranteed to be messy and complicated. While we talk of au-
thenticity, Church often remains a place where you can’t be honest.”
I’ve talked to person after person who thinks I’ll come to church as soon as I get this straightened about or this
taken care of. It sickens me to my core and drives me to tears to hear people say they somehow have to get their
lives in order before people at church will accept them and not criticize them. For anyone reading this that feels this
way. For anyone out there that feels like they have to get their life together before they can come to church, or feel
like they can’t be honest with stuff there really struggling with let me share a couple verses with you.
Matthew 9:12-13
12
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13
But go and learn what
this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."8
Jesus had some of his harshest words for the self righteous religious elite who looked down on others and weren’t
as religious as they were. Jesus says I came and died for sinners, not for those who think they are more righteous
than everyone else and don’t need a savior. We are all sinners, every last one of us. So why are we so afraid to be
honest in church about the fact that we actually sin??
The article concludes by describing a few ways to change the culture of church taboos. Number one on the list is,
“Break the silence and let someone in.” The thing with perceptions is their not always real or true. If we though
muster up the courage and open up about things we really struggle with at church you might be surprised at what
actually happens. I believe not only will you not be judged, you might actually find out your not the only one who
struggles the way you do, feels the way you do. Through honesty and vulnerability, yes even at church, you can find
grace, mercy and forgiveness. Even at church you can find Jesus. That’s the way it was originally designed by Jesus
2000 years ago.
Walking alongside people instead of criticizing them, It’s a concept of accountability coupled with Love. A concept
that would give people guidance along with freedom to be honest & open to ask for forgiveness of deeply shamefully
things...all happening at Church! Would you go to a church like that? I pray Cornerstone Fellowship would be that
kind of church to you.
Articles Referenced
1. “The American Church in Crisis”, by Rebecca Barnes and Lindy Lowry, Outreach Magazine,
May/June 2006
2. http://www.gallup.com/poll/166613/four-report-attending-church-last-week.aspx
3. http://www.christianpost.com/news/america-is-one-of-the-fastest-growing-mission-fields-in-the-
world-82985/
4. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974593/
5. http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/bones_of_jesus.html
6. “UnChristian: What a new generation thinks about Christianity and why it matters”, Gabe Lyons
and David Kinneman, Baker Books, December 2007, Grand Rapids, MI
7. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/honesty-culture-church-taboos
8. The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1984 (Mt 9:12–13). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

4. @ Cornerstone Fellowship
Five strategies for teaching your child
to make wise media choices
Media is everywhere nowadays. Media and technology present
many benefits. They also offer dangerous pitfallsmfrom
exposing our kids to inappropriate material, to filling their
minds with harmful images, values and messages. I heard one
preacher put it simply, “Garbage goes in (your mind) garbage
comes out (your mouth).” Whether we admit it or not the media
we watch & listen to affects us more than we realize.
Here are five steps you can take to raise children who use
Godly discernment in media choices so they will be able to
police themselves as teens and adults.
1. Know the media landscape your kids face: Are you
familiar with the media options available to your kids? Find
out what youth their age like to watch and listen to – and
why. Plugged In by Focus on the family is a great resource
to review mainstream movies, music CDs and TV shows
from a biblical perspective.
2. Establish Boundaries in your home: I’m not talking about
sheltering them from everything. Instead draw clear lines
about what is and isn’t an appropriate media choice in
your family. Discuss each rule – and the why behind it –
from a biblical perspective.
3. Set Boundaries based upon the Bible: Talk often with
your kids about the values promoted in media and the
consequences of making bad choices. Season your
conversations with scriptural truth. Teach your kids the
difference between what God values most compared
with the what culture values most.
4. Immerse your family in Scriptural Truth. What would
Jesus do about Facebook? Help your kids find out by
regularly exploring the Bible together and how it applies
to them.
5. Practice what you preach: Gone are the days of, “Do as I
say not as I do.” If you do not follow your own biblical
guidelines concerning media consumption...neither will
your kids. (*adapted from parenthelps.awana.org)
When: Sunday Nights 6-8pm
Who: Any child up to 6th grade
Why: Most fun you ever had
learning God’s Word
Things might get a little crazy!

5. Psalms 31:1Psalms 31:1
In You, O LORD, I put my trust;In You, O LORD, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.Deliver me in Your righteousness.
Potluck Favorites
Courtesy of Valerie Rawlings
Grandma’s Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza
1 roll of prepared sugar cookie dough
1 package of cream cheese (room temp.)
1 small jar of marshmallow fluff
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Assorted fruits of your choosing
Roll sugar cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet – follow instructions listed on package for baking.
Mix together cream cheese, marshmallow, and lemon juice in a separate bowl. Allow cookie crust to cool
– spread cream cheese mixture over the crust. Slice fruit and arrange over top of pizza. Makes a delicious
summer treat for picnics or family gatherings!
Summer Pizza
1 roll of crescent rolls
1 pack of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 package of cream cheese (room temp.)
Mixed vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots)
1 package of mozzarella cheese
Roll crescent rolls onto a greased cookie sheet – follow instructions listed on package for baking. Mix
cream cheese and Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix in a separate bowl. Spread Hidden Valley Ranch mix
over top of cooled crescent roll crust. Finely grind or chop mixed vegetables and spread over crust with
ranch mix on. Top with mozzarella cheese. This recipe is a great way to get children who are picky eaters
to eat their veggies!
Banana Split Salad
1 - 21 oz. can of cherry pie filling
1 – 8 oz. container of whipped topping
1 – 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
1 – 8 oz. can of crushed pineapple
2 – 3 ripe bananas
Combine cherry pie filling, whipped topping, condensed milk, & crushed pineapple in a bowl. Add bananas
right before serving to avoid browning. Add dabs of whipped cream on top of the dessert if desired.

6. Get Connected:
• Sunday School 9:30am
• Main Service 10:30am
• Awana Kids Club 6-8pm
• Wed. Night Bible Study
@ the Church 7-8pm
415 Mennonite Road, Altoona, Pa 16001
Church Office: (814) 942-4003
Pastor Steve’s Email: runninman2005@yahoo.com
*Located 1 mile up Mill Run Road from Intersect. of 31st St. & 6th Ave.
& Right Across from Barnharts
*image from Momspark.net
Recipe:
Potluck Favorites
Chocolate Eclair Cake
Courtesy of Jessica Domenick
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup Water • ½ cup Butter
• 1 cup Flour • 4 large Eggs
• 3 cups Milk
• 1 - 8 oz. package, Cream Cheese
• 1 large box (5.1 oz.) Vanilla Instant Pudding
• 1- 8oz. container Cool Whip
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven 400⁰, lightly grease 9”X13” glass baking pan
Éclair Crust: In a medium sauce pan, melt butter in water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
Stir in flour. Mix in one egg at a time, mixing completely before adding another egg.
Spread mixture into pan, covering the bottom and sides evenly.
** If the sides of your pan are too greased you won’t be able to get the mixture to stay up the sides **
Bake 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Check occasionally so it doesn’t burn.
Remove from oven and let cool (don’t touch or push bubbles down).
Filling: Whip cream cheese in a medium bowl. In separate bowl make the vanilla pudding.
Make sure pudding is thick before mixing in with cream cheese. Slowly add pudding to cream cheese,
mixing until there are no lumps. Let cool in fridge.
When the crust is completely cooled, pour filling in. Top with layer of cool whip however thick you want it and
serve with chocolate syrup. ENJOY!
Nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny
Mountains, Cornerstone Fellowship is a
place of refuge & peace for the weary &
brokenhearted. Cornerstone doesn’t feel
like a church though…it feels like family.