Friday, July 12, 2002 published in the Fayetteville Observer

Place of Faith: Cornerstone United Methodist Church

Address: 1411 Rim Road, Fayetteville

Telephone: 910-868-5686

Email: cornerstoneumc@cslink.net

Internet: www.orthovox.org/cornerstone/cumc.html

Leader: The Rev. Ben Sharpe

Services: 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sundays; 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays

Outreach programs: Many churches are now holding two different kinds of worship services, contemporary and traditional. Cornerstone does, too. But there is a twist at Cornerstone: more people are attending the early contemporary service than the traditional 11 a.m. service. Cornerstone has found a niche with younger families looking for a more relaxed style of worship. It hopes to use the same approach to reach out to people who are not coming to church. On Saturday nights, starting in the fall, Cornerstone hopes to open the church for a Christian coffeehouse. The coffeehouse, called Inklings, will feature refreshments and live music. The youth of the church are already holding coffeehouse meetings. Instead of meeting at the church, youth usually meet at a downtown Fayetteville coffee shop.

The church recently held a vacation Bible school for families, but most programs for children are on hiatus for the summer. In the fall, Cornerstone plans to kick off FW Friends (Faith Weavers Friends). And a group for parents who teach their children at home will begin meeting again.

Members are also meeting outside the church. They gather at each other’s homes on weekdays for worship and study.

Affiliation: North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church

Organized: 1997

Average attendance: About 160 people, between two services.

History: In 1995, the bishop of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church sent the Sharpe to Fayetteville to start a church from scratch. Members first met for worship in homes. Then, they moved to E.E. Miller Elementary School in the Lake Rim community. Last June, members broke ground on a building of their own, next door to E.E. Miller. In February, they held their first service in the new building. And on Sunday, the congregation invites the community to visit their new building. An open house begins at 3 p.m.

This week’s message: Sharpe’s sermon title: ‘‘Who’s in Control Here?’’ We were created to love and serve God. Yet, because of our rebellion against God we end up serving lesser things: material wealth, pleasure, entertainment, power, etc. It is a fact of human existence that we will ultimately give ourselves in service to someone or something -- even if that something is our own self! In Romans 8: 1-11 St. Paul reminds Christians they no longer have to be dominated by destructive selfish, sinful drives and appetites. There is a new law -- a new force -- at work in the Christian’s life: the Holy Spirit. When we place our lives under the control of the Holy Spirit (God indwelling the believer) we are finally free to live for Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit guides us we experience genuine life and peace.

Staff writer Allison Williams can be reached at 323-4848, extension 331, or williamsa@fayettevillenc.com

Questions, suggestions and problems concerning the Cornerstone United Methodist Church Website should be directed toward the Cornerstone Webmaster at: webmaster@cornerstoneumconline.com