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September-October Cornerstone Newsletter August 29, 2021
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the
kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14
The fun times of summer are now Cornerstone Chuch is also involved with
complete and we are heading into fall. providing two meals for the campers and
First, let’s look back at Angel Tree Camp, counselors along with two mornings of
meet our new members, and hear about crafts.
life groups.
On Wednesday morning breakfast was
provided here at church from a bunch of
Lake View Camp 2021 faithful servant ladies willing to get up early
Angel Tree Camp, June 21 – 25 to prepare and serve it. Not that practice
By Brent Pierson makes perfect, but these ladies are a well-
oiled machine. I’m not exactly sure how
Angel Tree Camp for the most part returned many years we have been providing meals
to normal this year after all the large group for the camp but eggs, sausage, fruit and
camps were cancelled cereal seem to make
last year because of everyone go away full and
Covid. The biggest happy.
change was in the
number of campers. In For the evening meal we
the past there were served pizza. I asked some
often 50 to 60 kids here of the counselors once
the week camp is held what they would enjoy for
in Pella. This year they supper and they would
only had 21 campers so almost always say
the ratio of counselors anything but hamburgers.
to campers was very If you stop and think about
high. it, one of the easiest things
to do is grill a bunch of
The week started off hamburgers for a large
with a very early trip to group and that’s what they
the Walcott truck stop get served often. So, a few
with the church van to years ago we decided to do
get 9 campers. If something fun and we
you’re not real familiar served them pizza. What
with the Angel tree kids and college age
program these are kids that have a parent or counselors don’t like pizza? The really nice
guardian in prison or could just be in a high- thing about pizza is it takes a huge load off
risk family situation. These kids almost all the ladies that had been up early that
come to camp for free, including morning getting breakfast ready. Pizza,
transportation from their home town to breadsticks and ice cream for dessert have
Pella. The camp that Cornerstone Church
has always helped with has been kids in 1st –
5th grade.
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September-October Cornerstone Newsletter August 29, 2021
been a hit with everyone for our evening
meal.
After breakfast the campers return to the
college where they are staying for the week
and do a little clean up time and split into
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September-October Cornerstone Newsletter August 29, 2021
groups. This year with the smaller numbers Their family includes four children, all out
they were split into two groups, where of the house. Christy, their daughter, is
typically it would have been three. These married and has a son. They live north of
groups each get a Denver. Next is Eric,
morning at the church who’s married with
doing different crafts four children. He and
with beads, popsicle his family live in Pella,
sticks, things to paint, and he works at
just whatever can be Vermeer in Sales. Then
found to keep them busy. there’s Chad, who is
single and is an active
A huge thank you to member of the U.S.
everyone that gave of Army. Finally, their
their time to bless and son Shaun lives in the
love on these kids. For a small town of Council,
lot of these kids, camp is Idaho, working for a
the best week of their landscaping and
summer. They get three groundskeeping
meals a day, fun company.
activities morning, noon
and night. Counselors Janny was born in
and others showing them Oskaloosa. Gerald is
the love of Jesus every from Pella. They’ve
waking hour that they are lived in Minnesota,
at camp is such a Colorado and Florida.
blessing to them. So, if you have ever helped Both of them graduated from Pella Christian
serve a meal, carried a tray, cleaned up a High School.
spill, helped with crafts, driven the van or Both Janny and Gerald are retired. Gerald
given a hug - Thank You for being the hands worked in Ag at Vermeer, and Janny worked
and feet of Jesus. as a labor and delivery nurse. They
celebrated their 50-year anniversary with
their family this past year.
Getting to know the Van Dusseldorps
By Ryan Hoekstra As a nurse, Janny loved the camaraderie of
her faith-based co-workers. And, she loved
We’ve been blessed with many new the work she did. When they lived in
members. So, it is time once again to get Denver, the hospital Janny worked for did
acquainted with one new family for this about 350 deliveries a month, so she was
issue—Gerald and Janny Van Dusseldorp! kept very busy. She also appreciated her job
because she had flexible hours when they
When I sat down with them, my very first were raising their kids.
question was to Gerald. “How do you
pronounce your name?” It’s with a hard G Gerald worked in drafting for engineering.
like Gary, not like Jerry. As he changed positions (and locations) at
Vermeer, he really enjoyed getting around to
different factories and departments. He is
also an avid and talented organist, and a
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September-October Cornerstone Newsletter August 29, 2021
choral director. At their 2,000-member hydrangeas, the tulips in Pella, and
church in Denver, he was the principal dianthus—a relative of the carnation.
organist, but also directed a 70-member
choir on Sundays. Gerald enjoys house projects; he’s built a
workbench and other projects. His current
Gerald helped design Cornerstone’s new focus is finishing off their basement.
organ. It is a digital organ, but has fantastic
speakers, he said. And he’s looking forward While they don’t really have a “dream
to getting back on the organ at the new vacation,” they love going to Florida every
location. He also mentioned that he would year during the winter months. And they’ve
be traveling back to Colorado to give an been to Hawaii, Europe, Romania and
organ concert at their old church. Other Hungary. And, of course, everywhere they
musicians and ensembles will also be can visit their kids and grandkids!
involved.
Gerald and Janny first started attending 2021-09 Cornerstone Life Groups
Cornerstone Church last fall after they had By Pastor Paul Bradford
moved to Pella. While they spent January
through March in Florida at their condo, Dear Cornerstone Congregation,
they came to the decision to join the
congregation. We welcomed them on In the fall of 2019, Cornerstone Church
Sunday, June 13. Since launched our “Life
they’d joined after Groups” – small groups
being members of a that met 2x each month
church in Colorado to encourage one
Springs, they wanted a another, pray together,
church with an organ and study God’s Word.
and a choir. When we launched, we
Cornerstone Church fit had 4 groups with 4
those requirements very dozen people in those
well. groups. Many in our
congregation were
Gerald and Janny both excited about these new
prefer simple foods. groups; we saw
They are not really momentum building.
“foodies” so when Then the Pandemic hit.
asked about their We had to stop meeting
favorite foods, they in person, and we were
don’t really mention unable to launch any
anything specific. new groups. Well, we’re
kicking Life Groups off
They live in the again this fall! We’re
Hunter’s Ridge excited to get started
development, west of Pella. Janny enjoys again!
gardening and yardwork. When asked to list
her favorite three plants, she mentioned
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September-October Cornerstone Newsletter August 29, 2021
Here are some details about Cornerstone What happens during a Life Group meeting?
Life Groups: • Groups usually begin with some
• Life Groups are small groups of 8-12 refreshments and with sharing what
people that faithfully meet together has happened in our lives since we
to share life, study God's word, and last met. Sometimes the group begins
support one another. with a fun “Ice Breaker” question.
• Most of our Life Groups will begin • After sharing, we have a lesson
on Sunday, September 19, though that’s biblically based. For their
one or two might start on September lesson, some groups use a video
26, and some might meet during the series, a book, or talk in depth about
week. a recent Sunday sermon. The lesson
always includes discussion. Each
• Groups will meet 5 times this fall,
person in the group has an
take a break for the Christmas
opportunity to talk about insights
season, and continue again in
they have and how the lesson might
January.
apply in their life personally.
• Some groups will meet in homes,
• We then have a time when we share
others groups may meet at our new
prayer requests and pray for one
building so they can make use of the
another. No one has to pray, though
nursery.
usually many people in the group
• Most groups meet Sunday afternoons join in. Sometimes we divide men
beginning around 3 or 4pm, though and women during the prayer time.
each group can choose their own day
• The prayer concludes the Life
and time for meeting. Meetings
Group, thought people often chat for
normally last about 1½ hours.
a few minutes afterwards.
Why are Life Groups important?
• The purpose of Life Groups is to Many have shared with us their surprise at
how, in just a few weeks, they feel very
help us connect with others in the close to the people in their group, whether
body of Christ in life-giving and they’ve known them for years or just met
upbuilding relationships so that them when beginning the group. We believe
together we "may spur one another you’ll be blessed being part of a group!
on toward love and good deeds."
(Hebrews 10:24) If you’ve not indicated your interest already,
you can take the 3-question survey in
• Life Groups provide a time for things Breeze. Here’s the survey link:
that we can’t easily do on Sunday cornerstonepella.breezechms.com/form/1a8
e34.
morning –like personal sharing,
interactive teaching, prayer for one As the book of Hebrews exhorts us, “Let us
another, and personal support. hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
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September-October Cornerstone Newsletter August 29, 2021
for he who promised is faithful. And let us of doing, but let us encourage one another -
consider how we may spur one another on and all the more as you see the Day
toward love and good deeds. Let us not give approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)
up meeting together, as some are in the habit
Welcome!
Theo Hugen, adopted teenage son Haisley Jeanine Beltman, born August 19
of Troy and Brenda Hugen to Lance and Kristi Beltman
In Memory
Martha Slings
March 7, 1918 – July 22, 2021 (103)
Pella II Newsletter invites your contribution. Drop a note in the mailbox of any one of our
editors.
Joel Vander Molen Ryan Hoekstra Ruth Van Hal
joelvan@vmtweb.com hoekstrateam@iowatelecom.net secretary@cornerstonepella.org
628-1303 628-3964 628-2966
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