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THE LION'S ROAR
SEPTEMBER 2021
Celebrating 40 Years of Cornerstone
2021-22 School Theme
In September 1981, the Cornerstone Christian School opened her doors for the very first time. A Christian education was made possible for her first 56 students who were entering Kindergarten through Grade 6. This exciting opening was an answer to the prayers of those who had been faithfully seeking God for His amazing provision.
As we began the 2021-2022 school year on September 1, 2021, Cornerstone celebrated her 40th birthday as she entered her 41st year of providing a Christian education to students now entering Pre-K through Grade 12.
Over the course of her 40 years in Christian education, CCS has been blessed to become dually accredited as a K-12 Christian school by both the Associaion of Christian Schools International (ACS) and the Middle States Association (MSA). We look forward to what God will has in store over the next 40 years, too!
We live in some of the most divisive times I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. I know that division is not unique to 2021, because history shows us that we--sinful and fallen people--have a very hard time seeing eye to eye with one another. It was obviously something that Jesus knew would be a struggle for us. In fact, he was prompted to pray for all believers going forward (for the past 2,000+ years and into our future).
Jesus' said, "My prayer is not for [my disciples] alone. I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one--I in them and you in me--so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:10-23, NIV)
During our Teacher Orientation Week, the faculty and staff prayed for one another, for our student body, for our CCS families, and for our local churches that Jesus' prayer would be fulfilled in us. Unity with the Spirit does not mean that there will be no differences among us; rather, I think it means that our ROOTS will be attached to the same foundation of LOVE. Since God is love (1 John 4:8b), when we are rooted in God--in love--we will see the Spirit realizing God's image imprinted on each of us at Creation (Genesius 1:27).
Although we will have different opinions, different experiences, different backgrounds, different appearances, etc., our roots will be common if we are rooted in love. When those roots are connected to God, God's qualities in us through the Spirit will unite us in foundational ways. God's character will fill us with the ability to be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful or proud, refusing to dishonor others, serving others above ourselves, patient, forgiving, and rejoicing with the truth. We will be a people that protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres through the challenges that we will face as individuals and as a community.
We are blessed to be rooted together in love with other believers all around the world. May we live in unity with the Spirit to God's glory!
Tonya Snyder Head of School
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UNITY WITH THE SPIRIT
from the Desk of the Head of School