Join the choir! Rehearsals are on Wednesdays, 6:45pm in the Lime Room (right hallway, all the way to the end). Choir is open to high school age and up. If you know your voice part (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) that is helpful! But we can also help you find your voice part by range.
Practice Recordings on YouTube
FALL CHOIR
Today’s message will reference this Tim Keller sermon – we wanted to share the link with you! “God Our Lover” by Tim Keller
LALA LADIES – This small group of Cedar Hills musicians travels around to the Care Centers in Cedar Rapids and Marion, bringing smiles to residents with their music. This group includes Ina Boeke, Lori Tonsfeldt, and Audrey Reid. In September, they will feature Country Music!
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE
September 9
September 10
September 11
September 15
September 16
September 17
September 18
September 23
September 24
September 25
I saw a news flash today that RFK Jr, age 71, completed 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups in under six minutes. I thought, “How is that possible?”
Answer: RFK Jr. apparently still works out. A lot. He is the kind of guy who keeps growing physically.
If growing physically strong and healthy requires continued effort, what about spiritual growth?
We are the kind of people who keep growing spiritually. We keep discovering new truths. We keep drawing near to God. We keep following Jesus into new territory.
We know that healthy things grow. Here are three reasons why we are the kind of people who keep growing:
And if that is not motivation enough, remember that God’s Word is not static or stale, it is “living and active.” (Hebrews 4:12) God is still working today – in all of us – to bring not just life, but abundant life. (John 10:10) So, keep growing.
As Steve shared in his sermon last week, practice “Shema-ing” in a Sunday class, small group, or in your personal Bible Study. LISTEN HERE
May the Lord be with you,
Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
Healthy things grow. We are the kind of people who believe that Sunday classes are one of the steps God uses to grow our faith. Growth is good. Stagnation is bad. 2 Peter 3:18 says, Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
When we grow in our Biblical knowledge and understanding we see very specific benefits. The primary benefits is to grow in love: to love God more fully and to love others more boldly. Here are three additional benefits:
What steps are you taking to grow your faith?
Let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity. (Hebrews 6:1)
Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
I’m regularly apologizing for the state of my garden. In early spring, I say, “It is just getting started.” Later, I say, “It will look better in a few weeks.” In the middle of summer, I say, “It needs some weeds pulled.” Late in the season, I say, “It is past its prime.” Or, I say, “Wait till next year, it will be much better.”
My garden is always in process. Here is a photo taken last night. It will probably look better next week. Like the church. Like my life. In process.
The book The Story of Reality, by Greg Koukl, explains that living “in process” is part of our worldview as people who follow Jesus. Our “in process” comes in four stages: Creation (How things began), Fall (How things got broken), Redemption (How things will get fixed), and Restoration (How things will be once they are fixed).
Every worldview must account for these four stages. We account for them this way:
This worldview is good news for anyone who has ever been abused, oppressed, or mistreated. It is good news for anyone who has ever had grief, or pain, or trauma. It means that all that is broken can be fixed. All injustice can be made just. All grief can be healed. All sin can be forgiven.
Jesus obeyed perfectly and died a horrifying death to take on the rebellion of the world. Jesus was raised from the dead, and whoever puts their trust in Jesus as their Savior will be made right with God and live in God’s Kingdom now and forever.
For those who trust in Jesus, he will one day wipe away every tear. One day. Until that day, we are “in process” because we live in the tension between the “now” and the “not yet” of God’s Kingdom. Like a garden, “It will look better in a few weeks.”
Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
📍 Bloomsbury Farm
📅 Saturday, August 2nd, 5-7 pm
⏰ Food served 5–6 PM | Program with formal ask 6–7 PM
🎆 Fireworks to follow!
🎟️ Ticket includes access to 25+ family-friendly activities on the farm—this is the perfect event for all ages! Bloomsbury Farm opens 3-9pm with fireworks that evening.
BAKING FOR A CAUSE – June 22 in the Gathering Space. Enjoy coffee, tea, sweet treats, and floral arrangements all available by free-will donation with 100% of the proceeds going to support this family on mission. We need YOU to help make a difference! Here’s how you can help: Sign up to bake | Donate flowers | Setup and serving
In gym class, I was always relieved when chosen. (Particularly if not chosen last.)
In Guatemala, we give goodies to the kids who show up at our work sites. A doll, a cap, a granola bar, matchbox cars, candy.
Once word gets out, the number of kids grows rapidly. Some of those kids are very timid. They lurk around the edges, waiting to see if they will be chosen to receive a gift. When we invite them to receive a gift, they smile.
Last week, two little girls, Madelyn and Astrid, from Guatemala chose Mary and me. Madelyn said she picked us because we “seemed kind, friendly, and nice.” She was probably looking at Mary.
The Bible tells us how God chooses people to be his people: “God, your God, chose you out of all the people on Earth for himself as a cherished, personal treasure.
God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8, MSG)
I’m glad to be chosen. Being chosen makes all the difference. Jesus said, “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you.” (John 15:15-16, NLT)
We are chosen!
Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
Once upon a time I had a request for a Proverbs 18:10 song, which led me on a bunny trail to writing a whole bunch of Proverbs 18:10 songs in lots of different translations. Is God a tower or fortress? Are we the godly or righteous? Do we run to him or run in him?
The way each translation captures this idea differs just so slightly, and really stirred my curiosity about this verse and broadened my idea of God.
Here’s a short playlist of all my songs on this verse:
Leah Carolan
Pastor of Worship & Media
