Cedar Blog

The Word Became Flesh

The Word Became Flesh

I mostly take my body for granted even though most of my daily rhythms involve taking care of my body. Waking and sleeping, dressing and undressing, eating and drinking, working out and avoiding a workout – these things I do (or don’t do) mostly without much thought.

As I’m prepping for the Christmas season, I’ve focused more on the significance of our bodies. The wonders of our flesh and blood complexity and the frustrations of our physical Iimitations. We are more than our bodies, certainly, but not less. Our bodies matter.

Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” I recently noticed that God made Adam’s body first and then God breathed life into it. The body was not an afterthought created to hold the disembodied person that was Adam. Adam’s body mattered.

And now – the Incarnation. God made flesh and blood. (John 1:14) Jesus became a man. His body is not merely a container designed to hold God for a while. Jesus is fully divine AND fully human. Always. We celebrate Jesus made flesh at Christmas. Made flesh – of all things – as a baby. Jesus’ body matters.

Merry Christmas,

Kent

P.S. 2023 Advent Season

December 3 – Word Made Flesh – resurrection and return.

December 10 – Word Made Flesh – life and death sorrow.

December 17 – Word Made Flesh – water into wine feasting.

December 24 – Word Made Flesh – the flesh is weak…temptation.

Christmas Eve – Candlelight Services @ 3 and 5 – Word Made Flesh – Baby.

December 31 – Word Made Flesh – massacre of innocents and sympathy.

Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

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    Giving Season

    Giving Season

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the time of year when every day I receive mail, emails, and texts from various organizations requesting donations. Charities, ministries, animal shelters, foundations, humanitarian causes, nonprofit institutions – they are all asking for gifts.

    This annual barrage of requests for my money used to annoy the heck out of me. But I’ve been rethinking this in two ways. First, I give thanks that so many organizations commit to making our world a better place. Nonprofit organizations do so much good! Second, I give thanks that so many generous people give to support these important causes. Did you know that individuals donated $319.04 billion in 2022? That’s billion!

    Did you also know that December giving accounts for roughly one-fourth (26%) of annual nonprofit revenue? That includes the church and we are a 100% donor-funded organization. We have no trusts or endowments or corporate sponsorships. We depend on the generosity of God’s people for all of our resources.

    We are making the world a better place. We offer hope to a world in need of hope. We feed the hungry and encourage the outcast. We help every generation flourish in faith. We make a difference and we depend on your generosity to make that happen. Your giving to Cedar Hills matters.

    I am so thankful to be part of a congregation committed to making the world a better place. And I am so thankful to be part of a congregation of generous people. And I am so thankful it is giving season.

    But wait there’s more. God promises blessings to those who give generously. Consider this great promise in 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

    The Lord be with you,

    Pastor Kent

    P.S. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

    Kent Landhuis
    Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

    Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

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      Pat Garwood Funeral

      Please continue to pray for the family and friends of Pat Goodwood as they grieve her passing.

      VISITATION
      4-7 PM, Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home

      FUNERAL
      11:00 AM, Friday, November 10, 2023, at Cedar Hills Community Church. (Another light visitation beforehand at 10am)

      OBITUARY

      Patricia (Pat) Ann Garwood, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed away November 5, 2023. Visitation: . Funeral Service:  in Cedar Rapids. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. In honoring Pat’s wishes, the family encourages everyone to dress casually for the visitation and service.

      Pat was born on April 1, 1937, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Lester and Helen (Parents) Melsha. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids. Pat was united in marriage to Dennis Edward “Red” Garwood on April 22, 1963. He preceded her in death in 2015. Pat was a cafeteria worker for the Cedar Rapids Schools. She also worked at Flowerama and was self employed as a floral designer. Pat was a member of Cedar Hills Community Church. She was an animal lover. Pat enjoyed flowers, sewing, and making crafts. Most of all she loved her family and enjoyed attending their activities.

      Survivors include her children Gary (Joanne) Kohl of Cedar Rapids, Tracey (David) Johnson of Cedar Rapids, and Terry (Jeff) Stadler of Kansas City, MO, grandchildren Brandon, Kristie (Danny), Jason (Kirsten), Michael (Rachel), Lindsey (Matt), and Robbie (Kelsie), great-grandchildren Rylee, Evan, Olivia, Hannah, Charlotte, Clete, Elsie, Benjamin, Lucy, and Isaac, special friend and neighbor Connie Brown, and her beloved dog Baylee.

      Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, and daughter Beth Ann Garwood.

      Memorials may be directed to Cedar Hills Community Church.

      Cedar Blog

      Peacemakers

      Peacemakers

      Just now I couldn’t stop myself from clicking on a post entitled, “The Most Controversial Foods in America.” While waiting for the blog to open, I wondered if there was any issue that people don’t divide over. In case you are wondering, the most polarizing food in America is anchovies (followed closely by black licorice, oysters, beets, blue cheese, and okra).

      Every year at this time I say something about the state of the church and I am proud to say that we, the church known as Cedar Hills Community, are growing as peacemakers. Peacemakers seek peace – especially by reconciling adversaries. Peacemakers don’t avoid controversy but instead, enter difficult spaces with the hope of building bridges.

      The place I’ve seen the most peacemaking has been in intergenerational relationships. Many of you sought out people of another generation – not to argue with – but to pray for and pray with. It has been a beautiful bridge-building season. Uniting, not polarizing.

      Psalm 145:4 says, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” The goal of our intergenerational focus was to tell each other about God’s mighty deeds. We did this and one of the fruits of this – which I did not see coming – was the fruit of unity. One generation loved another.

      What a great place to be!

      Kent Landhuis
      Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

      Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

        Cedar Blog

        Will You Be 38?

        Will You Be 38?

        On our recent fall retreat, at Lake View Camp, our middle schoolers were challenged to contemplate the miracles of Jesus. There are 37 recorded miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. The most poignant may be when four friends bring a paralytic to Jesus for healing in Mark 2.

        4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

        Jesus healed the paralytic when he saw the faith of his friends. Wow! Can we be like those friends? Can we be a part of the miracle God wants to do in someone else’s life? Ultimately, we were challenged to invite God to do miracle 38 in our lives. The miracle of new life, salvation, and sanctification talked about in Ephesians 2.

        4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

        As I reflected on the retreat worship time I wrote a series of Haiku. I’d like to share them all with you.

         

        Thirty-seven times

        Jesus showed His godly might

        Are you thirty-eight?

        He demonstrated

        Power over creation

        Health, and even life

        Jairus’ daughter

        Jesus wept, Lazarus lived

        Widows only son

        Dead in sin, BUT GOD!

        Children under wrath, BUT GOD!

        But God’s rich mercy

         

        Steve Poole
        Pastor of Youth & Young Adults

        What did you think of this article? Did you laugh? Cry? Learn something new? Let Steve know below.

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          My Favorite Things


          MY FAVORITE THINGS           – October 26 at 6pm join the Women in Fellowship & Faith at the home of Lindsey Steinkamp (2093 49th St; Marion, IA 52302).

          Bring two of your “favorite things” to the party. They should be two of the same item, no more than $10 each (they may cost less and be something homemade or handmade).

          Plan for small bites and fellowship, followed by favorite things exchange.  See the Facebook event for more info or text Lindsey at 319-640-9147.

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          Angel Tree 2023

          This year Cedar Hills will be focusing on a local outreach for the Christmas season:  Angel Tree Christmas gifts through Prison Fellowship.
          We will foster relationships with local families who have an incarcerated parent, buy Christmas gifts for the kids, and host a Christmas party for the families.
          Want to be involved?  Here are a few options.
          1. Join a planning team now: family relationships, gift management or party planning. (Contact Cathy using form below)
          2.  In the coming weeks, take an “angel tag” off the Christmas tree that details a gift to purchase.
          3. Support the December Christmas party through working in the kitchen or loving on families.
          Be watching for more info in the coming weeks about how to love these neighborhood families!

          JOIN THE PLANNING TEAM by using the form below:

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            Congregational Celebration


            CONGREGATIONAL CELEBRATION            – Sunday, November 12 at the end of each service we will review next year’s budget, elect new board members and celebrate what God is doing at Cedar Hills!

            We will also be installing Steve Poole and Leah Carolan as new ordained pastors in the Alliance of Reformed Churches.

            And there will be cake!

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            New Shelter Dedication


            NEW SHELTER DEDICATION              – Please join us Sunday, October 22, around 9:30am (immediately after the 1st service) to dedicate the wonderful new shelter that was built out by the Matthew 25 garden area.

            This shelter will be so appreciated by the families that grow their produce in the gardens.  It will also be a great place for anyone who would like to come and get to know some of these families during the growing season.

            Love. Belong. Serve.