Cedar Chips, Journey

Rocky Mountain High 2017

On July 21, 13 students and three adults will be making the trip to Rocky Mountain High. During this week, they will have an opportunity to engage in worship with over 2,000 other students, rise early to spend time in God’s Word, enjoy the Rocky Mountains and much more. This is always an impactful week spiritually for the students. Families still talk about this trip decades later. Here are some ways to join us this week:
#1: Pray our students grow spiritually this week.
#2: Pray that God protects this group as they travel to and from Colorado.
#3: Ask God to have the impact of this week make ripple effects in the lives of those the students came in contact with when they return.

We believe Journey Student Ministry is extremely valuable in the lives of each student and we need your help to keep reaching out to more students.

If you are interested in joining the student ministry as a leader, please let me know. We are currently in need of 2 male leaders and 2 female leaders to round out our fall leadership team.

Jeremy Van Genderen
Director of Youth and Young Adults

Cedar Chips, Worship

Where Are You Today?

Have you ever had a season where the Christian journey is fascinating and awe-filled? When God seems to step-in in the biggest way possible and intervene at just the right moment with an awesome answer to prayer, a miracle, a deep revelation of something in His Word, or the advice from a friend at just the right time that somehow just ‘clicked’ in your brain?

Have you ever had a God sighting? A moment where something supernatural took place and you are not even sure how to describe it? And you’re not even sure you want to share it because you think those around you might think you’re crazy or not truly understand what just happened to you?

Have you ever had a season where the Christian life seemed kind of hum-drum? Where you go about your regular routine but there are no significant God sightings, no huge moments of revelation, nothing new that strikes you in the Word? When prayer seems dull, and God’s voice seems silent or a little too quiet? And life just seemed to drag on and on and on without anything happening?

Have you ever wanted and needed so desperately to hear from God and for Him to intervene and yet He seems silent? And you wonder to yourself, “Maybe this time He won’t answer even though He’s answered so many times before?” When life seems hopeless, but you cry out for help anyway? And you cannot find a way out, but you hold a glimmer of hope that maybe God has a way out? But he’s not moving when you NEED Him to move?

Have you ever just been content with your Christian life. You have no expectations of God doing anything miraculous, but you enjoy His Word and prayer, and fellowship with other Christians, but have zero expectations that there could or should be something more than this?

Just curious. Where are you today?

Leah Carolan
Director of Worship & Media

Cedar Chips

Consistory Governance

The Consistory is the governing board that leads our congregation. We govern by writing policies to keep us on mission. We exist so that people will grow in their love for God (Love). We exist so that people will grow in their faith in Jesus Christ (Grow).  We exist so that people will grow in their love for each other (Serve). We exist so that people will find hope through faith in Jesus Christ (Seek).

Culture is not something we usually think about. It’s like water to a fish or air to a bird. It’s simply the environment we live in. Culture is one of the most important factors driving an organization. Unhealthy cultures produce bad results. Healthy cultures produce good results.

Webster defines culture as “the predominating attitudes, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of a group or organization.” In this sense, culture in inescapable. You can’t not have a culture, and every culture is either healthy, unhealthy, or somewhere in between. Our calling as a Consistory is to build a God-honoring, Christ-centered, grace-filled, biblically sound, kingdom-focused congregation. This culture will be healthy and result in these kinds of fruit:

  • Real Community. Everyone matters. Everyone belongs. Everyone contributes. Together is better.
  • Speaking the truth in love. Truth is not hoarded but shared.
  • Great teams. The right people serving in the right places at the right time.
  • Passionate. Everyone is free to follow God’s calling which results in passion.
  • Grace-full, grateful and generous. We are blessed to be a blessing!

What would you add to this list? Share your suggestion with any consistory member or staff.

Pray for us as we seek to build a kingdom culture.

Cedar Chips

Go Make Disciples

I meet regularly with individuals and small groups for the purpose of making disciples. My picture of discipleship used to be flinging mud against a wall. I dumped as much information as possible on people and crossed my fingers, hoping that the Holy Spirit was shaping them (and me). I am thankful that the Spirit did work in spite of my ill-conceived efforts, but I became curious if there was a better way.

While reading Michael Horton’s book, Core Christianity: Finding Yourself in God’s Story, I came across this insight, “We study things we care about” (15). If that’s true about our hobbies and work, it’s even more true about our faith and how we make disciples. Discipleship is about what we love. One practice that helps me grow as a Jesus loving disciple is reading the Bible with the four Ds in mind – drama, doctrine, doxology, and discipleship. These four Ds are knit together by Jesus Christ. Every drama points to him; doctrine is about him; doxology ends in praising him; and discipleship happens as a response to him.

As we dwell in the Word, the Word dwells in us, Dwelling in the story of Jesus shapes and forms us as his followers. Horton, in his book describes it this way: “Jesus is not swept into your story. You are swept into his” (150). Getting swept into the story deepens our understanding of the reason for our hope as Christians.

Drama refers to the unfolding story of God from Genesis to Revelation. Drama yields doctrine, the truths of the Christian faith. Doctrine, rooted in the drama, creates thankful hearts of praise – doxology – which is our worshipful response to who God is and what God has done. Doxology yields the fruit of love and good works which is discipleship that turns outside of ourselves, looking up to God in faith and out to our neighbors in love. When disciples know the story and its meaning, they will respond appropriately to the God who acts. And, they will be increasingly conformed to the central character as they serve others. To know what we believe and why we believe it lies at the heart of making disciples.

Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching and Leadership

Bright Spot

Global Leadership Summit site in Cedar Rapids!

We are excited to partner with Antioch Christian Church in Marion and be able to bring the Global Leadership Summit to the Cedar Rapids area. This year’s summit is Thursday and Friday, August 10th-11th.

Our staff and consistory have been attending the Summit for the last number of years but have always had to travel out of town to attend.  This year, we’ll save lots of time (and gas money!) by traveling just across town to Antioch Christian Church in Marion.

Because we are a satellite host, we are also able to offer our members and regular attendees a discount rate to attend the summit.  Contact the office for the special code, and use this link–> to register before June 27 for only $99!

Uncategorized

Compassion Sunday, June 11, 2017

COMPASSION SUNDAY – JUNE 2017

In 1952, a Chicago evangelist, Rev Everett Swanson went to South Korea to minister to US soldiers during the war.  His heart was touched by orphaned children abandoned and living on the streets.   It was here that God gave him a vision.  He began a program to support the orphanages through funding of a few dollars a month from individuals in the Western world.  His mission was providing Biblical teaching while assisting with basic needs for these children with the ultimate goal of enabling them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.   Compassion International was born!

In 1968, the program expanded to Indonesia and has continued to grow worldwide as a child development and child advocacy ministry.  Today, Compassion serves in 25 developing nations. It is their three “C’s” that make their ministry strong:

  • Commitment to Christ – Jesus is the center of the ministry. This may be the first experience that children have to learn about Jesus.
  • Commitment to children – Each individual child receives the holistic care they deserve.
  • Commitment to church – Partnerships with local churches.

Compassion International has become a recognized non-profit organization.  They are in the top 26 non-profits with Forbes’ 50 Largest US Charities, Philanthropy 400 List, and The Non-Profit Times Top 100 List.  All contributions are tax-deductible.  As a requirement of the 1993 Revenue Reconciliation Act, they verify that no goods or services of value are given to you for your contribution.

On Sunday, June 11th, Cedar Hills will sponsor Compassion Sunday 2017 before and after both services.  There are almost 38,000 children looking for sponsorships.  Here is an opportunity for you to sponsor a child looking for a special one on one relationship with someone across the globe.  Your letters bring hope and encouragement.  Your monthly donation of $38/month per child, will bring medical check-ups, nutritious food, health and hygiene training, educational assistance, and foremost hearing about Jesus Christ.

We look forward to talking with you about Compassion International and the many blessings we have received by our sponsorships. Please, prayerfully consider sponsoring a child on June 11th.   “Releasing Children from Poverty in Jesus’ Name”

Jack & Kate Ulmer

App Question

“How do you see your home?” Quick Question Results

For Sunday, May 21, we asked the question in the Cedar Hills app, “How do you see your home? As a sanctuary to stay safe from the world? Or as a tool to reach out to the world?”  Here are the results:

This was followed by an inspiring message from Brett Erickson of Safe Families on Biblical Hospitality.  To listen to this message online, visit cedarhillscr.buzzsprout.com or listen on iTunes.

Uncategorized

Fresh Start Fundraiser featuring White Ribbon Day and THE ELIM ARRIVAL

Thursday, May 4 White Ribbon Day and The Elim Arrival will be in concert at Cedar Hills, along with musical groups from local churches, all a part of a fundraising event for Fresh Start Ministries--a service that provides personal, personal, private and confidential counseling for individuals incarcerated in the Linn County Correctional Center (County Jail) and the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center. They also provide support and counseling to the staff of the Linn County Corrections systems.  This ecumenical program is focused on the needs of the individual. Weekly worship services are also provided at the Correctional Center and at the Juvenile Detention Center.

Also part of Fresh Start is the R.I.S.E. program: Reintegration Initiative for Safety and Empowerment.  RISE provides positive social support and influences for participants as they transition from incarceration back into the community.

The event starts at 6:15pm with a social and acoustic music, followed by the concert at 7pm.

White Ribbon Day is a ministry with a simple vision – to use music, the spoken word, and the creative arts to reach as many people as possible with the life-giving message of freedom, forgiveness, and salvation available to everyone through relationship with Jesus Christ. As a band, White Ribbon Day has a strong, vocal-driven, R&B influenced pop sound, and front man Zach Blickens is an experienced evangelist with a passion to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

The Elim Arrival team believes that God is putting forth a statute and ordinance upon this land just like He did before the Israelites years ago. He is calling all men to rise and up and become the men of valor they were created to be. He is calling all women to stand up and be the courageous women that they were created to be. He is reminding all the lonely souls that He can fulfill their every need. We believe that God is calling us out of our little comfortable lives to proclaim this message to any pair of ears that will hear – and most importantly use the gifts and talents God has given us (music, teaching, preaching, writing) to communicate these truths to this generation.  Listen online.

Donate Online

To donate online to Fresh Start Ministries, visit www.freshstartministriescr.com

App Question

“Lent” App Question Results

For the week of 3/5/12, we asked the question, “Are you giving up or adding on something for Lent?” As always, the response was big! Thank you for answering the “Quick Question” of the week in the Cedar Hills app.   Here are the results:

For those who said “yes” and gave a typed answer, here are some of our favorite responses:

Giving up:

Donuts
Coffee
Using my phone while I’m with my kids.
Clutter – getting rid of a bag a day.
Shopping.
Judging.
Facebook.
Gave up sweets.
Worry and Fear.
TV
Pop

Adding on:

More scripture and prayer time.
Added devotions daily!
Taking on reading the daily devotional series.
Giving up not forgiving myself for past mistakes.
Adding on that God and Jesus loves and forgives me no matter what.

Cedar Chips, Worship

At the Foot of the Cross

At The Foot Of The Cross
By Kathryn Scott; © 2003 Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI)); 

At the foot of the cross
where grace and suffering meet,
You have shown me Your love
through the judgment You received.
And You’ve won my heart.

Now I can
trade these ashes in for beauty
and wear forgiveness like a crown.
Coming to kiss the feet of Mercy,
I lay every burden down
at the foot of the cross.

At the foot of the cross
where I am made complete,
You have given me life
through the death You bore for me.
And You’ve won my heart.

For the season of Lent, we’re again coming back to the foot of the cross. We are reminded that from ashes we came and to ashes we will return. We are reminded that the mystery of our faith roots heavily in the actions of Jesus on the cross. So, for Lent, we are revisiting the stations of the cross on Wednesday nights, beginning March 1, Ash Wednesday. These are nights for the entire family, so we’re expanding the ages of the All Stars for Jesus Program to include children ages 3 yrs to 5th grade so parents can come, enjoy a meal with their children, and then attend the services while their children are back in All Stars. These services are also a quiet time of reflection for all of us—to refocus our hearts again on the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus that draws us into the heart of God.

~ Leah Carolan
Director of Worship

Love. Belong. Serve.