April 2023 Chips

Prayer Opens Our Eyes

Prayer Opens Our Eyes

The following is from the book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. It made me think about how God wants to open our eyes to see God’s good work all around us. Enjoy!

“When I was six or seven years old, growing up in Pittsburgh, I used to take a precious penny of my own and hide it for someone else to find. It was a curious compulsion; sadly, I’ve never been seized by it since. For some reason I always “hid” the penny along the same stretch of sidewalk up the street. I would cradle it at the roots of a sycamore, say, or in a hole left by a chipped-off piece of sidewalk. Then I would take a piece of chalk, and, starting at either end of the block, draw huge arrows leading up to the penny from both directions. After I learned to write I labeled the arrows: SURPRISE AHEAD or MONEY THIS WAY. I was greatly excited, during all this arrow drawing, at the thought of the first lucky passer-by who would receive in this way, regardless of merit, a free gift from the universe. But I never lurked about. I would go straight home and not give the matter another thought until, some months later, when I’d be gripped again by the impulse to hide another penny. 

It is still the first week in January, and I’ve got great plans. I’ve been thinking about seeing. There are lots of things to see, unwrapped gifts and free surprises. The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from some generous hand. But – and this is the point – who gets excited by a mere penny? If you follow one arrow, if you crouch motionless on a bank to watch a tremendous ripple thrill on the water and find yourself rewarded by the sight of a muskrat kit paddling from its den, will you count that sight a chip of copper only, and go your rueful way? 

It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so hungry and tired that he won’t stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple.”

Praying cultivates another kind of healthy poverty and simplicity. When we pray we begin to see the world as God sees it. It is that simple.

The Lord be with you,

Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

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

    Funeral

    Dave Wise Funeral

    September 17, 1958 – April 17, 2023

    Please continue to pray for the family and friends of Dave Wise as they grieve his passing.

    SERVICE INFORMATION

    A visitation will be held at Murdoch Funeral Home on Sunday, April 23, 2-6pm.  Another visitation will be 9:30-11am at Cedar Hills on Monday morning, just prior to the 11am funeral service.  A luncheon will follow the service at Cedar Hills.  Directions to Cedar Hills

    OBITUARY

    David “Dave” Wise, 64, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died unexpectedly Monday, April 17, 2023. A visitation will be held from 2 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023, at Cedar Hills Community Church in Cedar Rapids, with an additional visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids is assisting the family.

    Dave was born September 17, 1958, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Manny and Dorothy (Amos) Wise. He graduated from Jefferson High School, Class of 1977, where he made All-State and All-American in baseball and football. Dave was inducted into the Jefferson High School Hall of Fame. He played baseball at Muscatine Community College, and later was awarded a full-ride scholarship to play baseball at the University of Wyoming. Dave also earned his degree in journalism from the University of Iowa. He worked as the manager of sales at EBSCO from 1990-2003, and later started the Kids Directory – now known as the Corridor Family Guide. Dave enjoyed golfing at courses in Cedar Rapids and Amana with his best friend, Jeff Fleck. Dave loved being surrounded by his family and friends. Above all else, he cherished being a grandpa to his wonderful grandchildren.

    Survivors include his children, Jessica Wise of Cedar Rapids, Nicole Wise of Ames, Iowa, and Bob Wise of Marion, Iowa; grandchildren, Aubrey, Ava, Myra, Clare, and Sadie; brother, Randy (Brenda) Wise; nieces and nephews, Ryan, Chris, Michelle, and Matt; and significant other of many years, Debbie Erenberger of Walford, Iowa.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, Manny and Dorothy Wise.
    Memorials may be directed to the family.

    Uncategorized

    Church Picnic May 21

    ALL CHURCH PICNIC

    The entire church is invited to the E Ave Morgan Creek Pavilion Sunday, May 21 at 5pm for a church picnic and grill-out. We’ll provide burgers, hotdogs and drinks.  Bring a side to share.  Grill-master Steve will be manning the grills. 🙂

    The new playground and pavilion are accessible from E Ave, just west of the church.  All ages are encouraged to attend.  Bring a lawn chair and your favorite outdoor games.

    Uncategorized

    The Prayers of the Apostles

    A Sermon Series April 23-May 28

    The prayers of the Apostles are prayers taken directly from Scripture – the written prayers of the New Testament that were written by Jesus followers and the Apostle Paul.

    These prayers are a great pattern for us to follow as we continue to learn how to pray and want to expand our prayer vocabulary.  They are deep and rich Scriptures.

    There are roughly 40 in total. The prayers were written for the people, whether to use them or said on the people’s behalf.

    Inspired by the Spirit, they focus on God and center on cultivating goodness and blessings among God’s people.

    DOWNLOAD PDF of the Apostolic Prayers

    Uncategorized

    Easter Music Opportunities

    Easter is coming up quick – April 9. There are three services on Easter: 8:30/9:45am traditional and the 11am. I have a couple of different music and worship opportunities I want you to plug into!

    SANCTUARY CHOIR – 8:30/9:45am
    The choir will be singing on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday at the 8:30 and 9:45 traditional services. Choir rehearses on Wednesday nights immediately following the Lent service, around 7:05pm in the Teal Room (where Journey youth meet). For more information on choir, contact Stuart Geiger.

    WORSHIP JAM – 11am
    The Worship Jam is for any and all musicians (including kids!) who want to help fill the stage at the 11am service – current worship team members and any others who wish to join. We will practice Monday, April 3 at 6:00pm, and then a warmup Easter Sunday at 9:55am in the Journey classroom. Please kindly RSVP here for the Jam so I know who to expect for setup and music. If anyone you know is curious about 2nd service worship teams, this is also their first step in exploring the team. All the music and some simple practice recordings are available here. Paper copies also available ahead of time. Just let me know and I’ll get copies to you. Otherwise, I’ll provide all the music on the rehearsal day.

    Thanks,
    Leah

    Funeral

    Nanci Iiams – Funeral Details

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

    The visitation is Tuesday, March 14 from 5-7pm at Cedar Hills. And the funeral is Wednesday, March 15 at 10:30am, followed by a luncheon at the church.

    OBITUARY

    Nanci Viola Iiams, 75, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away surrounded by her loving family, Friday, March 10, 2023, at Hiawatha Care Center, Hiawatha, Iowa. Visitation: 5 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Cedar Hills Community Church, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at the church. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements.

    Nanci was born on November 22, 1947, in Des Moines, Iowa to Frank and Mary (VanHaaften) Johnson. She married Russell Wayne Iiams on May 9, 1964, in Peru, Iowa. The couple was married 44 years before Russell passed away in 2008. Nanci made custom draperies for 42 years. Faith, family, and friends were always very important to Nanci. She loved to entertain, and everyone was always welcome. She was a very active member of the Cedar Hills Community Church. Nanci will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

    Survivors include her son, Terry (Teresa) Iiams; daughter, Stacy Iiams (Stephanie Robertson); son, Dustin Iiams; grandchildren, Jenifer (John) Christopherson, and Katie (Domingo) Vega, Megan Iiams, Joshua Iiams (Bailey Main), and Josh (Madi) Allen; great-grandchildren, Joslyn Christopherson, Jax Christopherson, Carson Vega, Reese Vega, and Aria Allen; sisters, Darlene (Gene) Miller, Joy Miller, and Rosemary (Kerry) McDaniel.

    She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Iiams; beloved father and mother, Frank and Mary Johnson; and brother, Tom Johnson.

    Nanci’s family would like to thank everyone at the Hiawatha Care Center and Milestones Adult Day Care for their compassionate care.

    Memorials may be directed to her family.

     

    March 2023

    “Hey YOU! Be Quiet and Calm Down!”

    “Hey YOU! Be Quiet and Calm Down!”

    Back in my seminary days I had to take an introductory class on the spiritual disciplines.  We followed a well-known book by Richard Foster on the different disciplines called “Celebration of Discipline.“  It was a great eye-opening class on the different disciplines Christians can and should undertake and the ways each discipline invites us into a deeper faith.

    I think it was probably the first time I had heard about fasting as a regular ‘discipline’ that Christians are called to.  Until this point, I only knew of fasting for a few passages in Scripture here and there that I largely overlooked.

    As part of this class, we had to create a year-long plan of how we would try out the different disciplines and implement them.  Bible reading, worship, solitude, worship, simplicity… they all sounded easy enough. But fasting? BUT FASTING? Ugh. I wasn’t so sure about that one.

    But I included in my plan.  My ambitious goal:

    One day a week.

    One week a month.

    One 40-day fast a year.

    Everything I read said to train up for it.  So I used my one-day-a-week days to teach my brain that it is actually okay to feel ‘hungry.’ Like seriously. It’s okay.  You just tell your stomach, “Hey you, be quiet and calm down.  You can make it a day,” while also telling the Lord, “I hunger for you more than that food. Be my bread.” 

    My one-week-a-month became great training in planning for a fast.  I learned to look ahead at the calendar, not buy groceries and try to use up food in the fridge that might go back during the week.  I also learned that physical hunger pretty much subsides by day 3, followed by an amazing amount of energy.  The first 3 days were always the hardest!! After that, easy.  All the while saying, “Lord, I hunger for you more than that food. Be my bread.”

    But I still had that 40-day fast lingering over my head. Could I do it???  After almost a year into my little experiment, I official made the plans for the BIG ONE.  Lent.  Only, I learned that for Lent, it’s actually 47 days! And Sundays are free.  Any fast taken on, you get to break on Sundays.  So that’s what I did.  Six days of nothing, and eating on Sundays.

    I made it through (barely), but I learned a few great lessons in the midst of it:

    1. It is doable. Seriously.

    2. In my fleshes weakened state, God REALLY DOES make His great strength known—just like His Word promises to.  HE DOESN’T LIE.

    3. It takes some planning and some practice.

    4. I don’t know if I’d do it again, but…

    That brings me to this year.  I haven’t done a long fast since then—just random two- or three-day stuff here and there when I need to hear from God.

    I feel wimpy.

    WHAT IF God doesn’t give me strength to do it again?!

    I sound like the Israelites, fresh out Egypt, right after crossing the Red Sea, whining for food because they don’t believe God will follow through with His promises (EVEN THOUGH THEY JUST SAW THE MIRACULOUS).

    Anyhow, I’m thinking about it for Lent.  My amazing husband has been regularly doing 40-day fasts yearly and I think I might join him this year. 

    Leah Carolan
    Director of Worship & Media

     

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

      Cedar Chips, March 2023

      Puke and Friendship

      Puke and Friendship

      I got puked on recently by a child in our Children’s Worship Class. The picture below shows the location of the incident.

      I know it was meant to be because I was filling in for someone else that day. I had followed the very last child from the sanctuary to make sure everyone made it safely into the teal room. As I was walking into the room, this particular child was running out of the room crying. He ran directly into my loving arms…and proceeded to release the contents of his stomach on the carpet and also on my hair, shirt, jeans, and boots.

      It was meant to be. I’ve retold this story several times now. It always ends in laughter and smiles. These stories have great shock value, but also they bond us together as something we can laugh over.

      The carpet squares had to be changed out. Even though we did our best to clean it in the moment, or should I say AFTER the moment, the carpet was very brown.

      Telling stories that create laughter are a great way to help connect people. I’m not perfect at creating conversation or even knowing what to say, but I sure do enjoy helping people to build friendships.

      Friendships are built on trust. If we can all laugh at a newly shared memory, connection starts to form and grow into trust.

      From nothing more than a funny story, you can see a connection that leads all the way to friendship.

      Also, thanks to the person who changed out the carpet squares.

      Lindsey Ungs
      Connection & Communication Architect

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

        Cedar Chips

        Ouch!

        Ouch!

        Nobody likes pain. A splinter makes us flinch. Sickness brings misery. Broken relationships hurt. Losing a loved one breaks our hearts. Pain comes in many ways but our reaction is always the same – we want to avoid it.

        When we can’t avoid pain, one response is to whine about it. The technical word for whining is lament. A lament expresses the frustration, confusion, and suffering that comes with pain. Lament is the opposite of another common response to pain – denial. Are you more prone to lament your pain or deny it?

        The Bible is filled with lament. God’s people cried out to God when they were in pain. More than one-third of the Psalms include lament. “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!” (Psalm 130:1). The book of Job is filled with lament. “Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?” (Job 3:11). One whole book, Lamentations, expresses the confusion and suffering of God’s people.

        In the New Testament people who are afflicted cry out to Jesus for help. Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, shouts out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” (Mark 10:47). Jesus himself laments in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me.” (Mark 14:36). On the cross Jesus repeats a lament from Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

        I’m not usually a fan of whining but during Lent this year I will be encouraging it. I’m going to focus on the practice of telling God when something is not the way it is supposed to be. I’m going to cry out and ask God to help. Lament helps us focus on the truth. “We are powerless before this vast multitude that comes against us. We are at a loss what to do, hence our eyes are turned toward you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

        As kids, when we were hurt we cried out for a kiss and a band-aide on our booboo. Lamentation cries “Ouch!” and hopes that God will hold us in our pain and bring healing.

        Kent Landhuis
        Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

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

          Funeral, Uncategorized

          Colene Brewer – Funeral Details

          Colene Kay BrewerColene Brewer passed away on Tuesday, February 21. Please pray for her family in their time of grief.

          Funeral Arrangements

          Saturday, March 4 at Cedar Hills Community Church  |  map  |
          • 9:15a-10:45a Visitation
          • 11:00a Service
          • Luncheon to follow in the Gathering Space at Cedar Hills
          *If you would like to join the Hospitality Team in helping in the kitchen or providing bars/cookies or a salad, contact Jennifer in the church office. 319-396-6608 or Email

          Obituary

          Colene Kay Brewer, 84, of Cedar Rapids died Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at Unity Point St. Luke’s Hospital. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Cedar Hills Community Church. Friends may visit with the family after 9 a.m. on Saturday at the church.  Burial will be in Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion.  Teahen Funeral Home is caring for Colene and her family.

          Colene is survived by two sons, Michael E. Van Dee of Williamsburg and Marc A. (Julie) Van Dee of Marengo; seven grandchildren, Cody (Maliah) Van Dee of Ely, Kala (Kody) Miller of Webster, Samuel Van Dee of Cedar Rapids, and Joshua, William, Madaline and Zachary Van Dee all of Parnell; two great-grandchildren, Tucker and McKinley; two step-daughters, Debbie (Roman) Routhe of Cedar Rapids and their daughters, McKenzie (Brady) Anderson of Fort Meyers, FL and Katie Routhe of Cedar Rapids, and Christine (Randy) Kray of Lisbon and their sons, Michal (Sammy) Kray of Mount Vernon and their children, Theo and Liam, Marshall (Nichole) Kray of Marion; sisters, Patricia Ritchie, Cindy Van Dee and Diane (Bill) Glenn; and brother, Dennis (Carman) Van Dee.

          Colene was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and brothers, Kenneth and Ronald Van Dee.

          Colene was born on February 16, 1939 on the family farm in Iowa County near Millersburg and was the first child of Charles and Marjorie Van Dee.  She attended a country elementary school and graduated in 1957 from English Valley High School, where she was active in music and cheer leading.  Colene attended Ottumwa Heights College and received her Teacher Certification in Elementary Education. She began her first teaching position at the BGM Elementary School. Colene then obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Drake University, Des Moines while teaching.

          Colene married Ronald Brewer in Cedar Rapids and after retirement they purchased a Class A Motor home, and began going south in the winter.  She and Ronald loved camping in the summer with family and friends. Colene will be missed.

          Memorials may be directed to Cedar Hills Community Church in memory of Colene Brewer.

          Love. Belong. Serve.