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Turning Off My Cell Phone And Logging Out Of Facebook During Lent

Turning Off My Cell Phone And Logging Out Of Facebook During Lent

Growing up, Lent was not a part of my faith experience. It was not a tradition really practiced in my church or my family. Actually, if I am honest, I probably even felt judgmental about it. My unspoken thoughts were; “It’s just something those weird catholic kids do!” They get ashes on their forehead and then quit eating meat on Fridays. Why? Honestly, most of my catholic friends didn’t understand it either. It was just a ritual.

At Central College I was introduced to the practice through Lenten breakfast times of prayer. I enjoyed this practice and now regularly practice fasting from something during this time of year.

There are some traditional spiritual disciplines protestant Christians have focused on during these 40 days leading up Easter and Jesus’ resurrection. These disciplines are prayer, fasting, and generosity. One of the best ways is to ask God what He wants for you during this time.

Last year I was doing some reading about how addicting social media is, and how it rewires our brains. I was convicted about my own compulsive use of social media at times. I committed to fasting from Facebook and to fast from my cell phone at night. The flipside of this fast was to use that time to pray and read. I wanted to break some bad habits and build some better ones. This was good. I read some books and prayed more.  I was not perfect. It was difficult at times, but I did find less of an urge to do those things at the end of Lent. I think I may repeat this fast again this year.

So, as we enter into Lent 2023, are you feeling led to be intentional about changing your patterns of prayer, fasting, and generosity?

Steve Poole
Director 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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    Cricut Workshop – March 25

    Do you own a Cricut but haven’t quite figured out how to use it yet? Saturday, March 25 Hailey Griffin will be holding a free workshop to teach you how to use your Cricut machine and software.

    We’ll go through your machine,  accessories, materials, Cricut Design Space and answer any questions that you may have. Then we will go through an Easter project with the things that we have learned.

    WHEN
    Sat., March 25th @ 9am-11am

    SUPPLIES NEEDED
    Cricut machine, tools and cutting mat. Laptop or tablet, scissors,
    power cord, and cardstock in 4 different colors (Spring colors).

    WHERE
    In the Teal Classroom at Cedar Hills Community Church

    RSVP
    If you’re interested, please RSVP by March 15th by emailing Hailey Griffin with subject line “Cricut Class” (You should receive an email back from Hailey in a couple days with some follow up information. If you don’t, please resend the email. Thanks and hope to see you at the workshop.)

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    Pasta of the Prairie and Noah’s Ark!

    PASTA OF THE PRAIRIE – Support Noah’s Ark Preschool AND a small business in our church !

    Pasta of the Prairie is own by Tyler and Lindsey Steinkamp. They started creating pasta out of a love of good food and trying new things. After taking a trip to Italy where they learned how to make pasta by hand, they brought back new flavors and ideas back home to Iowa.

    This locally-made pasta includes a variety of easy-to-make pastas, meal kits, soup mixes, and pasta salad mixes!

    Watch for the display fundraiser in the Gathering Space on Sunday, February 12.  Pasta can be purchased at the display, or ordered online to be delivered to the preschool. Be sure to use promo code “NOAH” to save on shipping and for your order to be delivered to the preschool/church.  Order by Saturday, February 18. *Pick-up your order after Monday February 20 at the preschool

    Cedar Chips, February 2023

    Pray Continually

    Pray Continually

    The day before we left for our Guatemala trip, we learned that one of the participants had just been diagnosed with a large mass in her stomach. She and her husband would not be coming because they immediately scheduled follow-up appointments with an oncologist and a surgeon. This news created a bit of panic in everyone who heard it.

    Her surgery took place on the Wednesday while we were in Guatemala and so that morning we gathered in a circle to pray. It was a subdued prayer. Of course, we had already been praying non-stop and most of our prayers had been quite glum based on the initial prognosis. When we returned from our day of work we were told that the surgeon had removed a mass the size of a softball – and it was NOT cancer!

    1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually.” The context around this verse surprises me. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

    I often pray out of desperation and the mood of these crisis prayers is often somber – maybe even depressed. I wonder what it would look like to be able to pray about all things with rejoicing and thanksgiving. Would that change my attitude about prayer?

    This year I am asking God, “Teach me to pray continually with gladness, joy, and gratitude.”

    Kent Landhuis
    Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

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

      February 2023

      God’s One Liners

      God’s One Liners

      One of my spiritual goals this year is to make time for listening prayer—but also not overcomplicate the listening process.  So I started a notes file in my phone, and put this question on the top:

      “Lord, what’s on Your heart today that You want to tell me?”

      Then I add today’s date, ask the question, and wait patiently for an answer.

      It doesn’t take long before an impression fills my mind.  Part of not overcomplicating this process is me going with the first thing I ‘hear’, the first thing that impressed in my mind.  Here are some of the things I’ve heard this year.

      “Pray for your boys.”

      “Keep affirming words on your mouth.”

      “Don’t just go about your day any longer.”

      And so I’ve done my best to be faithful to these words and small tasks God has given me.

      My great desire is to be able to hear God with greater clarity! I’ve been in His word, I’ve been memorizing His word, and now I want to know His voice in the way Jesus did—to receive my daily bread, my daily instructions, and walk more greatly in the things He has for His Church.

      This feels like just the beginning and sometimes feels like I’m still using my training wheels, but it’s amazing how much God can say in a one-liner.  I understand the heart behind each line, the greater picture of what He means, and even the details of what these little one line answers are referring to. 

      I’ll admit I haven’t been faithful to do this every day!  Getting into a new habit (even though it takes only about 60 seconds!) has been a bit of a challenge.  Even as I type right now, I’m going to stop and put a reminder in my phone…

      There. Done.  Hopefully that will keep me on course to hear more of what is on God’s heart this year with greater clarity!

      Leah Carolan
      Director of Worship & Media

       

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

        Women's Ministry

        Lifeway Women’s Conference

        A group of women from Cedar Hills are attending the Lifeway Women’s Conference LIVE at the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, April 28-29! The conference runs both days 8am-2:30pm.

        $158 total, plus an optional $17 for lunch.  (For hotel accommodations with our group, it is an additional $129/night–see details below.)

        REGISTER

        If you want to sign up for both days, please let us know by Sunday February 12th and we will purchase your tickets through our church and you will pay the church. (Lunch is a gourmet turkey & cheese sandwich, chips, fruit, dessert & bottled water)

        If you plan to attend only one day, you will need to purchase your ticket on your own. The Friday conference is $79 and the Saturday conference is $99. The Friday conference is advertised as a Leadership Training but that applies to all women in their faith.

        There will be 4-5 of us driving and will coordinate carpooling. You are also welcome to drive yourself at your convenience. We 9 rooms reserved at the Drury Inn- West Des Moines for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. They have 2 queen beds for $129/night. Please let Carmen Gronewold know by Sunday March 12th if you need a room. She will be taking care of all hotel reservations. Priority will go to ones who are staying multiple nights.

        Please let us know your plans ASAP so we can coordinate all the details! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! CONFERENCE DETAILS:  https://www.lifeway.com/en/events/you-lead/you-lead-des-moines.html

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        Parent’s Night Out Mission Fundraiser

        Drop the kids off at the church Feb. 11, 5:30-8pm for Parent’s Night Out! We are launching a couple from our church into missions and want to support them financially.  Parent’s Night Out proceeds will go straight to funding their call to foreign missions!  The minimum donation is $20/child or $50/family, pay at the door.

        We will be providing snacks, but not supper. Please plan on feeding your children before arriving.

        REGISTER NOW

        VOLUNTEER

        Would you like to help with this fundraiser? We could use adult, high school and middle school aged caregivers to assist the event.

        REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER

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        Chains Interrupted Presentation Jan. 8


        January 8 during the 9:45am Sunday classes hour we will be hosting a special speaker from Chains Interrupted, a local organization that fights Human Trafficking.  We want to invite all adults to attend this event at 9:45am, in between the two services.  All regular adult classes will be attending this event instead of their regular class times.  Children’s classes and nursery will still be in session.

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        One Service Jan. 1, 2023

        January 1, 2023 we will have one worship service at 8:30am.  Regular services will resume Jan. 8 at 8:30am and 11am, as well as regular nursery care and the 11am Children’s Worship.


        Also Jan. 8, we will be hosting a special speaker from Chains Interrupted, a local organization that fights Human Trafficking.  We want to invite all adults to attend this event at 9:45am, in between the two services.  All regular adult classes will be attending this event instead of their regular class times.  Children’s classes and nursery will still be in session.

        January 15, all classes resume, as well as some new classes beginning.


        NEW CLASS OFFERINGS

        • FaithQuest – Sundays at 9:45am for 8th graders – understanding foundations of our faith in the Gray Room. (This class will officially start January 15.)
        • Newly Marrieds – Sundays at 9:45am in the Loft Classroom. (This class will officially start January 15.)
        • Parenting Together – Sundays 9:45am (This class will resume January 15.)
        • Digging in the Old Testament and Finding Jesus – Sundays 9:45am (This class will resume January 15.)
        • The Character of God –  Sundays 9:45am (This class will begin January 15.)
        • Romans  – Ladies Bible Study – Tuesday mornings 10am (This class will resume Tuesday, January 3.)
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        Support a New Global Mission

        Support a new global mission we are launching at Cedar Hills as well as grab a few gifts for the whole family–all in one click. If you buy anything from our page at causeteam.com, 40% of the profits will go to our new mission at Cedar Hills.
        If you’d like to avoid shipping fees, Beth Larson, a Cedar Hills member will be picking up the items weekly and bringing them back to the church for pickup  Beth will be in the Gathering Space to show you some of the fun items that are for sale Dec. 11 & 18.

        Love. Belong. Serve.