This new ministry for kids ages 2nd-5th grades will foster a young faith while having adventures and a great time! Club House will meet on the 1st Sundays of the month..
We are so excited to begin this new adventure with your upper elementary kids. Register today.
Ladies, what does it take to find a good friend? I mean the kind of friend that you can call to watch your kids in the middle of the night? I mean the kind of friend that puts up with your bad habits and still wants to hang out all day. I mean the kind of friend that can hear your beat down tone of voice over the phone and who shows up with your exact coffee order.
You don’t have a friend like that you say? You don’t know where do you start?
This kind of deep friendship is built one conversation at a time.
When was the last time you attended a women’s event? When was the last time you invited someone to coffee? When was the last time you allowed yourself to be vulnerable in conversation?
I know these things are risky. I know you’ve been hurt before. I’m sorry that happened to you. The hurt makes us shut down and close off and say no more.
What’s worse is that I can offer you no guarantees. No money back. No safety net of perfect connections.
The only thing I can offer is a promise that it’s worth it and a suggestion that we are called to cultivate friendship.
It’s worth it to lean back into that conversation. It’s worth it to attend that event. You are doing the work of cultivation every time you engage another person.
Every time you say yes to attending that event (when you would have preferred to not risk it), you are saying yes to potential new friendship.
I’m not promising you’ll walk away with a new bestie by night’s end. No. But, you may have started a conversation with someone that will eventually become the person you call in the middle of the night.
Lindsey Ungs
Connection & Communication Architect
What are your favorite parts of the Bible?
I definitely favor narrative. Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, the Gospels, Acts, Ruth.
What is your least favorite part of the Bible? Can I ask that question?
Every time I read through the Bible, there are definitely sections that look forward to less. Like… cringe-worthy. I feel bad admitting that about God’s Word, but it’s true.
The major prophets… Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah… they go on and on and on and I find them boring and confusing. Paul’s letters? Not a quick read and super heady. The Psalms? I like them in small bunches, but I can’t sit and read chapter after chapter of poetry. I can only stand small doses.
I don’t think I would have ever admitted that I have favorite parts and not-so-favorite parts until after I started my current POWER READ THE BIBLE program. The narrator of this program actually suggests to turn up the speed on the audio Bible and get through the boring parts faster.
HE ACTUALLY SAID THAT.
I was like, “What… other people do this too? Other people can’t stand getting stuck in the weeds of the major prophets and endless genealogies???
That being said, can we all just agree out loud together that some parts of Scripture are more enjoyable than others?
Tara-Leigh Cobble addressed this same issue a few years ago when I was doing the Bible Recap. While all of God’s Word is as equally valuable and completely inspired, some parts need an accompanying prayer of, “Holy Spirit, show me why this is important to you.” “Holy Spirit, show me something about yourself from this passage.” “Holy Spirit, what do you want me to know from this passage?” “Holy Spirit, teach me something here.”
So sometimes when I’m stuck in the weeds, I make it a conversation with God and just ask Him why He likes this part!
It has changed the enjoy-ability favor more than I could imagine. It redirects my heart and mind away from what might seem unpleasant and redirects it back to God.
Leah Carolan
Director of Worship & Media
The stage of life in which I find myself is one in which morning prayer is best done lying in my bed. It seems like my children have some sixth sense about Daddy or Mommy getting up. It may not help that we have wood floors that creak, but when I head downstairs to read my Bible and pray I often have a guest. So one of my favorite prayer strategies recently has been to pray in bed before I rise. Pray for my family. Pray for my day. Pray for my ministry and those people who have shared prayer requests. It seems like I have the birds for company as they sing their morning songs outside in our backyard.
I also find great joy in the simple bedtime prayers I share with my kids. One rhythm we have is to pray before bed. For the longest time I “cheated” with Abby and just used the Lord’s prayer. I love that she can now recite it mostly on her own. The other way I like to pray is to give them prompts; “Dear God, thank you for…”, and let Abby and Chris finish the prayer. This isn’t always the deepest, but it is precious to hear my kids thank God for family, friends, toys, and joys. Then, I might offer the prompt, “God, please help…”. It is amazing the things my kids produce on their own. Sometimes it will be a request they overheard Cathy and me discussing, or this week Abby has been praying for safe travels for my family that will be visiting before Easter. Sometimes I underappreciate and underestimate the value of these beautiful simple prayers and the memories and habits that are being shared. Someday I would like to be like my friend Dan who kept a prayer journal with his kids. That way the kids could see how God was answering their prayers! #parentinggoals
Personally, the prayer times that fuel my tank the most are walking prayers. There is something about combining the peaceful presence of God with the restoration found in His creation. Walking with the Lord, as Adam did in the cool of the day. Sometimes I even picture God beside me talking to Him as I would a dear friend. For Christmas my father-in-law gave me a nice pair of binoculars. I am now finding I want to take them everywhere with me. I pull them out at church so I can admire the birds, now that spring has sprung. God’s creation is so wonderful and there is such a benefit to being outdoors and praying. I hope you can find some excuse, like new binoculars, to go outside this week and pray while you are at it.
I offer you these snapshots, not to suggest I have it all together, “look at how Steve prays.” No. I simply want to tell real stories. Paint authentic pictures of what prayer looks like in my life. I hope these encourage you to look for times, even while you lay in bed, to pray. Pray as you commute in your car. Pray as you workout. Offer yourself grace when you forget. I certainly fall short of “pray without ceasing”, but I am working towards being more prayerful. I am trying to make prayer my first instinct. Please join me in praying more this month!
Steve Poole
Director of Youth & Young Adults
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
Please continue to pray for the family and friends of Dave Wise as they grieve his passing.
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
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.
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.
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.
PRAYER MEETINGS – Wednesdays at 6:30pm in the Zoom app (details below). Everyone is welcome to come! Even if you are uncomfortable praying out loud, come and agree with us in prayer.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5243529410
Support our Noah’s Ark Preschool by ordering Papa Murphys pizza from the Edgewood Rd location on Wednesday, April 12. A portion of the proceeds will go directly back to the preschool.
Be sure to tell them you’re with Noah’s Ark!
