Consistory, COVID-19, Encouragement, News

Special Update from Consistory

SPECIAL UPDATE FROM CONSISTORY:

The Consistory (our church board) convened a special meeting this week to discern our congregation’s response to the current COVID-19 surge. We are deeply concerned about the health and well-being of our community. In compliance with the latest governor’s proclamation, we added mandatory mask wearing to our mitigation response. Also, please follow these guidelines:

  • Wear a mask for all group gatherings.
  • Maintain distance in all group gatherings.
  • Wash hands frequently.
  • Do not attend if you are sick or have been exposed to sickness.
  • Do not attend if you are vulnerable.

We believe in the value of in-person gatherings for offering hope and encouragement. We will continue to evaluate our ability to meet in-person safely. We will make changes as necessary to help us carry out our mission of sharing the love of God and also protecting staff, volunteers, and attendees. We invite your prayers for our congregation and community in these challenging times.

The Lord be with you,
The Consistory

Advent, COVID-19, Holiday, Missions Team, Volunteers Needed

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

SIGN-UP NOW

Saturday, Dec. 5 is the Cedar Hills Day at the Kettle!  Each year, our church covers a day of bell ringing for the Salvation Army Red Kettle fundraiser.  This year we will be at both the Johnson Ave Hy-Vee and the the 16th Ave Fareway stores.

Sign up online for a two-hour shift today.  Times begin at 10am. Due to COVID-19, only two bell ringers can be present at at time.

SIGN-UP NOW

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JOY! Sunday + Ugly Sweaters

We have a tradition of one Sunday during Advent being JOY! Sunday – including wearing our favorite ugly sweaters and decking out in Christmas attire.  Plan ahead this year for Sunday, December 13 to don your favorite seasonal clothes. This is a fun and light-hearted Sunday that will surely bring you JOY!

Take a picture ahead of time and submit it here. We’d love to feature your sweaters on the screens next Sunday.

The staff are having a little competition to support the Salvation Army.  You can vote for your favorite staff homemade ugly sweater via the online red kettles funds below or in the Gathering Space Sunday mornings.

VOTE BELOW

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Repentance and Cleansing Service

Sunday, November 15, 6:30pm

“Many of us are not free because we have not confessed the sins that hold us captive, keeping us in bondage. Confession is the gateway to healing, the route to freedom… What is confession? Confession means [admitting] you have done something wrong, or [admitting] unwillingly that something is true.”

We are excited and humbled to be able to plan a service in which we come together before our Heavenly Father and experience the power and freedom that comes in the forgiveness of sin.   Together, we will identify sin by hearing what the Bible says, asking God to show us what we have done that fits in the category, writing in a personal prayer journal, and then pleading the blood of Jesus over those sins.

This service will be a safe place. You will not be asked to confess your sin out loud or with the group, but instead will find an atmosphere of prayer and worship to quietly come before the Father and let Him know your heart.

Because of the sensitive nature of some of the sin topics we’ll be covering, we will be offering a special service for children ages 3 to 5th grade in a separate space, as well as nursery care for ages 0-36 months. The Journey youth will be joining us this night as well in the main service.

Christmas

Caroling and Cookies

This event has been cancelled.

Caroling and Cookies – December

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Create memories with your family by going caroling with friends. Kid-friendly Christmas songs will be used as each group makes 3 stops to sing to families that sign up in advance.

Sing with your own small group or join one of our groups.  Sign up for groups here.

When and Where?

We sing on December 6th, 2020 from 6-8pm.  Groups will be assigned homes to visit and then meet up at the church for cookies after the caroling.

Cookies Needed

Working on a new Christmas Cookie recipe? Need to stay home but love to bake?

We are looking for some cookies to serve after we go caroling. You can drop off the cookies to the church any time before the event. Just make sure to label them.

Want us to sing at your home?

Interested in having carol singers stop by your home? Sign up here.

Cedar Chips, Consistory, COVID-19, Derecho, November 2020 Chips

Leadership Notes

NOVEMBER 2020

LEADERSHIP NOTES

NOVEMBER SERMON TOPICS

When life is crazy, we need hope. Whether it is events around the globe or just down the block, life can surprise and overwhelm us. Life’s trouble can crush our dreams, steal our peace, and destroy our hope. What do we do? Do we throw up our hands and retreat? Do we get angry and fight?  Peter knew what it was like to go through tough times. He endured threats, beatings, time in jail, and false accusations.  Peter wrote about his trouble so that we would find hope. We need hope!

November 1 – Discover Your Victory 1 Peter 5:5-14

November 8 – Discover Your Salvation 2 Peter 1:1-21

November 15 – Discover Your Adversary 2 Peter 2:1-22

November 22 – Discover Your Hope 2 Peter 3:1-18

Thanksgiving Eve Gathering

On Wednesday, November 25 at 6:30 pm we will gather to give thanks. God is the giver of every good gift and we want to start the holiday weekend by giving thanks to God. Enjoy a family-friendly worship experience in the Gathering Space.

Advent 2020

The Advent season begins on Sunday, November 29. This year we will reimagine the meaning and significance of Christmas each Sunday at 8:30 and 11:00. Our seasonal worship experiences climax on Christmas Eve with services at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm.

Annual Congregational Meeting

Due to disruptions and challenges associated with the pandemic and the derecho recovery, the board approved delaying the annual meeting one month. We will meet on the first Sunday of December at the end of each service to get updates on the budget, vote on the 2021 budget, and approve 2021 Elder and Deacon nominees. Information for this meeting will be included in the December Chips. Absentee ballots will be available for those who cannot attend.

Leadership Notes

Our leadership board, the Consistory, is made up of deacons, elders, and pastors who discern the path God calls us to follow, who keep us on that path, and who celebrate progress along the way. We are committed to grow our ministry by making disciples who love, belong, and serve. We value hospitality, authenticity, forgiveness, and restoration. In this uniquely challenging season we want to impact our world in ways that keep our staff, volunteers, and community safe. Pray for wisdom as we lead.

2020 Consistory:

Deacons: Alan Brockette (Chair), Bruce Boldt, Melissa Dahm, John Davidson, Allison Johnson, Nancy Josifek, Andrew Moen, Josh Oberembt

Elders: Gary Mills (Vice President), Pastor Alan Crandall, Robin Joens, Pastor Kent Landhuis, Diane Potter (Clerk), Crissie Rozendaal, Deb Cameron, and Ken Viggers

Staff:

Leah Carolan, Director of Worship & Media
Kris Crowther, Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool
Alan Crandall, Pastor Emeritus
Hailey Griffin, Nursery Coordinator
Rick Lyons, Maintenance Coordinator
Kent Landhuis, Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
Cathy Poole, Children’s Sunday Class Coordinator
Steve Poole, Director of Youth & Young Adults
Gary Sager, Ambassador of Care
Lindsey Ungs, Connection and Communication Architect
Jennifer Wagaman, Office Manager

 

 

Cedar Chips, November 2020 Chips

Holey Socks

NOVEMBER 2020

Holey Socks

We have a rule at our house: if your socks have holes, we throw them away. Simple. To the point. Life goes on.

It’s actually really hard to throw socks away for my kids. Often their socks are covered in pictures of their favorite characters—Batman, Spider-man, Woody from Toy Story, Forky.  Which also means the socks they love the most get worn the most and get holes the quickest.

But yet, the rules stands: If your socks have holes, we throw them away.

I’ve tried to fix socks. I’ve got some sewing skills. But socks are tough and more often than not, my ‘patch’ becomes an uncomfortable spot inside a shoe that drives your toes nutty. So I got over the mom-guilt of not being able to salvage those most-beloved socks and hold fast to the ‘throw-it-away’ rule.

The other day my socks had a hole in them. But I didn’t care, because it was not bothersome to me. They were a pair of my favorite bright and colorful striped socks. I was content with the holes. No big deal, right?

Until my three year reminded me “Mooooooom! We throw away holey socks!”

“Wait, what? That rule doesn’t apply to me! I’m mom! I’m an adult! I can wear whatever socks I want. That’s just a rule for you guys. It’s different for me.”

Matthew 7:3 says, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?“

This moment was enlightening. How often do we hold others to the rules while at the same time making room to exclude ourselves from the rules?

The log in my eyes was glaring. I could have used my official ‘mom’ status and kept the socks, but the witness to my children would have been extreme. Rules are rules.

There is no room for the log in true Christian witness. We must ask God for a greater self-awareness of our downfalls so we can effective deal with them. Then we can apply the rules to others in our influence.

Our kids our watching. Our families are watching. Our co-workers are watching. They can spot hypocrisy from a mile away.

I threw the socks away.

Leah Carolan
Director of Worship & Media

 

 

 

 

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    Cedar Chips, Connection, COVID-19, November 2020 Chips

    Mental Health + God’s Love

    NOVEMBER 2020

    Mental Health + God’s Love

    It’s officially been a year since my mental health started to deteriorate. In the fall, this looked like a tiny lessening of good habits. A lessening of grace-giving, causing situations to turn into frustration here and there. A surprise at how my mind was processing the brokenness that life throws at us.

    By February, I had quit journaling all together. Scrolling social media had taken priority to reading a good book. Sadness was frequent. Self-focus became a constant. Repeating negative thoughts to myself, increased each week. Everything was harder to accomplish. Exercise was lacking. Then COVID-19 started.

    Tears would frequently overwhelm me at various times of the day.

    Motivation went missing. This came as a shock because my normal personality is full of motivation and new ideas.

    Indecision touched everything. Anger and control spewed out of me towards others. Grace was missing for myself and towards others.

    Looking back, I saw signs in September 2019, but didn’t know to call it depression until May 2020. It can take a lot of time for the pieces to form a clear picture.

    But it was at the same time in May that I was able to start looking for the good, again. It’s like turning a cruise ship around. It happens slowly, wave by wave. Prayer is the rudder.

    Slowly, my interest in new ideas returned. Motivation started to appear infrequently at first. It was maddening that I could not will my mental health to return at the pace I desired.

    Here I sit a year later, 25 pounds heavier, with the realization of what I’ve been through and the glimmer of light giving me hope and growing stronger. I feel grace starting to flow back into my head and heart.

    I have a God that loves me, shown through a community that cares. At Cedar Hills, we are the kind of people that care. Others were able to reach out and take hold of my hands (as the body of Christ) when it felt like the waves would overwhelm me. Thank you for the grace and bits of encouragement that were offered throughout my year. Whether you know it or not, each encouraging breath uttered was like a nudge back towards health.

    If you are in a mentally difficult spot, I am happy to meet with you. Ultimately, the only solution to mental health is to open your heart to God’s love. This can be done by allowing people that care to share God’s grace and truth.

    Lindsey Ungs
    Connection & Communication Architect

     

     

     

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      Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Noah's Ark, November 2020 Chips

      Noah’s Ark November 2020

      NOVEMBER 2020

      noah’s Ark Update

      November is a time to be thankful and a time for giving!

      Noah’s Ark is busy this month collecting food for our Food Pantry.  Noah’s Ark families have always surprised us in the abundance of food they give to the food pantry!

      We really love our rooms with the new carpet, paint and lighting. We want the church to know how thankful we are for providing us with a wonderful place to call “home”.

      Our student numbers are down this year, but we are doing everything we can to keep the doors open. One way you can help Noah’s Ark is with our quarterly Blood Drive. When we get 20 blood donors, we receive a stipend that we can use to purchase cleaning products.  As you can guess, we go through cleaning products quickly these days. The Blood Drive is November 17.  Due to COVID-19, you must make a scheduled appointment.  You can go online at: www.bloodcenter.org, email the Noah’s Ark office or call us at 319-396-3125.

      Kris Crowther
      Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool

       

       

       

       

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        Love. Belong. Serve.