August 2020 Chips, Cedar Chips

Honoring the Elderly

AUGUST 2020

HONORING THE ELDERLY

“Even to your old age, I will be the same. And even to your greying years, I will bear you!  I have done it! I will carry you! I will bear you, and I will deliver you!” (Isaiah 46:4)

My father had a few rough edges, but one positive thing that he passed on to me was a deep respect, maybe even admiration for the elderly. I remember traveling to exotic places like Holland Michigan, the Ice Follies in Chicago, or the Amana Colonies on my uncle’s charter tours.  Every now and then I would experience the feeling of a hand slapping the back of my head. By the time I was a pre-teen, I learned that this familiar stinging sensation meant “Stop and Pay Attention!” Most of the time it involved letting an elderly person on the bus first, holding the door, or giving up my seat. I began to realize that these older people must be important, so I began to talk to them on these exotic adventures. I quickly found out that these grey-haired, glasses-wearing folks were some of the most interesting people that I had ever met.

Again, I would not say that my father was a frequent church attender, but every couple of months, he would volunteer to drive the church van to various nursing homes and care facilities to bring “shut-ins” to Sunday evening service. I began to ask him if I could come along. I really enjoyed pushing these elders in their wheel-chairs, listening to their stories, and helping them find the right hymn number during service. Also, I think that my Dad enjoyed sharing these times with me.

God, our Heavenly Father, desires that we honor the elderly as well. Here are a few verses from His Word that articulate this:

“You shall rise up before the gray-headed and honor aged, and you shall revere your God. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32)

“Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father,… the older women as mothers…” (I Timothy 5:1-2)

“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders, and all of you, clothe yourself with humility toward one another.  God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble!” (I Peter 5:5)

I encourage anyone reading this to write a quick note, make a brief call, or even stop in for a short visit with an elderly person that you know. You will not only be blessed, but you will be honoring God!

Gary Sager
Ambassador of Care

 

 

 

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    August 2020 Chips, Cedar Chips

    Connection Versus Control

    August 2020

    Connection Vs. Control

    In college, I didn’t talk to my roommate and best friend for a month because I didn’t like who she was dating. I thought he wasn’t mature enough for her.

    When I use passive-aggressive behavior, it’s because I think my actions are right and yours are wrong. I use it as a means of grasping (perceived) control. It’s a way to send subtle messages about a behavior I want you to change. In short, I use passive-aggressive behavior when I allow my pride and selfishness to take center stage.

    Pride and selfishness are issues I struggle with every day, due to my sinful nature. I have been struggling every single day this week with feeling hard-hearted towards a close friend of mine. Our relationship has been strained for several months. My hard heart slips into passive-aggressive actions towards her. My anger increases as my compassion decreases.

    Our sinful nature comes with us to our Small Group. People in small groups are creating and sustaining a connection between hearts. If that sounds undesirable, it’s probably because your heart has been hurt before. Why bother to move towards relationships, towards the mess that always comes with people getting connected?

    Because connection through community is what Jesus calls us to. It’s what we are made for. Again and again Jesus calls us to forgive and move towards each other in relationship. That often involves dying to our own pleasures and preferences.

    Sometimes dying to my own desires looks a lot like picking up the phone instead of communicating my way. Often it means responding with grace and truth instead of responding with my natural passive-aggressive behavior.

    My college best friend and her boyfriend got married and just celebrated 11 years together. As it turns out, I was the immature one. Happily we are all friends now. This is a picture of friendship and love that God created us to take part in.

    The redhead in each of these pictures is the one who I didn’t speak to for a month.

    Lindsey Ungs
    Connection & Communication Architect

     

     

     

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      Funeral

      Ken LeClere Funeral

      Ken LeClere

      We are saddened by the passing of our friend and Cedar Hills family member Ken LeClere.  Services will be at 11am Saturday morning on August 8.  A visitation will be held just prior to the funeral at 10:30.  There will be no luncheon following the funeral.

      Obituary

      Kenneth A. LeClere, 66, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at his home. A church service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Cedar Hills Community Church with a visitation 30 minutes before. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Because of COVID-19, there will be no luncheon reception following the Celebration of Life.

      If you are unable to attend the service, it will be livestreamed on the Cedar Hills Community Church Facebook page.

      Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids is assisting the family with arrangements. Kenneth was born Jan. 20, 1954, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Mary “Dolores” and Casper “Cap” LeClere. He was united in marriage to Nancy Golembiewski on April 28, 1979. Kenneth worked for Kenworth of Cedar Rapids for almost 30 years, where his coworkers would say, “If Ken can’t fix it, it’s not fixable.” He was a member of Cedar Hills Community Church. Kenneth enjoyed being part of a team that worked at church and around the community. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his bike on the trails. Survivors include his wife, Nancy LeClere of Cedar Rapids; children, Brian LeClere (Katy Merritt) of Mount Vernon, Iowa, and Laura LeClere of Cedar Rapids; and grandchildren, Walter and Greyson, whom he loved tremendously. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cap and Dolores.

      Please share a memory of Kenneth at www.murdochfuneralhome.com

       

      To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.

      Sermon

      Wired for Good

      Wired for Good

      “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

      1. God calls us. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

      2. God shapes us. (1 Samuel 16-17)

      • Gifts
      • Passions
      • Personalities

      3. God sends us.

      • Take up your cross and follow ~ Luke 9:23
      • Reflect and restore God’s image ~ Genesis 1
      • Our particular place—right person, right time, right reason.

      Next Steps:

      1. Listen for God’s call.
      2. Follow God’s call.
      Uncategorized

      Welcome to our New Members

      NEW MEMBERS & BAPTISMS

      Welcome to the New Members who have completed the membership class. They joined at the July 26 service.

      • Christopher Caldwell
      • Bernice Coleman
      • Lance & Karrie Goodall with their sons, Zac and Lucas;
      • Tom & Leah McFarlane and children: Reid, Matt, Wyatt, Emma, and Ryan;
      • Tyler & Lindsey Steinkamp with their daughter Claire;
      • Lore & Shanna Swartzendruber with their children Cayman and Tybee;
      • Roger Van Zee
      • John Yates and his children John, Jr. and Kamryn.

      The following individuals were also baptized: Bernice Coleman (adult); Zac Goodall (19 year-old) and Lucas Goodall (6-year-old); Tom McFarlane (adult),and McFarlane Family children: Reid Doyle (9-year-old), Matt McFarlane (9-year-old), Wyatt McFarlane (8-year-old), Emma McFarlane (6-year-old), and Ryan Doyle (5-year-old).

       

      Uncategorized

      The Global Leadership Summit is in 10 Days!

      REGISTER FOR GLS 2020 (see discount code below)

      For the past two years, Cedar Hills Community Church has hosted The Global Leadership Summit to make it as easy as possible for YOU to participate. We believe that the more people from Cedar Hills who participate, the stronger we will be at making an impact as a church. This year matters more than ever. Our community needs each of us to be at our very best.

      Even if we are not physically together, The Global Leadership Summit offers us a shared experience that will unite us in this unique time. Investing ourselves in an extended experience is an investment in our connection together. The learning, inspiration and action steps will provide opportunity for us to connect in meaningful and fresh ways.

      The way we show up right now with our influence can make the difference between hope and fear; contentment and disappointment; judgment and grace. Will you join Cedar Hills Community Church and register for GLS today using the Priority Code LEAD2020 so we can reflect the heart of God to the community around us?

      Blessings,
      Cedar Hills Community Church Leadership Team

      Uncategorized

      Staff Updates

      Through the weeks of pandemic we have continued to do ministry and plan for the future. Now more than ever we need to engage with our world to share the gospel. We are called to love, belong, and serve!

      During this time, there have been a few staff transitions and we want to be sure to communicate with you all of these.

      Pastor Alan Crandall officially retired effective June 1 and his replacement Gary Sager hit the ground running. Gary is serving in a half-time capacity as our Ambassador of Care. He is available to provide care for those in need within our congregation and to connect those who are new. Gary has been part of our congregation for a couple of years and he brings a background in education, psychology and counseling to this role.  Contact Gary Sager

      The staff and key leaders did a thorough review of our needs and opportunities related to Family and Children’s Ministry following Kyle’s departure. We believe that the spiritual formation of children and supporting families in their call to nurture faith is vital for our future. With uncertainties about in-person meetings, it did not seem wise to invest in a search for a person to fill this role full-time. Instead, we have created four part-time roles that we believe can have immediate impact.

      For now, the Children’s Ministry roles will be Sunday Children’s Class Coordinator, Nursery Coordinator, Children’s Worship Coordinator, and Family Activity Coordinator. We hope to fill these roles and resume in-person children’s ministry by September 13, 2020. We are pleased to announce that Cathy Poole has accepted the Sunday Children’s Class Coordinator role and Hailey Griffin has accepted the Nursery Coordinator role. If you have interest in exploring one of these part-time positions or desire to assist in Children’s Ministry in any capacity please view the job descriptions here.

      Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we move forward in faith to safety carry out the ministry to which God is calling us!

      Kent Landhuis
      Cedar Hills Community Church

      Love. Belong. Serve.