Cedar Blog

Will You Be 38?

Will You Be 38?

On our recent fall retreat, at Lake View Camp, our middle schoolers were challenged to contemplate the miracles of Jesus. There are 37 recorded miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. The most poignant may be when four friends bring a paralytic to Jesus for healing in Mark 2.

4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus healed the paralytic when he saw the faith of his friends. Wow! Can we be like those friends? Can we be a part of the miracle God wants to do in someone else’s life? Ultimately, we were challenged to invite God to do miracle 38 in our lives. The miracle of new life, salvation, and sanctification talked about in Ephesians 2.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

As I reflected on the retreat worship time I wrote a series of Haiku. I’d like to share them all with you.

 

Thirty-seven times

Jesus showed His godly might

Are you thirty-eight?

He demonstrated

Power over creation

Health, and even life

Jairus’ daughter

Jesus wept, Lazarus lived

Widows only son

Dead in sin, BUT GOD!

Children under wrath, BUT GOD!

But God’s rich mercy

 

Steve Poole
Pastor of Youth & Young Adults

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    My Favorite Things


    MY FAVORITE THINGS     – October 26 at 6pm join the Women in Fellowship & Faith at the home of Lindsey Steinkamp (2093 49th St; Marion, IA 52302).

    Bring two of your “favorite things” to the party. They should be two of the same item, no more than $10 each (they may cost less and be something homemade or handmade).

    Plan for small bites and fellowship, followed by favorite things exchange.  See the Facebook event for more info or text Lindsey at 319-640-9147.

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    Angel Tree 2023

    This year Cedar Hills will be focusing on a local outreach for the Christmas season:  Angel Tree Christmas gifts through Prison Fellowship.
    We will foster relationships with local families who have an incarcerated parent, buy Christmas gifts for the kids, and host a Christmas party for the families.
    Want to be involved?  Here are a few options.
    1. Join a planning team now: family relationships, gift management or party planning. (Contact Cathy using form below)
    2.  In the coming weeks, take an “angel tag” off the Christmas tree that details a gift to purchase.
    3. Support the December Christmas party through working in the kitchen or loving on families.
    Be watching for more info in the coming weeks about how to love these neighborhood families!

    JOIN THE PLANNING TEAM by using the form below:

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      Congregational Celebration


      CONGREGATIONAL CELEBRATION      – Sunday, November 12 at the end of each service we will review next year’s budget, elect new board members and celebrate what God is doing at Cedar Hills!

      We will also be installing Steve Poole and Leah Carolan as new ordained pastors in the Alliance of Reformed Churches.

      And there will be cake!

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      New Shelter Dedication


      NEW SHELTER DEDICATION        – Please join us Sunday, October 22, around 9:30am (immediately after the 1st service) to dedicate the wonderful new shelter that was built out by the Matthew 25 garden area.

      This shelter will be so appreciated by the families that grow their produce in the gardens.  It will also be a great place for anyone who would like to come and get to know some of these families during the growing season.

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      Congregational Celebration


      CONGREGATIONAL CELEBRATION      – Sunday, November 12 at the end of each worship service, approximately 9:15am and 10:45am.

      Each year, we gather to vote on new consistory members (Consistory is our name for the elders and deacons that make up the church board.)  We will also look at the potential budget for 2024 and vote to approve it and hear stories of the work God is doing at Cedar Hills.

      This meeting will take place at the end of each service. Services will be slightly shorter to accommodate the meeting time. We will still have regular Sunday classes at 9:45am.

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      Women’s Event: My Favorite Things


      MY FAVORITE THINGS       – October 26 at 6pm join us for Women in Fellowship & Faith event at the home of Lindsey Steinkamp (2093 49th St; Marion, IA 52302). Bring two of your “favorite things” to the party. They should be two of the same item, no more than $10 each (they may cost less and be something homemade or handmade). Plan for small bites and fellowship, followed by favorite things exchange.  See the Facebook event for more info or text Lindsey at 319-640-9147.

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      Fall Harvest Potluck

      Did you know we have 25 families, most originally from Africa, who have gardens at our church where they grow produce for their families?

      We have been intentional this year to get to know these families and invite you to join us for a Harvest Potluck Saturday, October 21, 1pm in the Gathering Space.

      Celebrate with a taste of some wonderful African dishes and enjoy cultural Christian music in local languages.

      Please bring a favorite traditional food to share. Drinks and tableware provided.

      Cedar Blog

      Pointless Prayer?

      Pointless Prayer?

      This past Sunday I mentioned that one path into prayer might be bird watching. This thought emerged from Jesus’ suggestion to watch ravens and sparrows. “Consider the birds: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24).

      I’d like to say I landed on this idea without any help but – as with almost every good idea – it came when someone interrupted my train of thought. The guy’s name was Sam Bush who wrote an essay with this intriguing title: The Greatest Things in Life are Pointless. 

      If that doesn’t make you want to read on, I don’t know what will. So I read on.

      I imagined various birds winging their way into my backyard. Like the chatty sparrows who cluster at the feeder then swoop in mass to disappear in the pine tree when I arrive. Like the robins queued up for a bath – taking turns – one at a time. Like the goldfinch hanging upside down on a sunflower. Or my favorite, the owl who spins his head to see me and then floats away in silence.

      Then, without warning, I’m thinking about God’s watchful eye following the birds. And God watching me. How much more valuable am I than the birds? And I pray, “Wow!”

      Sam Bush draws this conclusion: Thus, the greatest things in life are pointless. They will not help you find yourself, but, rather, help you forget about yourself altogether. It is in losing yourself – in the wonder of creation, in riding an endless wave, in the learning and recognition of a bird’s call – where you become a new creation. No calendars, willpower or expertise needed.

      Kent Landhuis
      Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

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

        Love. Belong. Serve.