An exciting new tradition is starting this year at Cedar Hills. Watch for more details to come!Ugly Sweater Sunday
On Sunday, Dec. 22 we’ll be celebrating all things joyous! A newer tradition at Cedar Hills is wearing our favorite holiday and Ugly Christmas sweaters. Come adorned in your favorites!
There are no Sunday classes this day, but a continental breakfast will be served throughout the morning. The choir will be singing a special Christmas song at the 8:30am service, and the younger children are singing a few songs at the 11am service. One of our favorite Sundays of the year!
The Giving Manger
For the season of Advent, we are including the “Giving Manger” – a daily calendar of things we can do to shine the light of Christ in our community. Each Sunday in both services, the children will be invited forward to help light the Advent candles. Next they’ll walk over to the manger. If they were able to complete one of the Giving Manger tasks, they will get to add some straw to the manger to help prepare it for Jesus’ birth. We’ll get to watch the manger fill up during the season of Advent.
If you weren’t here Sunday (or lost yours! 🙂 ) here is the Giving Manger calendar. We’ll have some extra copies at the Welcome Center as well:
Grow the Good – Day 40
Day 40
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:4-7
Rejoice. Be thankful. Gratitude means I give thanks. Paul used the word gratitude 46 times in his letters. Why is gratitude so important? Scientific studies have shown that gratitude improves your health! Really! Practicing gratitude improves your mental health and physical health. Wow! What if you are feeling like a victim of your circumstances? Be thankful! What if you don’t feel well? Be thankful! What if you are bored? Be thankful!
Let’s practice being grateful – let’s list things to be thankful for – thank God for your life, your salvation, the roof over your head, that you have shoes to wear, your Cedar Hills community, that you have a job, that your car started this morning, that there is food in your refrigerator, your friends, your kids, your spouse, or that you are single! Paul tells us to be grateful (thankful) in every situation – “in every situation by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING present your requests to God.”
Dear Lord,
Help me to be grateful for all You have given me and continue to provide. Show me how to give thanks in all situations, good and bad, and I trust You to provide Your peace. May my life show Your gentleness and gratefulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
-Dana Chapman
Advent By Candlelight
Advent By Candlelight is a treasured women’s event at Cedar Hills that revolves around elaborately decorated tables, candles, dessert and a short program to set hearts and minds on Christ before the rush of the holiday season. Each table has a host who plans out the decorations and dessert and then cares for her table during the event.
It is a visually stunning event, and spiritually moving! Women of all ages are encouraged to attend. This event is free, but you do need to pre-register to ensure a spot at a table.
The final day to register for the 2019 event is Sunday, November 24. Visit the Advent By Candlelight table in the Gathering Space. This year’s theme is “The Sounds of Christmas” and will be Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4pm. Attendees are encouraged to arrive starting at 3:30pm to visit each table and enjoy the decorations.
Financial Peace University – coming in 2020
Financial Peace University is Coming January 5, 2020!
We are pleased to announce that Cedar Hills will be holding another Financial Peace University class starting with a FREE preview class on January 5, 2020! Millions of people, including those at Cedar Hills who have taken this course previously, have found the freedom that getting out of debt can bring to their lives. Start the New Year off right! With updated videos and course material, you’ll walk through the steps you need to take to get a clear vision for your family’s financial future.
Our class will be held on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour, starting at 9:45 am. To register for the class, go to http://www.fpu.com/1104100. We will have class materials available for purchase for $89 or you can purchase a kit on-line.
Thanksgiving Eve Worship
Join us for Thanksgiving Eve worship, Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 6:30pm. This service is lighthearted and family friendly! It takes place in the Gathering Space – lots of room for the little ones to move and make noise. 🙂 The nursery will be available for ages 0-3yrs.
We’ll be creating a thankfulness craft, worshipping, celebrating the Lord’s Supper and sharing a fruit salad. Bring a piece of fruit (precut, please) or berries to share in the salad.
This is one of our favorite services of the year. In this season of thanks, come and give thanks to the One who created all things and holds all things together.
Noah’s Ark Dec. 2019 Update
Oh, how Children love Christmas. They are so new to this holiday (it might be the first one they remember), that we enjoy being able to start them off right by telling them about the true meaning of Christmas though books, songs, acting the story out and we also get a little help from Pastor Kent. Come and watch our Christmas Programs on December 19 and 20 at 9:15am; everyone is welcome!
The State Licenser came to our school for a surprise visit in October (on pictured day, no less) and has granted Noah’s Ark a full License for another year without any changes or recommendations. We are truly blessed with an amazingly organized and loving staff.
We are pleased to announce that Darlene DeVries has accepted the position of Assistant Teacher for our 3 year olds on MWF. The students love her already. We are very fortunate to have found someone who loves children as she does
We’ve started a Guest Reader Program. We are looking for volunteers from the church who can come and read to our classes on Thursday or Friday mornings from 10:55-11:10. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me.
If you’d like to assist us by staying within our budget this year, please consider donating supplies. We’ve provided a box in the Gathering Space under the mission table with pictures of supplies (we are a little picky due to allergies and licensing requirements) we need in our classrooms. We thank you in advance.
Kris Crowther
Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool
Grow the Good – Day 39
Day 39
“I don’t say that I have already achieved these things or that I have reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” Phil. 3:12
What were those things Paul had not yet achieved? He was putting his life on the line each time he preached Jesus. My gracious, he was sitting in prison as he wrote this. There is more. He wanted to know Christ and the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. He wanted to share in His death. That hadn’t happened for Paul yet. Who in their right mind would want to experience those things?
Then he goes on to say that he has not reached perfection. I thought about that and said, if I am honest, I have to confess I haven’t reached perfection. I look at Paul’s life after he met Jesus and to me it seems he was as close to perfect as a person could get on this side of heaven. What more was he seeking that he didn’t have?
I believe, he desired to know Christ in a very real, vibrant way. He wanted to be so close to the mind of Christ that his life was automatically lived as Christ would live it. He wouldn’t have to think about “what would Christ do,” but he would be so attuned to Christ that the Spirit would lead him easily to his next task, thought, and prayer.
This ambition caused Paul to press on with determination and diligence. How can I see such an example and refuse to be encouraged to live my life pressing on to know Jesus?
Dearest Jesus,
I see the reality of who I am 24/7. I read Paul’s words and Lord, I cherish the idea of such a close attachment to You. Help me, Lord, to look closely into Your words as Paul wrote them guided by Your Spirit. As I see Paul’s determination to follow his desire, help me to press on also so that You may be glorified in me. Amen.
-Joanne Lodge
Grow the Good – Day 38
Day 38
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil. 4:6
Do not be anxious about ANYTHING….This might be impossible for humans!!
We’ve heard this verse so many times, and every time we hear/read/study it, we vow to take everything to God in prayer, and not try to “fix it” ourselves. But then the next “mini crisis” happens in our life, and we immediately try to take control of the situation, instead of taking it to God, asking Him for His divine help. We often remember to pray during hardship and tragedy, but sometimes forget that He wants to help us with everything that worries us.
Here Paul suggests that we turn every problem into a prayer. God loves us and only wants what is best for us. The Bible tells us that if we would just trust Him and invite Him into every aspect of our lives, sharing our day-to-day challenges and frustrations, He will abundantly bless us. God wants us to pray and ask Him for His guidance, and He will answer our prayers.
When we find ourselves worrying, about things small or large, use it as an opportunity to take it to our heavenly Father in prayer, thanking Him for the opportunity. We can rejoice knowing that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is also available to us!
Whenever you start to worry…STOP and PRAY!
Dear Father,
Forgive us for not trusting You and thinking we can handle our own problems. Help us to stop worrying and turn our lives over to You in prayer. In your name we pray, Amen.
-Nancy Josifek