Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Missional Communities, News

Doing Missional Community With Kids

There are numerous ways to meet with your missional community, no matter what the age of your
kids. The following schedule is just one way to make it work for couples with kids. This particular group meets every Thursday. The first Thursday all the wives gather at one of the homes or at a coffee shop, while the husbands watch the kids in their own homes. The next week all the husbands meet, while the wives watch the kids at home.

The third Thursday, all the families get together, with all their kids in tow. This is a free-for-all, with kids eating popsicles in the backyard or watching a movie in the basement while the adults talk.

The last Thursday of the month, families get baby sitters and the couples go out for a date night, all together.

This schedule flexes as needed. There are occasional sick kids, late work meetings, and other variables that might change a specific Thursday.

However, the parents and kids so look forward to being with each other that they often see each other more than once a week. Often, there are group text messages, inside jokes, and weekend getaways together. There are many ways to make a missional community work with your family.

Lindsey Ungs
Connection and Communication Architect

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, News, Noah's Ark

Noah’s Ark October 2019 Update

October is a busy month for us! We learn about fall with the changing leaves, pumpkins, and get to wear some fun clothes at the end of the month!

We are pleased to announce that Matt Houghkirk will be our Lead Teacher in our MWF 3-year-old class. We are sorry that Miss Mary has left our school to pursue another job. We are excited to get our school pictures taken on Oct 10 and 11. Bring your best smile!

In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we will be giving away 50 books this school year. Each student
will receive a book; we will draw five names each month, starting this month!

I’d like to offer a big shout out to the Noah’s Ark School Board that volunteers their time to keep the school running smoothly. The board is led by Kaci Maire. Board members include: Melissa Oberembt, Carrie Campbell, Allison Johnson, Sarah Lewis, Mellany Davis, Jan Fick, and myself. We meet monthly and are dedicated to continuing the fine tradition that has been established at Noah’s Ark.

Blessings to you!
Kris Crowther
Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool

60th Anniversary, Capital Campaign, Grow the Good, News

October Will Be Quite the Month!

October is going to be quite a month here at Cedar Hills! Celebrating 60 years as a congregation is an exciting accomplishment! Another huge accomplishment was when our church moved forward in faith
to build the amazing structure our church calls home today. We are blessed to have such a flexible and reliable resource. Though it’s still in great condition, with nearly 15 years of heavy use, it’s time to prepare for some major upkeep work with a three-year capital stewardship campaign.

In our upcoming three-year capital campaign, we’ll tackle several projects. In the immediate term, our audio/video system in the worship space is in desperate need of replacement. The system has lasted long past its expected life and is currently maintained using used parts we find on the Internet, usually used on eBay.

When you enter the Gathering Space, hallways, and classrooms, I’m sure you’ve noticed how worn and stained the carpet is and how banged up some of our walls have gotten over the years. Plans are underway to update these rooms and prepare them for another 15 years of service.

We also want to plan for future needs, which include roof replacement and new heating/cooling systems.

We’ll also raise funds to reduce our remaining building mortgage and cover the city tax assessment for the street and sidewalk updates in our neighborhood.

If you would like to participate in the campaign preparations, please contact John Davidson.

Campaign Schedule

  • Oct 13: 40-day devotional available
  • Oct 15 & 16: Advance Commitment meetings
  • Oct 20: Campaign Kickoff!
  • 2nd & 4th Thurs in Oct: Prayer Vigil
  • Oct 27 – Nov 10: Testimonials and Discernment
  • Nov 10: Commitment Sunday
  • Nov 17: First Fruits
  • Nov 17, 2019 – Nov 17, 2021: Prepare for the future!
Cedar Chips, News, Uncategorized

I want to be a runner – pt. 2

(Continued from “I want to be a runner… pt. 1)

So what is the turning point of identity? When does one’s brain go from not identifying with something to embracing the identity?

I’ve had another month and many, many miles of training to ponder my running dilemma, meanwhile still wearing my runner’s clothes, reading my runner’s blogs, studying my runner’s strides. Doing all the things I know to do to look like a runner and blend in with the running crowd.

This last Friday, I set a personal distance record of 16.11 miles! And somewhere along that long, lonely road in the middle of a rain shower the mystery of my much-desired-running-identity hit me.

I can’t be a runner
until I give up my former
‘not-a-runner’ identity.

That’s it.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks and I began to weep.  What is my former identify? (and I type this gently, because it sounds so harsh…)

Slow. Non-Athletic. Fat. Girl.

I can’t be both. I must choose.

I’ve spent ten years working on my health (physical, spiritual, emotional) after a lifetime of obesity that started in childhood.  I’ve shed almost 100 lbs, but thirty years of being that girl was going to be hard to shake.  Words, realities, capabilities, activities… a whole lifetime of things tied to an identity needed to be ripped out of my brain and replaced with the new.

Where is Jesus in all this craziness?

More to come next month.

Leah
Director of Worship & Media

 

60th Anniversary, Cedar Chips, News

60th Anniversary Celebration

60th Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, Oct 13

One Service – 9:30 AM

Did you know that our church will be 60 years old this year? We want to celebrate this achievement and we want you to be there! Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 13 for one service at 9:30 AM. RSVP online for the luncheon, immediately following the service.

Did you know these facts about our church?

  • It was chartered by six couples with young children.
  • We built our first church on Gordon Ave, in the new Skogman developed residential area of Cedar Hills.
  • It was initially named Cedar Hills Community Reformed Church.

Since our start, Cedar Hills has diligently and prayerfully served the Cedar Hills neighborhood, striving to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our neighbors in the entire Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor. Our mission is to be disciples making disciples in the everyday stuff of life.

We are thankful for all the good works accomplished in the last 60 years, mindful of the challenges, and excited to see what the next 60 years brings! Join us in praying that we continue God‘s work intentionally as His disciples.

Our 60th Anniversary milestone will be noted with a variety of activities and will culminate in one all-member worship service at 9:30 AM on Sunday, Oct 13, followed by a celebration meal.

60th Anniversary

60th Anniversary Lunch RSVP

No Fields Found.

Cedar Chips, News, Noah's Ark

Noah’s Ark September 2019 Update

And…we’re off to another school year. It’s our 50th school year. That’s quite an accomplishment of trust between us and the parents, who have sent child after child to us. We are very excited for our classes this year and can’t wait to get to know the students and their families even more.

We are blessed with a staff that is certainly talented and educated. Miss Jan and Miss Lori will be in our MWF 4-year-old room, along with Miss Lorri on Wednesdays. Our MWF 3-year-olds will have Miss Mary and Mr. Matt. The Tue-Thurs 3-year-old class will have myself and Miss Lorri as teachers. Lunch Bunch is my favorite time of the day and I will be teaching this bunch of kids. An added bonus this year is our Student Teacher, Miss Chantelle who will be in the 4-year-old class and Lunch Bunch on Mondays and Fridays.

Noah’s Ark has been blessed to be housed in Cedar Hills Community Church since 1998. We appreciate all of the benefits the building has provided to us. As a mission of Cedar Hills, we graciously thank you for allowing us to partner with you in the community.

Blessings to you!
Kris Crowther
Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool

Cedar Chips, Consistory, News

Consistory Sept 2019 News

Our vision as a congregation is to make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of  life so that every man, woman and child in our community has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed.

Our goal as Consistory is to work toward the alignment of all our staff and programs with this vision.

At our meeting this month, we heard the testimony of Lauren who shared how the people and ministries of our congregation led her to faith in Jesus. She shared God’s calling to reach out to hear family and friends and her hope of starting a missional community this fall.

Her testimony led us to discuss the ways we have been formed as disciples and helped in our discernment about growing a culture of disciple-making at Cedar Hills. We celebrate the good God is doing and ask for prayers as we invite more of our congregation into the exciting call of disciples making disciples. Pray for Lindsey and the Catalyst Team specifically as they grow disciple-making connections.

We give praise that Steve Poole has started his ministry here with youth and young adults. Please pray for Steve, Cathy, and children Abby and Christopher as they meet our congregation.

Core Value: Love.
Because God loves us, we love.

  • We Love God deeply.
  • We Love ourselves properly.
  • We Love our neighbors boldly.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:34-38).

Core Calling: Make Disciples
We make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life so that every man,  women, and child in our community has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed. We make disciples who seek, love, grow, and serve. “Go make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Core Strategy: Missional Communities.
Grow missional communities through:

  • Gospel: Life in Jesus.
  • Community: Life together.
  • Mission: Life reaching out.

“I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes, urging you to a radical life-change before God and an equally radical trust in Jesus.” (Acts 20:21, The Message).

Funeral, News

Selma Williams Funeral

We are sad at the passing of our sister in Christ, Selma Williams.  Visitation is Monday evening at Cedar Memorial, with the funeral at 10:30am Tuesday morning, Sept. 17 at Cedar Hills Community Church.  Please continue to pray for Selma’s family and friends as they grieve her loss, but also celebrate her new place with our Lord and Savior!

Memorial

Selma Phillips-Williams, 75, of Cedar Rapids, joined the angels on September 11, 2019. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 16 at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17 at the Cedar Hills Community Church.

She is survived by her seven children Renee (Michael) Miceli, Shawn (Jill) Phillips, Joel (Jenni) Phillips, Patrick (Karen) Phillips, Mark (Margaret Wong) Phillips, Robyn (Chuck) Luensman, and Amy (Chris) Schmidt; 23 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Williams.

Selma was born on October 11, 1943 in Duluth, Minnesota and moved to Cedar Rapids in 1961. Selma loved to quilt, crochet, read books, write poetry and play cards. Above all she loved spending time with her family. She was a spiritual woman and could find God in everything she saw. She has a deep relationship with Jesus, trusting Him for strength through many trials. Knowing that even with all of our imperfections as humans we are still loved by Him. She has passed down a legacy of faith to her family. She was resilient, strong and caring. She always had a smile and conversation for strangers and had the ability to make everyone she touched feel special. Selma loved her family dearly and her family will miss her immensely. Selma was looking forward for her reunion with her husband Joe and the many family and friends that have gone before her.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Unity Point Hospice.

And, we leave you with a prayer from Selma:
Lord, this is one of those times when
I just need to climb up on your lap.
Father/Mother God,
I just need you to hold me for a while.
I just need for your arms to circle about me
And to rock me. Just for a while…
And then I’ll be able to slip down and face the day again.
I’ll be able to go forth into what I cannot see ahead.
Because I have touched your love,
I will be strengthened with courage, and trust.
Because you have touched me
As gently as a breath breathing life once again.

Cedar Chips, Grow the Good

Grow the Good!

Grow the good!

The book of Philippians, written by Paul when he was in jail, is one of the most joyful, grateful, confident books in the Bible. Paul recognizes the good that God has done and knows that God finishes what God starts. The joyful, confident tone starts immediately, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6).

God’s good work in us—and through us—transforms the past, present and the future. In the next couple of months, we are celebrating God’s good work, which started at Cedar Hills Community Church 60 years ago. God is still working to grow the good today and we know that God desires to grow the good for future generations. This fall we will focus on three specific opportunities for our congregation to engage in good
work.

1. Grow as a disciple! Join a Sunday class, a small group, a missional community. Also use your gift to serve others. We will explore opportunities to get plugged in at Discovery Weekend on Sunday, Sept. 8.

2. Celebrate Cedar Hills! On Sunday, October 13 we will celebrate 60 years of ministry in one service at 9:30 AM followed by lunch. We are blessed and we will give thanks for the good God has done.

3. Grow the good! We believe our best days are ahead and so we are launching a capital campaign to help us move forward in ministry. This campaign will address three key opportunities.

First, we will refresh the space God has given us to serve people. Second, we will replace broken and outdated equipment. After 13 years of heavy use, things wear out. Third, we will retire the remaining debt on our facilities, freeing resources to do more good!

God calls us to love and serve our community which we have been doing. I can’t begin to imagine the impact of the next 60 years!

The Voice translation of Philippians 1:6 says, “I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work among you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you…”

God is not done with us—He is just getting started!

Pastor Kent

Love. Belong. Serve.