Come on out to Bloomsbury Farms out in Atkins, on October 19th at 9am, for just $5 per person! They’ve got a bouncy bubble (you’ll get it when you see it), a massive farm inspired playground, fun little rides and a GIANT corn maze! Hope you can make it out. Starts at 9am, but feel free to stay as long as you’d like! Can’t make it till later, no problem! Let Kyle French know and we can arrange to meet up front to get you your tickets! Please RSVP by Thursday October 17th! Hope you can make it out!”
Grow the Good – Day 2
Day 2
“So when the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow down before Him. And every tongue will say Jesus Christ is Lord. Everyone will give honor to God the Father.” Phil. 2:10-11
“Every tongue will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.” What a glorious day that will be! At Cedar Hills, our goal is to spread the gospel and make disciples as Jesus told us to do in Matthew 28. We believe that the church facility is an essential component of the ministries and missions at Cedar Hills. Our vision is that people will go out every day to “Grow the Good” and make disciples in the everyday stuff of life.
Our facility will be 15 years old next year. In that 15 years, our building has been used for good by the church and our community. We have approximately 50 active groups and ministries within Cedar Hills. In addition to our church ministries, several community groups use the facility daily, including the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous, Family Promise and many others.
We will be inviting you to join us in a capital campaign with a commitment to refresh our space, replace outdated equipment, and reduce our current debt. As you begin to hear about this campaign, please pray that we can be a light in our community, a haven for the weary, and a place to refresh ourselves as we go forth to make disciples. Pray for the ministries that serve others. Pray for the growth of families who love Jesus. Pray for God to use His people, His Church, to “Grow the Good” and bring our community to Christ.
Dear Father,
Thank You for the land here on the corner of E Ave and Stoney Point. Thank You for Your building where we can provide services for our community. Thank You that we can serve You and reach out to others so that we may see the day when “every tongue will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Amen.
-Spiritual Life Committee
Dee Williamson Funeral
Please join us in prayer for the family and friends of Dee Williamson as they mourn her passing. Dee was a faithful member of Cedar Hills Community Church and a life-long volunteer in many ministries at the church, including over 50 years of playing the organ!
Dee’s funeral is Friday, October 18 at 10:30am at the church.
Obituary
The organ sounded and the angels sang. Hallelujah! Amen.
Dee Williamson, 89, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 8, 2019. She was born April 15, 1930. Dee grew up on a farm near Tama, Iowa and worked as a Registered Nurse. Dee lived a long and full life of service – to her faith, to her family, to her church, and to her community. She was a lifelong musician, playing the piano and organ with love at her church since childhood and retired just about a year ago. She volunteered at the Community Health Free Clinic, Meals on Wheels, Mercy Hospice, the Red Cross, and many other organizations throughout the years.
Dee is survived by her son Earl of Atlanta, Georgia; daughters Cindy Sabot (James) of Moorhead, Minnesota and Susan Scholl (Gary) of Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law Ruth Tomlinson of Marshalltown, Iowa; step-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and special friends.
Dee was preceded in death by her husband Dale; her son Dennis; step-daughter Patricia Richardson; her parents, step-mother and eight siblings.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, October 18, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at Cedar Hills Community Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A luncheon will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Courageous of Monticello, Iowa; Heartland Youth for Christ of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or the Community Health Free Clinic of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Grow the Good – Day 1
Day 1
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.” Phil. 1:4-6
Just like the Philippian church, God started a good work here at Cedar Hills nearly 60 years ago! This would not have happened without the joyful partnership of a few families committed to God’s calling to Go Make Disciples. As we look toward the next 60 years for Cedar Hills, we must use the same recipe to “Grow the Good” that God has already started. We must always keep Cedar Hills in our prayers, be confident that God (not us) will complete His good work in us, and have joy that we are partners together in doing God’s work. As we look toward 2020 and beyond, we are confident that God is calling us to “Grow the Good!”
This devotional booklet is a gift to you from the Spiritual Life Committee. Thanks to the dedication of over twenty of our church members, we have forty days of inspiration for you to read and pray as we thank God for blessing Cedar Hills Community Church. As we look forward to the future, we ask you to join with us each day, and search your heart, asking God what He wants you to do as a gift for His faithfulness. Our hope is that you will fully join with us to “Grow the Good!”
Dear Father,
How can we begin to thank You for Your incredible faithfulness to Your people? Remind us that we are blessed, and help us to be willing to give back to further Your ministry, to grow disciples, and to grow the good to honor You. Thank You for what You are going to do for Cedar Hills and for our families in the years ahead.
We pray this in Your name, Amen.
-Spiritual Life Committee
Journey: October at a Glance
October at a Glance:
Oct 6 – Normal Journey Youth, 5:30-8 PM
Oct 12 – Dare2Share LIVE, 10 AM-7:30 PM
FREE! Students will enjoy world-class Bible teaching and worship. This event is designed for teens to hear the Gospel, be encouraged and equipped to share the Gospel, and get out in Cedar Rapids neighborhoods to collect canned goods for a local food pantry while also sharing the Gospel.
Oct 13 – Normal Journey Youth, 5:30-8 PM
Oct 19-20 – Middle School Fall Retreat at Lake View Camp in Pella, IA
Oct 20 – Journey Youth, just High School, 5:30-8 PM
Oct 27 – Normal Journey Youth, 5:30-8 PM
Steve Poole
Director of Youth and Young Adults
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
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
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!
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 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.