Marriage and Family, News, Women's Revival

Women’s Revival Kick-off

Starts Sept 6, 6-8pm, Women’s Revival is an opportunity for adult women to come together twice a month (1st and 3rd Thursdays) from 6-8p, for fellowship and fun, and to be able to grow in your walk with Lord. Each night will feature a blend of devotion, discussion and a nightly activity. There will also be programming for participants children (3yrs-5th grade) available. Women’s Revival returns from the summer break on September 6th. Join any time! Register online. But don’t be discouraged if you are only able to attend sporadically, you will not feel out of place!

Family and Children Ministry, Marriage and Family, News, Saturate, Transform the Corridor

Family Adventure – New for 2018!

We’re so excited to announce our new programming, called Family Adventure. Its goal is to equip families to be modelers of a gospel-centered life. The event will be held on the 4th Sunday of every month, 5:30pm-7pm with dinner 5:30pm-6pm. The night will be filled with Jesus, fun and fellowship!

Family discipleship is of the utmost importance to us, and we hope and desire that every child would be accompanied by a parent, guardian or adult family member. Family Adventure is about having an experience that children and adults alike can share in together. We hope to see you there!  Register.

Cedar Chips, Fall Kick-Off, Music, News, Transform the Corridor, Worship

Kick-Off Worship Jam

All musicians and singers are invited to take place in the Fall Kick-Off worship service Sunday, August 19. The first service choir will gather at 8 AM to sing at the 8:30am service. All singers and instruments are invited to the kick-off worship jam team that will lead the music at the 11 AM service. Practice for the jam is Wednesday, August 15 at 6:30 PM. Please pre-register for the Jam.

Cedar Chips, Fall Kick-Off, News, Transform the Corridor, Worship

No Fear—You Are Empowered

I love the theme and vision we have for the coming year of ministry: Transform the Corridor.

When our cities are transformed, everyone benefits! (Jer. 29:7). And what we often fail to realize is the great transformation taking place inside of us through the power of the Holy Spirit is a transformation that spills into our every day lives. We are literally little walking balls of transformational light and we carry this power wherever we go.

This is no fear needed. The power of the Holy Spirit inside us gives us everything we need for this calling. As a church, we believe God has uniquely called each one of us to some place specific this year where our empowerment by the Holy Spirit will be super evident. In this specific place He calls you, you are an agent of transformation.

You have the great potential to get to know people, to listen to their stories, to jump to their aid when they need you, to build relationships beyond a ‘hello’, and to share the Gospel. And to share it in unique and awesome ways that are already built into your specific personality and wiring.

Again I say, there is no fear needed in this journey. You are empowered! You are called! And you have all the right tools built within you. The simple beauty of this task is that it is not another thing to do, but instead, a change of focus from just being present to being intentional—to not just being a person present, but being an empowered follower of Christ.

Ask yourself — where can I live out the Gospel this year? How will that change my daily interactions there? What little steps can turn into big transformation? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, that’s okay! We’ll be teaching on this transformation with specific steps on how to put this all into action. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will Transform the Corridor.

Leah Carolan
Director of Worship & Media

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

Noah’s Ark Preschool – August 2018 Update

In July, we started our second session of summer school. What a great group we have this summer! I’m not sure who is having more fun, the kids or the teachers!

A quick reminder that we have a few openings for the fall for 3’s and 4’s. For more information, visit www.noahsarkcr.org.

Summer school is so rewarding and we can enjoy the fruits of our labor. Everyone is familiar with our routines, knows the rules, and feels comfortable with the teachers. In just one month, we will be back to the beginning: new students, who are very unsure and sometimes very unhappy to say goodbye to their moms and dads. It is very stressful on them and we need to tend to all their needs. Our job as teachers is to create a safe, loving environment so we can actually teach, but that can take time. Consistency, love, and honesty is what makes Noah’s Ark so special. Once children feel safe, we can pour in God’s love. The transformation is so beautiful.

Are you creating a safe loving environment at home, work, school? Once people feel safe with you, they can open their hearts and you can start pouring in God’s love, too. Beautiful!

Leslie Clauson,
Noah’s Ark Preschool Director

Cedar Chips, Fall Kick-Off, News

August 12 Open House

Open House – August 12

Join us Sunday, August 12 at 9:45 AM for the Open House of Cross Training Classes (preschool—adults) to meet your teacher, visit your classroom, and have brunch.  We will also be featuring our new child check-in process and getting children and parents familiar with the system.

Kick-Off Sunday – August 19

Sunday, August 19 is our official Fall Kick-off and classes start at 9:45 AM.

ages 0 to 5th Grade Register

Nursery (0-2yrs): Loving volunteers, staffed at (9:45am and 11am)
Preschool (3yrs-4yrs): Karly Barnard, Deb DeHaan, Mary Landhuis
Kindergarten: Paula Stevens, Diane Potter
1st Grade: Jana Houghkirk, Tracy Spicer-Ehrman
2nd & 3rd Grade: Melissa Oberembt, Jill Henry
4th & 5th Grade: Alisse French, Matt Johnson, Matt Houghkirk

6th Grade to 12th Grade Register

Junior High (6th-8th): Jeremy Van Genderen
FaithQuest (for 8th graders pursuing membership): Lois Deerberg
Senior High (9th-12th): Tamara Strecker

Adult Classes and Groups

Saturate: Alan Crandall & team
Sundays at 9:45am. God wants us to be so saturated with Jesus that His love will overflow in our daily lives so that everyone we meet, everywhere we go, can experience the good news of Jesus and be transformed. This class is both for current members or friends, and those who wish to become members. Register.

See Jesus: See God: Joanne Lodge
Sundays at 9:45am. In John 14:9 Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.“ Come; get to know Jesus and get to know the Father through an in-depth study of the book of Matthew. Register.

Comfort in Life and Death: Ray VanderWiel, and Kent Landhuis
Sundays at 9:45am. The Heidelberg catechism asks the question: What is your only comfort in Life and in death? Come to this class and explore the Biblical answer to this question as we discuss life and death questions raised in the Heidelberg Catechism. Register.

Parenting Community: Karl & Lindsey Ungs, and Gary Mills
Sundays at 9:45am. Parenting is a big job and parents can use a lot of help along the way. This community will encourage  conversations with parents— young and old—to help everyone fulfill their calling as parents. Register.

G2: Deb Steinbaker
Meets weekdays. Pronounced “G Squared”, we will celebrate and enjoy the company of each other while on the trails, in the parks and in the community. There will be planned activities each month. Ideas are encouraged! Examples: Walking trails, hiking, urban walks cycling, nature center, museums in CR, Marion and surrounding Corridor communities. Contact Deb Steinbaker, 319-560-9383 if interested.

Cedar Chips, Consistory, News

Consistory Update Aug 2018

From the Consistory:

Leadership matters and so the Consistory regularly reviews our congregation’s ministry to evaluate if it is bearing fruit. We desire spiritually mature men and women, called and gifted to serve, over the long haul.

Our current practice is 3-year terms for Elders and Deacons with the possibility of a second successive 3-year term.  This practice usually results in the turnover of one third of the Consistory every year which impairs continuity. In light of the current needs, the Consistory voted to create flexible Consistory terms that begin as they do currently (3-year terms) but then can be extended one year at a time for up to five more years.

We believe that this change will allow adequate time to discover the roles and responsibilities involved with Consistory leadership, while also giving additional years to grow as leaders.

Continued service on the Consistory will be by mutual agreement of the board member and the Consistory, with the opportunity to recommit for one year at a time until five additional years have been served. Flexible terms that create room for longer terms allow gifted, called, and passionate leaders to keep serving.

The Consistory also heard a report from Scott Drzycimski about our worship technology ministry. This vital ministry facilitates the support needed for sound, lights, and video that are used to enhance our worship experiences. Scott alerted us to aging equipment that is nearing the end of its expected life and reported on the results of a study commissioned to design and price new audio and video systems. In the next few months, we will consider this need alongside of other spending priorities.

Finally, the Consistory also discussed the Fall Kick-Off and our hope that we will embark on a year-long exploration of how God is calling us to transform our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. We are prayerfully discerning the ways we can make this call a sustained effort to equip the congregation to follow God’s Spirit in bringing transformation to the corridor.

Please keep the Consistory and staff in prayer as we grow in our ability to equip the congregation to make disciples who make disciples to bring transformation to our world in the name of Jesus! We are praying that every man, woman, and child would have a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed through us!

~ The Consistory

Love. Belong. Serve.