Our December meeting celebrated the gift of leadership. We expressed deep gratitude for those who have serviced faithfully in the past year – Deb DeHaan, Jim Flamming, Mike Robinson, Karen Schumacher, and Kate Ulmer. We also welcomed elders and deacons who will begin serving in 2019. We are blessed with wise leaders who love the Lord, love the church and love one
another! We also celebrated bright spots in our ministry over the last few months:
- The Open Hands Food Pantry served 1,115 people in November. 25+ volunteers shared food and love with over 331 families.
- Journey Student Ministry held a successful retreat with many answers to prayer including five students making first time commitments to follow Jesus.
- Explorers Children’s Ministry currently has 22 preschool students on the roll.
- Open Table has grown as a path to connecting new and old families. This fall they have averaged 60-80 people in their monthly gatherings.
- The vision of Missional Communities making disciples in the everyday stuff of life keeps expanding as more than 40 participants have now completed the training.
Please pray for our consistory, staff, and key leaders as we follow the calling that God is giving us.
From the 2019 Consistory:
Deacons: Alan Brockette (Chair), Bruce Boldt, Melissa Dahm, John Davidson, Allison Johnson, Nancy Josifek, Josh Oberembt
Elders: Lois Deerberg (Vice-president), Pastor Alan Crandall, Bruce Crowther, Robin Joens, Pastor Kent Landhuis, Gary Mills, Diane Potter, Crissie Rozendaal, Jeremy Van Genderen, Ken Viggers
The Lord be with you,
Invite your friends, family and neighbors to something new for 2019 – Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace! Updated videos and materials along with small group discussions will help you learn how to achieve financial peace! Free class preview on Sunday, January 6th at 9:30am OR 12 pm (right after each worship service). See how this class is changing lives: 
Sunday, Jan 13, 3-5:30 PM, our congregation is invited to an Active Shooter Readiness training, provided by the Linn County Sheriff’s office.
Year-end gifts fund our mission of transformation. Every dollar given brings transformation in the corridor and beyond. Pray for large, generous hearts to help us finish 2018 with a surplus of resources to be used for more transformation.
This Sunday we will welcome the largest class of new members in Cedar Hills history (at least that we are aware of!). Congrats to all of our new members – and welcome to the Cedar Hills family. This group has communicated a clear faith in Christ after meeting with our elders, and is ready to stand before the congregation and announce their faith.