Cedar Chips, News, Transform the Corridor

Only One Life

from http://followingthecalm.blogspot.com/

One of our “senior saints” shared this rhyme with me recently. It’s a motto that has determined his priorities through many busy years. He’s retired now, and not strong physically any more, but he’s still living his life, every day, for Christ. When our care team takes communion to his home, we recite the rhyme together like a creed.

And it’s made me think a lot about my own life. Each of us has the same twenty-four hours each day, seven days a week. I’ve been given just one life to live. And God made me for the purpose of centering that one life around Him. If I try to build my life around me at the center, that is no life at all, at least no life of significance.

Jesus said, “If you try to keep your life for yourself you will lose it, but if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.” Living our lives as the family of God, in loving service to others, is the life we were made for. That is truly life. In fact, it’s the beginning of eternal life.

“Only one life . . . .” Take a moment right now to say the little creed out loud. “Only what’s done for Christ . . . .” Keep it in your heart today, and Christ will transform all your hours, days, weeks and years to be a stream of love that will last forever.

God bless you!
Alan Crandall
Pastor of Care


Uncategorized

Let Justice Roll

Every now and then I encounter an unknown song that just rocks my world. Usually it’s a song that’s not popular, not on the radio, not really being done anywhere but I find in a music database called CCLI.

CCLI is the go-to place for music for worship and music leaders world-wide. We pay a fee to CCLI every year to legally use all the music we do on Sunday mornings and then we report back to them what songs we use so they can pay the artists. It’s actually a really nifty system to make sure artists get paid by churches that are using their music. And in doing so, I have access to giant database of 1000s of songs. Maybe millions. Lets just say lots and lots and lots.

I can get into the database and see current trends, new up-and-coming songs, search for songs by lyrics and find original versions of music. Let’s just say I spend a good amount of my week in CCLI, either looking up music, studying scores, brainstorming theme ideas or playing with the search features. “Let Justice Roll” has become the theme song of our new “Transform the Corridor” focus. This little song is unknown, but the words are impactful:

You see the world as daughters and sons
in an ocean of your love.
You want your church to reach for the lost
more than thousands of our songs.
Let justice roll.
We see the waters rising!
Heavens flood is coming!
To cover the earth with healing:
let it pour down.
We’ll see the darkness scatter
when your people gather.
Hell cannot stop your power:
Let it pour down.

Let Justice Roll by Josh Lavender | Taylor Wilding; © 2017 Awaken Worship Collective (Admin. by Josh Lavender LLC); Josh Lavender Publishing (Admin. by Josh Lavender LLC) CCLI #648382

In my spirit I say, “Yes, Lord!” Let it pour down! The Corridor WILL BE transformed.

Leah
Director of Worship & Media

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

Noah’s Ark September ’18 Update

We have been very busy gearing up for the new school year. The classrooms are clean, toys sorted, crafts are prepped, and lesson plans are pre-pared. We had our orientation night on Aug 23. Orientation allows the children an opportunity to meet their teachers, see their classroom, and meet their classmates. While the children are busy playing, I meet with the parents to go over our Parent Handbook and any other questions they may have. Our goal is to have a smooth transition for everyone when school begins.

God has blessed us with 51 students enrolled for fall! There are a few openings in our program. If you know anyone interested, have them contact us at 396-3125. We are excited for classes to start Sept 4, the day after Labor Day. We have lots of new ideas that we are excited to see in action.

Jan Fick, Lori Larson, Kris Crowther, Lorri Anderson, and I will all be returning to teach this year. These people are a pleasure to work with every-day and make my job a lot easier. I feel blessed to work with fellow Christians who are passionate about teaching young children.

Please pray for all of us as we begin this new school year. Thank you!

In Christ,
Leslie Clauson
Noah’s Ark Preschool Director

Cedar Chips, Consistory, News

From the Consistory – Sept 2018

News and Notes
This month we reviewed our nominations process and discovered that we need to keep communicating about the value of the congregation’s nominations of Elders and Deacons. In the past several years we have de-emphasized the “election” part of the process and elevated the “nominations” process. Some in the congregation feel like they have lost their voice in that the election is now simply an affirmation of the full slate of nominees.

As the congregation has grown, it became more difficult for the congregation to know which candidates are gifted and called to leadership. We now have a nominations team of individuals who invest hours into the process so that they can pre-sent the best single slate of nominees possible. The best way to influence this process is to give the nominations team the names of individuals you know who may be gifted and called. Participation in this part of the process is the most helpful in getting the outcome of great men and women called to serve our congregation as Elders and Deacons.

We are looking for individuals who can help us accomplish the mission of disciples making disciples in the everyday stuff of life.

Contact Pastor Kent or Jack Ulmer if you would like to place a name into nomination.

Cedar Chips, News, Transform the Corridor

September Sermon Topics

A Vocabulary of Transformation

We pray that God will use us to transform the corridor. As God grows us to be agents of trans-formation we will develop the gospel in the eve-ryday stuff of life. Come explore the vocabulary of our faith so that every man, women, and child in the corridor has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed!
Sept 2: Gospel Community
Sept 9: Gospel Fluency
Sept 16: Gospel Transformation
Sept 23: Gospel Glory
Sept 30: Gospel Identity
Sunday Morning Services: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
Uncategorized

Transformation Vocabulary

I remember singing a song when I was a kid that had the lyrics, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” Those words hit me as right: if I expect peace on earth, well then I better bring peace.

Apparently this sentiment seems right to a lot of people. A great variety of artists have performed this song—Gospel music singers, Country-western performers, pop musicians, school choirs—they all get it that peace starts with ‘me.’

A newspaper reporter once asked theologian G.K. Chesterton what’s wrong with the world today. He replied in writing:

“Dear Sir,
I am.
Yours,
G. K. Chesterton”

The world is not messed up because of some nameless problem out there, it really has problems because everyone adds to them regularly. As we are thinking about transforming the corridor, it might be tempting to point fingers at people “out there” and overlook our own need for transformation. Transformation begins when disciples of Jesus grow closer to Jesus and continues when disciples of Jesus reach out to others with the love of Jesus.

As mentioned last month, this vision of transformation is actually back to the basics. We are called to make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life. We “go make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20) and when that happens, transformation happens.

Disciples love God deeply, love self properly, and love their neighbors boldly. I pray that if you have not yet caught the excitement of the possibility of transforming the corridor that you will simply draw near to Jesus. As you love Jesus more, you will love each other more and it is that love that makes all the difference.

Starting in September, we will explore the vocabulary of transformation. This exploration will help us understand a biblical vision of transformation and, I pray, fuel our mission for years to come. We can all grow by engaging in large group celebrations of corporate worship and gathering with a small group that is on mission. Large group celebrations shape us through
gospel-centered worship and small groups create safe places for relational connection and missional living. Life transformation emerges out of both!

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent

Funeral, News, Uncategorized

Eugene (Gene) Dlouhy Funeral Arrangements

Eugene “Gene” Dlouhy, 85, died Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. Gene and his wife Judy previously attended Cedar Hills.  Please pray for Judy (Gene’s wife), Monica (their daughter) and Mike Wilk (Son-in-law) and Melody Henderson (daughter), who attend Cedar Hills, in their time of grieving.

The visitation will be Tuesday, Sept 4 at Murdoch Funeral Home: 520 Wilson Ave SW, 4:00-8:00 PM

The service will be Wednesday, Sept 5 at 11am at Cedar Hills, immediately followed by a luncheon.

Obituary for Eugene “Gene” Dlouhy

Eugene “Gene” Dlouhy, 85, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Monday, August 27, 2018, at Heritage Specialty Care, Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Memorial Service with military honors: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at Cedar Hills Community Church, Cedar Rapids, officiated by Pastor Kent Landhuis.

Gene was born July 8, 1933, in Swisher, Iowa, the son of Emil and Helen Dlouhy. He served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean War. On August 18, 1957, Gene was united in marriage to Judith Griffin at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids.

He and his son, Marc, owned and operated Dlouhy Auto Repair for over thirty years. Gene was a member of the American Legion Post # 727, Cedar Rapids, and Cedar Hills Community Church. He was known as “Gentle Gene.” He was honest, genuine, loving and caring. Gene was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved working at the shop, bowling and golf. Being with his family was Gene’s greatest joy.

Gene is survived by his wife, Judith Dlouhy; daughter, Melody Henderson; sons, Marc (Lynn) Dlouhy and Matt Dlouhy; and daughter, Monica (Mike) Wilk; six grandchildren, Kyle and Logan Dlouhy, Randi (Jason) Roggentein, Blakeley Dlouhy, and twins Cameron and Campbell Dlouhy; five step-grandchildren, Jennissa (Eric Gertge) Voorhees, Sam (Morgan) Wilk, Joe Wilk, Joy Wilk, and Jocilyn (Joel) Ray; two great-grandchildren, Carver and Cutler Roggentein; four step-great-grandchildren, Wyatt Gertge, Maisy Wilk, Joanie and Jaylin Ray; brother, Frank Dlouhy; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Helen Dlouhy; sister, Lillian Serbousek; and brothers, Leonard, Leo, and Don Dlouhy.

Memorials may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas, 66675.

 

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!

Love. Belong. Serve.