Praying for the Harvest

from the Cedar Hills consistory:

We believe God wants every man, woman, and child having a daily encounter with Jesus in Word and deed! And God wants to use us to accomplish this “so that the knowledge of the glory of God will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

We opened our March consistory meeting dwelling in Luke 10. We feel like we are called, like the 70 Jesus sent out, two by two, praying for God to work. Please join us in praying for workers to go where God sends them!

We also began the process of evaluating the Consistory terms and tenures. We are discerning the ways God might want to grow us as consistory members. We are also discerning how we might extend as a  congregation greater love and hospitality to those in our community who are marginalized. And we also will be reviewing our staffing needs as we discern possible next steps for growing our congregation. As you can see, these are all important issues and we certainly appreciate all your prayers!

We also met with Kyle French, the new Director of Family and Children’s Ministry. We heard his story, his vision for the ministry, and prayed for God to guide him as he builds teams for this vital ministry.

God longs for the day when every man, woman and child in Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa will have a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed through US! Please pray, pray, pray as God grows us as disciples making disciples more and more in our ability to carry out this mission.

The Cedar Hills Consistory

April 2018 Sermon Topics

He Is Risen!

Dwelling with Jesus, the Risen One.

Apr 1: Celebrate Resurrection!
Easter Services: 8:30, 9:45, and 11 AM
Apr 8: Dwelling with the Risen Jesus.

Intentionality:
Living on Mission on Purpose

Dwelling with Jesus, the Head of the Church. On
mission, on purpose with Jesus—a study of Acts.

Apr 15: Empowered for Mission. Acts 1:1-8
Apr 22: Missional Community. Acts 1:9-14
Apr 29: Missional Leadership. Acts 1:15-26
May 6: Missional Impact. Acts 2:1-13

Dwelling in the Word – April 2018

Meditate on Acts 1:1-8.

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the  apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So when they met together, they asked him,

‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

Acts 1:1-8

Intentionality

A recent study by Microsoft revealed that the human attention span currently lasts a mere eight seconds. This is down from 12 seconds in the year 2000. If this trend continues, by the year 2030 we will need to refocus our attention 15 times a minute.

Meanwhile, the attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. Goldfish can pay attention longer than the average person! Researchers believe that the downward spiral of attention is directly related to the pace of change in our world, our connection to multiple electronic devices, and the daily barrage of digital information. Goldfish can focus longer than us because they don’t go online.

If you are like me, you have developed some media habits unintentionally. I catch myself checking the news feed on my phone unintentionally several times a day. It seems funny that we can form a habit without even thinking about it.

So this has me wondering. Can I develop some better habits on purpose? One habit I’m working on is listening to the Holy Spirit. Over the last several months, I’ve been intentional in three areas.

1. Dwelling in God’s Word.
2. Asking God’s Spirit to speak.
3. Listening carefully to God and other people.

I think that these three practices have actually helped grow my spiritual attention span. I have been surprised often. Lately, the number of times I’ve caught myself saying, “I see God’s Spirit at work in you.” I don’t think that God’s Spirit is more active now than He was a few months ago, I think I’ve just  noticed. Maybe you can explore the habit of listening to the Holy Spirit The Lord be with you,

Pastor Kent

Timeless Faith: Women’s Retreat

Saturday, April 28, 9am-3pm all ladies are invited for a time of rest and retreat as we explore the truth of Jesus’ unchanging and unending love. Doors open at 8:30am with a light breakfast.  Lunch is also provided. The cost is $20/person.  Registration begins Sunday, April 8 in the Gathering Space. Or you can also contact Jennifer Curtis 361-5406.

Acts: Daily Readings April 1-7

Join us on our year-long journey reading through the Bible. We begin the book of Acts April 1st. Post your insights on social media using #dwellingwithJesus and @cedarhillscr.

Sunday, April 1 – Acts 1
Monday, April 2 – Acts 2
Tuesday, April 3 – Acts 3
Wednesday, April 4 – Acts 4
Thursday, April 5 – Acts 5
Friday, April 6 – Acts 6
Saturday, April 7 – Acts 7

Next Week:

Sunday, April 8 – Acts 8
Monday, April 9 – Acts 9
Tuesday, April 10 – Acts 10
Wednesday, April 11 – Acts 11
Thursday, April 12 – Acts 12
Friday, April 13 – Acts 13
Saturday, April 14 – Acts 14

Easter Sunday

Worship at 8:30, 9:45 & 11

Join us for an Easter worship service at Cedar Hills Community Church.  We are located at the corner of E Ave and Stoney Point Road NW, next door to Cherry Hill Park.  Services are at 8:30am, 9:45am and 11am.  The first two services feature the Cedar Hills Choir, traditional Easter hymns to the accompaniment of the organ and piano, and a relaxed message. The 11am service is contemporary in nature, with guitar, drums, piano and singers and the same relaxed message.  We also celebrate Maundy Thursday the Thursday before Easter at 6:30pm.

ENTRANCES & PARKING

You can access the church parking lot from both E Avenue and Stoney Point Rd.  There is plentiful parking for our services, as well as handicap spaces available near the building.  A circle drive is available to drop off passengers at the front door before parking. We ask that parking in the circle drive be limited to 5 minutes.

OFFERING

The offering is a normal part of our worship time. Those who wish to give a tax-deductible donation may do so by placing check or cash in the offering baskets as they go by, or give online or via the Cedar Hills mobile app (available in the App Store and Google Play).  As a visitor to our church, you are not expected to give! Just come and enjoy worshipping.

Families WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

Ages 0-2

A nursery staffed with loving volunteers is available for children ages 0-2yrs at all services.  Parents are always welcome to step out of the services and sit with their child in the nursery. You are still able to listen to the service in the nursery and the lobby area.

There is plenty of space in the back of the Worship Center for car seats, strollers, and rocking babes in arms.  An audio feed of the service is running in the Gathering Space (our lobby area) — we do ask you to be sensitive to others in the service and exit the Worship Center if your child is crying or making a lot of noise.  Changing tables are available in the handicap stall of both the women’s and men’s restrooms.  Extra diapers and supplies are available in the nursery if you need them.  There is a child-size toilet in the nursery for the young ones who are potty training.

Ages 3yrs – 3rd grade

At the 9:45am and 11am services, we have Explorers–a special worship service for children ages 3yrs to 3rd grade.  At these two services, children are dismissed following the opening service music and return to the Worship Center near the end of the service.  Parents are always welcome to attend Explorers with their children (or just check it out for a few minutes).

HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY

We are fully handicap accessible and have hearing assistance devices available at the Welcome Booth, just outside the Worship Center doors.  There is a circle drive to drop off anyone near the front doors that would benefit from not having to walk from the parking lot.

RESTROOMS

The restrooms are located to the left side of the Gathering Space. A changing table is available in both the men’s and women’s restrooms, as well as handicap facilities.  Extra diaper supplies, wipes, etc. are available in the nursery.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Don’t be afraid to contact the office.

Egg Hunt Postponed

Due to the upcoming winter storm tonight into Saturday, the Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for Saturday, March 24 will be postponed until Sunday, April 15.  We’ll get more details out as the date approaches. The hunt will be sometime after the 2nd service on that day.  Stay safe out there!

The storm should be cleared up by Sunday morning. It’s Palm Sunday! The children will have fun worshiping with Palm branches in the services.  8:30am and 11am.

Easter is the following Sunday – April 1. We have two traditional services at 8:30 and 9:45, and a contemporary service at 11am.  More details on Easter at Cedar Hills.

Daily Readings Mar. 26-Apr. 1

Post your insights using #dwellingwithJesus and @cedarhillscr. Have you seen the audio tab on these links?

Sunday, Mar. 25 – John 17
Monday, Mar. 26 – John 18
Tuesday, Mar. 27 – John 19
Wednesday, Mar. 28 – John 20
Thursday, Mar. 29 – John 21
Good Friday, Mar. 30 – Mark 14
Saturday, Mar. 31 – Mark 15

Join us for Easter Sunday! Services at 8:30 (traditional), 9:45 (traditional) and 11am (contemporary).

Daily Readings Mar. 18-24

Post your insights using #dwellingwithJesus and @cedarhillscr. Have you seen the audio tab on these links? It’s a nice touch with a little music and a little drama.

Sunday, Mar. 18 – John 10
Monday, Mar. 19 – John 11
Tuesday, Mar. 20 – John 12
Wednesday, Mar. 21 – John 13
Thursday, Mar. 22 – John 14
Friday, Mar. 23 – John 15
Saturday, Mar. 24 – John 16

Next Week:

Sunday, Mar. 25 – John 17
Monday, Mar. 26 – John 18
Tuesday, Mar. 27 – John 19
Wednesday, Mar. 28 – John 20
Thursday, Mar. 29 – John 21
Friday, Mar. 30
Saturday, Mar. 31

Love. Belong. Serve.