Cedar Chips, News, Worship

Marked.

Marked.

Marked.

When we first came up with the title for this Lenten series I was especially moved by the word, “Marked”. Enough that I’ve been lingering on it for over a month and reflecting on what this could mean. We are each marked with life. The good, the bad,
the ugly. But I think those places where suffering has marked us are the places where God can do the coolest work. Suffering sucks. Don’t get me wrong! But it can produce a harvest of good when God gets involved and we let Him do what He does best.

Have you ever had the moment where you meet someone and they share a part of their story that matches a part of your story—and suddenly the two of you are friends for life because of the suffering you have shared together? That doesn’t happen to me
when I share good stuff. I am bonded with others through the bad stuff. It’s like a deep brotherhood/sisterhood suddenly takes place in a communal suffering narrative.

I think we have the same communal suffering with Jesus. He took on the largest, biggest, baddest, worst imaginable suffering ever. He understands our story. He understands our struggles. We share together in suffering and a brotherhood happens. He
gets it. We are bonded in friendship for life. It is good to be marked.

It is GOOD to be marked.

We enter into the suffering of Christ this season because it is good to be marked. Come, let us draw closer to the heart of God.

Leah Carolan
Director of Worship and Media

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

Noah’s Ark – February 2018 Update

February was full of fun activities! Everyone learned about the mail and what happens to your letter after you put it in the mailbox. We all enjoyed giving and receiving valentines! Our testing is all done for our 4- and 5-year-olds and evaluations have been sent out. The 3-year-old classes had fun learning about snowmen, dinosaurs, and creation. Second report cards for our younger classes will be sent out before spring break.

Our 2018-2019 registration is ongoing. If you know someone who would like information, have them call us at 396-3125 or email at [email protected]. All classes meet from 9-11:30.

Our spring break will be March 12-16, same as Cedar Rapids schools.

Please mark you calendars for March 19th to donate blood! Mississippi Valley Blood Center will come here and set up in the Gathering Space. Your time from check-in to check-out is less than an hour. Please sign up to donate; our area is in desperate need. Call Leslie at the Preschool to sign up at 396-3125!

I can’t believe there are only 3 more months left of school! I’m ready for spring and we can’t wait to see all those flowers come up in front of our windows again! I want to remind everyone that we will be offering a 6-week (two 3-week sessions) summer school program in June and July. This program is for current Noah’s Ark students only. I will give more details next month.

Have a great March!

In Christ,
Leslie Clauson,
Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool

Cedar Chips, News

Dwelling With Jesus in Lent

Lent is a 40-day walk through daily and sometimes hourly reminders of the gospel. We remind ourselves of the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus by giving up, or fasting from simple pleasures. We also take-on additional spiritual practices to grow in love. Lent, together with the celebration of Easter, focuses our lives on the wonderful love of God in the gospel.

During this season we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, we examine our hearts, and we look outwardly at what it means to live in light of the gospel. This is an opportunity to re-center our lives on the gospel of Jesus through disciplines of lament,  confession, and repentance.

The practices of Lent reinforce our unity as a congregation because focusing on Jesus and the Gospel creates community. As we learn and re-learn repentance, explore Jesus’ humility, embrace suffering, engage in communal lament, look to the sacrifice of Jesus for our redemption, and experience the death and resurrection of Jesus through this season, we grow closer to God
and each other.

Our time walking the road marked with suffering leads us to ask questions like: “What would it mean for us to foster humility like Jesus’?” and “What would it look like for us to lament the sin, destruction, and suffering in our city?” and “How can we actively sacrifice in response to God’s grace?”

Daily, we continue this journey toward the cross and resurrection, as we dwell with Jesus in the Gospels. Weekly, we journey together as we gather in worship. Hourly, we ask: What are we learning about Jesus and how is this changing us?

I love the season of Lent!

Dwelling in Jesus,
Pastor Kent

Family and Children Ministry, News

Easter Egg Hunt – Now April 15

Due to the storm Mar. 24, the Egg Hunt is now Sunday, April 15 at 1pm.

Join Cedar Hills for a “Spring” Egg Hunt Sunday, April 15 at 1pm. Children ages preschool to 5th grade are invited!  We section off different sections for each age group so that all have a fair chance.  BYOB – bring your own basket!  We will start promptly at 1pm inside the Worship Center and then will move outdoors for the hunt.

If you’d like to join us for worship beforehand, services are at 8:30am (traditional) and 11am (worship band) and are usually about 60-65 minutes.  It is also Noah’s Ark Preschool Sunday on April 15 and the preschool students will be joining us at the 11am service along with their friends and family.  They will make a short presentation and sing us a few songs. Always a great Sunday!

 

Weekly Readings

Daily Readings Mar. 4-10

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. 4 – Luke 20
Monday, Mar. 5 – Luke 21
Tuesday, Mar. 6 – Luke 22
Wednesday, Mar. 7 – Luke 23
Thursday, Mar. 8 – Luke 24
Friday, Mar. 9 – John 1
Saturday, Mar. 10 – John 2

Next week
Sunday, Mar. 11 – John 3
Monday, Mar. 12 – John 4
Tuesday, Mar. 13 – John 5
Wednesday, Mar. 14 – John 6
Thursday, Mar. 15 – John 7
Friday, Mar. 16 – John 8
Saturday, Mar. 17 – John 9

Family and Children Ministry, Journey, News, Uncategorized

Two Movie Events in March

We will be hosting two movie events in the month of March at Marcus Theaters on Council (between Collins and Blairsferry, just north of Panera Bread). RSVP below!

On Saturday, March 17 at 6:30pm we will be watching I Can Only Imagine.  This movie tells the story of how MercyMe ended up writing the popular song, I Can Only Imagine. It is a powerful story of forgiveness and would be a great message for all of us.  This movie is rated PG and the cost of the tickets are $10.  Watch the trailer.

The inspiring and unknown true story behind MercyMe’s beloved, chart topping song that brings ultimate hope to so many is a gripping reminder of the power of true forgiveness.

The second movie is The Passion of The Christ.  This movie depicts the crucifixion of Jesus and came out in 2004.  We will be watching it on Sunday, March 25 at 3pm. This movie is rated R for the graphic depiction of the crucifixion and costs $5.  Watch the trailer.

The Passion of The Christ focuses on the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s life. The film begins in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus has gone to pray after sitting the Last Supper. Jesus must resist the temptations of Satan. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus is then arrested and taken within the city walls of Jerusalem where leaders of the Pharisees confront him with accusations of blasphemy and his trial results in a condemnation to death. —Adam Ward

To rent out a theater for our group we need the number of seats by March 3. RSVP below or sign the bulletin tear-off on Sunday with the number of seats you would like. At each movie, you’ll pay cash/check to Jeremy Van Genderen at the theater door.

RSVP your family today!

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Chiccs, News

Feb. 24 Women’s Lenten Breakfast

All the ladies ages 12 and up are invited Saturday, Feb. 24 for the annual women’s lenten breakfast at Cedar Hills.  The event begins at 9am.  The women’s ministry lenten breakfast is a long standing tradition at Cedar Hills.  The morning consists of breakfast, great conversation, songs and a presentation.

“We All Betray Him” is the theme of this year’s breakfast.  Women from inside and outside the church are welcome to join! Invite your moms, sisters, aunts, daughters, coworkers – and enjoy a morning of conversation and fellowship.

Please help us plan accordingly by signing up in the Gathering Space on Sunday mornings or contacting Jennifer Curtis using the form below.

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Uncategorized

Daily Readings Feb. 25-Mar. 3

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, Feb. 25 – Luke 13
Monday, Feb. 26 – Luke 14
Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Luke 15
Wednesday, Feb. 28 – Luke 16
Thursday, Mar. 1 – Luke 17
Friday, Mar. 2 – Luke 18
Saturday, Mar. 3 – Luke 19

Next Week
Sunday, Mar. 4 – Luke 20
Monday, Mar. 5 – Luke 21
Tuesday, Mar. 6 – Luke 22
Wednesday, Mar. 7 – Luke 23
Thursday, Mar. 8 – Luke 24
Friday, Mar. 9 – John 1
Saturday, Mar. 10 – John 2

Uncategorized

Daily Readings Feb. 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, Feb. 18 – Luke 6
Monday, Feb. 19 – Luke 7
Tuesday, Feb. 20 – Luke 8
Wednesday, Feb. 21 – Luke 9
Thursday, Feb. 22 – Luke 10
Friday, Feb. 23 – Luke 11
Saturday, Feb. 24 – Luke 12

Next Week:
Sunday, Feb. 25 – Luke 13
Monday, Feb. 26 – Luke 14
Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Luke 15
Wednesday, Feb. 28 – Luke 16
Thursday, Mar. 1 – Luke 17
Friday, Mar. 2 – Luke 18
Saturday, Mar. 3 – Luke 19

Love. Belong. Serve.