One of the churches Paul planted on his missionary journeys was the church of Philippi. Later he wrote them a letter to encourage them to stay on mission. The book of Philippians shows how disciples, living in dependence on the Holy Spirit, can be transformed in their purpose.
July 1: Mission on Purpose
July 8: Unified Purpose
July 15: Persevering Purpose
July 22: Joyous Purpose
July 29: Worthy Purpose
Sundays at 8:30am and 11am. More on worship at Cedar Hills
According to the dictionary, transform means to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of something, some place or someone.
If I ask you to think about our world, can you think of anything, place, or person who needs a thorough dramatic change?
What about a dramatic change in your neighborhood?
Dramatic change in your home?
If I can name some things ripe for dramatic change: weeds and gnats. I could stand for a lot fewer of both. And also, a lot less violence, poverty, abuse, suffering, prejudice, injustice, sickness, and hatred. And don’t get me started on the need to transform access to good education, clean water, affordable housing, adequate nutrition, decent jobs, and quality healthcare.
When you imagine a world thoroughly and dramatically changed, what kind of world do you imagine?
Ever imagine a world covered by the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea? (Habakkuk 2:14) A world where everyone enjoys life abundantly? (John 10:10) A world overflowing with forgiveness and reconciliation?
(2 Corinthians 5:18-19) A world with a multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language united as one? (Revelation 7:9) A world with more joy? (Philippians 4:4) I would love a world with fewer gnats and more joy. That would be great!
Put your thinking caps on. In about one month we are going to launch a year-long conversation about the kinds of transformation that God desires for our neighborhoods. If God decided to thoroughly and dramatically change something or someone in the Cedar Valley Corridor in which we live – what kind of change would God bring?
You think and pray about this and I will ask for your answer next month.
The Lord be with You,
Pastor Kent
(Yes, these might look like a repeat… they are! We’re reading them again for review while we continue to study the book of Philippians.)
Day 1 – □ Philippians 1:1-11
Day 2 – □ Philippians 1:12-18
Day 3 – □ Philippians 1:19-30
Day 4 – □ Philippians 2:1-11
Day 5 – □ Philippians 2:12-18
Day 6 – □ Philippians 2:19-30
Day 7 – □ Sabbath
Sunday – Phil 3:1-11
Monday – Phil 3:12-16
Tuesday – Phil 3:17-4:1
Wednesday – Phil 4:2-7
Thursday – Phil 4:8-9
Friday – Phil 4:10-23
Saturday – Sabbath
Week of June 24-30
Sunday – Philippians 1:1-11
Monday – Phil 1:12-18
Tuesday – Phil 1:19-29
Wednesday – Phil 2:1-11
Thursday – Phil 2:12-18
Friday – Phil 2:19-30
Saturday – Sabbath
Next Week:
Sunday – Phil 3:1-11
Monday – Phil 3:12-16
Tuesday – Phil 3:17-4:1
Wednesday – Phil 4:2-7
Thursday – Phil 4:8-9
Friday – Phil 4:10-23
Saturday – Sabbath
On Tuesday, July 10 from 3:30-6:30pm, the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center will be at Cedar Hills for our bi-annual blood drive. Did you know if we get enough donors, the blood center gives a grant to Noah’s Ark Preschool? Come, save lives, and help us meet our quota of people needed for the grant. Every donation stays local and helps 3-4 people!
The blood center writes, “Summer is especially challenging for the blood supply, so if you’d like to make a difference in your community we’d love to team up with you.” Our drive is also a part of the 100 Days of Summer campaign – “all those who come to donate blood or platelets between July 2, 2018 and August 12, 2018 will receive a voucher to redeem a $5 plastic gift card to Amazon or Subway.”
An hour or so of your time helps ensure that when someone in our community needs a blood transfusion, blood will be “on the shelves” at the hospital. Email Leslie Clauson with the time you’d like to schedule. Together, let’s add saving lives to Noah’s Ark list of accomplishments in 2018!
You can schedule through the blood drive coordinator, Leslie Clauson, or by using their online scheduling system.
Donate blood, save lives, and give a gift to Noah’s Ark Preschool.
Noah’s Ark Preschool is a ministry of Cedar Hills, offering preschool for 3 and 4 year olds, including a 5-day advanced pre-k program for those not quite ready for Kindergarten.
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Week of June 17
Sunday – Ephesians 1:3-5
Monday – Eph 1:13-14
Tuesday – Eph 2:5-6
Wednesday – Eph 2:8-10
Thursday – Eph 2:18-19
Friday – Eph 2:19-22
Saturday – Sabbath
Volunteers of all ages are invited Thurs, June 14, 1-4 PM and Sat, June 23, 1-4 PM, to make Days for Girls hygiene kits. No sewing skills required. Be part of the solution for hundreds of South African girls!
Contact Leslie Clauson at 396-3125 for details.
What Happened to Stephen?
The preacher Charles Spurgeon said that the goal of salvation is not just getting our souls to heaven (someday) but getting heaven into our souls (right now). In a similar vein, C.S. Lewis wrote that belonging to Christ means more than pie in the sky by and by. It means we are becoming “little Christs,“ transformed day-by-day to be like Jesus.
This is what happened to a Christ-follower named Stephen. His story is told in Acts 6-7. At the end of the story, Stephen was banished from this life by spiteful foes and welcomed into heaven by a loving Jesus. But even more fantastic is what happened before Stephen died. He got heaven into his soul. He became a little Christ!
Stephen‘s life was remarkably like Jesus—
He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
He channeled God’s healing power to the
sick.
He glowed with joy and enthusiasm.
He opposed bigotry with God’s unlimited
mercy.
When persecuted, he forgave his enemies.
When facing death, he entrusted himself to
God.
He gave his life as a ransom for others.
What a miracle of grace! Not just life after death, but a new life before death. Someday we will all be with Christ in heaven. In the meantime, Jesus has another gift for us. Are you becoming a little Christ?
~ Alan Crandall
Pastor of Care
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Can I tell you how excited I am for this Fall? We have discerned a direction for us as a church to take in spreading the Gospel in a unique, uncomplicated, change-bearing, simple, and time-sensitive way that I think has huge potential for changing the life of our Body! But… I can’t tell you what it is yet. 🙂
Over these last few months I’ve been asking myself, “Where am I already spending time and what kind of impact can I make?” I’m not going to lie—life as a mom called to full-time ministry is stressing me out. I am constantly torn between work and home life, getting everyone where they need to be, feeding them enough to keep them alive, and providing a living habitat that is at least ‘somewhat’ clean, and safe. And that’s all I can muster. Have you ever had seasons like that?
I’ve been reminded again and again that these days are short, that they’ll be grown up and self-sufficient in no time (and come with a whole new set of problems! Ha!) and then I’ll reflect back on these days and long for them. Sounds good, but what do I do while I wait for this lesser-messy life to happen? Can I make a Gospel impact in this mess I’m in right now?
I’ve discovered that every day, for 10 minutes, I am at our daycare. I walk the boys in, chit chat with their teachers, and walk out. In those 10 minutes, I have a real opportunity to be a witness to the 8 staff of our daycare. I can ask questions, see what’s going on in their lives, make friends of them, and discover their needs. I am intentionally getting to know these ladies with the goal of bringing the Gospel to them. I am committed to get to know them and to help them know Jesus.
This Fall—YOU TOO! will get to bring the Gospel uniquely into some place you already spend time. You will make a difference in ways you didn’t know how! Even if you don’t know where that is yet!
~ Leah
Director of Worship & Media