Support our Noah’s Ark Preschool by ordering Papa Murphys pizza from the Edgewood Rd location on Wednesday, October 9. A portion of the proceeds will go directly back to the preschool.
Be sure to tell them you’re with Noah’s Ark!
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Where is the Hope?
Where is the Hope
Chapter six in Ephesians explores spiritual warfare. Here we discover that the battle against evil is real. And very intense. Our battle is not against other people (flesh and blood) but against an enemy (spiritual forces of evil) that want to devour us.
Sometimes in this battle, it feels like the enemy is winning. Suffering and pain, discouragement and doubt, despair and hopelessness – the enemy can be unrelenting in his attack. Sometimes – in the face of so much evil – I feel like throwing in the towel. Do you ever feel that way?
Our hope for winning this battle is not in the kingdoms of this world but in another kingdom. I like the way Charles Colson said it. “Where is the hope? I meet millions who tell me that they feel demoralized by the decay around us. Where is the hope? The hope that each of us have is not in who governs us, or what laws are passed, or what great things that we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people, and that’s where our hope is in this country; that’s where our hope is in life.”
Colson said this years ago, but it is still true today. Centuries ago, Peter said, “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming” (1 Peter 1:13). That is also still true today.
Peter wrote letters (1 & 2 Peter) to people living in exile in a hostile kingdom. He told them how to live in exile and not lose hope. Basically, Peter echoed an old Gospel song that said, “This world is not our home, we’re just passing through.”
We too are living in exile but while we are strangers living in a strange land we have hope. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
Where is your hope? My hope is in Jesus!
Pastor Kent
Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.
Complete “MY FIT” Spiritual Gifts Survey
Take the MY FIT Survey
How to find and complete the “My FIT” survey in Church Community Builder (CCB):
Begin by logging into CCB here. If you have never had access before, you can request it on the login screen. (And also reset your password if you’ve forgotten). Your user name is your email address.
After logging in, click on your profile in the upper right corner. Choose ‘profile’ to edit, and scroll down near the bottom of your profile to find the “My Fit” section to complete the survey.
If you need help, follow the steps below.
Once you have saved your work, you are done! Thank you for completing the “MY FIT” survey!
Becoming a Foster Parent
We wanted to share a desire that is stirring among our congregation – and that is one of becoming a foster parent, knowing their are hundreds of children in our area that are in need of sturdy, loving families.
Is God placing that call on your heart as well? If so, please let us know. We are pondering the need to host a foster family class at Cedar Hills and want to connect the families whom God is stirring.
Red Sand Sunday
Sunday, July 28 is Red Sand Sunday. Cedar Hills is partnering with the local nonprofit organization, Chains Interrupted, to bring awareness to the reality and dangers of human trafficking–even in our communities and will participate in the Red Sand Project.
SATURDAY RALLY – Marion
Red Sand Rally & Family Safety Event
Jul 27, 2024, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Marion, 1048 7th Ave, Marion, IA 52302, USA
This event is incredibly poignant. By pouring red sand into sidewalk cracks you are raising awareness for the millions of children and adults who often fall through the cracks and are exploited daily for commercial sex or forced labor. It’s a powerful visual that reminds us how human trafficking is right before our eyes, yet often goes unnoticed. The rally begins at 10am and includes someone affected by trafficking, businesses and local trafficking experts all sharing. The safety fair includes law enforcement, fire safety, technology safety, children’s activities and vendors. Plan to join us for this great family event. MORE INFORMATION
SUNDAY SPEAKER – Cedar Hills
To help bring awareness to this dire situation, a special speaker from Chains Interrupted will be speaking in between services this Sunday, July 28 at 9:45am in the Teal Classroom to help us as a congregation be educated about trafficking and prevention among our youth. It is a big problem!
We will also have red sand available to take home for use on your driveways and sidewalks. The red sand is a great conversation starter to bring awareness to the problem of human trafficking.
MORE INFORMATION: https://redsandproject.org/
STATS
Did you know in 2021 Iowa was #3 in the nation for human trafficking? It is a bigger problem than many of us know or want to acknowledge.
49.6 million people were living in a human trafficking situation in 2021 – International Labor Organization
57% of the nearly 450 human trafficking cases in US Criminal Court in 2021, were minors – 2021 Federal Human Trafficking Report
83% of active sex trafficking cases in 2020, involved online solicitation – 2020 Federal Human Trafficking Report
Women’s Retreat and Family Fun Event
Ladies! You and your families are invited to a special day event that begins with a retreat for the women, followed by an evening of activities for the whole family.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 28
RETREAT: 10am-4pm
FAMILY EVENTS: 4pm-8pm (bonfire, games, etc.)
WHERE: John’s Place in Fairfax – a country-themed, barn-turned-event center, nestled in the countryside just minutes from the church!
More information will be coming soon on how to register. Be sure to watch the bulletin and the Women in Fellowship & Faith Facebook Page.
Blank Park Zoo and Adventureland!
We are planning a weekend getaway for our August “Faith, Family & Fun” event. You can come for the weekend, or pick and choose which events you’d like to plug into.
BLANK PARK ZOO – Saturday, August 3
Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is open 9am-5pm. Our special group discounted price is $5 for children, 3-12 years old, and $10 for 13-year-olds through adults. To receive this discounted rate, please pay by Sunday, July 28. You can drop-off payment to Kathryn in the Nursery on Sunday, or pay Jennifer in the church office.
ADVENTURELAND AMUSEMENT PARK – Sunday, August 4
We don’t have discounted ticket rates for Adventure, so you’ll want to prchase tickets directly from Adventureland and look forward to joining other Cedar Hills families at the Park on Sunday. Click here for info.
Food Pantry Closed July 8
The Open Hands Food Pantry will be closed Monday, July 8 due to a large event at the church. It will reopen for regular house Wednesday, July 10, 10am-12pm.
Cedar Hills Facebook Groups & Social Media
Facebook Groups
Cedar Hills connects many places, and a few of our ministries have connect in Facebook groups. Have you joined any yet?
- Cedar Hills Children and Family Ministry – Announcements and events related to the children and family ministries.
- Parenting Together – Our parents and families in the Parenting Together class.
- Cedar Hills Family – All things Cedar Hills, giveaways, garage sales, announcements.
- Women in Fellowship & Faith – Women’s ministry and events.
Main Facebook page:
Cedar Hills Community Church
(like and follow)
YouTube:
Cedar Hills YouTube
Subscribe!
Blueberry Blitz – support Lake View Camp
BLUEBERRY BLITZ – Buy blueberries, support Lake View Camp!. Fresh from the farm in Michigan! Order forms are available at the Welcome Center and should be mailed with payment directly to Lake View or turned into the church office by June 23.
A Cedar Hills volunteer will drive to the Pella area to pick up all our church orders and bring them to the church for pickup on Sunday, June 30. (Please be sure to have someone available to pick up your blueberries on that day as we do not have ample storage for unclaimed orders.)
Lake View Camp is a ministry we support and send many our students and grandparents to throughout the summer. They also host camps for children who have a parent in prison (“Angel Tree” camps), which often means these students don’t have the financial means to pay for camp. We are so passionate about reaching out with the gospel to every student–fundraisers like these make it possible!
