MY FAVORITE THINGS – October 26 at 6pm join us for Women in Fellowship & Faith event at the home of Lindsey Steinkamp (2093 49th St; Marion, IA 52302). Bring two of your “favorite things” to the party. They should be two of the same item, no more than $10 each (they may cost less and be something homemade or handmade). Plan for small bites and fellowship, followed by favorite things exchange. See the Facebook event for more info or text Lindsey at 319-640-9147.
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Fall Harvest Potluck
Did you know we have 25 families, most originally from Africa, who have gardens at our church where they grow produce for their families?
We have been intentional this year to get to know these families and invite you to join us for a Harvest Potluck Saturday, October 21, 1pm in the Gathering Space.
Celebrate with a taste of some wonderful African dishes and enjoy cultural Christian music in local languages.
Please bring a favorite traditional food to share. Drinks and tableware provided.
When a Scripture Gets Stuck in Your Head
When a Scripture Gets Stuck in Your Head
Do you ever get a verse stuck on the mind that you haven’t thought about in months (or maybe more) and wonder why you suddenly are pondering/singing that verse on repeat?
“Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” – Hebrews 3:18
That’s the song playing over and over in my mind today and I haven’t thought about this verse in a long time. (I looked in my records and it looks like I set it to music in early 2022).
So I had to stop and ask God, “Why are you highlighting this verse??!!” because I believe this is one of the awesome ways the Holy Spirit works in us as we put the scriptures in our hearts and minds.
When I started asking questions, it was like God began to highlight parts of this verse that I had previously skimmed over. It wasn’t just that Jesus was tempted as we are tempted and we can have victory because He had victory… but that He suffered when tempted. That’s the new part God highlighted for me that I’ve never noticed before—being tempted comes with agony and suffering. He deeply felt the burden of the temptation itself. Isn’t that fascinating??
I hope I’m not reading too much into the text, but I am now seeing that Jesus, as fully human, felt that agony of temptation in ways that we feel it. It wasn’t like it was an easy streak for Him just because He was also fully God.
Somehow this epiphany brings me great comfort in my struggles. IT WAS HARD FOR JESUS, too.
And I can see this now, all because God brought a verse to mind. When this happens, I’m going to be quicker to ask, “Why this verse, God?”
Leah Carolan
Pastor of Worship & Media
Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry, or learn something new? Let Leah know.
An Active Faith
AN ACTIVE FAITH – a gathering for men and boys (fathers/grandpas welcome), age 2nd Grade (reading age) through 6th Grade.
Meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th, Wednesdays, 6-8pm at the Ungs Home: 105 Stoney Point Rd NW (corner of 1st Ave and Stoney Point Rd). Plan for an “active” time learning truths about God with three-legged races, building fires, washing out structures with water and more!
Worship Jam
What is a worship jam?
It’s a gathering of all our second service musicians and anyone who loves music and worship to lead together on stage at an 11am service.
The jam is also the first step for anyone interested in worship ministry that wants to explore it some more. We also love when our youth join us on stage! So kids of all ages are welcome.
The Fall jam is practicing Monday, Sept 11 at 6pm to lead on Sunday, Sept 17 at the 11am service (warming up at 9:45am on Sunday).
Registration is helpful, but if you are late registering, just show up! 6pm in the Worship Center.
Brock Neff Funeral
Please continue to pray for Glenda Brislawn and family as they grieve the passing of her son Brock.
VISITATION & FUNERAL
Sat, Sept. 9 – 10am Visitation
Sat. Sept. 9 – 11am Funeral
A luncheon will follow the funeral service.
DIRECTIONS
Cedar Hills is located at the corner of E Avenue and Stoney Point Rd, right next door to Cherry Hill Pool & Park on the west side of Cedar Rapids. 6455 E Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
OBITUARY
Brock Che Neff, 43, of North Liberty, Iowa passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at his home. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Cedar Hills Community Church: 6455 E Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405. A visitation will be held one hour prior to service, beginning at 10:00 AM, at the church.
Brock was born November 9, 1979, to David and Glenda (Fedders) Neff in Denver, Colorado. Brock achieved his first-degree black belt when he was in middle school. He graduated, with honors, from Washington High School in 1999. Brock was inducted in the National Honor Society, while in high school and as a freshman at UNI. During college he worked at the Rod Library. Brock graduated from UNI with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 2003. He married Traci Levesque later in 2003 in Cedar Rapids. They made their home in North Liberty, and had their daughter, Zoe Neff in 2009.
Brock’s library work experience continued at the Cedar Rapids Public Library part-time for seven years, and at the University of Iowa Law Library for the last 15 years. Brock loved learning and was a lifelong scholar. He was creative in painting and drawing. Brock even had one of his paintings entered in a judged art show at UNI. He also enjoyed playing video games, fantasy games, kayaking, paddle boarding and walks in local parks with his daughter and friends.
Brock is survived by his daughter, Zoe Neff and her mother, Traci Neff, both of Tiffin, IA; his mother, Glenda Brislawn, and a sister, Alicia Brislawn (fiancé Dwaune Weimer) all of Cedar Rapids, IA; aunt, Sherry Jabaay; uncles, Ken Fedders, and Rich (Mary) Fedders; step-mother, Janis Bowden; step-siblings, Heidi (Tony) Shaw, Brian (Angel) Brislawn, Shannon Brislawn, Jessica Kimple, and Jonathan Kimple; special friends, Dana Bailey, and Angela Geno-Stumme; and many loving cousins, extended family members and friends.
Brock was preceded in death by his grandparents, father, David Neff; stepfather, Scott Brislawn; uncle, Norman Fedders; and aunt, Crystal Fedders.
In honor of Brock, please direct memorials to Glenda Brislawn c/o Cedar Hills Community Church: 6455 E Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405.
What is the Gospel when it isn’t wanted?
What is the Gospel when it isn’t wanted?
What is the gospel to one who seemingly doesn’t “want it”, to one whose life seems pretty good, whose life is successful, whose dreams are coming together just the way they want in their career and family and position? And to one who is actually hostile towards the idea of a Supreme Being that leads His people via an outdated book, calling allegiance to some dude named Jesus?
This has been my ponderings this week. I have a friend that is this person. How and what do I share with her?
It gets even more complicated that her job and entire livelihood is tied into the worship of false gods. She is an artisan of mystical and spiritual products–a coming-to-Jesus would eventually mean having to turn from creating art she’s mastered and developed for the last decade, and her family’s sole income.
It just gets so messy when I think about the Gospel and my friend.
It breaks my heart, actually, that I find myself at a loss of words. I feel tongue-tied. I am grieved. And her salvation weighs heavily on me because I care deeply for the whole family.
I keep thinking I need to ‘craft’ it just right to apply it to her life, looking for just the right inroad to make it all make sense. After stewing this over for a few weeks, I have come to this conclusion:
The Gospel doesn’t change. Whether fertile soil, or seed tossed on dry ground that the birds are just going to eat up, the Gospel is the Gospel. God’s good news is still the good news. I don’t have to curate it.
And that good news is this: We were created by a loving and Holy God that desires communion and fellowship with us and we were specifically designed by Him for this very communion. But because we have chosen sin over his light, we can’t be in His presence. He is that holy.
And so we are separated from Him.
But because of His great love for us, He always had a plan to restore us back into relationship with Him. And that plan is Jesus. In His great love, Jesus, God’s Son, left his throne in heaven and came to earth. He was born fully human, and yet fully God, and walked with us to know and experience the fullness of all humanity. But he never sinned. He was perfect. And in His perfection, He chose to die and take all of the punishment that we deserved upon Himself.
Imagine if you were standing before a judge who was about to cast sentence on you for a heinous crime, and someone stands up and says, “I’ll take the death penalty for them and stand in their place.”
It’s that serious, my friends. Our sin (all sin, no matter how big or small) is deserving of death. And Jesus’ willingly chooses to die for us. We talk about his death on the cross—that moment on the cross is our death penalty fulfilled in Jesus. But He didn’t stay dead! He came back to life and conquered death and conquered sin! What?? Like, who does that?? Only God himself.
So when we accept this Good News of Jesus standing in our place, and believe He is the Son of God who He declares himself to be, that his death was the punishment meant for us, and that He defeated death and came back to life—when we believe this good news, we are forgiven washed from sin and are restored back to our Creator. We are saved. We are made pure–so pure, that we can come back into His holy presence.
Thinking again about my mystical-spiritual-artisan friend… She, too was made for this grand restoration. Even if life is good. Even if life feels okay, just as it is. Jesus came, died and rose again for her.
I’m praying that God would remove the scales from her eyes to see, to lift any and all barriers in her heart and mind that would keep the Truth from reaching her.
And I have to remember that if (WHEN!) she comes to faith, God knows that she’ll need a new career—this is not outside His realm of understanding or care. He will take care of her. His love is THAT big.
Is this person you? Do you want to know Jesus as your Savior as well? To be restored back to the Heavenly Father that created you? Then pray this prayer—just say these words out loud and direct them to God from your heart:
Lord, thank you for creating me, loving me, and making a way for me to come back into relationship with you. I believe that Jesus is who He says He is – your Son. I believe He is perfect, that His death was for me, and that He came back to life. I believe, and choose to follow Him and claim Him as my Savior. Thank you that I am forgiven because of Jesus!
Show me what next steps I need to take as I step into a new life of faith. Surround me with teachers and mentors to guide me. Help me understand the Bible and the great Truths it contains. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Leah Carolan
Pastor of Worship & Media
Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry, or learn something new? Let Leah know.
24 Hours of Prayer
How to Pray for 15 Minutes
As you enter into your 15 minutes of prayer, here are key areas you may want to cover. (Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as He guides you in your prayer!)
KEY AREAS TO COVER IN PRAYER:
- The Church Staff (Kent, Steve, Leah, Lindsey, Cathy, Gary, Jennifer, Rick, Frankline, Kathryn)
- Our Sunday class teachers
- Our small group and Bible study leaders
- Our youth and youth leaders
- Our elders and deacons
- Our key volunteers
- Our Food pantry leaders and visitors
- Our building and premises
- Our community directly around the church
- Our preschool and preschool teachers (Director Kris Crowther)
Then, start here:
PRAISE
Praise is the entryway into God’s presence. Tell God who He is.
Tell Him, “God, you are…”
- Adonai – “Lord” or “Master”
- Elohim – “God” or “gods”
- Yahweh – “I AM WHO I AM” or “the LORD”
- El Olam – “The everlasting God” or “the eternal God”
- El Roi – “The God who sees”
- El Shaddai – “God Almighty” or “God the All-Powerful”
- Jehovah – “The LORD,” “the Self-Existent One,” or “the Eternal One”
- Jehovah Elyon – “The LORD Most High”
- Jehovah Jireh – “The LORD will provide”
- Jehovah Nissi – “The LORD is my banner”
- Jehovah Raah – “The LORD my shepherd”
- Jehovah Rapha – “The LORD who heals”
- Jehovah Shalom – “The LORD is peace”
- Messiah or Christ – “anointed one”
- Emmanuel – “God with us.”
- Lamb of God – the one who takes away the sins of the world.
- Alpha and Omega – eternal and all-encompassing nature
WAIT
Take a couple of minutes of silence to quiet your thoughts and become aware of God’s presence. Take note of any prayer direction from the Holy Spirit that comes to mind.
CONFESS
Ask God to “search your heart” for any sin, and take a moment to confess it, turn away from it, and receive God’s forgiveness.
DECLARE SCRIPTURE
Open your Bible to any of the Apostolic Prayers and plug in the names of our staff, teachers, groups or anything else related to Cedar Hills.
- For wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God (Eph. 1:17)
- For strengthening with might in the inner being (Eph. 3:16, Col. 1:11)
- For love to abound (Phil. 1:9, 1 Thes. 3:12)
- For the knowledge of God’s will (Col. 1:9)
- That the Word of the Lord would run swiftly [rapidly spread and powerfully take hold] (2 Thes. 3:1)
- To glorify God in unity, with joy, peace, and hope (Rom. 15:5-6, 13)
- To preach with boldness and power (Acts 4:29-30)
INTERCESSION
Contend for God to move on someone else’s behalf. Identify the situations, areas of culture, or groups of people for whom you are asking for spiritual awakening, and pray for them.
PERSONAL PETITION
Identify areas in your personal life where you are hungry to see God move and pray in faith to your Heavenly Father who loves to bless you!
THANKSGIVING
Remember God’s blessings. This shifts our perspective from our circumstances to God’s activity, strengthening us to contend, believing that God does not withhold any good thing from His children.
SING
Sing along with Spotify or YouTube, or sing any song on your heart. Or take any scripture and make up any melody you want.
Cathy Dahm Funeral
Cathy Dahm Funeral
Please continue to keep the Dahm family in your prayers as they grieve Cathy’s passing. The funeral will be Thursday morning, August 3 at 10:30am at the church, the visitation Wednesday evening 4-7pm at Cedar Memorial.
Obituary
Cathy Sue Dahm, 59, of Cedar Rapids, went to be with the Lord on July 29, 2023, while surrounded by her loving family at the Oldorf Hospice House. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, August 2, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 3, at Cedar Hills Community Church, Cedar Rapids. Interment will be in the Union Mills Cemetery, Union Mills, Iowa.Born on December 15, 1963, in Oskaloosa, Iowa to John and Shirley Netten Ferguson, Cathy was raised on the family farm near New Sharon with her sisters, Marcy and Molly. Cathy participated in 4-H, athletics, and helped on the farm while growing up. She graduated from North Mahaska High School in 1981 and Des Moines Area Community College in 1983. Cathy was united in marriage to Scott Dahm on August 25, 1984, and they moved to Cedar Rapids in 1985. Cathy was self-employed for most of her accounting career, which enabled her to work from home and raise her children. While Cathy enjoyed her flower gardens, bicycling, cooking, and decorating for Christmas, what she enjoyed most was spending time with family. Cathy was a member of Cedar Hills Community Church.Cathy will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 39 years, Scott; daughter, Danielle Dahm; son, Ryan (Molly Ruhser) Dahm; granddaughters, Maren LaVon and Maya Sue Dahm, the lights of her life; father, John Ferguson, and sisters, Marcy (Fritz) James and Molly (Rick) Swenson; as well as nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley.In lieu of flowers, please remember Cathy with donations to the Cedar Hills’ Open Hands Food Pantry.
Connection Sunday August 13
Prayer Champions and students are invited to meet on Sunday, August 13. Grind Coffee will be on site with their coffee truck, offering specialty coffees and smoothies at regular prices.
Smoothies flavors include strawberry, mango, banana, and peach; and combinations of those as well. They can also do regular lemonade, peach, strawberry, or raspberry lemonade.
