Category Archives: Bright Spot

Bright Spot, Family and Children Ministry, Fundraiser, Journey, News

175 Sub-Success!

Thank you to everyone who purchased a sub sandwich for the annual Super Bowl Sub fundraiser.  The Journey youth and leaders assembled 175 subs sandwiches.

“Last Sunday, 20 students and leaders from Youth Ministry made over 175 subs, which were sold out within minutes! Thank you for your constant support of the student ministry!” ~ Jeremy Van Genderen

Journey Student ministry is a place for ALL students 6th-12th grade to come walk together on their faith journey.  We meet on Sunday nights from 5:30pm-8pm.  Each night starts with a cafe time where you can purchase items like pizza, candy, chips, hotdogs, soda and Keurig coffee drinks.  Starting at 6:15pm, we rotate between large group teaching, small group discussion and games.  No matter where you are on your faith journey you are invited and welcomed to join us each and every week.

Bright Spot, Family Promise, Just Love, News

Family Promise Bright Spot

BRIGHT SPOT

Family Promise assists homeless families to get to a sustainable state with employment, housing, and other needed services. Our church hosted two families this past week with the help of caring volunteers.

Diane Potter did a special project with one of the daughters. They made a special blanket and scarf for her!

Family Promise of Linn County’s mission is to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through compassionate care, hospitality and professional support.  Cedar Hills partners with them as a host site to house families overnight and providing meals.

Bright Spot, Consistory, News, Worship

Huge New Members Class!

This Sunday we will welcome the largest class of new members in Cedar Hills history (at least that we are aware of!).  Congrats to all of our new members – and welcome to the Cedar Hills family.  This group has communicated a clear faith in Christ after meeting with our elders, and is ready to stand before the congregation and announce their faith.

New Members joining 1st Service (8:30am): Jim & Kelly Beavers; (Patty) Patricia Ann Bray; Melanie & Shaun Boots (daughter: Saydee); Ryan Dohlman; Kyle & Alisse French (daughter: Hadley); Bruce and Virginia Petrzelka (son: Adam); Richard and Marilyn Beauregard

New Members joining 2nd Service (11am):  Harriet & Gwyn Aarhus; Ryan Aarhus; Ron Alexander; Mario & Tameka Armon (Children: Cynthia Platt, Kiara and Malachi); Matthew & Shannon Constant (Children: Easton, Michael, Olivia); Debbie Erenberger; Shannon Davison & Carol Mangrich; Chad & Kylene Dunham (Daughter: Ashleigh); Trudy Greaser; Carolyn Harvey; Martha Krejci (daughter: Norah); Prince Nabuyoli & Aline Burubwa (children: Samuel & Eli & daughters Franklin and May); Franklin Nabuyoli; May Nabuyoli; Dave & Karen Roberts; Gary & Sue Sager; Travis & Tiffany Schmidt (daughter: Soraya); Hilaire Tschombe; Karl & Lindsey Ungs (children: Hansel and Nina)

Bright Spot, Consistory, News

Congregational Meeting Update

Sunday, Nov. 11 we celebrated God’s continued work to grow the kingdom though the ministries of our congregation!  At our annual congregational meeting we reflected on these goals:

One Church doing life in community.

  • Develop an all church experience to build unity.
  • Enhancing oneness through deeper connections.

Many Places doing life on mission.

  • Train missional community leaders.
  • Add project management to assist in growth.

Following Jesus by doing life on life.

  • Grow disciples who make disciples in small groups.
  • Live life together, practicing forgiveness, repentance and confession.

Transforming the Corridor

  • Grow hospitality through “Starting Point” and “Open Table”
  • Grow generosity so that we exceed budgets in 2018 and 2019

We Affirmed the 2019 budget of $887,057. (A decrease of 4.2% from the 2018 budget.)  MSC 122-3.

We Affirmed the Elder and Deacon nominees. MSC 122-1.

  • Elders: Robin Joens, Gary Mills, Bruce Crowther
  • Deacons: Josh Oberembt, John Davidson, Mel Dahm

We voted to elect Jeremy Van Genderen as an elder. MSC122-1.

Thanks for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for God’s Spirit to lead us!

Bright Spot, Holiday, News, Transform the Corridor

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

Cedar Hills and Salvation Army are transforming the corridor – help us support our outreach partner by signing up for an hour of bell ringing on Cedar Hills day.

We’ll ring from 10a-8p on Saturday, December 8 at the Johnson Avenue HyVee.

**Update – we filled all our time slots for that day! If you’d like to ring on another day, use this bell-ringer signup on the Salvation Army website.

To view your scheduled time slot, our Dec. 8 schedule is available here.

Bright Spot, Cedar Chips, Days for Girls, Missions Team, News

Mission Team – 2018 Report

Our mission is to fulfill the Acts 1:8 calling that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us so that we will be witnesses here and around the world! This verse gives us our purpose. Our strategy is to love Cedar Rapids and the world. We carry out our strategy by praying and asking God to grow a love for people in Cedar Rapids and around the world. We do this by inspiring awareness of God’s work locally and globally, sending people out in response to God’s call to reach out, and supporting missions here and around the world.

Because of your support in 2018, Katie Smith reached out to students at the University of Iowa and Linda DeBoer reached Chinese students studying in Michigan. We partnered with Matthew 25 to support refugee farmers and we repaired homes during Transform Week. We continued our partnership with Safe Families and started a partnership with Family Promise. We fed hundreds of men, women and children through the Open Hands Food Pantry. We reached around the globe into Niger (Jeremy and Susan Beabout), Papua New Guinea (Gary and Denise Abbas), The Czech Republic (Beth Larson), and Turkey (John and Becky Leverington).  We served women and girls in Africa through Days for Girls.

Your generous support made a difference here and around the world.

These are some of the ways we are the hands and feet of Jesus fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28 to go and make disciples of all nations!

Pastor Kent & Missions Team

 

Bright Spot, Cedar Chips, Family Adventure, Family and Children Ministry, Marriage and Family, News, Transform the Corridor

Children & Family Ministry – 2018 in Review

Annual Report – Special Edition

The past nine months of ministry that I have experienced here at Cedar Hills as the Children and Family Director has been nothing short of a remarkable experience. An experience that I am incredibly grateful for! My family and I, have been received with incredible warmth and immense support. In every portion of the ministry, there are volunteers, who are gifted and passionate about serving the littlest kiddos of the church!  It was such a blessing to be able to step into such a strong ministry and to be able to take the time to learn the culture around the church. On top of that, the kids of this church are so eager and excited to be able to learn and fellowship together.

The months of Fall have seen a few changes in the ministry, most specifically around the formal programming of this ministry. We’ve began a twice-a-month programming, affectionately call Family Adventure. The meetings are broken into two specific parts. The first part is an activity for the entire family (Either the 2nd Wed or Sat of each month), designed to allow families to share a fun and memorable experience together. The second part is an up-tempo experience (The last Sunday of the month) that focuses on unpacking the monthly theme and how it ties into enhancing family discipleship. Each theme this year has been centralized around the life and ministry of Jesus, studying Scriptures of how he lived out that particular characteristic. So far, we have covered, how Jesus was…missional and brave. For the month of November, we will be covering thankful and in December the theme will be loving. Our ultimate hope for this particular programming, is to afford families more time and encourage intentionality towards modeling a gospel-centered life.

We can’t wait to see what God has in store for the ministry!

Kyle French
Director of Family and Children’s Ministry

 

Bright Spot, Cedar Chips, News, Worship

Recounting God’s Goodness: Worship 2018

Annual Report – Special Edition

Where does one start to recount the goodness of God?

I can start with our musical volunteer base! We have always had a plethora of volunteers within the worship ministry. Between musicians and singers, our worship teams in both services are fully staffed and then some. And even on weeks when regular musicians are out of town, we have a great ‘standby’ list of those who are ready to jump in and fill in the ranks.  God is good!

I can boast about our tech team and their dedication to helping us worship with flawless sound, computer and light execution. I can boast how they make us all look good on stage and inspire us with beautiful lighting and staging. I can recount their thoroughness of getting sermon recordings created, posted online each week, and CDs distributed. I can praise God for how they fill in for the many events that happen outside of a Sunday morning—children’s events, weddings, funerals, rentals, women’s events and meetings. God is good!

I can give thanks for other worship leaders who spend great time in lessons and preparation, working with me one-on-one to develop their craft and lead us on Sunday mornings in my absence, taking careful skill to get their parts ‘just right’.

I praise God for the creative-artsy types who meet to dream up the next staging concept.  Who help us to see God through the arts and colors and stage designs.  I am thankful for their behind-the-scenes leadership and the projects they maintain and develop. (Wait till you see what’s in store for Advent!)

I can give thanks for new musical ministries popping and the possibilities for more to find a home within worship ministries.  And I am thankful for the relationships we hold as brothers and sisters in Christ, working together to help His people worship.

Leah
Director of Worship & Media

 

Bright Spot, Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Journey, News

Journey – October 2018 Update

Annual Report – Special Edition

2018 was a great year for Journey Student Ministry.  Here are just some highlights.

  • Skyzone Outreach night that had nearly 100 students attend and hear the gospel.
  • Power Connection weekend in Kansas that saw our junior high students grow in a deeper understanding of integrity.
  • CSI: Cedar Rapids – A week of mission work in Cedar Rapids that our Sr. High group engaged in with Prayer, Service and Evangelism.
  • 50 students attended our Fall Kick-Off and heard what God is doing in our community.
  • We are currently planning for the 7th annual Fall Retreat in November called To Da Max!

In 2019, we are happy to join the church mission in Transforming the Corridor. We will continue to do this through prayer and gospel conversations. Over the next year we are going to focus on how Paul encouraged the local churches to transform their communities by studying the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.

Our prayer, as always, is to see students grow in their faith and also experience other students come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Please join with me in prayer for what God has in store for Journey this year!

Jeremy Van Genderen
Director of Youth & Young Adults

 

Bright Spot, Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Fundraiser, News

Celebrate God’s Work and Smile!

1. CELEBRATE GOD’S WORK AT CEDAR HILLS

Sunday, Nov 4, following 2nd service, 12:05-12:25, join us for a quick meeting and snack to celebrate what God is doing at Cedar Hills, plan for 2019, and affirm Nominees.
Elder Nominees: Bruce Crowther, Robin Joens, and Gary Mills
Deacon Nominees: Melissa Dahm, John Davidson, and Josh Oberembt

2. SMILE FOR THE NEW DIRECTORY

Did you schedule your picture appointment yet? If you get your pictures taken, you will receive: a FREE directory and FREE 10 x 13” picture. Schedule today by clicking on this link: https://pefx5seasons.brownbookit.com/schedules/CedarHillsCR

Important November Dates

WOMEN’S REVIVAL – Thursday, Nov 1, 6-8 PM, all women are invited to join us for a service project to fill boxes for Samaritan’s purse Operation Christmas Child. Please bring items to pack in boxes and a snack to share. If we have extra time, we will make handmade Christmas cards.

BOY SCOUT SPAGHETTI DINNER – Fri, Nov 2, serving from 5-7 PM in the Gathering Space. Freewill donation supports activities of Troop 85.

RETIREE BREAKFAST – Sat, Nov 3, 8:30 AM at 16th Ave Grill. RSVP to Joan Koele at 396-6510.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD – Boxes due Sun, Nov 11. Stop by the table in the Gathering Space on Sunday for more info. Brighten a child’s Christmas season and return your box by Sun, Nov 11. If you have your own shoebox, you can get started this week. Boxes available 11/4.

OPEN TABLE – Sunday, Nov 18 is our next meal after 2nd Service. Menu: soups, salads, and bread. Optional to bring a salad to share.