Category Archives: Cedar Chips

The month newsletter of Cedar Hills Community Church.

Cedar Chips

Rediscovering Our First Love

First Love

“There’s no love like the first.” ~ Nicholas Sparks

Do you remember the first time you fell in love? Anna Godbersen describes the first stab of love as a sunset, “a blaze of color— oranges, pearly pinks, vibrant purples…” We talked about love at our recent leadership
retreat and our moderator asked, “What does love smell like?” She wasn’t referring specifically to First Love, but I think it still fits: love smells like fresh baked bread.

First love feels like a warm blanket or a lingering embrace. Love sounds like an animated conversation or a  quiet whisper. When you think of First Love, what do you see, or hear, or smell? When you think of first love,  do you think about your love for Jesus?

One of my favorite music groups when I was in high school was the group Petra. I loved their song entitled “First Love.”

Sometimes I feel I’m pulled
in so many wrong directions. 
Sometimes I feel
the world seducing my affections.
It’s not that I don’t know the
way, it’s just a heart that’s
prone to stray.
But with my weaknesses
admitted, You will keep all
that I’ve committed.
So I commit my heart to You
my first love.

First love, first love, my soul longs after You.
First love, my first love
and I want my heart to stay so true.
Because You first loved me,
Jesus, You will always be,
You will always be my first love.

Do you ever feel like you have lost your love for Jesus? Sometimes I do. I hear Jesus inviting me to rediscover my first love.

It’s taken me some time to try to comprehend. 
A love that doesn’t change,
a love without an end.
A love that keeps forgiving,
a love of sacrifice and giving.
I delight myself in You my first love. 

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent

Cedar Chips, Cross Training/Sunday School, Family and Children Ministry, Marriage and Family, News

Adult Classes

Adult Discipleship: Cross Training Classes

Sundays at 9:45 AM – Cross Training Classes for preschoolers through adults with nursery staffed. Current classes for adults include:

  • Growing in Christ Together—Dig deeper into the gospel, focusing on the DNA of discipleship. Teachers: Pastor Kent, Gary Mills and Don Dykstra.
  • Grace Through the Eyes of Jesus—Study the example of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, opportunity to share your experiences of God’s grace in our own lives. Teachers: Pastor Alan Crandall, Joanne Lodge, and Gary & Sue
    Sager.
  • Parenting Together—The goal for our group is to build relationships by learning from and with each other in how we can raise our kids and grow as parents in a Godly way. Teachers: Karl and Lindsey Ungs and guest
    mentors.
  • Financial Peace University (pre-registration required; special earlier start time at 9:30 AM). Class facilitators: Dana & Kyle Chapman and Larry & Shelly Pottebaum.
Cedar Chips, News, Open Table

Open Table – Mar. 17

Our next Open Table meeting is Sunday, March 17, after the 2nd service in the Gathering Space. Once a month, we hang around after church. Our team provides a lunch, space to connect, make new friends, and enjoy Christ alive in us. Whether you are new to Cedar Hills or have been around a while, young or old, everyone is  welcome at Open Table!

Cedar Chips, Just Love, News, Worship

The Law of Love

The Law of Love

“If you hate yourself,
you will hate your neighbor.”

“If you hate your neighbor,
it’s because you hate yourself.”

“If you hate yourself,
it’s because you don’t know
God’s love for you.”

“To the degree that you know
God’s great love for you,
you will love yourself.”

“To the degree that you love yourself,
you will be able to love your neighbor.”

It all flows from one thing to the next.
You cannot love your neighbor
without knowing
His great love for you.
One flows into the next,
into the next,
into the next.

That is the law of love.
So we could say, “Just Love”.
But we should probably say, “Be loved.”

One flows into the next,
into the next,
into the next.

Leah
Director of Worship & Media

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

Noah’s Ark – Feb. 2019

In January we began testing our 4-year-old classes. Testing is presented in a game format and is done on a one-on-one basis with the teacher. Most children really enjoy the time with their teacher. Once testing is over, the teachers will send out a final progress report. Then each family will decide if Alternative Kindergarten or Kindergarten is best for their child.Our 3-year-old classes focused on spatial concepts,
shapes, daytime/nighttime, and pockets. The younger classes have come a long way since September!

Noah’s Ark will have another blood drive for the Mississippi Valley at church March 11. Please donate if you can.

Registration for our 2019-2020 school year is underway. If you know someone interested, please have
them contact us by email,  396-3125, or visit www.noahsarkcr.org. Any Cedar Hills active
member whose child attends Noah’s Ark Preschool will receive 10% off tuition. We feel as a member
you already support Cedar Hills financially. Noah’s Ark, as a ministry of this church, wants to support
your child’s Christian education.

If your child is attending AK or Kindergarten in the fall, you should receive a letter from your child’s school soon. If you have not been contacted, call the school your child will be attending.

We are amazed with the amount of growth in the children already and feel privileged to be a part of
their lives.

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

Cedar Chips, News

Six Everyday Rhythms of Disciples

Six Everyday Rhythms of Disciples

These six activities make up much of the everyday stuff of life. The gospel transforms each!

  1. We Are Story-Formed: Our stories intersect with God’s Story. Story-formed people grow in understanding of our neighbor’s stories and we share God’s Story.
  2. We Listen: We set aside regular times to listen to God by dwelling in the word and prayer. We take time to slow down, listen to others, and ask questions!
  3. We Celebrate: We gather together to celebrate God’s goodness and God’s extravagant blessings. We invite others into this celebration regularly and engage the celebrations of those around us.
  4. We Bless Others: We intentionally bless others through words, gifts, or actions because God desires for all people to be blessed through Jesus.
  5. We Eat Together: We regularly eat meals with others to invite them into the community. We see our dining table as the best tool for reaching out. We invite friends, neighbors, and the poor over for dinner.
  6. We ReCreate: We take time to rest, play, create, and restore beauty in ways that reflect God to others. Part of our recreation includes Sabbath rest and worship.
Cedar Chips, Consistory, News

Consistory News – February 2019

News and Notes

In the past the Consistory has worked to refine and clarify our disciple-making roadmap. We are called to  make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life. In 2019, we hope to see increased fruit in this vision as we live it out together answering three questions:

1. Who is God?

Discipleship begins with God because every attitude, thought, and action of our lives is an outpouring of what we believe about God. Our everyday struggles with fear, control, approval, and satisfaction can all be traced back to who we believe God to be.

2. What has God done?

God saves. The Gospel is the good news about Jesus saving and restoring all things. The Gospel is the fuel for all mission and the glue for all community. God, in and through the work of Jesus and by the power of His  Spirit, accepts us, empowers us, and changes us.

3. How does the Gospel impact me?

Disciples follow Jesus and take on his identity. In Jesus we are family, servants, and missionaries. We live out our identity in the everyday stuff of life, learning to follow Jesus 168 hours a week. Disciples who make disciples follow Jesus together. Through life-on-life, we connect with others one-on-one. Through life-in-community we experience the encouragement of a whole group of people to grow. Through life-on-mission we reach out with the love of Jesus in Word and deed to friends and neighbors.

Cedar Chips, Missions Team, News

Love in Any Language

Love in Any Language

Thank-you to everyone who prayed for me while I was in Guatemala. Or, should I say, “Gracias!”

Before I left on this mission trip, the language barrier concerned me the most. I want to understand and be understood, which is typically accomplished with words. The inability to communicate in a foreign tongue worried me.

My concerns were unfounded for two reasons. First, we had a great translator Josue’ (Joshua), who traveled with us everywhere we went and translated everything we wanted to know. And, he laughed a lot. We were blessed by his love for the Lord, love for the people, and love for language. He worked above and beyond the call of duty to help us understand. “Gracias Josue’!”

Second, some understanding transcends culture and language. The biggest blessing I received in Guatemala was to love and be loved – even without words. The mothers and fathers we met, the children we met, the brothers and sisters in Christ we met all conveyed love to us through their warm welcome, their generous hospitality, and their beautiful smiles. Each day I appreciated more their love for us. “Muchas gracias!!!”

As I reflect on my trip I hope that I shared love back even when I could not express it with words. And, I hope that I learned more about sharing love across barriers because we face barriers even in our own community that sometime feel like we are speaking different languages. When that is the case, I hope we can discover how to love with a love that transcends words.

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent

P.S. “God demonstrated His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Cedar Chips, News

Active Shooter Readiness Training

The Linn County Sheriff’s office will provide active shooter readiness training for our congregation on Sunday, Jan 13 from 3-5:30 PM. This training is open to anyone and will involve training to enhance your safety in any situation. The training will also assist us in helping others in our community should we ever face any incidents involving a violent attack. This training is open to others in our community who may benefit—invite them to come with you!

Cedar Chips, Family Adventure, Family and Children Ministry, News

Family Adventure Update 2019

Family Adventure is an opportunity for families to be equipped for and to experience living out a gospel-centered life together. We meet each month during the school year, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month (unless otherwise noted).

During our program meeting, we will meet together for dinner and family discipleship from 5:30-7 PM, Nursery will also be provided after dinner for children under 3 years old. We hope you‘ll be able to join us!

 

Kyle French
Director of Family and Children’s Ministry

(with Alisse and Hadley)