Category Archives: COVID-19

What a strange and bizarre year it has been for the graduating class of 2020. We are incredibly proud of all our graduating students would like to recognize them for their well-earned achievements. Enjoy this short video. Be sure to browse all of their honors and achievements below.

HIGH SCHOOL

Mikayla Bosch

Prairie High School
Next – Attend the University of Iowa to major in Human Physiology to someday pursue a career in the medical field.
“Always be yourself and make the most of every situation.”

Amanda Diers

Central Baptist Christian Academy
Next – Messiah College in Pennsylvania.

Madelyn Funk

Solon High School
Next – Kirkwood Community Collage
“Always choose kindness! Do what makes you happy and what you know is right!”

Zac Goodall

Jefferson High School
Next – Going to UNI and studying Music Education.
“Get involved in school activities.”

Kira Hegg

Senior High School – Billings, MT
National Honor Society, Presidents Education Award

Alexis Henderson

Jefferson High School
Honors include 2020 Governor’s Scholar Honoree, 2020 Best of the Class, Valedictorian, AP Scholar with Honors, Academic Honors with Distinction, Presidential Education Award, National Honors Society, Volunteer Service Award, J-Hawk Credit Club, Science Department Award, Science Four Year Award, Project Lead the Way Four Year Award, Social Studies Four Year Award, Mathematics Four Year Award, and World Language Four Year Award.
Next – I am planning on studying biomedical engineering at the University of Arizona.
“Don’t take anything you have during this time of your life for granted because you never know when everything around you will change.”

Brody Joens

Prairie High School
Next – Dordt University, studying civil engineering/architecture, playing football
“Don’t take it for granted.”

UNDERGRAD

Justin Brown

Kirkwood Community College – Associate of Arts
Next – I am currently a student at the University of Iowa working towards earn a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in general psychology and a minor in human relations while becoming a member of Alpha Phi omega national service fraternity.

Austin Mills

Coe College – Biology Major, Chemistry and Spanish Minor
Graduated cum laude
Member Phi Beta Kappa
Next – Position with Biomimicry Design Alliance
“Don’t be afraid to take a winding path to find the college and career path that is the right fit for you. God has a plan and nothing can change that!”

Katlyn Stevens

Iowa State University – Bachelor of Liberal Studies
Next – Working at US Bank and looking for new opportunities
“College goes by fast. Make the most of it.”

Frankline Tshombe

Mount Mercy University – BA in Social Work
Next – Work as a Child Welfare Social Worker
“Maximize your time in college and cherish every moment.”

Hilaire Tshombe

Mount Mercy University – BA in Social Work
Phi Alpha Honor Society
National Society of Leadership and Success
Sisters of Mercy Award
Next – For now I am a member of RefugeeRise working at Catherine McAuley Center working with diverse population.
“The word I have for those entering college is that they must not give up–that nothing comes easy in life. They must not lose hope; they must keep on pushing and one day they will say that this is far they have come. For me to be where I am today, it is hard work.”

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Alexi Grave

University of Northern Iowa – Master of Accounting
Next – I’m starting my career as an Audit Associate at KPMG in Des Moines.
“Don’t strive for a perfect 4.0 GPA. Do your best, and make time for yourself.”

Jeremy Van Genderen

Western Theological Seminary – Masters of Divinity
Next – Ordination and installation as Senior Pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Allison, IA
“Always be open to the plan that God has for you.”

COVID-19, Encouragement, News

90 Seconds of Encouragement – June 4, 2020

June 3, 2020 Cedar Hills Community Church

Your weekly 90 seconds of encouragement from Pastor Kent:

COVID-19, Explorers, Family and Children Ministry, News

Ideas for Kids This Sunday

June 3, 2020 Cedar Hills Community Church

The Worship Center is setup for social distancing as we gather again for services this Sunday, June 7. Because are currently not offering any children’s ministries on Sunday mornings, parents may encounter some new hurdles to worship as a family. If you have young children, Cathy Poole has some great ideas for you to consider!

Cedar Chips, COVID-19, June 2020 Chips, News, Worship

Find Sermons Online

June 1, 2020 Cedar Hills Community Church

Did you know you can listen and watch past Cedar Hills sermons online? We’ve created quite the archive the extends back almost five years of audio!

If you are a podcast listener, you’ll find Cedar Hills on most of the major podcast players:

With the unique changes that COVID-19 brought to our congregation, we also added on a video catalog of the services, available on Vimeo.

With so many options available, we can all stay connected, growing in the Word, and moving forward as one peope – the Body of Christ!

Be blessed today!
Cedar Hills Media Ministry

Cedar Chips, COVID-19, June 2020 Chips

We Are One in the Spirit

May 30, 2020 Cedar Hills Community Church

JUNE 2020

We are One in the Spirit

“We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, and we pray that all unity may one day be restored . . . and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

The world we inhabit is torn with strife, from sibling quarrels to mean-spirited politics to divorce courts to warring nations. Human pride and narcissism undermines unity. But God is creating a new humanity out of self-centered narcissists like us.

God’s purpose of unification is guaranteed because he predestined this in Christ before the creation of the world. In fact, God embedded his goal of unification in the physical structure of the universe.

Vast solar systems are held together by gravity—in order to exist, the worlds need to connect!

Tiny molecules are held together by electromagnetism—before any process of nature, atoms need to bond!

Biological life depends on attraction—herding, swarming, flocking, and especially, mating. The mystery of the birds and the bees comes from the heart of a loving, reconciling Creator. All things need to be connected!

Christ is the hidden power who holds everything together. As a great Christian anthropologist said, “Love is the affinity which links and draws together the elements of the world . . . Love, in fact, is the agent of universal synthesis.” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

On Pentecost, the risen Christ gave gifts to create a new kind of human society, one that overcomes the divisions of this hurting world. On that day Jesus inaugurated a spiritual family that’s meant to overflow with God’s Spirit until God fills everything.

The Bible says that Christ is the head, and we are his body. The church is a living, expanding fellowship of love that will eventually overcome every division and fill the universe. That’s why Christ has blessed us with hospitality, authenticity, forgiveness and reconciliation—to make his predestined plan come true.

“They’ll know we are Christians by our love!”

(A personal note: I’m deeply grateful that God called me to be part of the pastoral team at Cedar Hills for the past six years. Although I’m “retiring” from my official role at the end of May, Jan and I look forward to continuing our precious friendships with you in the days to come. This is where we belong. Your love completes us!)

Alan Crandall
Pastor of Care & Visitation

Did you enjoy this article? Let us know.

Cedar Chips, COVID-19, Journey, June 2020 Chips, News

Youth Ministry – June 2020 Update

May 30, 2020 Cedar Hills Community Church

JUNE 2020

YOUTH MINISTRY UPDATE

Feeling frustrated lately? The list of frustration I have felt and observed in the past week is great. Frustrated about balancing work with being home with kids. Struggling with online classes, more work, and changing expectations. Frustrated by the loss of things important to us, even if we know they are trivial, like sports season, clubs, and activities. Upset about all the unknown in our lives. Frustrated that we are opening too soon or not soon enough. Confused about how people look at the same data, but come to contradictory conclusions.

Disappointed that something like public health during a pandemic could get so politically divided. So what do we do with all these emotions? Emotions are human. We cannot help but experience them. However, how would Jesus want us act in times like this? How should we, as Christians, respond to these emotions in a Godly way?

We are not controlled by our emotions.
1. Walk by the Spirit, not the flesh
2. “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25
We have a different perspective.
1. Tough times grow our faith and spiritual maturity
2. ^“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (Message)
We trust God’s timing and plan.
1. Genesis 45:4-8 – Joseph’s suffering was a part of God’s redemptive plan
2. It is a painful pruning process when God cuts away our hopes and dreams that do not align with His. Our frustration sometimes comes when we realize we have less control than we imagine. We are frustrated when we must set aside our plans, and submit to His. Trust God, though, His plans bring with them the promise of abundant life!
3. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”~ John 10:10