The Cedar Hills board is continuing to keep track of the COVID-19 public gathering recommendations closely. However, we would like to gauge our congregation’s comfort level regarding when we gather together in-person again. Please answer this quick 3-question survey:
Category Archives: COVID-19
Worship & Links 5-3-20
Links for Sunday, May 3, 2020 |
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Video Highlights:
Cedar Hills Kids:
News:
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From Pastor Kent
Note from Pastor Kent
Many times in the past few weeks I have felt weary. I miss my old routines, I’m tired of all the changes, I want to meet up with people, I’d like to stop thinking about COVID19. I’ve said many times, “I’m taking it one day at a time.” and I’m tired of that. It is exhausting. COVID time feels like dog time. One week equals seven.
Two things helped me this week. First, a passage of scripture. Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Second, a passage from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.
“I wish it need not happened in my time.” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandolf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent
Noah’s Ark End-of-the-Year Recap
We wanted to give you all an update of what’s happening in Noah’s Ark preschool.
This year Noah’s Ark celebrated their 50th year of ministry!
Forty-eight students were enrolled this past year, an increase from the previous years.
We want to highlight that Jan Fink and Lori Larson are both retiring this year and so we celebrate their many years of combined teaching with our children. Jan will continue on next year as a curriculum coordinator with the school. So there are two staff openings if anyone is interested in applying! Contact the preschool office if that is the case.
Noah’s Ark Preschool did close in March along with all the other area schools. With that, the teachers were also furloughed and able to receive unemployment. Keep them in your prayers, would you? The staff is still volunteering their time to deliver activity packets to all the children. These will be delivered the first week of May. We love their hearts – one teacher said, “We don’t do this for the money. It’s all about the kids.”
At this time, there will be so summer school but the plans for summer school in July are proceeding. 13 students are signed up for the July session.
Looking ahead to next Fall, we already have 35 already enrolled for next year! Enrollment is open and more information can be found on their website: www.noahsarkcr.org There are still openings in the 3 year old classes.
We are so grateful for the continued ministry of Noah’s Ark. Enjoy this highlight video from the past year:
Note from Consistory
Note from Consistory:
Although Governor Reynolds has issued a proclamation allowing churches to open their doors starting May 1, the leadership at Cedar Hills has decided that our services will remain online only for now. The reason for this decision is to honor and protect the health and well-being of our members, attendees, and community. You are important to us!
We are excited to meet together again in person soon and we will be discerning on a week by week basis if we can reopen safely. We believe in the value of public worship and we want to assure you that when our building reopens, increased hygiene practices and social distancing protocols will be implemented.
As we move forward, we ask you to pray that we would have wisdom as we make these important decisions and ask for grace and patience as we adapt to the coming changes.
Blessings,
The Consistory
Food Pantry Receives $500 gift
We are excited to announce the addition of two new wire basket carts on wheels for the distribution of bread in our Open Hands Food Pantry!
The pantry regularly receives donations of bread from local Hy-Vee stores. Until now, the bread has stored in boxes in the pantry and had to be unpacked and placed on tables every time the pantry opened. The two new carts allow volunteer to both display and store the bread more efficiently and allow food pantry patrons easier access to bread and perishable donations.
This is due to a generous gift from Jeff Bezos to Feeding America, with $500 of that gift directed to us through HACAP.
The Open Hands Food Pantry is remaining open during the COVID-19. We’ve temporarily adapted the hours to Mondays 5-6pm, and Wednesdays 10am-12pm. Visitors to the pantry can visit once per calendar month.
Sunday, April 26 Live at 11am
We’ll be live streaming on Facebook at 11am. Here is everything you need for today’s worship service:
Links for 4-26-20 |
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Video Highlights:
Cedar Hills Kids:
News:
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Updated Food Pantry Hours
The Food Pantry is cutting back hours temporarily until the COVID-19 pandemic is lessened.
We will now be open only Mondays 5-6pm and Wednesdays 10-12pm. We will be closed on Fridays.
We thank everyone who continues to volunteer and donate to our pantry! We have not been hit with a lack of resources – just less visitors to our pantry to where it makes sense to cut back our hours temporarily.
Coffee Hour – Sundays 10am
Join us before the live service stream! Keep your coffee fresh (and your germs stale) at our digital coffee hour on Sundays, 10am in the Zoom app, just before the live service stream at 11am. The staff will be in and out as well while we’re setting up for the worship service live stream.
Here’s the info you need to join us in Zoom:
- Topic: Sunday Coffee Hour 10am
- Time: Apr 5, 2020 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
- Every week on Sun, until May 31, 2020, 9 occurrence(s)
- https://zoom.us/j/837179546
- Meeting ID: 837 179 546
Bright Spot – Food Pantry Moment
We’ve witnessed many bright spots this week in how neighbors are reaching out to neighbors. This beautiful scene happened during the Food Pantry Drive Up this morning. A food pantry visitor’s car had died in the drive up lane and another visitor immediately rushed to help and give the car battery a jump.
The Open Hands Food Pantry has remained open in the midst of many closings around us. Volunteers are working tirelessly to meet our pantry guests with our new ‘drive-up’ pantry regimen while maintaining regular pantry hours. Visitors remain in their cars while a pantry volunteer walks out to meet them and get their information. Other volunteers rush back to the pantry to load the shopping carts with bags of food to be delivered straight to our pantry visitor’s cars. It has been a beautiful system and helps to limit exposure to any potential COVID-19 concerns.
The need for food and assistance is great in these times! Thank you to our volunteers for stepping up their game and keeping the pantry open!
