Category Archives: Family and Children Ministry

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.

Family and Children Ministry, Holiday, News

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child

Want to help transform the life of a child, all over the world?

Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has partnered with local churches around the world to deliver 157 million Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children in need in 160 countries. The boxes are packed full of fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items. Each box will be sent with prayer that the child who receives it will experience God’s love through their simple gifts. If you’d like to help, grab a shoe box from home, or grab one in the Gathering Space at Cedar Hills.  Fill it and return to the church by Sunday, Nov. 11.

This has been a great tradition at Cedar Hills and boxes go fast! If you have a shoe box at home to use, that would help us out.  Information and fliers will be available to help you know how to best fill your box beginning Sunday, October 28.

More about Operation Christmas Child

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Journey, News

Journey – October 2018

What a great start to the year we have had a Journey. On our kick-off night in August we had nearly 50 students show up to have fun and hear about Journey. Each week we will be walking through different books of the Bible. Before Christmas, we will engage with Galatians and James and after Christmas we are going to dive into Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. If you have a student in 6th-12th Grade, please make sure they join us on Sundays from 5:30-7 PM.

There are two big events to get on your calendar to that your students are sure to be there:

#1. Dare2Share Live
Sat, Oct 13, 11 AM-6:30 PM at Faith Bible Church in CR. This annual event consists of speakers, worship, and a nationwide canned food drive. The purpose is to train us to be able to talk to others about our faith. The cost is $20 and is open to all students 6th-12th Grade and their friends.

#2. Fall Retreat
Nov 16-18 at Sunstream Retreat Center in Ogden is our 7th annual fall retreat. This weekend is a great time of growing deeper in our faith and growing closer together. We will have an inspiring speaker, meaningful worship, and an opportunity to engage in games like glow-in-the-dark dodgeball, rock-climbing wall, and ziplines. The cost is $60 and more info coming soon.

Jeremy Van Genderen
Director of Youth &Young Adults

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

Noah’s Ark – October 2018 Update

We are excited that school has finally started! We currently have 48 students enrolled in our program. We do have some openings. If you know of anyone, who is interested, please have them call our office, 396-3125.

It’s been fun getting to know the little ones and learning their names. There are less and less tears as the children are getting use to us and finding out that we have a lot of fun at preschool.

All the children learned about a man named Noah and his great big boat and that he listened to God. We talked about friends and families and how not all families look the same and that is just fine.

Soon everyone will be looking for signs of fall.

Thank you to everyone who has brought snacks, supplies, and paid all their fees on time! I just want to remind parents to label your child’s jacket/coat and their backpack.

We are off to a great start on our 49th year at Noah’s Ark Preschool. Thanks for trusting us to care for and to teach your precious little ones!

In Christ,
Leslie Clauson
Noah’s Ark Preschool Director

Family and Children Ministry, Marriage and Family, News

Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaway

A Weekend to Remember

A Weekend to Remember Marriage getaway is coming to Cedar Rapids November 2-4, 2018. The conference is held at the Marriot on Collins Rd..  As Cedar Hills members, we get a group discount. If you register before September 24, the price is half of the regular $149 registration ($74.99/person). Use our special group code: CedarHillsCommunity and register today.

About the Weekend to Remember ®

Remember how captivating it was when you first fell in love with your spouse? Every moment was special. As real life takes over, that memory can grow less vivid, and you might not feel like the center of their world as often. That’s where the Weekend to Remember® marriage retreat from FamilyLife comes in.

The two-and-a-half day romantic weekend getaway is a time to be together as a couple to invest in and strengthen the foundation of your marriage, no matter how firm or fragile it is. By getting away from the distractions of life, you can fortify your most important relationship and work toward building wonderful memories together, for decades to come.

The Weekend to Remember marriage retreat is not a large group counseling session or small group discussion. You won’t be asked to share intimate details of your relationship with anyone.

You will listen to engaging talks from marriage experts , then take private time alone with your spouse to work on the concepts you studied. When you leave, you will have an assortment of powerful, Christ-centered communication tools to use for years to come.

Learn how to:

  • Address issues as they arise, rather than letting resentments fester
  • Express feelings positively, so your partner remains engaged in the discussion
  • Resolve conflict in healthy, biblical ways
  • Maintain a vital sexual connection with one another
  • Forgive one another freely and completely
  • Increase your commitment to your marriage, resulting in deeper intimacy

We want you to leave your marriage retreat with encouragement, hope, and practical tools to build and grow your relationship. That’s why we call this a Weekend to Remember. Register today and use our group code: CedarHillsCommunity

Event Schedule:

Friday 7pm – 9:35pm
Friday evening is an introduction to the weekend. You will meet the weekend’s speakers who will show you exactly how to pursue a marriage that really works through stories of their own breakthroughs and blunders.
Sessions: Why Marriages Fail, Can We Talk?

Saturday 8am – 4:40pm
Saturday is a day to delve into God’s Word and learn time-tested tools to help strengthen your marriage. Beyond the great content you’ll also have various one-on-one applications and “Date night” for you and your spouse.
Sessions: Unlocking the Mystery of Marriage, From How to Wow, What Every Marriage Needs, We Fight Too & Marriage After Dark

Sunday 9am – 12:15pm
Sunday morning, we speak to men and women separately and reconvene to discuss your legacy; then close out the weekend.
Sessions: Woman to Woman / Man to Man & Leaving a Legacy.  Register today and use our group code: CedarHillsCommunity

Hotel Information

FamilyLife recommends that you enhance your getaway experience by staying overnight at the getaway hotel. If you call the hotel to make a reservation, mention you are attending FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember to get the special getaway hotel room rate and other discounts.

Cedar Rapids Marriott
1200 Collins Rd NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-2008
Hotel phone: 319-393-6600
Special getaway hotel room rate: $109.00/ night available until 10/19/2018 (subject to availability) book room for getaway
Parking or other fees: Check with the hotel about additional fees. *Hotel, meals, parking, and other fees not included in the registration price.
Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, News, Noah's Ark

Noah’s Ark September ’18 Update

We have been very busy gearing up for the new school year. The classrooms are clean, toys sorted, crafts are prepped, and lesson plans are pre-pared. We had our orientation night on Aug 23. Orientation allows the children an opportunity to meet their teachers, see their classroom, and meet their classmates. While the children are busy playing, I meet with the parents to go over our Parent Handbook and any other questions they may have. Our goal is to have a smooth transition for everyone when school begins.

God has blessed us with 51 students enrolled for fall! There are a few openings in our program. If you know anyone interested, have them contact us at 396-3125. We are excited for classes to start Sept 4, the day after Labor Day. We have lots of new ideas that we are excited to see in action.

Jan Fick, Lori Larson, Kris Crowther, Lorri Anderson, and I will all be returning to teach this year. These people are a pleasure to work with every-day and make my job a lot easier. I feel blessed to work with fellow Christians who are passionate about teaching young children.

Please pray for all of us as we begin this new school year. Thank you!

In Christ,
Leslie Clauson
Noah’s Ark Preschool Director

Family and Children Ministry, Marriage and Family, News, Saturate, Transform the Corridor

Family Adventure – New for 2018!

We’re so excited to announce our new programming, called Family Adventure. Its goal is to equip families to be modelers of a gospel-centered life. The event will be held on the 4th Sunday of every month, 5:30pm-7pm with dinner 5:30pm-6pm. The night will be filled with Jesus, fun and fellowship!

Family discipleship is of the utmost importance to us, and we hope and desire that every child would be accompanied by a parent, guardian or adult family member. Family Adventure is about having an experience that children and adults alike can share in together. We hope to see you there!  Register.