Category Archives: News

60th Anniversary, Cedar Chips, Consistory, News, Noah's Ark

Building Refresh Campaign

Coming this Fall

This fall we will celebrate 60 years as a congregation bound together in faith and outreach. Also, we’ll celebrate our 14th year in our current facility. In these years, we’ve served numerous families through Cross Training, Sunday worship, and Children and Youth Ministries.

We’ve hosted countless church and community events as well as funerals and weddings. We watched hundreds of preschoolers learn about their colors, numbers, and that God loves them through the ministry of Noah’s Ark. We launched a food pantry that meets food needs for our neighborhood and housed recover workers and displaced residents during disasters. Our space has been even more successful in reaching our community than we might have imagined.

With all the success, comes wear and tear. After 13 years of service, it’s time to refresh several components of our building, both physical and mechanical. Also, we want to continue to reduce our building debt.

Volunteers are looking at items that need fixing, replacing and updating, including heating and cooling units, the roof, the sanctuary sound and video system, carpet and more. All of these items are at or will be reaching the end of their useful life now or in the coming years. The campaign, and donations made in response, will allow us to make these important repairs and upgrades when they are needed. This fall will kick-off the
campaign to refresh the facility and further reduce our debt. Prayerfully consider what role you could play in the campaign and what God might put on your heart to give to support this effort.

Bright Spot, Cedar Chips, Consistory, Journey, News, Youth

Consistory August 2019 Update

From the Consistory – News and Notes

Our vision as a congregation is to make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life so that every man, woman and child in our community has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed.

Our goal as Consistory is to work toward alignment of all our staff and programs with this vision. When Jeremy shared his calling to move to Allison to become the pastor at Trinity Reformed Church, we started our discernment process for seeking a new Director of Youth and Young Adults.

The Search team processed dozens of candidates, interviewed four, and recommended two candidates
to meet with our congregation, youth, parents and youth sponsors. After processing feedback from the
candidate visits as well as references from the candidates we concluded that we had two excellent candidates.

Both candidates loved the Lord, had a passion for student ministry, had successful experience leading and growing student ministries, have built and led ministry teams, communicated well publically, and have developed solid biblical/theological foundations for ministry. Both candidates were well qualified!

When we discussed vision alignment, discipleship strategy, and chemistry we agreed – unanimously – that Steve Poole was the best fit for our ministry at this time. Consistory unanimously agreed with this recommendation and offered Steve the position.

We are very excited for the gifts that Steve brings to ministry. Here are a few of the qualities that led to our decision:

 Steve has a highly relational approach to ministry.

 Steve’s focus on disciple-making, mentoring, and small groups fits closely with our vision.

 Steve has a humble, curious, and teachable spirit.

 Steve is youth culture savvy and also in touch with the latest youth ministry trends.

 Steve has current and past connections with RCA people, events, and culture. (Rocky, Power Connection, Central College, Adventure Life Reformed Church, Lakeview Camp, etc.)

 Steve’s camp experience offers unique opportunities and also represents experience working with younger children.

Please pray for Steve, Cathy, and their children, Abby and Christopher, as they relocate to Cedar Rapids. Steve will begin his ministry here August 11! Thanks to all who helped in this process and thanks for your prayers!!! God has blessed us!

Cedar Chips, Fall Kick-Off, Life Is, News

Life Is

The top five Google hits for “life is” are:

  1. Life is good.
  2. Life is strange.
  3. Life is a highway.
  4. Life is beautiful.
  5. Life is strange

How do you complete the expression “life is?” Is life a journey, a song, a game, a dream, a sacrifice, a gift? Is life grand, depressing, inspiring, gloomy, joyful, discouraging, hopeful, dull?

As we kick off another season of ministry, we celebrate life—the life we have in Jesus. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

This statement comes after Jesus warns about the thief who wants to harm the sheep. The thief steals, slaughters, and destroys. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves the sheep. Jesus offers an abundance of green pastures and refreshing. The Good Shepherd cares for the sheep giving them life to the full.

We are the sheep and Jesus offers us life to the full—abundance. We discover this abundance when we abide with Jesus. Life is full in Jesus!

Of course many of us sheep still feel tension between life as we live it and life as Jesus describes it. We sometimes live lives less full. Jesus invites us to an upside-down life by worldly standards, but really this life is life turned right-side-up.

We celebrate life lived to the fullest. We celebrate hope for life in this world (and the next) as we follow Jesus the Good Shepherd. We celebrate the impact that the abundant life has on our world. We celebrate life.

In this season I hope that we do not forget our lessons learned about finding rest, but that we live these lessons out in the everyday stuff of life. This fall, abide with Jesus and discover what life is.

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent

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

New Director of Youth & Young Adults

Congrats to Steve Poole, who was selected as the best fit for our ministry! Steve will began at Cedar Hills on August 11.  Please pray for Steve, his wife Cathy and their children Abigail and Christopher as they make plans to relocate to Cedar Rapids.

Our vision as a congregation is to make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life so that every man, woman and child in our community has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed. Our goal as consistory is to work toward alignment of all our staff and programs with this vision.

When Jeremy shared his calling to move to Allison to become the pastor at Trinity Reformed Church, we started our discernment process for seeking a new Director of Youth and Young Adults.

The Search team processed dozens of candidates, interviewed four, and recommended two candidates to meet with our congregation, youth, parents and youth sponsors. After processing feedback from the candidate visits as well as references from the candidates we concluded that we had two excellent candidates.

Both candidates loved the Lord, had a passion for student ministry, had successful experience leading and growing student ministries, have built and led ministry teams, communicated well publicly, and have developed solid biblical/theological foundations for ministry. Both candidates were well qualified!

When we discussed vision alignment, discipleship strategy, and chemistry we agreed – unanimously – that Steve Poole was the best fit for our ministry at this time. Consistory unanimously agreed with this recommendation and offered Steve the position!

We are very excited for the gifts that Steve brings to ministry. Here are a few of the qualities that led to our decision:

  • Steve has a highly relational approach to ministry.
  • Steve’s focus on disciple-making, mentoring, and small groups fits closely with our vision.
  • Steve has a humble, curious, and teachable spirit.
  • Steve is youth culture savvy and also in touch with the latest youth ministry trends.
  • Steve has current and past connections with RCA people, events, and culture. (Rocky, Power Connection, Central College, Adventure Life Reformed Church, Lakeview Camp, etc.)
  • Steve’s camp experience offers unique opportunities and also represents experience working with younger children.

Welcome Steve and Cathy!

Funeral, News

Deb LaKose Obituary

Please pray for Dave LaKose and family as the grieve the passing of his wife, Deb.

OBITUARY

(from https://www.thegazette.com/obituaries/debra-lakose-20190723-0000175536-01)

Debra Jean (Grissom) LaKose, 62, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2019, at home following a battle with lung cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 26, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 2272, 1735 11th St. NW, Cedar Rapids.

Deb is survived by her husband, David Dwayne LaKose; two children, Adam (Kirsten) LaKose of Concord, N.C., and Cody LaKose of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Madyson, Kenzie and Greyson LaKose of Concord; and five siblings, David Grissom (special friend Deb Heins) of Robins, Dennis Grissom of Marion, Daniel (Sherry) Grissom of Fairfax, Donald (Emili) Grissom of Robins and DeAnna Grissom of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold Wayne Grissom and June Olive (Theel) Grissom; three siblings, Douglas Wyatt, Donna Jane and Denise Joan; two sisters-in-law, Denise Grissom and Stephanie Grissom; as well as other aunts, uncles and cousins.

Deb was born Feb. 5, 1957, in Manchester, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and June (Theel) Grissom. After moving to Robins and various houses in Cedar Rapids, Deb graduated from Cedar Rapids Jefferson in 1975. On March 27, 1982, Deb married David LaKose at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. She spent her latter years working for the Cedar Rapids Community School District as a food service worker for various elementary schools, which she truly enjoyed. Nothing gave Deb greater joy than the time she spent with family, especially her children and her grandchildren. She loved to read, spend time outdoors, support her children in their various athletic endeavors, and travel, particularly if the destination resulted in spending time with her grandchildren.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the caregivers at Mercy Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please plan on sharing stories and uplifting memories at the aforementioned Celebration of Life.

Funeral, News

Eva Kriegermeier Funeral

Eva Ellen Kriegermeier ObituaryWe are saddened at the passing of Eva Kriegermeier this past weekend.  She was a beloved member of Cedar Hills.  The visitation is Tuesday evening, 4-7pm at Cedar Memorial, and the funeral Wednesday morning at 10:30am at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories.

Obituary

Eva Ellen Kriegermeier, 88, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial will follow in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Eva is survived by her children, Patricia Sorensen and Michael (Debra) Kriegermeier; six grandchildren, Chad (Shane) Kriegermeier, Tara (Lari) Chesmore, Tracy Sorensen, Corey (Andrea) Kriegermeier, Eric (Laura) Kriegermeier and Nathan Kriegermeier; seven great-grandchildren (with one on the way); a sister, Juanita Traxler; and many loving extended family members; and her special dog, Zoey. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne Kriegermeier; a son, Gregory Kriegermeier; and five siblings. Eva Ellen Kriegermeier was born on Aug. 3, 1930, in Albia, Iowa, the daughter of Willie and Eva (Rouse) Daugherty. She was a teacher in a one-room school house before meeting her future husband, Wayne Kriegermeier. They were united in marriage on May 29, 1948, in Albia, Iowa. Eva was employed at Rockwell Collins as a lead operator from 1972, until retiring in 1991. She worked on space shuttle parts. Eva was a member of Cedar Hills Community Church, where she taught adult Bible study. She always will be remembered for being a loving and wonderful mother, wife, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cedar Hills Community Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be conveyed at www.cedarmemorial.com.