Category Archives: News

Cedar Chips, News, Noah's Ark

Noah’s Ark December 2018 Update

December was a fun and fast month at preschool! We were very busy learning about the very first Christmas. All the classes visited Pastor Kent and he told them about that special night that Jesus was born. Acting out the very first Christmas was a big
highlight for the children and their families. Thank you to everyone who attended.

Thank you to all the families who donated items to help preschool! I cannot believe how generous our families have been. Thank you for the teachers’ gifts, too.

Registration for our 2019-2010 school year is open to everyone. If you know someone who needs information, have them stop by our office or call us at 396-3125 or visit the website: noahsarkcr.org.

In January the 4– and 5-year-olds will begin their kindergarten readiness testing. These tests are designed to be fun and playful and non-stressful. Testing will help the teachers give an accurate report card for parents so they may decide if Kindergarten
or Alternative-Kindergarten is best for their child. It also helps parents identify some areas they may wish to work on with their child.

Thank you for supporting Noah’s Ark Preschool; we feel very blessed to be doing something that we love and sharing God’s Word.

For the Staff,
Leslie, Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool

Cedar Chips, Just Love, News

Love One Another

Last year, I gave Mary a book of love poems for Christmas. This was one of my favorites:

Roses are red,
Bacon is too
Poetry is hard,
I love bacon and you.

It was a hit, but a lot of work. This year I gave her gift cards.

Our goal as a congregation in 2019 is that we would just love. Love our families, love our neighbors, love our co-workers, love our teachers and classmates. Just love one another. Love requires attention to grow and to keep growing.

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Sunflowers are yellow,
Daffodils are, too.

You were expecting something romantic, but instead I give you gardening facts to remind us that love is nurtured like a garden. Love flourishes and grows with devotion. What specific investment will we make in the new year to grow love? Will we invest time with one another? Encouraging words? A listening ear? Care and support?

Roses are red,
SpongeBob is square.
We are called,
To love everyone, everywhere.

To love is risky business and so I guess our goal for 2019 calls us to risk. I pray that God’s spirit will empower us to take
the leap so that we love one another really well!

The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent

 

 

P.S. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. “To love is to be vulnerable” ~ C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves.

Fundraiser, Journey, News

Dec. 9 Chili & Bread Cook-Off

The 2nd annual Journey Student Ministry Chili cook-off is this Sunday, December 9, and we want you to join in the fun!

This year we are also adding the homemade bread bake-off competition to our event.  If you want to enter a chili or bread into the competition please contact Jeremy by Friday, Dec. 7.  Entries should make either a double batch of chili or 2-3 loaves of bread.  If you are not able to make something, please join us after the 2nd service and vote for your favorite. This is a fundraiser for our youth program so you will vote by putting cash into the bucket of your favorite chili or bread. Bring cash!

Once you have had your taste of each chili and bread you may go back for a full bowl and full slice of bread to enjoy for lunch.  Have a great week and we will see you on Sunday

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Financial Peace University, Marriage and Family, News, Transform the Corridor

Financial Peace University coming in 2019

Image result for financial peace universityDave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is coming! Our church wants financial peace for you.  Join us for a free class preview on Sunday, January 6 at 9:45am or 11am.

Ready to jump in? Register today.  Classes will be held on Sundays at 9:45 beginning Jan. 13.  Kits can be purchased at time of registering or from your FPU teachers.

Bright Spot, Consistory, News, Worship

Huge New Members Class!

This Sunday we will welcome the largest class of new members in Cedar Hills history (at least that we are aware of!).  Congrats to all of our new members – and welcome to the Cedar Hills family.  This group has communicated a clear faith in Christ after meeting with our elders, and is ready to stand before the congregation and announce their faith.

New Members joining 1st Service (8:30am): Jim & Kelly Beavers; (Patty) Patricia Ann Bray; Melanie & Shaun Boots (daughter: Saydee); Ryan Dohlman; Kyle & Alisse French (daughter: Hadley); Bruce and Virginia Petrzelka (son: Adam); Richard and Marilyn Beauregard

New Members joining 2nd Service (11am):  Harriet & Gwyn Aarhus; Ryan Aarhus; Ron Alexander; Mario & Tameka Armon (Children: Cynthia Platt, Kiara and Malachi); Matthew & Shannon Constant (Children: Easton, Michael, Olivia); Debbie Erenberger; Shannon Davison & Carol Mangrich; Chad & Kylene Dunham (Daughter: Ashleigh); Trudy Greaser; Carolyn Harvey; Martha Krejci (daughter: Norah); Prince Nabuyoli & Aline Burubwa (children: Samuel & Eli & daughters Franklin and May); Franklin Nabuyoli; May Nabuyoli; Dave & Karen Roberts; Gary & Sue Sager; Travis & Tiffany Schmidt (daughter: Soraya); Hilaire Tschombe; Karl & Lindsey Ungs (children: Hansel and Nina)

Bright Spot, Consistory, News

Congregational Meeting Update

Sunday, Nov. 11 we celebrated God’s continued work to grow the kingdom though the ministries of our congregation!  At our annual congregational meeting we reflected on these goals:

One Church doing life in community.

  • Develop an all church experience to build unity.
  • Enhancing oneness through deeper connections.

Many Places doing life on mission.

  • Train missional community leaders.
  • Add project management to assist in growth.

Following Jesus by doing life on life.

  • Grow disciples who make disciples in small groups.
  • Live life together, practicing forgiveness, repentance and confession.

Transforming the Corridor

  • Grow hospitality through “Starting Point” and “Open Table”
  • Grow generosity so that we exceed budgets in 2018 and 2019

We Affirmed the 2019 budget of $887,057. (A decrease of 4.2% from the 2018 budget.)  MSC 122-3.

We Affirmed the Elder and Deacon nominees. MSC 122-1.

  • Elders: Robin Joens, Gary Mills, Bruce Crowther
  • Deacons: Josh Oberembt, John Davidson, Mel Dahm

We voted to elect Jeremy Van Genderen as an elder. MSC122-1.

Thanks for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for God’s Spirit to lead us!

Family and Children Ministry, Holiday, News, Worship

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Join us for Thanksgiving Eve worship, Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 6:30pm.  This service is lighthearted and family friendly! It takes place in the Gathering Space – lots of room for the little ones to move and make noise. 🙂

We’ll be creating a thankfulness craft, worshipping, celebrating the Lord’s Supper and sharing a fruit salad. Bring a piece of fruit (precut, please) or berries to share in the salad.

The nursery will be available for families to use but not staffed. An audio feed of the service will be playing in the nursery.

This is one of our favorite services of the year.  In this season of thanks, come and give thanks to the One who created all things and holds all things together.

Bright Spot, Holiday, News, Transform the Corridor

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

Cedar Hills and Salvation Army are transforming the corridor – help us support our outreach partner by signing up for an hour of bell ringing on Cedar Hills day.

We’ll ring from 10a-8p on Saturday, December 8 at the Johnson Avenue HyVee.

**Update – we filled all our time slots for that day! If you’d like to ring on another day, use this bell-ringer signup on the Salvation Army website.

To view your scheduled time slot, our Dec. 8 schedule is available here.

Holiday, News, Transform the Corridor

Holiday Volunteer Guide

United Way Holiday Volunteer Guide

Are you looking for a  family or small group outing this Holiday season?  Why not try volunteering?  It’s a great way to help Transform The Corridor!  Click here to go to the United Way Holiday Volunteer Guide to find a volunteer opportunity.
The website has a ton of great ways to get involved. Some examples of ways you can volunteer this holiday season:

Family Volunteer Day

Adopt a Family