October’s retiree breakfast is Saturday, Oct 6th at 8:30 AM at Tommy’s Restaurant. RSVP to Joan Koele, 396-6510.
This gathering regularly draws about 20-22 people and is a good time to connect with other retirees in the church.
Friday, November 2, 5-7pm Boy Scout Troop 85 cordially invites all members and friends of Cedar Hills to attend the annual spaghetti dinner at Cedar Hills Church. Scouts will be serving salad, bread, spaghetti, & homemade desserts. Freewill offering will support
the activities of this troop.
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
Many have asked this question and there are just as many responses online if you google it. What is worship? What qualifies and what doesn’t? What does transformational worship look like? Is there a right way and a wrong way? Who has it figured
out?
In all my years of classes and schools and degrees and traveling around North America, I think you can make a great case for this explanation:
God reveals Himself, and we respond.
Leah
Director of Worship & Media
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
At our most recent classis meeting, one of the speakers asked the question, “What are you dreaming about?” The question grabbed my attention because I was just starting to slip into a daydream. Was he reading my mind? Was I busted? What are you dreaming about?
The question was really asking about passion and calling. What is the dream that excites you, engages your imagination, and energizes you to take action? Do you dream about strengthening your marriage? Becoming a better parent? Getting healthy? Making more money? Learning a new skill? Climbing the ladder of success?
Do you dream about helping others? Visiting the lonely? Caring for the sick? Helping those who lack resources? Reaching out to those who do not know Jesus? Loving our neighbors? Transforming our community?
Do you dream about solving a problem? Conquering addictions? Solving poverty? Ending abuse and injustice? Stopping slavery and human trafficking? Resolving conflict and violence? Overcoming corruption and exploitation? Do you dream about growing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control?
What do you dream about? Do you have a personal dream that excites you or a bigger dream—a global dream—that energizes you? The speaker at classis said, “Everyone needs a dream.”
As a congregation we are developing a dream. You might say that we are dreaming again about making a difference in our homes, our neighborhoods, and the entire corridor. We are dreaming about transformation. This is a passion and a calling. That excites me. Does it excite you?
The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent
Last Sunday, we welcomed Beth Larsen who is currently serving as a missionary to Brno, Czech Republic. Beth shared about her role in Brno, both the blessings and struggles of ministry. Please continue to pray for God to use Beth in a mighty way as she spreads the Gospel to the people of Brno.
Calling all ladies! The next meeting of Women’s Revival is Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 6-8pm. At this gathering, the ladies will be doing a service project with Days For Girls, a mission that creates hygiene kits for girls in other countries who don’t have access to supplies for ‘those days’. By creating the kits, the girls can continue to attend school verses missing school and eventually dropping out.
Bring a snack to share! Invite your moms, aunts, friends and neighbors to come along.
Looking for a great resource for Christian colleges in Iowa? Here are couple of links that you may find useful in your pursuit of where God might be calling you after graduation — including online degrees:
Christian Colleges in Iowa: https://www.christiancolleges.com/online-degrees/iowa/
Online Christian Degrees: https://www.christiancolleges.com/online-degrees/
A few topics covered at ChristianColleges.com:
Many of the RCA schools we support also offer scholarships for those holding active memberships in the Reformed Church in America.
Irene ValentaPlease pray for the family and friends of Irene Valenta who went home to be with our Lord September 20, 2018. The visitation will be this Friday, September 28 at 9:30am, followed by the funeral service at 11am.
from Teahen Funeral Home: Irene Marie Valenta, 96 of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, September 20, 2018 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, following a brief illness.
Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Cedar Hills Community Church by Rev. Kent Landhuis. Burial: National Cemetery, Vining. Friends may visit with the family at the church after 9:30 a.m. on Friday.
Irene is survived by her son, Gary (Susan) of Elberon; daughter in law, Karen (Kyle) Reynolds of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Warren (Staci) Valenta, Brian (Leslee) Valenta and Kim (Paul) Reynolds; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Jared, Justin, Zoey, Wyatt, Taylor and Tate; sisters, Paula Schutt, Patsy (Lawrence) Clough, Joann Ferrel, Doris Lohf and Shirley O’Connor.She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard in 1979, son Gene, brothers Arthur and Robert and sister Lillian James.
Irene was born on November 7, 1921 in Clutier the daughter of Louie and Emma Zeman Yuska. She married Willard Valenta on April 21, 1941 in Clutier, and as a farm-wife she drove the tractor. Later, she worked at Rockwell Collins for 21 years. Irene was a member of Cedar Hills Community Church and vice-president of the Iowa Women’s Bowling Association.
Irene loved baking kolaches, playing cards, dancing, gardening, quilting, needlework, making crafts, and was involved in craft shows. She was an excellent bowler, and won many ribbons. Irene volunteered often and was known to take care of her friends and family. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Hills Community Church.