Congrats to all of our graduates, high school, college and beyond! Enjoy this short celebration of their accomplishments.
C
Category Archives: News
Reuniting as a Family: What to Expect
Reuniting as a Family: What to Expect
Cedar Hills is reuniting for Sunday morning services beginning June 7th at 8:30am and 11am, and continuing the online streaming at 11am.
We welcome you to attend, if you feel comfortable doing so. There will be a few changes however to our normal services and we want to let you know what to expect.
Preparation:
- We will be taking extra precautions when cleaning the building.
- Please stay home if you are feeling unwell.
- Watching online is recommended if you consider yourself to be in the vulnerable population as it relates to Covid-19.
- If you are uncomfortable meeting in the large service, but ready to take the next step, we encourage you to consider meeting in small groups with a few other friends.
Worshiping Together:
- We are not offering childcare or Sunday classes for children.
- The Coffee Shop will not be open. BYOC (bring your own coffee).
- We will have sanitizer and masks available for use. Please bring your own mask if you have one.
- Mask wearing is optional and appreciated.
- We ask all family members to sit together and maintain physical distance from other groups.
- We encourage you to refrain from touching other people or things unnecessarily.
- We will not pass an offering plate during service. Instead, you may leave it in an offering basket in the back of the Worship Center or give online (in the church app or link on website) or send by mail. Thank you for your continued generosity!
Because we are loved by God, it is our pleasure to Love, Belong, and Serve with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We look forward to seeing you in person or online June 7th.
Sincerely,
Cedar Hills Leadership and Staff
Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
Update from Consistory – May 17
May 17, 2020
Cedar Hills Family,
At our weekly Consistory meeting, one of our leaders shared Isaiah 60:22 “I am God. At the right time, I will make it happen.” We hope that this passage will stand as the testimony of our many lengthy discussions about reopening our building to host in-person activities again.
Discerning our next step has been more difficult than we might have anticipated as we prayerfully weigh diverse opinions, data, and options. We think it is important for you to know our priorities.
- We trust in God and we strive to lead in dependence on him. God holds us all in his hands!
- We place a high value on connection and relationships that are hospitable, authentic, forgiving, and restorative. Gathering together matters.
- We seek wisdom about the safety of our community based on relevant data for Linn, Johnson, and Benton counties. We care about the well-being of our community.
- We will reopen when we have clear guidelines and have adequately prepared our building and volunteers to follow the guidelines. We are in new territory and we want to get it right.
- We believe in grace for people on all sides of this – sometimes contentious – issue. We will love those who are ready and those who are not.
As with all other organizations who are navigating reopening, we will no doubt do so in phases. With each phase, the guidelines will evolve and we will communicate the new expectations. Of course, we are excited to get back to normal. Cedar Hills is a community built on relationships; and we can’t wait to reunite in-person! But, we will wait until we can get back to “normal” safely. Thanks for your patience and support along the way.
Reopening is a big, important decision. We trust that at the right time God will make it happen! We appreciate your prayers as we continue to discern and plan.
We miss you and hope to see you soon!
The Consistory
Sunday, May 17 Information
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Watch Live at 11am (music begins at 10:50am)
Video Highlights:
- 90 Seconds of Encouragement, 5-14-20 – Pastor Kent
- Last Sunday 5-10-20 – God’s Grace Produces Reconciliation
- A Worship Moment – “Stand in Your Love” – with Leah Carolan
Cedar Hills Kids:
- Explorers Kids Worship – “Where I Belong” – with Rick Carolan
- Explorers Kids Lesson – Love Foundation, pt.4 – with Rick Carolan
- A printable prayer to hang at home – 2 more weeks! (Send us your pics of where you hang it using the ‘’submit picture” button in the Cedar Hills app)
News:
- Become a Member of Cedar Hills – New eight week class begins June 7. Have you been at Cedar Hills for a while, but are unsure how to connect further? Our new partnership class is your next step. At Cedar Hills, we are the kind of people who share hospitality… Read more
- An Update from Pastor Kent – I want to update you on our plans for re-opening in-person worship gatherings and share perspective on the future of our ministry. First, the short update: We hope to meet together soon, but not yet… Read more.
- 2020 Graduates – Last call! Due Wednesday! Cedar Hills will be recognizing our graduates on May 24th. Please register to be recognized by filling out this form.
- The Cedar Hills App
Download the Cedar Hills app. Use it for mobile giving, submitting prayer requests, the Bible, weather updates, and insider information. Download now
Worship Moment: Stand in Your Love
Enjoy a few minutes of worship along with Leah Carolan, leading “Stand in Your Love”, one of our favorites.
New Members Class – “You Belong”
Have you been at Cedar Hills for a while, but are unsure how to connect further?
Our new members class “You Belong” is your next step.
At Cedar Hills, we are the kind of people who share hospitality, authenticity, forgiveness, and restoration. There are hundreds of methods for sharing these characteristics, but connection is what allows us to thrive. This class will be your invitation to connect further with others at Cedar Hills.
Our current class is running June 7-July 26 in rooms 134/135. You may attend in person or via the Zoom app.
Here is the required info to join the Zoom call:
Topic: You Belong Membership
Time: Sundays, 09:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85901780685?pwd=REc0bHFZTlpvYUI3ZFdIVkxPTkU1QT09
Meeting ID: 859 0178 0685
Password: 649832
If you have not registered, please let us know to expect you! REGISTER NOW
90 Second Word of Encouragement 5-14-20
A 90-second
Word of Encouragement
from Pastor Kent
May 14, 2020
Midweek Update 5-13-20
Midweek Update
May 13, 2020
Tonight’s Prayer Meeting:
Video Updates:
News Highlights:
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Worship Moment: Build My Life
Worship Moment
Enjoy this moment of worship with Leah Carolan, leading “Build My Life”. Our favorite line: “I will build my life upon Your love. It is a firm foundation.”
An Update From Pastor Kent
An Update from Pastor Kent
May 8, 2020
Dear Cedar Hills Family,
I want to update you on our plans for re-opening in-person worship gatherings and share perspective on the future of our ministry.
First, the short update: We hope to meet together soon, but not yet. When it becomes legal, wise, and safe (not just legal) for us to gather for in-person worship again, we will joyfully do so. Until then, we will continue to gather online instead.
Second, the planning. Last week when Governor Reynolds lifted legal restrictions on religious gatherings in all 99 counties, many people were surprised. The announcement came sooner than expected and placed the decision about reopening with each individual congregation. At that time our consistory and staff began praying, discerning, and planning.
While we don’t want to rush back too soon and put our church family, or the community we love, at risk; we also don’t want to wait too long to get back together again as a church family. When we do re-gather, social distancing and other safety protocols to protect us from unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 will no doubt remain in place. As our plan comes together we will share additional details.
And now, some perspective on our ministry. We are called as a congregation to make disciples who love, belong, and serve. The pandemic does not change our mission. We carry out our mission by offering hospitality, authenticity, forgiveness, and restoration. The pandemic has not changed our values. Mission and values are one thing – strategy is another. The pandemic is challenging our strategy.
Challenging times call for creative solutions. We are blessed with gifted staff and leaders who love the church and long to see us connect more deeply. We see Cedar Hills as a place for belonging and now is a time when people are hungry to reconnect. Consider how God is calling you to connect with others through these opportunities.
- We will continue to connect online. This opportunity includes Facebook Live worship, Zoom groups, and individually reaching out with phone calls, texts, and emails.
- When it is deemed safe, we will connect in person. Think about who you want to connect with in larger group worship, or in-home worship watch parties, or in small groups. When gathering in-person, always follow the recommendations for six feet of physical space, regular hand washing, and do not gather if you are unwell.
- Everyone wants a friend – especially now. We will use this unique time as an opportunity to grow neighborhood connections by boldly loving your neighbors, co-workers, and family members. Reach out in safe ways to love and serve others. You can be a bright spot of hope to someone who might be very discouraged and anxious!
Imagine how fun and refreshing it will be to connect (six feet apart for now!) with new friends in your church family, in your workplace, and in your neighborhood. Imagine bringing life you help the disconnected feel real belonging. Imagine how good it will feel to endure this season of uncertainty and find our way back to wide-open doors welcoming disciples. Imagine our community transformed! Imagine hope, not fear!!
We are the kind of people who unlock doors for people. The pandemic does not change that even if it invites us to imagine new ways of connection. May God bless us as with strong imaginative powers. “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7
The Lord be with you,
Pastor Kent
P.S. Thanks for your generous support through prayers and financial gifts. You are making a difference as we make disciples who love, belong, and serve together!