Category Archives: Uncategorized

Rise to the Occasion Sourdough Party

January 25 – Rise to the Occasion Sourdough Party

All ladies are invited to Lindsey Ungs’ house on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6pm for a sourdough party. “Rise to the Occasion”.  Please kindly RSVP on our Facebook event so we have a starter for everyone.

Dive into the world of sourdough with our Beginners’ Sourdough Bread Class – it’s all about the good vibes and great bread!
We will be gathering at Lindsey Ungs’ home where Lindsey & Lauren will spill their secrets, share their laughs and create sourdough magic!
No experience needed – we’ll show you how to create that awesome tangy goodness from scratch. Get your hands messy, learn the tricks of the trade, and discover the joy of baking your own delicious sourdough bread.
Come hungry for fun, leave with the skills to impress your taste buds and your friends.
Everyone will leave with their very own Sourdough Starter so please RSVP to claim yours!  Let’s get baking!

DIRECTIONS to Lindsey’s house

Stay up to date with our women’s ministry by joining the “Women in Fellowship and Faith”  Facebook group.

Super Bowl Subs Fundraiser

 


Orders Due Wednesday, Feb. 7

Order subs for the big game! The Journey youth prepare your sub orders fresh on the day of the game for pickup after either service.

Subs are $7 each and directly fund trips, conferences and activities for our middle school and high school youth.

ORDER ONLINE

Complete your order online and pay using our online payment system, or bring your payment to the church office.

PRINT ORDER FORM

Print your order form and return to the church office by Wednesday, Feb. 7.  Cash or check for payment.

High School Retreat


HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT – January 20-21 at Lake View Camp in Pella.  Youth will join other high school students from around Iowa for worship, games and encountering God.

REGISTER ONLINE or print and complete registration form and return it to the office.  For online registration, use code CH2023 for 1/2 off! (lowers cost down to just $37.50).

Full scholarships are available if you contact Pastor Steve.   We will leave from Cedar Hills at 8am January 20th and return around 4pm January 21st.

New Class: Ephesians

SUNDAY CLASS: Ephesians

Begins Sunday, January 7 at 9:45am

Imagine living in a city of 250,00 people and you are proud to brag that it is the 4th largest city in the known world. Rome is the government that currently rules you, but they have not restricted your freedom to worship in any of the magnificent temples that surround you. Then there came a hiccup in your life. A man name Paul came to visit and stayed for an extended time. He presented a message that changed your way of life. Now as Christian, living in Ephesus, the city has become a hostile environment, to say the least.

After Paul left, our question has become, “How do we live when the voices of those who surround us are no longer accepting and friendly?”

In 2024 there are times when the world is trying to change the course of our life. Paul writes letter giving us a renewed hope and focus. Bring your bibles. Experience truth that reaches out and touches us today.

Abundant Love

In 2024, we are focusing on growing to be a generous people — so confident in our knowledge of God’s love for us that we are freed to give of our time, resources and skills abundantly to our family, church, and community.  Free in such a way we can give without fear, anxiety, or worry that we’ll have enough.

We are declaring it a year of living with open hands.

Do not forget to do good and to share with others. Hebrews 13:16a

Overview: Focus on the spiritual practice of giving.

Generosity involves so much more than simply giving money. All kinds of giving flow from gospel-transformed hearts touched by God’s lavish love. Radical, whole-life generosity flows from a grateful response to God’s generosity toward us.  

Goals: Grow generosity.

  • Grow awareness of our dependence on God.
  • Grow our response of sacrificial generosity.
  • Do good to everyone. (and not grow weary). Gal. 6:9-10

Some key verses:

    • Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
    • For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:
  • Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6
  • They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Acts 2:45

Themes: Whole-life generosity.

  • Generosity and God’s Grace
  • Generosity and Relationships/Forgiveness
  • Generosity and Hospitality 
  • Generosity and Ministry/Spiritual Gifts
  • Generosity and Money/Wealth
  • Generosity and Power/Influence
  • Generosity and Justice

Connection Sunday Dec. 31

Come Sunday, Dec. 31 ready to connect with others over coffee and donuts in between services at 9:30-11am.  There are no Sunday Classes this Sunday.

If you are a Prayer Champion, makes plans to connect with your student or family.

We are focusing on intergenerational relationships at Cedar Hills, recognizing that the faith of the next generation can be greatly influenced by being surrounded by adults of another generation.  Youth and adults can be seen ministering next to one another in our worship ministries, youth ministries, food pantry and more!

One generation commends your works to another. They tell of your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

How Resilient Are You?

How Resilient Are You?

As one year rolls into another I like to do a review. How did I fair in the past year? How did our congregation fair?

We are on a mission to make disciples who flourish. I recently learned that some people call flourishing disciples “resilient disciples.” Resilient disciples…

  • …attend church at least monthly and engage with their church more than just attending worship services.
  • …trust firmly in the authority of the Bible.
  • …commit to Jesus personally and affirm that he was crucified and raised from the dead to conquer sin and death.
  • …express a desire to transform the broader society as an outcome of their faith.

Does this describe you? If not you might be a “habitual churchgoer.” (You have attended church at least once in the past month, but do not have foundational core beliefs or behaviors associated with being a resilient disciple.) Or you might be a nomad. (You have not attended church during the past month and have not been involved with a faith community for six months or more.)

If you are taking stock – this matters. Those who claim to be Christian but do not have resilience do not flourish. To see the data on why this matters, look at what the Barna researchers discovered.

How resilient are you? Right now is the best time to re-engage and find flourishing by following Jesus!

May the Lord be with you,

Pastor Kent

 

Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

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