What We’re Doing This Month

Cedar Ridge is a community of hope and transformation dedicated to following Jesus. At the beginning of each fall we spend some time refocusing ourselves on this vision. This September we will be looking ahead at the year to come and considering our own response to the wonderful invitation and opportunity to grow as followers of Jesus. On September 19 we’ll have a Commitment Sunday where new parents can dedicate themselves, where we can be baptized and where people wanting to make Cedar Ridge their spiritual home can make the commitment of membership (see opposite). We’ll all enjoy a potluck lunch together after second service that day and celebrate our community.

We then begin our fall discipleship series, which will be focused on our relationships. This will be an exciting series, so check out the information opposite and make sure you sign up for a discipleship group.

Sunday, September 5
Message: Embracing Hope
Speaker: Matthew Dyer

Sunday, September 12
Message: Living Our Vision
Speaker: Matthew Dyer

Sunday, September, 19
Commitment Sunday
Speaker: Matthew Dyer

Sunday, September 26
Message: Renovation of the Heart
Speaker: Fred Morse

Global Engagement at Cedar Ridge

Good things are happening with Global Engagement at Cedar Ridge! We are very excited about the relationships we’re building with our friends in Ipala, Guatemala and with Ipaltecos in the DC metro area. Currently the team is exploring a Habitat for Humanity project in Guatemala and planning events for fall here with the local Guatemalan community. If you are interested in these or other Global Engagement opportunities and upcoming plans, contact Charles Guedenet.

Opportunities to Serve

• Property Workdays are every other Saturday: September 18 and October 2, 8 AM-Noon. Contact Kirk Hoffman for more info.
• We need people to join our greeter team and help make Cedar Ridge a friendly and welcoming place each Sunday morning. It only takes coming 20 minutes before a service once a month. Please contact Kirk Hoffman or catch him in the commons.

Important Dates

September 16: Prayer Practice

The third Thursday of each month is an opportunity to take time to slow down from the busyness and stress of life. We engage in different methods of prayer that may help us be more deeply present to God and our lives in the present moment. All are welcome; no registration or prior experience required. No food or childcare. Contact Patsy Fratanduono for more information.

Thursday ∙ September 16 ∙ 7­- 9 PM ∙ Barn 1st Floor

September 19: Commitment Sunday

On this day, we will celebrate New Members (from The Journey), Child Dedications, and Baptisms. If you are interested in participating, please contact Betsy Mitchell Henning by Wednesday, September 15.

Sunday ∙ September 19 ∙ 9 and 11 AM Services

September 19: Church-wide Potluck

On this day we will have a Church-wide Potluck after the 11:00 AM service as a time to celebrate our community. This will be a time that you can sign up for a Discipleship Group. We hope you’ll join us. Please bring a main dish, side dish or dessert to share.

Sunday ∙ September 19 ∙ 12:45 PM ∙ Outside if weather permits

September 25: Burtonsville Day

Come serve our local community at this annual neighborhood event where we will be picking up trash and helping with cleanup. We will be providing two crews. Meet at Paint Branch High School parking lot at 9:30AM and follow the Cedar Ridge haywagon at the back of procession to pick up trash. Or meet at the Marilyn J. Praisner Community Center at 3PM to help clean up. Each crew will serve for about an hour. Please sign up on Sunday, September 12 or 19. For more contact Elaine Hill.

Saturday ∙ September 25 ∙ 9:30 AM & 3 PM

September 26: Quarterly Leadership Gathering

All Cedar Ridge leaders from all ministry areas are warmly invited to our
Fall Leadership Gathering. We'll be looking back over the past quarter and sharing plans for the fall and beyond. Come and give feedback and share your input. A simple lunch of homemade soup and bread will be provided. Sign up on our website if you’ll attend, and let us know if you can bring soup.

Sunday ∙ September 26 ∙ 12:45-3:30 PM ∙ Barn 1st Floor

October 17: Harvest Festival (One church service at 10 AM)

This will be an all-church gathering— a day to praise God for the abundance in our lives. We will celebrate the farm, including pumpkin harvest, games, and a meal together. One Sunday service at 10 AM with all ages together.

Sunday ∙ October 17 ∙ One service at 10 AM

Completing Our Children and Youth Ministry Teams

As we prepare to kickoff a new ministry year, we are looking for a few more key players to help our younger people follow Jesus. Specifically, we’re looking for adults or teens who can serve on a regular basis (weekly, biweekly, or other) with these groups.

• 9 AM: Preschool helper, K-1st grade helper
• 11 AM: Nursery, 2-3 year old helper, K-1st grade helper, 2nd-3rd grade leader and helper, 4th-5th grader leader and helper

Our middle school and high school teams would welcome your involvement as well. If you want to find our more, please contact Bryan Peterson as soon as possible. Opening Day is September 12. Thanks, and go team!

Fall Discipleship Series

In October will begin a new discipleship series called “Longing for Friendship: Daring to Draw Close.” We all need friendships and especially friendships where we can be open and honest; friendships that help us heal and grow to be more like Jesus. We not only believe we can experience this but we have great hope that we can be this to others as well. We want to be a community where everyone looks out for the concerns of others and no one is alone. During this series we will be meeting in small groups, engaging in meaningful opportunities to strengthen our relationships. Many groups continue meeting and new groups will be forming. If you would like to become involved in a Discipleship Group or find out more about them, stop by the table in the commons or contact Patsy Fratanduono.  Groups begin the week of October 3.

Signups: Sundays, September 19 & 26 after each service

Discipleship Group Materials

During the Sunday services for the first three weeks of the series we will present three different books that will be suitable for group discussion. Each group will then choose one of these books for study and discussion, or the discipleship series material “Who AM I?”. We will be looking at some of the issues (both personal and cultural) that can seem to help or hinder us in meeting our deepest needs for relationship. We will spend the series  seeking to draw closer together through learning, conversation and prayer. 

Discipleship Group Leader Meeting

If you are a current, past or aspiring small group leader, please plan to join us on Tuesday evening, Sept 21 from 7-9 pm where we will discuss plans for the fall and beyond, supporting group leaders for the new discipleship series. If you are unable to make that meeting, please join us at the quarterly leader gathering on Sunday September 26th after 2nd service from 12:45-3:00 pm (see info on opposite page) Contact Patsy to RSVP for Tuesday meeting or for more information.

Tuesday, September 21 ∙ 7–9 PM or Sunday, September 26 ∙ 12:45–3 PM 

Our Community, Our Farm

Farm Parties are opportunities for people to work together on the farm. These will take place evenings from 5:30-7 PM. September Farm Parties will be hosted by the following people on the dates listed:

Sept. 1:  Tinica Mather

Sept. 2:  Beth Burgess

Sept. 7:  Bryan Peterson

Sept. 8:  Kirk Hoffman

Sept. 10:  Lisa Cobb

Sept.13: Tinica Mather

Sept. 15:  Matthew Dyer 

Sept. 17:  Hope Dolan

Sept. 21:  Matthew Dyer

Sept. 22:  Men’s Group

Sept. 23:  Beth Burgess

Sept. 27:  Hope Dolan

Sept. 29:  Patsy Fratanduono