What We’re Doing This Month
During March we will be completing our exploration of the book of Genesis, and we will then move into the season of Lent. On March 9 we will mark the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday service, and then for 40 days (not including Sundays) we will observe this traditional season of self-examination and personal reflection where we acknowledge our human frailty and weakness (“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”) and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and inner transformation. For some, going without an outward item (like certain food or certain practices or activities) can help reveal a deeper inward reality or need. Fasting in this way is another tradition of this season. During Lent we will focus on the issue of commitment to Christ through service to the world around us. We’ll examine how we can surrender to the presence of God and partner with God’s Spirit to be agents of love, peace and hope wherever we are. We’ll celebrate this theme before Easter with a special day of service on Palm Sunday (April 17) when we will all gather together as one community at 10AM and then go out in teams on a variety of service projects.
Sunday Message Speaker
Series: Origins: An Exploration of the Book of Genesis
Mar 6 God Meant It for Good: The Story of Joseph Patsy Fratanduono
Mar 13 The God of Covenant Matthew Dyer
Lent Series: Becoming Agents of Love, Peace and Hope
Mar 20 Daring to Dream of Heaven of Earth Matthew Dyer
Mar 27 Missional Communities Matthew Dyer
Opportunities to Serve
- You can help make our community a friendly and welcoming place by signing up once a month as a greeter. It only means coming 20 minutes early for one service! Contact Kirk Hoffman.
- We are looking for a few people who will commit to caring for our Labyrinth in 2011. Interested members would trade off with weeding and landscaping chores and help keep it as a prayerful, meditative space. Please email Kirk Hoffman to find out more.
Lent at Cedar Ridge
Lenten Food Collection
During Lent, we will be collecting food for the St. Camillus Church Food Pantry. The pantry provides emergency food assistance to families in the Silver Spring and Langley Park areas, including many Guatemalan families. We have partnered with St. Camillus through our Farm and Habitat for Humanity trips to Guatemala. A collection box and flyer are located near the women's restroom. Please see the flyer for items needed and more information.
Collections March 9—April 3 ∙ See flyer or website for items needed.
March 8: Shrove Tuesday Community Pancake Dinners
Pancake dinners will be held in homes around the area on Shrove Tuesday to celebrate the beginning of Lent. This is a great opportunity to meet others from the Cedar Ridge community who live near you, so please choose the one closest to you. Your host will contact you with information including the address and what to bring. For more information contact Laura Moffitt.
Sunday ∙ March 6 ∙ Signup ∙ Website or Commons
Tuesday ∙ March 8 ∙ Dinners in Homes
March 9: Ash Wednesday Service
We will gather together on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of the season of Lent with a traditional evening service including the imposition of ashes and periods of reflection and silence. There will be no childcare, but everyone and all ages are welcome.
Wednesday ∙ March 9 ∙ 7-8PM ∙ Auditorium
March 17: Prayer Practice
Commemorate the feast of Saint Patrick with a focus on Celtic spirituality and practices that grow awareness of God's presence in all creation. We'll share discussion, silence, guided meditation and breath prayer. All are welcome. No food or childcare. Contact Patsy Fratanduono for more information.
Thursday ∙ March 17 ∙ 7-9PM ∙ Barn, first floor
April 17: Palm Sunday Day of Service and Lunch
One single service for all ages beginning at 10AM. We will gather to sing and pray and then go out together in teams to serve on various projects in our local community. We’ll then return to Cedar Ridge to celebrate and share stories over lunch. The whole event will be over by 1PM. Don’t miss this wonderful experience of servanthood to begin Holy Week; please contact Matthew Dyer if you would like to help lead or coordinate a service project.
Sunday ∙ April 17 ∙ 10AM-1PM
April 21: Maundy Thursday
Join us for a time of commemorating and reflecting on Jesus' final night on earth spent with his friends before his crucifixion. We will share discussion, communion, guided prayer and silence. All are welcome.
Thursday ∙ April 21 ∙ 7-9PM ∙ Barn
April 22: Good Friday
We'll celebrate the mystery and sacredness of Jesus' suffering and death with a service from 7-8PM with dramatic readings of scripture, meditation and periods of silence.
Friday ∙ April 22 ∙ 7-8PM ∙ Auditorium
April 24: Easter Sunday
We'll gather together as a whole community to commemorate Jesus' resurrection, and celebrate his goodness and power bringing life to all the world. We'll have two identical services at 9 and 11AM that will be enjoyable for the whole family and appropriate for children of all ages. No separate children's Sunday school.
Sunday ∙ April 24 ∙ 9 and 11AM
Save These Dates
April 1-3: High School Spring Retreat
High school students, friends, and leaders will spend a weekend together enjoying meals together, feeding the hungry in DC, having a bonfire, sleeping in barn (or tents optional). Cost is $45 (scholarships and partial weekend rate available). Contact Steve Mather for more information.
Friday-Sunday ∙ April 1, 7:30PM through April 3, 12:30PM - Cedar Ridge
April 10: Spring Quarterly Leaders Gathering
This quarterly gathering of leaders from all areas of our church community is an important meeting in which we will share encouraging, inspiring and community building time together. We will have signups on the website.
Sunday ∙ April 10 ∙ 12:45-3PM ∙ Barn, first floor
April 16: The Journey
The Journey is a fun and meaningful introduction to Cedar Ridge for those interested in membership or finding out more about our church community. To register and get the prior reading material, contact Laura Moffitt.
Saturday ∙ April 16 ∙ 9:30AM-3:30PM ∙ Barn, first floor
Openings in Children’s Ministry
Individuals are needed to fill two regular leader positions on a temporary basis for the next few months, effective immediately. The positions are:
- 9AM: 2nd-3rd grade weekly (or bi-weekly) leader
- 11AM: 2-3 year olds bi-weekly leader
- 11AM: Helpers and subs are also needed for elementary groups
Please contact Bryan Peterson for more information.
Care Circle
Care Circle is a small group of people who gather to pray for Cedar Ridge. They pray for the written prayer requests, send out cards to folks who are ill or who have suffered a loss and send notes to those who have grown their family through a newborn baby or adoption. If you would like to contact Care Circle with a prayer request, news or seek information about how to join with their good work, email Ginnie McLaren or Bev Whitmer.
Cedar Ridge Farm
Even though our official community kickoff is on May 1, we could use some hands during the next couple of months. You could also save two liter soda bottles, plastic fruit containers and Clementine crates to bring in April. Email Kirk Hoffman for more information.
Cedar Ridge Has Bee Hives!
We’re looking for at least three people who’d like to learn to care for our bees. Email Kirk Hoffman to find out more.
Calendar
Thursday, March 3 High School Thursday Nights
Sunday, March 6 Screwtape Letters Discussion Group continues every Sunday through March
St. Camillus Food Drive
Tuesday, March 8 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinners
Wednesday, March 9 Ash Wednesday Service - 7PM
Thursday, March 10 High School Thursday Nights
Sunday, March 13 St. Camillus Food Drive
Thursday, March 17 Prayer Practice
Sunday, March 20 St. Camillus Food Drive
Sunday, March 27 Journey Signups
St. Camillus Food Drive
Friday, April 1 High School Spring Retreat begins
Sunday, April 3 Journey Signups
Signups for Palm Sunday Service Projects
Sunday, April 10 Spring Quarterly Leaders Gathering
Signups for Palm Sunday Service Projects
Saturday, April 16 The Journey
Sunday, April 17 Palm Sunday Day of Service and Lunch
Thursday, April 21 Prayer Practice: Maundy Thursday
Friday, April 22 Good Friday - 7PM
Sunday, April 24 Easter Sunday - 9 and 11AM