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February 3 E-Post

February 3, 2010 - 8:03am

CONTENTS

Church Community News

1.   E-Post Award

2.   Winter Weather Cancellation Information

Getting Involved: Meeting Needs In Our Church, Community, and World

3.   Shooting Video – A Unique Opportunity on Sundays

4.   Nursery Questionnaire

5.   Leader Needs for Children’s Ministry

6.   Lend a Hand for Snow Removal

7.   Welcome to Our 2010 Farm

Getting Connected: Opportunities to Live, Learn, and Grow With Cedar Ridge

8.   Winter Discipleship Series Open Discussion Forums

9.   The Journey

10, Prayer Practice

11. A Simple Way to Help Someone

12. Parent Potluck

13. Welcome Lunch

14. Quarterly Leadership Gathering

PostScript

Contact Information

CHURCH COMMUNITY NEWS

1.   E-Post Award

As I, Beth Burgess, approach my last full month as Director of Facilities, I want to choose my last e-post award to be given to one of the first people that ever got this honor and thanks back in 2000. He is truly a good friend and a faithful worker. This man has outworked all of us with his time, dedication, perseverance and love for Cedar Ridge. Back when we purchased the property in 1996, he was faithful to our Saturday work days of collapsing old sheds, removing debris and of course mowing the grounds. Since that time much has changed as we've added prayer walks, renovated the barn, added a labyrinth and even a farm. But Lester Whitmer's love for this land and love for seeing it as beautiful and pristine as it can be has never changed. I have never met a more hardworking and, yes, stubborn volunteer who takes full ownership of anything he is passionate about. I hope to be just like him. :-) Lester, we could not have done this without you. Thank you for the countless hours you have given to Cedar Ridge on workdays, on Thursdays, on Sundays and everything in between. We have all benefited and been blessed by you, and I truly treasure who you are.

2.   Winter Weather Cancellation Information

It has been a snowy season already. One important update is that our call line for weather cancellation  has been changed to extension 28. So when there is ice or snow, you can call the church and listen to the closing update at 301-384-7444 extension 28. Or you can go to the front page of our website (www.crcc.org), and we will post any closings or church service cancellations. Below are a few points to keep in mind:

  • For Sunday services, we will post closures by 7AM on Sunday morning.
  • For midweek evening activities, we post closures by 5PM.
  • Youth activities follow Montgomery County schools for closures so listen to the radio or go to the county website for county school closings.
  • Please help us spread the word and be sure to inform your small groups or ministries when you know Cedar Ridge is closed.
  • As leaders of ministry, you can cancel meetings even when the church is open but please contact your people and, if possible, let your staff ministry leader know too. (Having an email list or phone tree is helpful to contact Cedar Ridge people in advance of bad weather).
  • Finally, if you are a key holder and are the leader of your ministry, please be on time for your winter gatherings by arriving at least 15 minutes prior to any meeting to prevent people from being locked out of the building. Our smaller sized staff may not be here when you arrive to let you in the door. Be safe and always use caution; we hope to see you at Cedar Ridge during this winter season.

GETTING INVOLVED: MEETING NEEDS IN OUR CHURCH, COMMUNITY, AND WORLD

3.   Shooting Video: A Unique Opportunity on Sundays

For more than 10 years, Russ Delaney has been heading up our Message Video team at Cedar Ridge Community Church - shooting the message nearly every Sunday, editing the video and posting the video and audio files to the website. You may never have noticed the sermon videos on the website, but for people in our community who are ill, or who are working or traveling on Sundays, they're a vital link; really important, both for individual growth and for feeling like part of our church family.

With Russ leaving this position, it's time to expand the team. I'd love to have 4-6 more people who are all capable of shooting and posting sermon videos to the web, so that we can have a regular rotation with subs to cover vacations and illnesses. If you're a recreational home video shooter, this is a great chance to help people, refine your technique and learn some new technology.

This team is open to teenagers as well as adults. (Middle schooler...let's talk.)

Team members need the following qualities:

      1. Some experience shooting live video or still photos.

      2. Willingness to learn and be guided by staff and other team members.

      3. Internet access, so that you can post information to our website (it's easy, we'll teach you.)

      4. You must be dependable and able/willing to coordinate schedules with other team members.

      5. You should be a person who sees the importance of these teaching videos and the website in our mission   

          of discipleship, community and inclusion.     

If you're interested, would like to suggest someone, or have any questions, please contact Betsy Mitchell Henning.

4.   Nursery Questionnaire

If you are interested in using the nursery, will you please go online to answer a questionnaire? We'd like to have some feedback from parents about our nursery. The link can be found on the Children page of the Cedar Ridge website. Thanks!

5.   Leader Needs for Children’s Ministry

We currently have opportunities for leaders to join some of our teams. If you are interested in being a part of ministry to children in Elementary school and younger on Sunday mornings, please contact Leigh-Ellen Curl.

  • 11AM Nursery Team
  • 9AM Preschool Leader
  • 11AM K/1 Leader
  • 11AM 2nd/3rd Grade Leader

6.   Lend a Hand for Snow Removal

If you live close to Cedar Ridge and enjoy spending time outside in the snow, we invite you to be part of our snow removal team. The role is flexible. We could use help during the week if you are off from work, we could use your help as soon as it snows, and we can use help on Sunday mornings before church starts to ensure safety for everyone! We can train you on the truck and plow, the tractor Kubota, the walk behind snow blower or the good old fashion hard working shovel. There is much to be done when it snows: we have to clear the main drive, parking spots, walkways and all fire exits for our church and barn. If you have any interest in helping out for a one time snow or throughout the winter weather, please let Mark Hartley know. Until then, Stay Warm!

7.   Welcome to our 2010 Farm

That's right! We just launched our first meeting to think about and plan for the Farm. We hope to plant a spring crop so we are already working on what to plant and sharing ways you can get involved. We will gather on one Sunday per month to network, share the farm needs, update everyone so you are invited to attend the next few meetings. We need everyone's support and involvement to make this Farm year successful. Sunday, February 14, from 12:30-1:30PM in Room 105 is a quick touching base meeting about roles. And Sunday, March 14, from 12:30-2:30PM is a more details meeting about our spring planting. For questions or to get you or your family involved, contact Beth Burgess. Also, go to the crcc.org website and click Farm on the front page to find out how our meeting went and ways to support this community effort!

GETTING CONNECTED: OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE, LEARN, AND GROW WITH CEDAR RIDGE

8.   Winter Discipleship Series Open Discussion Forums

The current Discipleship Series "Our Journey of Hope: Following the Dangerous Way of Jesus" has been an important time for examining our values and what it looks like to pursue our vision of following Jesus together in real life as a community.  It has proven exciting and also challenging at times.  Anyone is welcome to come to one or all of the open forums to dialogue about themes from the series, talk through questions, raise concerns, listen to and engage in discussion with senior pastor Matthew Dyer and other leaders of the church.  These dates are:

  • Sunday, February 7                 8:30-10AM         during first service in Room 105
  • Thursday, February 11             7-9PM                       Cedar Ridge Barn
  • Tuesday, February 23              7-9PM                       Cedar Ridge Barn

9.   The Journey

We will be offering two Journey seminars for anyone who in interested in membership and has been participating in the current discipleship series "Following the Dangerous Way of Jesus".  These three hour group times are a chance to get to know the pastors and discuss our vision and values and consider a more serious commitment to following Jesus at Cedar Ridge.  Plan on attending one: Saturday, February 20, 9:30AM-12:30PM in the Barn or Sunday, March 14, 12:45-3:45PM. Light snacks and drinks provided, but no childcare.  RSVP required. Contact Patsy Fratanduono to register or for more information.  

10. Prayer Practice

Come find shelter in the warmth of God’s Love at this month’s Prayer Practice, Thursday, February 18, from 7 to 9PM.  Together we explore practices that help the mind, heart and body rest in the Divine Presence, including Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, guided meditation, breath prayer and other ways of learning to be still and at peace in the loving presence of God.  We also spend time discussing how to grow toward living more mindfully and into carrying a deeper awareness of the sacred in our daily lives.  Everyone is welcome. Gather at the Cedar Ridge Community Church historic Barn, first floor.  No registration or prior experience required.  No food or childcare.   Contact Patsy Fratanduono for more information.

11. A Simple Way to Help Someone

In just a few weeks, Cedar Ridge is hosting a Blood Drive run by the American Red Cross. They are very low on both blood and donations and could use our support. Sunday, February 21, between 8:30AM and 2:30PM will be our opportunity to serve our local community and maybe even save a life. Sign-ups with clear time schedules will be available on Sunday, February 8 and 15, in the Commons.

We need 60 people committed to be a donor in order for the Red Cross to gather their volunteers to coordinate this service. Because of the timeframe, we are hoping you will be able to donate during first service if you are normally a second service attender and vice versa for 9AM. And for those who help out and attend both services, we hope you can volunteer after second service. We do not want you to miss service nor your Cedar Ridge commitments. Challenge a friend to donate with you and then sign up on the same schedule to enjoy the time together. For questions, contact Beth Burgess. Donors must be in good health (no colds), be at least 17-years-old, weigh more than 110 pounds. You should not donate if you received a tattoo this past year or have donated blood within the past 56 days. The Red Cross was so grateful for our donations last year and are working to do everything to receive all donors and make this a more efficient and effective process. Instead of the bus, we will be indoors down the 100 corridor and in room 105. We hope the transition will make everything more efficient. Thanks for signing up!

12. Parent Potluck

We are having a potluck for parents of children in elementary school and younger on February 21 from 12:45-2:30PM in the Barn.  Many parents who attended our November potluck enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other parents, and continue building community and support. If you would like to RSVP, please go to the Children page of the Cedar Ridge website. Thanks!

13. Welcome Lunch

On Sunday, February 14, we will host a welcome lunch in room 202 after second service (please note the date has changed from February 7 in view of the middle and high school parents’ potluck). Everyone is welcome to attend. The lunch will be especially geared towards people who are new to Cedar Ridge and would like to find out more and ask questions. Our pastors, Matthew Dyer and Patsy Fratanduono, will be present along with other leaders, and they’ll share a little about Cedar Ridge and respond to questions over a simple lunch. Children are welcome too. Come along to room 202 at 12:30PM. Please contact Matthew Dyer for more details.

14. Quarterly Leadership Gathering

Cedar Ridge Leaders: Part of the way we endeavor to care for our leaders is through leadership gatherings both in individual ministry areas and also, on a quarterly basis, as a whole community of leaders from all areas together. Our next quarterly gathering is on Sunday, February 28 from 12:45 to 3:00PM in the barn at Cedar Ridge. This is an important meeting for all leaders in our church. We’ll be discussing and developing plans for Cedar Ridge. We will be sending out more information about this meeting in the coming weeks, but please mark your calendars now and email Laura Moffitt to let us know that you plan to attend. Lunch is provided.

POSTSCRIPT 

Contact Information

Cedar Ridge Community Church

2410 Spencerville Road, Spencerville, MD 20868

Phone: 301-384-7444

Website: www.crcc.org 



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