What We’re Doing This Month
During May we continue our Spring Discipleship Series, Land, Food and Work: Cultivating a More Beautiful World. The series will focus especially on our Community Farm and help everyone at Cedar Ridge to find a way to serve on the farm. We’ll celebrate the beauty of eating good food as we also increase our understanding of and commitment to the social justice issues relevant to land and food. We’ll also examine a sacred view of work (both on the farm and in our everyday lives) and endeavor to find ways of experiencing God in the ordinary and routine things of life. There will also be “Questions for Reflection” made available each Sunday related to the message that week. These could be used for personal reflection or group discussion but groups are encouraged to prioritize service on the farm over group discussion for this series. You can download these from our website or pick up a handout after each service. The handouts will also include ideas for action and further reading.
Sunday Message Speaker
Series: Land, Food and Work: Cultivating a More Beautiful World
May 6 Just Food Matthew Dyer
May 13 The Spirit of Work Bryan Peterson
May 20 Experiencing God in the Ordinary Matthew Dyer
May 27 Ways of Knowing God
All ages together at the 9 and 11AM services Bryan Peterson Betsy Mitchell Henning
Important Dates
May 6: Spring Quarterly Leaders Gathering
Cedar Ridge Leaders from all ministry areas are warmly invited to our Spring Leaders Gathering in the barn at 12:45-2:30PM on Sunday, May 6. We will be discussing some important developments about the future leadership of our church and working on our own spiritual growth as leaders. Childcare and a light lunch of soup and bread will be provided if you sign up on our website.
Sunday∙ May 6 ∙ 12:45-2:30PM ∙ Barn
May 11: Middle School Retreat
Friday, May 11, through Sunday, May 13, the middle schoolers will be returning to the Harper's Ferry area for another fun filled camping and whitewater rafting weekend. Please contact Lisa Dyer for more information.
Friday ∙ May 11 through Sunday, May 13 ∙ Harper’s Ferry Area
May 17: Prayer Practice
As we wrap up our look at the spiritual aspects of land, food and work and head into the summer vacation season, join a small group in the historic barn to reflect on the coming season of rest and refreshment. We’ll explore a variety of contemplative prayer practices, share some conversation and spend time in silence as we explore God’s provision for rest and renewal. Newcomers are more than welcome! Contact Melanie Griffin for more information.
Thursday ∙ May 17 ∙ 7-9PM ∙ Barn
Cedar Ridge Farm Update
All discipleship groups are encouraged to consider spending time working on the farm during this series. Additionally, all individuals are welcome to visit and work on the farm at your convenience. For the farm signup use the Cedar Ridge website or the signup at the farm table in the commons to schedule your visit. A Farm Team leader will be present on the farm to coordinate and direct activity each Monday through Thursday evening from 6-8PM and each Saturday morning from 8-10AM with other options on Sunday afternoons. Groups can also coordinate with the farm team if another time works best.
Each group can work at its own pace and time schedule. Each time the farm is “open” for work the barn will also be open with round tables set up downstairs so that groups could work on the farm and then retire to the barn for discussion. The picnic tables outside the farmhouse would also be great locations for discussions.
Student Service Learning Hours are also available and approved by Montgomery County, for those who need them.
Community Potluck Picnic
After second service on Sunday, May 20, we will all join together for a potluck picnic. Please bring a main dish, side dish or dessert to share. We will be focusing on the principles we have been discussing in our series, so we encourage you to bring something homemade and wholesome. When you arrive on Sunday you can either keep it with you during the service and then take it out to the picnic tables at the end of the service or leave it on a serving table close to the picnic tables near the farmhouse. Cold drinks will be provided. Please bring your homemade delicacies in containers that can be taken home with you when you leave to minimize waste.
Sunday ∙ May 20 ∙ 12:45-3:00PM ∙ Outdoors
Supporting Our Youth-Adult Guatemala Trip
This July, a team of 7 students and 11 adults from Cedar Ridge will head to Ipala, Guatemala to continue our international partnership. In the months ahead, please consider generously supporting the following fundraising activities. Stay tuned for more details, or contact Bryan Peterson for more information.
- Weekly - fair trade Guatemalan coffee sales in the Commons.
- May 20 - Car Wash during services
- June 9 - Guatemala Gala 2.0 (including Silent Auction)
- June 17 - Bake Sale
- July 1 - Car Wash during services
- To Be Determined - Parents' Night Out
Sunday Morning Discussion Group
Sunday Morning Discussion of Philip Yancey’s What's So Amazing About Grace? begins Sunday, June 3, in the Barn from 9–10:30AM. Over the summer months we will explore grace at the street level. This book will help us answer questions like: If grace is God's love for the undeserving, then what does it look like in action? Yancey sets grace in the midst of life's stark images and tests its mettle against horrific "ungrace." Please bring your own book. If you have questions, contact Jim Paraboschi.
The Labyrinth at Cedar Ridge
Our Labyrinth is a beautiful installation of stone in a serene setting in the meadow behind the main building. A labyrinth is an ancient tool for prayer and peace, its winding path symbolizing the beauty and complexity of the spiritual journey. All are welcome to walk the path to the center of the labyrinth to experience calm and healing of mind, body and spirit. For additional information on the labyrinth, please pick up a brochure from the commons.
Opportunities to Serve
- Help Needed to Run Sound & Screen Projection on Sunday Mornings: We need more sound operators and screen projectionists for our Sunday morning services. Please consider serving just once a month. Previous experience is helpful (especially for sound), and we will provide training. You will get to be part of a very fun team. Contact Betsy Mitchell Henning for more information.
- Communion Prep Team: Bless your church family on Sundays! Every week we share communion, and every week people serve by preparing the bread and juice for all of us. If you want to help with this vital behind-the-scenes work, contact Betsy Mitchell Henning.
- Come join us every other Saturday (May 19 and June 2) for the Property Workdays, 8AM-noon, as our community gathers to care for our buildings and land. Contact Mark Hartley for more information.
- If you see ‘999’ above the screens, immediate need for that means we have a need for helpers in the children’s ministry. If interested, please step out and check in at the children’s ministry desk in the Commons.
- Children’s Ministry Team: In order to give our regular leaders some well-deserved time off this summer, we are looking for people who can be a part of our Sunday morning schedule. Please contact Bryan Peterson for more information.
Calendar
Tuesdays in May Yes, My Kid Meetings—7PM
Weekly Fair Trade Guatemalan Coffee Sales in the Commons
Sunday, May 6 Spring Quarterly Leaders Gathering
Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 13 Middle School Retreat in Harper’s Ferry
Thursday, May 17 Prayer Practice
Saturday, May 19 Property Workday
Sunday, May 20 Community Potluck
Car Wash during service
Sunday, May 27 All Ages Together at 9 and 11AM Services
Saturday, June 2 Property Workday
Sunday, June 3 Sunday Morning Discussion Group – Barn—9AM
Sunday, June 9 Guatemala Gala 2.0 (including Silent Auction)
Sunday, June 17 Bake Sale
Sunday, July 1 Car Wash During Services
To Be Determined Parents’ Night Out