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Stay connected at Cedarbrook Community Church—discover upcoming events, gatherings, and opportunities to grow in faith and community.

Assist Kids: Curriculum Prep Assist Prepare classroom materials and supplies during the middle of the week, in preparation for weekend worship services. 2 hours monthly, bi-weekly, weekly Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly 10

Encourage Students: Large Group A/V Technician Encourage Help manage morning through pro-presenter and help create an environment for worship through lighting and sound. 5 hours Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly 4

917c6dab-a235-42b9-912e-91a63e3f01ae Follow me: a disciple knows and follows Jesus When we look at the life of Jesus, it is very clear that his mind and his worldview were deeply formed by the Scriptures. As we read the Gospels, we see that he was literate, conversant, and passionate about the Word of God. And he calls his followers to be the same. A disciple of Jesus needs to understand and embrace the essential teachings of the Bible. Each month we will explore an essential doctrine of God’s Word through video and print resources. We hope that you will find these helpful in your discipleship journey. The Doctrine of God the Son BOOKS Jesus the King by Tim Keller Christ the Eternal King by A. W. Tozer ARTICLES God the Son by John Stange What is the Doctrine of the Trinity? by Matt Perman VIDEOS Is Jesus God? with Charles Stanley The Trinity Explained in 3 Minutes by Jon Oleksiuk NOTES COMMENTS head page

Learn more about Cedarbrook's history. Cedarbrook Community Church was planted by Pastor Paul Abbott and a small group of 40 people from Valley Brook Community Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. This new church began meeting in March of 1989 at the Loews Movie Theater in Gaithersburg, Maryland. OUR STORY In March 1989 Cedarbrook Community Church was planted by Pastor Paul Abbott and a group of 40 Jesus loving people at the Loews Movie Theater in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In those first days, the lighting and sound, Sunday school classes, caregiving, worship and arts, small group leadership – all the activities that are handled today by so many – were carried by just a few dedicated volunteers. These men and women sacrificed their time, energy, and money with the confidence that God would use their efforts to advance the Gospel and make a difference in the lives of others. And He has! During the 1990’s that small handful of men and women saw our church grow... and grow... and grow. New staff and ministries were added. People who had never been to – or given up on – church found a vibrant relationship with Christ and discovered community with others. We moved from the movie theater to the Montgomery Playhouse, and then again to Northwest High School in Germantown. In the summer of 1995, we purchased land in Clarksburg and in June of 2000, we held our first services in our very own church building. We love being part of the Clarksburg community. Since settling here, we have continued to make a difference in the lives of many both inside and outside of our church family. Homes have been provided and furnished for the homeless. Through our Clarksburg Closet ministry, we have provided free clothing for scores of families in need all over Montgomery County. Through our ESOL ministry, hundreds of men and women have been able to learn English in a loving and welcoming environment. Again, and again, we have had a front-row seat to see God at work: lives have been changed, marriages rebuilt, addictions broken, character developed, and relationships restored. As we look to the future, we believe God has good things planned for us. We believe God is doing something special here. We are still learning, and still growing, and we would love to have you join us. There is a place here for you, a place to connect… to grow… and to serve. So, come, join us in this story of faith that God is writing here. The best is yet to come!

Week 5 MEETING GUIDE NOTES ON STRONGHOLDS STRONGHOLDS LIST COUNSELING REFERRALS

WILLIAM FERRY Men's Ministry Leader I’m the Men’s Ministry Leader here at Cedarbrook. I’m married to Joelle, and together we have four amazing kids—Kevin, Emily, Faith, and Derek. When I’m not with the guys or my family, you can usually find me recharging on a dog walk with an audiobook, catching some serenity on the mountain bike trails, or getting humbled every time I lose at pickleball! A fun fact about me: I’m a lifelong learner. I read one Proverb a day—31 days, 31 Proverbs. It’s my daily dose of wisdom. I’ve been blessed with a 20+ year career that’s shaped a lot of who I am professionally. I’m currently a sales executive with Harvey W. Hottel in Gaithersburg, where we provide commercial HVAC, mechanical, and plumbing services. My favorite treat? Easy—chips and salsa. And honestly, one of the things I love most about what I get to do is our daily 5:45am IronMen Leadership Prayer call. It keeps us grounded, connected, and constantly amazed by the grace of God.

Assist Assimilation: Events - Setup and Tear Down Support Assist Set up or tear down church events. 2 - 3 hours seasonal Seasonal 8

JESSIE FREELAND Middle School Ministries Director I’m the Middle School Ministries Director here at Cedarbrook (and for now, I get to hang out with the high school crew too!). It’s just me in my little family, but I stay busy with things I love—like hiking, crafting, and, of course, eating chocolate chip cookies. Cedarbrook has been a part of my story since I was a middle school student myself, so it feels extra special to now be serving students here. Before stepping into this role, I spent many years in childcare as a nanny and in daycare, and I’ve been on staff part-time at Cedarbrook for 5 years, especially focusing on teen girls ministry. My absolute favorite part of the job? Hands down, the students. They’re the best people in the world—full of deep love for God and each other. Getting to walk alongside them is the greatest joy! jessie@cedarbrook.org

On January 21, we're kicking off 7 days of prayer and fasting. For this one week, we want to disconnect from the world through fasting and spend that time praying, connecting with God for three things. For personal revival and a vision of His promises in our lives. For specific opportunities to share the gospel with people in our lives. For our church family and the accomplishment of God’s mission here in the DMV area. On January 19, we're kicking off 7 days of prayer and fasting. For this one week, we want to disconnect from the world through fasting and spend that time praying, connecting with God. Prayer is a lifeline. I have tried so hard to make prayer first in every situation. However, I’ve discovered many times that I often act first then want God to rescue me out of a situation, but prayer should be our premier choice, not our last resort. You see, recognizing the value of prayer as a lifeline is not enough. For prayer to become a part of our life, it needs to become something we look forward to doing, something that doesn’t give us a headache or makes us feel bad doing, but something that rejuvenates us, giving us hope and tangible peace. That’s the purpose of this week, and my ultimate prayer and hope for each of us, is that by practicing praying will help us experience what Paul the Apostle spoke of in Ephesians 3:18-19, to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for you – a lifeline for our daily lives. So whether it’s before the day begins or before you go to bed, whether before you send that text or before you walk into that meeting, whether when bad things happen or before bad things happen, make prayer your lifeline. If you’re a well seasoned Christ follower or need to supercharge your prayers, then add the spiritual discipline of fasting to this week. And as you do so, I’m sure you’ll experience God and his grace for you. I can’t wait to hear the testimonies of all that God is doing and accomplishing in you and through you as you pray and fast. The sections below will guide you through how you can pray or fast, and what we’re praying for each day of this week. I’m praying God moves mightily in your life this week as you take a step of faith in prayer and fasting! Pastor Jonathan P.S. If you want prayer this week, click this link and submit a prayer request so the staff, elders, and other church leaders can pray for you. How Should We Pray? How do we make prayer a part of our everyday life? We can learn from two things that Jesus did in Mark 1:35. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35 ESV) We should pray at a CERTAIN TIME . Jesus got up very early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. For prayer to work, we should do the same. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the morning or evening, but make sure it is a time you can be consistent with praying. Make a daily appointment with God and keep it. We should pray at a CERTAIN PLACE . Jesus had a prayer place. The place Jesus went was desolate on purpose. Your prayer place needs to be an undistracted environment where you can pray aloud and hear from God. Consider finding somewhere distractions can’t find you, or where you can’t access distractions. Maybe have some worship music playing in the background to muffle out the distractions. What Should You Pray? To make the most of your CERTAIN TIME and CERTAIN PLACE , you should go into prayer with a CERTAIN PLAN . Go into your prayer time with a plan. If it changes, that’s fine. For example, when Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave His disciples a prayer outline. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. This is our plan this week. We are going to pray a little bit of the Lord’s prayer each day for 7 days. The Lord’s prayer can be found in Luke 11:2-4 and in Matthew 6:9-13. Below is the version from the Gospel of Matthew. 9 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for yours is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.* (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV) Daily Prayer Prompts 01 Ask God to be your good father Our Father in heaven…. God loves for us to call Him our Father. Today, pray to establish your intimate relationship with Him and thank Him for the relationship you have with Him. Ask him to teach you this week and speak to you in your time of prayer. · Start this prayer by acknowledging God as your father. · Express your longing for his love. · Ask for specific ways he can be your father. · Share with God how you are willing to obey. 02 Worship God’s Name …hallowed be your name… What are God’s names? · YAHWEH-JIREH [ yah -way- ji -reh]: "The Lord Will Provide" ( Genesis 22:14 ) – He supplies all my needs. · YAHWEH-RAPHA [ yah -way-raw- faw ]: "The Lord Who Heals" ( Exodus 15:26 ) – He heals all my diseases and sickness. · YAHWEH-NISSI [ yah -way-nee- see ]: "The Lord Our Banner" ( Exodus 17:15 ) – He defeated my enemies. · YAHWEH-M'KADDESH [ yah -way-meh- kad -esh]: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" ( Leviticus 20:8 ; Ezekiel 37:28 ) – He has called me and set me apart. · YAHWEH-SHALOM [ yah -way-shah-lohm]: "The Lord Our Peace" ( Judges 6:24 ) – He is my peace in the storm. · YAHWEH-ELOHIM [ yah -way-el-oh- him ]: "LORD God" ( Genesis 2:4 ; Psalm 59:5 ) – He is my one and only God. · YAHWEH-TSIDKENU [ yah -way-tzid- kay -noo]: "The Lord Our Righteousness” ( Jeremiah 33:16 ) – He makes me clean. · YAHWEH-ROHI [ yah -way-roh- hee ]: "The Lord Our Shepherd" ( Psalm 23:1 ) – He speaks to me and leads me. · YAHWEH-SHAMMAH [ yah -way-sham- mahw ]: "The Lord Is There” ( Ezekiel 48:35 ) – He is always with us and will not leave us. · YAHWEH-SABAOTH [ yah -way-sah-bah- ohth ]: "The Lord of Hosts" ( Isaiah 1:24 ; Psalm 46:7 ) – He is able to accomplish what He determines to do. 03 Ask God for the ability to do his will Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. God has priorities: saving the lost, guiding those in authority, and becoming the love of our lives. · Are there things that are getting in the way of his priorities? Ask God to take away those barriers. · Acknowledge God’s sovereignty and his plan to save the lost. · Tell God what role you want to play in aligning to his will being done. Ask for strength and guidance in choosing to align to his will. · Ask God for help to prioritize his agenda. 04 Ask God for what you want and need Give us this day our daily bread… God wants to give you what you need and what you desire. Remember he is a good father and wants to be your good father. · Identify your needs and desires. Be honest and specific in your requests before God. Don’t be afraid of asking for big things. · Declare your trust in God’s planning and timing. · Let God speak to you on his plan and his time for those specific needs and desires. 05 Ask God to help you get your heart right with God and with others …forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. · Ask God to check your heart and motives. · Receive His forgiveness for any area that He brings to mind. · Forgive anyone who has offended you in any way. · You can even forgive people in advance. 06 Ask God to engage in spiritual warfare on our behalf And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil… · Ask God for protection and deliverance. · Ask God to show you the reality of the spiritual battle going on in and around your life. · Ask God to empower you for spiritual battle. · Ask God to break the power of the enemy in your life (addictions, secrets, habits, etc). 07 Ask God to give you more faith so you can take another step in faith … for yours is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen. · Acknowledge your need for greater faith. · Focus on specific areas of your life and faith practice where you need more faith. · Ask God to increase your faith by revealing opportunities for you to be stretched in faith through obedience. · Thank God in advance for doing what only he can do to increase your faith. What is Fasting? Fasting is withholding from something we want so we can set our attention on God. Food is an important part of life, but Scripture is full of invitations to go without it for a period of time to connect with God and be more mindful of our reliance on him. Types of Fasts: Complete Food Fast In this type of fast, you drink only liquids. Drink a lot of water, and then add in juice and shakes as needed. Partial Food Fast This fast involves abstaining from eating any type of food for a certain period of time each day. For example, you can choose to skip a certain meal or abstain from eating until sunset. Selective Food Fast This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food. Soul Fast If you don’t have much experience fasting food, have health (or other) issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance, this is a great option for you. For example, you might choose to fast social media or television for the duration and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast. How to Journal: W rite down your thoughts in following areas using two sentences or more: Write specifically the things you are grateful to God for. Write specifically the action steps you are going to take today or the next day to address any insights you received from God while you were praying or clinging to God through fasting. Write specifically the things you want to see God do for your own personal revival, opportunities to share the gospel in word and deed to the people around you, or through the church in our area. At the end of the 7 days, you should review your journal entries. In reviewing your journal entries, ask yourself: Are there any patterns in your gratitude toward God? Are there specific action steps that should be incorporated into your everyday routines? Are there any opportunities to minister the gospel in word or in deed that you need to step into?

Find Alpha: Hospitality/Greeter Find Greet participants arriving for Alpha events. 3 hours weekly/seasonal weekly, seasonal 7

ae2c3f52-757a-4aa3-b165-588710781846 Fishers of men: a disciple is committed to the mission of Jesus A fully-formed disciple of Jesus will live as Jesus lived: loving others as we love ourselves, caring for the marginalized, and sharing the good news of Jesus wherever we are. We do not have to quit our jobs and move to a foreign country to participate in the mission of Jesus. We do it right where we live and work and play. Each month on this page we will offer practical guidance on how to join Jesus in the work he is already doing in the lives of those around us. Loving Our Neighbors During a Pandemic BOOKS The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon The Hopeful Neighborhood by Don Everts ARTICLES How to be a Compassionate Neighbor During a Global Health Crisis by Evelyn Allen 9 Ways to Love Your Neighbor in This Pandemic by Justin Early ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED YOUR HELP Clarksburg Closet https://www.cedarbrook.org/clarksburgcloset Clarksburg CAN http://www.clarksburgcan.org Germantown Help https://germantownhelp.org Damascus Help http://damascushelp.org Upcounty Hub at Black Rock (Germantown) https://www.blackrockcenter.org/upcounty-hub Wumco Help (western MoCo Poolesville based org) https://wumcohelp.org A Wider Circle (Gaithersburg area) https://awidercircle.org Interfaith Works (down county - Rockville area) https://www.iworksmc.org Red Wiggler Community Farm (Clarksburg area) https://redwiggler.org NOTES COMMENTS hands page