Views from The Ridge 3.19.25
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
Worship
Sunday, March 16, Chapel
9 AM Acapella
11 AM Instrumental
“So Close”
Main Passage: Jonah 2:1-10
Continuing in Jonah as we observe Lent, we’ll be exploring the themes of:
Grace and Redemption: God offers new beginnings despite past failures.
Authentic Repentance: The significance of heartfelt contrition.
Watch previous sermons here.
Discipleship
Sundays
10:15 AM Bible Class & Discipleship for All Ages
Adult Bible Classes: Open to all
Fellowship Hall 1: Bible Study, Jeremiah
Fellowship Hall 2: BEMA podcast discussion group
Women’s Discipleship Group: Studying Jonah 2:1-10
Youth Group 7th-12th grade, Room 218, Studying Jonah 2:1-10
Roots: Children’s Discipleship through Godly Play
PreK - Kindergarten, Room 102
1st - 2nd Grade, Room 122
3rd - 6th Grade, Room 203
Bible Story Focus this Week: Luke 3:21-27 / John 1:29-34
Key Verse: Mark 1:10-11
Tuesdays
Scott Heare’s Office, Jonah 2:1-10
Limited spaces, Contact scott@sunset-ridge.org to join a group
7 AM Men’s Discipleship Group
8:30 AM Men’s Discipleship Group
Upcoming Events
Every Saturday in Charis Park, 9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market
March 28th, Terrell Heights Neighborhood Association Family Movie Night, Charis Park
March 29th, Watercolor Wellness Workshop, Room 207, Sunset Ridge Collective
April 20th, Easter Sunday, Sunset Ridge Church
Foundation News
The Annual Meeting of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ Foundation will be held Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Chapel to elect four new Board members. Watch for nominee announcements.
Grant Applications: The Foundation supports Missions, Education, and Benevolence Ministries beyond routine church operations. Funding requests are open through Friday, April 4, 2025.
How to Apply: Pick up a 2025 Application in the church office (not available by mail, email, or fax). Follow the instructions on the form—previous years’ applications will not be accepted.
Beyond Sunday
Putting the Word into practice this week
THE STRENGTH OF THE STORM
Jess Lowry, Executive Director, Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, Sunset Ridge Collective
Last week my family attended a fun Trivia Night while we were on Spring Break that was heavily St. Patrick’s Day focused (turns out I knew very little about the Irish tradition!). We learned that St. Patrick was actually British, his birth name was Maewyn Succat, and was kidnapped at 16 years old by a band of Irish Raiders (pirates). He was enslaved in Ireland for seven years and he turned to God in his time of distress. Once escaped, he returned to his homeland of Britain and received a clear call from God to return to Ireland and bring Christianity to the Irish people.
Talk about a Jonah story.
Can you imagine? Being asked by God to go back to the people who held you captive, the place where you were stolen, broken, and enslaved? Not only go back, but share the love of Christ with those people?
So he did. Maewyn Succat went with the strength of God, and the prayer that has now been prayed for centuries:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
This past Sunday, Scott shared that there are 3 things we need to survive the storms of life:
Know who God is.
Know who your crew is
If you’re lost in the storm, go back to the place you remember being found and start again.
St. Patrick knew who God was, he walked with the strength of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinity explained through the clover to the Irish people), he went back to the place where he was found by God and began again.
The storms come.
Sometimes the storm saves us.
Sometimes, like St. Patrick, our storm helps save others.
This week join me in learning how to weather the storms, avoiding our god of distraction, and remembering the strength we carry with through Christ who surrounds us—before us, behind us, beside us.
Love-Jess
