Views from The Ridge 3.14.23
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This week…
Tuesday, March 14: Life Group - John & Linda Tuller (facilitators), meets in the Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, March 15: Happy Spring Break! No Youth Group this week; it will resume next Wednesday (March 22)
Sunday, March 19:
9:15am— Roots Children’s Gathering and Life Groups (see hall signs for current offerings and meeting locations)
10:30am— Worship in the Sanctuary
Sermon: “Paradise”
Text: Luke 23:35-43
4:30pm— Outdoor Worship on the Lawn
Upcoming…
Wednesday, March 22, 7-8:30pm: Youth Group resumes at the Stirmans
Friday, March 24, 6-8pm:
Parents’ Night Out (sign up here)
Kids ages 6 weeks through 5th grade are invited to the Roots room for dinner, activities, and games while their caregivers get a night to themselves. Register your child here and email chelsea@sunsetridgechurch.org to volunteer to help!
Youth Group Game Night
Youth 6th through 12th grade are invited for games and snacks at the church, and bring a friend!
Saturday, March 25:
Grand Opening Day for One Another Coffee
7pm— Young Adult Movie Night on the Lawn
“A Blessing When the Road is Long”
by Kate Bowler
O God, I could not have imagined
that this road could be so long
and so hard,
yet here I am, worn out, body and soul.
O God, I don’t know what to do.
help me.
God have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit have mercy.
The Lord says: stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths, which is the good way, and walk in it.
Jeremiah 6:16
God have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit have mercy.
Blessed are we, the weak
who must set aside what we are carrying,
and begin to feel only the weight of our own being.
It is enough for now.
O God, blessed are we, who cannot go on,
but stand and look and ask,
which is the good way to walk in.
Blessed are we who listen
for the voice that is both thunder and softest rain
that warms and quickens.
Blessed are we, at the point of utter stillness,
that becomes an empty space for that voice to echo and build and resound
until it becomes a place to rest and receive and be made whole.
And o how blessed are we who are astonished
to find that God’s strength begins at the very point
when ours stops.
Fear not, for I am with you. do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you.
Isaiah 41:10
God have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit have mercy.
Come to the quiet. Listen. Until the Sweetness calls you.
Daily Bible Readings
These passages supplement the upcoming Sunday sermon:
Monday: I Corinthians 15:9-10a
Tuesday: I Corinthians 13:12
Wednesday: II Corinthians 4:16
Thursday: Jude 21
Friday: Hebrews 8:12
Saturday: John 14:3
Prayer & Care Ministry
Our pastoral care team met last Thursday to pray and share updates on the different ways they each minister to our congregation. We are so grateful for this thoughtful team! Right now, their areas of focus are a weekly Zoom prayer meeting, prayer vigils, personal (one-on-one) prayer, visitations, and communion delivery visitations. If you would like to be involved in this ministry or would like to request prayer/care, please reach out to hello@sunsetridgechurch.org.
Foundation Update
The Sunset Ridge Church of Christ Foundation is designed to extend the ministries of the congregation beyond its routine operations. The Foundation will accept requests for funding through Thursday, April 6, 2023. Please note that requests made to the Foundation must be specific to Missions, Education and Benevolence Ministries of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ; no other requests will be considered.
To apply, you must pick up a 2023 Application in the church office (application forms will not be mailed, emailed or faxed). After completing the Application, follow the submission instructions listed on the Application form. Application forms from prior years will not be accepted.
Sunday Volunteers
Thank you to each person who has been serving in our Sunday morning worship and hospitality! If you would like to access the platform we use, you can follow this link. If you have not been scheduled or would like to find new areas to serve, please fill out our covenant survey here. We are so grateful for this community and the ways we are able to serve each other!
Prayers & Praises
Shirley Sanders is doing well in her new home and has a new phone number (210) 310-3715.
If you have noticed the bright new flowers in our flower beds, you can thank the young gardeners in our community! This past week for our Second Saturday Storytime, we talked about how flowers bring life and beauty to the space around us-- and added a few ourselves.
We also want to thank everyone who helped put together our first children's family dinner. It was a special time of communion and rest together as a community and we look forward to how this space will grow! Our next dinner will be May 25th.
God, we gather in gratitude, thankful for the ways you seek to revive us! Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts work together to praise you in this hour. Grant your Spirit to move our hearts and inspire each of us to share your steadfast love with all whom we encounter. Help us to join in giving only what is good, not only today, but every day. Amen
