Views from The Ridge 3.21.23
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This week…
Wednesday, March 22, 7pm: Youth group at the Stirmans’
Friday, March 24:
6-8pm— Parents’ Night Out in the children’s area (sign up here!)
6-9pm— Youth Game Night in Room 200
Saturday, March 25, 7pm: Young Adult Movie Night on the lawn (childcare provided)
Alexis Novotny - Coffee Program Manager
Sunday, March 26:
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: “Son”
Text: John 19:16-27
4:30pm— Charis Chapel Worship
Upcoming…
Wednesday, March 29:
10am: Women’s Wednesday Fellowship (watch your email for all the details)
7pm: Youth Group Study Hall
Sunday, April 2-8: Stations of the Cross
Sunday, April 9: Easter
COMING SOON: One Another Coffee Trailer grand opening!!
Touching Heaven
Riley Stirman
Have you ever tried to imagine what heaven looks and feels like? Have you tried to give structure and color to what eternal paradise really means?
As a child, I have a very distinct memory of picturing heaven as nothing more than a large slide like you would find on the playground, only suspended in the clouds. Because what could be better?
I find that movies and television have a really tough time settling on something that could be considered heaven. If it's better than anything we have on earth, how do we show it with earthly images? I've seen heaven depicted as an eternal party (The Good Place), a beautiful field of soft grass (Gladiator), a baseball game (Field of Dreams), a NASCAR final lap (Miracle In Lane Two), and a Backstreet Boys concert (don't ask).
There's something about the idea of Paradise that is incredibly inviting - a place where we are safe, where we have found rest, where we feel strong and healthy, where there is no darkness or suffering. But it's so foreign to what we know that we have no idea how to picture it.
Now I'm a big proponent of the idea that the mysteries of God are higher than we could ever imagine, so I think in some sense it's just not reasonable to imagine what heaven might be like. As soon as you put words to something, you limit it. But I'm a preacher and words are all I have, so I do want to at least invite you to consider one aspect of paradise.
St. Bonaventure was an Italian bishop from the 13th century who wrote a reflection on Christ's final seven sayings from the cross. He believed that each saying was related in a meaningful way to the Kingdom to God that Jesus came to proclaim. So in a way, each of Jesus's final words tell us a bit about what heaven will be like. Here's what he has to say about Jesus's words to the criminal hanging beside him ("Truly, today you will be with me in paradise"):
"How suddenly is an enemy transformed into a supporter, a stranger changed into a friend, and a thief into a herald of the truth! . . . Truly, this Kingdom shall be a paradise of delight, When You reveal Yourself as King, O Jesus! For You love repentance, and draw hearts to Yourself through grace. You promised this good thief not only that You would remember him, but that He would share with You in Your glory. . . . Learn from this, O reader, how to forgive rightly! For the good Jesus forgives not a mere seven times, nor even seventy-seven times (in accordance with His own precept), but absolutely and perfectly, without limit. For divine mercy has neither limit nor bounds."
Understand the gravity of what he's communicating here. Heaven is the place where our cruelest labels and dividing lines are transformed into things of beauty and truth. Heaven is the paradise of delight where all hearts are drawn to our Creator through grace. Heaven is the place where we share in the glory of the conquering king. Heaven is the place where we experience love and forgiveness and acceptance without qualification, limits, or conditions: absolutely and perfectly, without end.
Bonaventure wasn't necessarily concerned with what heaven looks like or what we'll be doing. But he manages to capture a bit of what it feels like. And to me, what he describes feels like filling my lungs fully after a lifetime of shallow gasps. It feels like opening my eyes in wonder. In a word, it feels like home.
I don't want to lose sight of our purpose on earth with the time we're given. I don't want us to think about heaven as an escape. But on hard days, when the work feels weighty, when our bodies and spirits feel exhausted beyond belief, and when the world feels forsaken, it's nice to remember what's real.
God is with us, making all things new. Take a breath. Paradise is closer than you think.
Daily Bible Readings
These passages supplement the upcoming Sunday sermon:
Monday: I Peter 2:10
Tuesday: John 1:12
Wednesday: II Corinthians 5:17
Thursday: Galatians 3:28
Friday: I Corinthians 12:24b-25
Saturday: Romans 8:14, 16
Prayer & Care Ministry
One of our priorities as a community is caring for one another. The Pastoral Care Team heads up that effort with weekly Zoom prayer meetings, prayer vigils, personal (one-on-one) prayer, card ministry, 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
Ellen Kiser, Geraldine Kiser’s daughter, is scheduled for surgery on March 27.
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
