Views from The Ridge 4.18.23
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This Week…
Tuesday, April 18, 6pm: Leadership Information Session - All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Please join us in the Fellowship Hall TONIGHT (6pm) for a breakdown of information regarding our latest leadership transition. The elders have received some great questions and look forward to helping to clarify this process!
Dinner and childcare provided.
Wednesday, April 19, 7pm: Youth Family Dinner — All Youth Group Families welcome!
We’ll share a homemade meal together in the Chapel Courtyard (weather permitting)
Come spend time in community with other teens and parents in our community!
Sunday, April 23:
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: “Co-Mission”
Text: I Corinthians 3:1-23
Upcoming…
Wednesday, April 26:
10am— Women’s Wednesday Fellowship
Card Ministry & Prayer Time in the Fellowship Hall
Lunch Outing to follow at The Corner Bakery (255 E. Basse Rd.)
Friday, April 28, 6:30pm: Young Adult Supper Group - Fiesta party hosted by the Gilberts
Saturday, May 13, 11am: Charis Park Groundbreaking Celebration
Poor Wayfaring Strangers
Riley Stirman
When I was in college, I was in a "fraternity" (quotation marks heavily emphasized) called Frater Sodalis. The name, in Latin, translates to "Brothers Together," so naturally solidarity and unity were big values preached at us during the initiation phase.
I never really took that seriously until the semester after I joined. We, as a fraternity, were in Austin for a big event. Many of us spent the whole weekend there, sight-seeing, shopping, or eating good food that can't be found in Abilene, Texas.
One of our members, returning to his car from an outing, found a note under his windshield wiper. A long-since-graduated member of Frater Sodalis had seen the bumper sticker on his car and left a note that basically said "Hey, I'm one of you guys! Here's my cell phone number, and if you need anything in Austin, you feel free to call me."
This is already a really nice gesture. But ironically, this member did in fact end up needing help while in Austin. As he was getting ready to leave town, he discovered that his car wouldn't start. Most of us had already left the area, and he didn't have any family in town, so he called the number left by the kind-hearted alumnus. Funnily enough, this kind older gentleman was the owner of - get this - several auto repair shops in the area. He towed, repaired, and washed the car for our friend, all free of charge. He did all this, despite the fact, that they had never met, simply because they were members of the same club, and that made them brothers.
I've mused since then how great it would be if that was what traveling through the world as a Christian was like. Imagine being in an unfamiliar place, needing help, and feeling a sense of relief when you learn that there are Christians in the area. Imagine if other believers couldn't wait to extend hospitality to other believers in need. And imagine if everywhere you went you were treated like a long-lost brother or sister who has finally come home.
I think this is the hope that Jesus had for his church. And I think now, as the world has become more hostile and suspicious, would be a great time to reclaim practices like these. Christians are united by something deeper than geography, friendship, or even genetics. We share the closest bond imaginable since we all have been washed by the blood of the savior.
As we all travel through a strange, unfamiliar world, be on the lookout for the unique ways that you may be able to care for a brother or sister. Because sometimes being Jesus can just look like leaving a note under a windshield wiper and hoping for the best.
Daily Bible Readings
These passages supplement the upcoming Sunday sermon:
Monday: Mark 9:40-41
Tuesday: Matthew 9:37-38
Wednesday: James 1:16-17
Thursday: Revelation 21:5
Friday: Romans 12:6-7
Saturday: Jude 1b-2
Prayer & Care Ministry
One of our priorities as a community is caring for one another. The Pastoral Care Team, known also as Prayer & Care Ministry, 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.
Sunday Volunteers
Thank you to each person who has been serving in our Sunday morning worship and hospitality! Below is a video (with audio) showing how to submit unavailability, how to see the roster for a service you’re scheduled for and resources you might need, and how to set volunteer preferences. If you would like to access the platform we use, you can follow this link. We are so grateful for this community and the ways we are able to serve each other!
Prayers & Praises
Mary Lee Embry is steadily improving and has been moved to a skilled nursing facility in Boerne.
Kyle Fry’s sister, Kacie Fry, has completed her first round of radiation treatments.
Prayers continue for the Thorne Family who will be remembering the life of our dear sister, Elaine Thorne this week. A graveside service will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (Shelter #3) on Friday, April 21, at 10:30am.
Please continue to be in prayer for the leadership of our church. Pray for the Spirit’s guidance over every decision and movement we make as the body of Christ in the Sunset Ridge neighborhood.
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
