Views from The Ridge 5.2.23
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
Our work with students, families, and staff at Camelot Elementary School was recognized by Northeast Independent School District. Jess Lowry, Kyle Fry, Chelsea Stirman & Riley Stirman were honored to accept a Superintendent’s Award on behalf of Sunset Ridge Church and The Charis Collective at a special ceremony on April 25. Thank you for continuing to shine bright with love and attention for our adopted neighborhood school!
This Week…
No Youth Group gathering this week, we’ll resume next Wednesdsay, May 10.
Sunday, May 7:
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: “Foreign Culture”
Text: Daniel 1:1-21
4:30pm— Supper Church - join us in the Kitchen as we prepare a meal to enjoy together in the Chapel Courtyard (weather permitting)
Upcoming…
Saturday, May 13:
10am— Family Second Saturday on the front lawn
11am— Groundbreaking Celebration for Charis Park at Sunset Ridge - You’re Invited! Please RSVP to hello@chariscollective.org if you plan to attend.
Our parking lot is becoming a park, and we want to share the great joy of that transformation with you!
What was once an empty acre of asphalt and concrete will now become a neighborhood green space with an emphasis on environmental stewardship and community connection. Follow along for updates on Instagram @charis.park.
Sunday, May 21: Anniversary Sunday
See below for details
Family Night at Toyota Field
You are invited to watch our San Antonio FC soccer team play during their first-ever family night on Saturday, June 3.
All are welcome to attend, and tickets will be discounted for those who attend with us as a group. Additionally, if we get enough people, we're invited to come take a photo together on the field after the game.
Game time is 8:00 PM at Toyota Field (5106 David Edwards Dr.).
Tickets cost $20 each. Prices will increase slightly after Friday, May 5. Contact Riley Stirman (riley@sunsetridgechurch.org) to reserve your ticket(s).
This Is Water
Riley Stirman
In 2005, author David Foster Wallace delivered a now-famous commencement address at Kenyon College entitled "This Is Water." He opens his speech with a parable of sorts.
"There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says 'Morning, boys. How's the water?' And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, 'What the heck is water?'"
In Wallace's own words, the point of this story is that the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about. One such thing is the deeply ingrained idea that we are the absolute center of the universe, the realest, most vivid and important person in existence. We are hard-wired from birth to think this way, since this is how we interpret reality.
Accordingly, when we are caught in the boring routine of our lives - stuck in traffic, trapped in a long grocery checkout line, forcing a smile through small talk with an irritating person you hope you'll never see again - we tend to interpret events as things that are being done to me. As the center of my universe, when people slow me down or are rude to me, they are doing it to me. And when I think this way, I may draw some unfair conclusions and have some nasty thoughts about other people.
The story of God (here's where Mr. Wallace would likely stop approving of me co-opting his metaphor) helps us to see this reality in a different light. Being convinced that there is a deeper reality connecting all human life helps us re-interpret these daily interactions. Perhaps more importantly, the story of God relegates us at best to a supporting role. People with whom I interact are not obstacles in my way, instead they're co-workers or fellow actors, caught up in the same magnificent story that I am.
Sometimes love and compassion can be as simple and as excruciatingly difficult as looking past the fabric of our own constructed worldview - the worldview that tells us that we are all that matters. Sometimes the love that Jesus calls us to model can just be genuine patience and attention. Sometimes hospitality can be an acknowledgment that the person in front of us is a real human being who deserves the love and belonging that we all crave.
Wallace asserts that "if you're automatically sure that you know what reality is, and you're operating on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won't consider possibilities that aren't annoying and miserable. If you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know that there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down."
Imagine that. Something plain, routine, and boring can be sacred. This is the power of the God we serve.
Leadership Transition
We are so thrilled to be able to share the names of the nominees for our future trustees and shepherds…
TRUSTEES: Gregg Alba, Melanie Fry, Kim Gilbert, Dick Ihfe, Nathan Lowry, Glenna Miranda
SHEPHERDS: Kelly Alba, Kyle Fry, Steve Gilbert, Holly Glasgow, Shirley Hightower, Patti Jennings, Ashley Lockridge
We are grateful to each of these people and their willingness to help lead our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to a minister or elder by May 21st. Anonymous concerns will not be considered.
Daily Bible Readings
These passages supplement the upcoming Sunday sermon:
Monday: Proverbs 3:5-6
Tuesday: Proverbs 16:32
Wednesday: Matthew 6:25
Thursday: Galatians 5:24-25
Friday: I Corinthians 8:8-9
Saturday: Philippians 4:8
Note Received:
Our family truly appreciates all of the support we received in response to Mom’s passing and those who honored her at her service April 21st. John’s message was a special gift that we will remember always. Our love to all of you, The Thorne Family
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.
Anniversary Sunday
Our Anniversary Sunday luncheon will be held May 21, immediately following the worship service. Meat, bread and drinks will be provided. Each family is asked to SIGN UP to bring either a VEGETABLE, SALAD OR DESSERT (enough to feed 12). Sign-up sheets (for both food and volunteers) are available in the Fellowship Hall and foyer, or you may call the church office at (210) 824-4568 . Every volunteer job has a different time slot, and many volunteers are needed. All are welcome to come to this time of fellowship.
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 remains in rehab at this time. (The information we reported in the last week’s email newsletter was incorrect.)
Kyle Fry’s sister, Kacie Fry, has begun a second round of radiation treatments.
Mike Randolph is doing well and continuing cancer treatment.
We Express Sympathy To:
John Tuller and his family on the death of his mother, Dorothy Tuller, on April 25.
Gary & Elizabeth Loyd and their family on the death of Gary’s aunt, Colline Rhodes, on April 20. Services were held in Lubbock.
We so appreciate Kyle Fry, who heads up the Snack Pak 4Kids program, and all of our faithful volunteers who give their time and energy to support the children, families, and staff of Camelot Elementary. Our Thursday afternoon volunteers help meet the needs of students dealing with food insecurity. To get involved with this good work, please contact Kyle.
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
