Views from The Ridge 5.16.23
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This Week…
Wednesday, May 17, 7-8:30pm: Youth Group hosted by the Nymans (16705 Jones Maltsberger Rd.)
Sunday, May 21:
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: “Bringing Low The Proud”
Text: Daniel 4:1-27
11:45am— Anniversary Lunch - Everyone’s invited to join us for a Church-wide Anniversary Sunday Lunch immediately following morning worship.
Fried chicken, bread & drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert (to serve 12)
Volunteers for set up and clean up are also needed
4:30pm— Outdoor Worship on the lawn (weather permitting)
Upcoming…
Saturday, May 27: Young Adult Supper Group
Sunday, May 28: Senior Sunday
Wednesday, May 31, 10am: Women’s Wednesday Fellowship - card ministry and prayer time in the Fellowship Hall followed by lunch at Julian’s Italian Pizzeria & Kitchen (6462 N. New Braunfels Ave.)
Saturday, June 3:
10am— Groundbreaking Celebration for Charis Park at Sunset Ridge
8pm— Family Night at Toyota Field (5106 David Edwards Dr.) - Contact Riley Stirman (riley@sunsetridgechurch.org) to reserve your San Antonio FC Soccer game tickets.
The Thing With Feathers
Walk into my office and you’ll see, on the wall on your left, three beautiful movie posters (courtesy of my thoughtful wife) for my top three favorite movies. One of those - the film that has occupied the place of honor in my top three the longest - is The Shawshank Redemption, the 1994 masterpiece directed by Frank Darabont.
This film follows the story of Andy Dufresne as he lives out a life sentence in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The weight of prison, of injustice, of abuse all weigh on him, threatening to crush his will to continue on. All he can do is wait and hope.
At a certain point, all we have to go on is plain hope. All life is ebb and flow between darkness and light. Some times are filled with unbridled joy and some are of course saturated with grief and loss and misery. In these darker times, it can feel like we will never see the light again.
In our lives that change so quickly and in our world that feels so fickle, we do well to remember that our hope is in something permanent. When our hope is rooted in God’s ultimate authority, in Jesus’s redemptive work of the cross, and in his kingdom that is setting all things right, we are able to endure almost anything. God’s repeated message to us, that he is in control and that he’s on his way, is about the best news I could think of.
Hope is the fire in our chests and the spark in our lungs when all feels lost. It’s the sunrise in the east, and as Emily Dickinson memorably said, it’s the thing with feathers perched in our souls.
Hope is the gift that God bestows lavishly on his people in times of crisis. It’s a reminder to us all that there is good in the world, and more is coming. As Andy Dufresne summarizes in the greatest film ever made: “Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.”
May we all live in the embrace of God’s hope as we wait for his glorious kingdom.
Riley Stirman
Daily Bible Readings
These passages supplement the upcoming Sunday sermon:
Monday: Acts 1:8
Tuesday: II Timothy 1:7
Wednesday: Isaiah 6:9, 11
Thursday: Luke 12:11-12
Friday: Acts 4:18-20
Saturday: Zechariah 14:9
Leadership Transition
The following are 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.
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.
Prayers & Praises
Congratulations To: Samuel B. Guerra who received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Texas State University on May 13. Sam was awarded a graduate scholarship and plans to continue in Graduate School at Texas State in the same field. Sam’s proud parents and grandfather are Suzanne & John Suk and Ernest Joe Harber.
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
