Views from The Ridge 9.27.22
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This week…
Wednesday, September 28:
10am— Women’s Wednesday Fellowship — Simple Salad Lunch & Book Club
12pm (Noon)— Pastoral Care Team Meeting in the Fellowship Hall
No Youth Group meeting this week, we will see you October 5th.
Sunday, October 2:
9:15am— Fall Life Groups (thru November 13) & Roots Children’s Class
10:30am— Worship Service (Chapel)
Sermon: Good Grief
Scripture: John 11:1-44
4:30 pm— Supper Church
Upcoming…
Tuesday, October 4 at 9am: Children’s Storytime on the lawn
Saturday, October 8 from 9:30-11am: Family Morning
Sunday, November 13: Covenant Renewal Service
“Who’s In?”
Riley Stirman
Sometimes I wonder what God must be thinking when we try to plan our future. I have to imagine it's something akin to how I feel when I watch my dog chase his tail. He doesn't seem to be getting anywhere, but it keeps the little guy busy for a time.
In 1933, English novelist and playwright W. Somerset Maugham published a modern retelling of an ancient Mesopotamian fable, known as Appointment in Samarra.
A servant in Baghdad comes home from the marketplace trembling. He tells his master that he saw a figure that he recognized as Death making a threatening gesture toward him. The servant borrowed his master's horse and fled as quickly as he could from Death to the town of Samarra, a distance of about 75 miles. His master, meanwhile, goes to the marketplace and finds Death. He asks Death why she made the threatening gesture to his servant. Death replies, "That was not a threatening gesture but a start of surprise. I was surprised to see him in Baghdad today, for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."
The story was meant to communicate the inevitability of death and the futility of trying to avoid it. I think it's an apt analogy for trying to seize control of our lives away from the God who is always in control.
The Gospel of John has several of these moments that show Jesus as firmly in the cockpit even while others are trying to control him. Often their efforts make them look increasingly foolish as they play right into Jesus's hands. The opening verses of John 10 show that this is exactly what happened in the story of the healing of the blind man.
The man who had been healed of his blindness refused to call Jesus a sinner, even when the Pharisees threatened him. All he knew was that Jesus had given him sight, and as a result his life was forever changed. The Pharisees then played the biggest card left in their hand to quell Jesus's spreading influence: they threw the man out of the synagogue.
This is a serious thing. This was meant to turn the man into an outsider and cut him off from God's people. It was essentially the Pharisees' way of saying that you have displeased God and you now have nothing to do with him or his people.
But remember Jesus's words from John 10. Jesus is the true gate to enter toward the sheep, the people of God. And because the man had a true experience with Jesus, had formed a relationship with him, he had in fact become an insider who belonged to the people of God.
While the Pharisees were trying to turn him into an outsider, they only pushed him closer to Jesus and further into the sheepfold, playing right into Jesus's hands.
There are many words of warning for us here. We always do well to remember who is ultimately in control of this world. But we should also notice what happens when we attempt to exclude others in the name of religion.
If we push others out of our community, particularly if we do so in Jesus's name, we shouldn't be surprised to find we are only pushing people into Jesus' loving arms. When we try to say that someone belongs out on the margins, imagine how foolish we look when we learn that Jesus is already there waiting for them.
Jesus always invites us to broaden the way we think about who belongs and who doesn't. And the best way to ensure we don't belong is by trying to push others out. It's not our job to determine who's one of us, and frankly when we try we probably get it dead wrong. Our only job is to love like Jesus calls us to love. He'll sort out the rest.
Daily Bible Readings
Monday: Hosea 6:1-3
Tuesday: Psalm 49:13-15
Wednesday: Ezekiel 37:11-14
Thursday: Job 19:25-27
Friday: Daniel 12:1-3
Saturday: I Kings 17:20-24
Ministry Spotlight: Worship Revitalization
Through the faithful work of the vision team the past couple of years and now the worship revitalization team, our Sunday morning worship services have been looking a little different. Not only do we hope to be continuously discerning how God is leading and growing us here at Sunset Ridge, but we also want to create a space that is welcoming and comfortable to all. This past Sunday, Kyle Fry, one of our worship leaders, shared his giftings by leading us in a few of our old favorite songs on the guitar. Blended music is one of the many expressions of worship we have been and will continue to incorporate into our services, and we hope that you will join us in prayer and open-hearted discernment in how the Holy Spirit is moving in our community! As always, the elders and ministers welcome your feedback as well as suggestions of other worship practices that you would like to have considered as ways to praise God in our worship services. Please contact any elder or minister to share your thoughts with them.
CAM Contribution Update
We received a total of $6,185 through in-person and direct online contributions to Christian Assistance Ministry. Thank you to everyone who donated to this ministry which works with those in experiencing crisis.
Praises & Prayers
Janet Ihfe is home under the care of hospice.
Please join us in praying over our Pastoral Leader of the Charis Collective, Jess Lowry, as she begins her month-long sabbatical. She will be resting, spending time with family, and visiting other congregations who are going through similar seasons in their ministries. We are so grateful for the work she does!
Outdoor worship was great this past Friday! We had root beer, sang old and new hymns, and spent time with our neighbors.
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
