Views from The Ridge 12.13.22
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This week…
Wednesday, December 14:
10am— Women’s Wednesday Fellowship - (Coffee & Cards, Prayer, & Christmas Meal - $10 suggested donation)
7:30-9pm— Youth group hosted by the Stirmans (232 Harmon Dr.)
Friday, December 16, 6-9pm: Parents’ Night Out
RSVP for Kids to attend (ages 6 wks-11 yrs)
$10 per child or $30 per family (scholarships available)
Teen & Non-Parent Helpers Needed! (contact Chelsea to serve)
Sunday, December 18:
9:15am— Honest Advent study in Life Groups & Roots Children’s Class
10:30am— Worship in the Sanctuary
Sermon: “Am I Enough?”
Text: II Corinthians 1
4:30pm— Chapel Liturgy & Worship
5:30pm— Christmas Caroling on the Lawn
Upcoming…
Tuesday, December 20, 3-5pm: Youth group Christmas Party & Gingerbread House Competition in the Fellowship Hall
Saturday, December 24, 4-5pm: Christmas Eve Service in the Sanctuary (No worship services on Christmas Day)
“Joy”
Riley Stirman
“Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:4-5
“No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.”
Bram Stoker, Dracula
Before there was Thanksgiving or Christmas or New Year’s, winter typically held none of the sentiment it now enjoys in many of our minds. Since people relied on working the land for sustenance, the change of seasons signaled difficult times. There was less sunlight, less precipitation, and plummeting temperatures. All of these are difficult on the human body, but they’re a death sentence for the majority of crops. The arrival of winter signaled lean, difficult times.
As society began to organize itself into civilizations and cities, some of these problems became better and some worse. While people became better at storing up food, there were a host of other new problems. The darkness masked criminals who would steal or attack. The increased demand for thick fabrics to endure the cold meant merchants could charge whatever they wanted, making this time especially hard on the poor. Some were forced to sell whatever they had - including their bodies - to make it through particularly harsh winters.
Winter exacerbates some of the worst parts of the human condition. It seems to amplify our sufferings. And the darkness that winter brings makes it harder to see whatever good things we may be clinging to.
Our God loves speaking into the darkness.
We are told in the opening words of our Bibles that God spoke into nothingness, into dark chaos, and created the world and everything in it. God led his people by night through the wilderness as a pillar of fire to ensure that they would never for a second think that they’d lost their way. And over and over and over again, God spoke to his people in the midst of their misery, their own personal darkness.
The claim of Christmas is an insane one from an evolutionary perspective. While nature would have us believe there is nothing but hostility and danger in the winter, Christians assert every year that the power of God has made the darkest, coldest days of the year an avenue for warmth, light, and hope.
Winter is an important part of the human experience. As Bram Stoker alludes to, we’d have no concept of how sweet the light is without the darkness. Yet the darkness feels no less oppressive when you find yourself surrounded by it.
During Advent, we are faced with the unenviable task of waiting. We wait for the darkness to abate. We wait for temperatures to warm. We wait for hope.
And while we wait, we look for God and the promises he’s given us. Weeping may stay for the night. But morning always comes. And there will be joy in the morning.
Last Sunday’s sermon will not be posted to the website, but you may view the entire worship service on YouTube. Click to view the worship service from December 11.
Daily Bible Readings
Monday: II Corinthians 12:9-10
Tuesday: Luke 18:13-14
Wednesday: Matthew 5:11-12
Thursday: Philippians 4:12-13
Friday: Psalm 34:18
Saturday: I Corinthians 15:9-10
Contribution Update
Weekly Budget Requirement = $12,014.75
Average Weekly Contribution = $11,047.50
Shortfall to date: $48,362.50
Praises & Prayers
Kenneth Emrie is hospitalized following triple bypass surgery.
Ellen Kiser, Geraldine Kiser’s daughter, is awaiting testing for a growth on her thyroid.
Our December ‘makers’ market last Saturday was super special and fun, and full of Christmas joy! For extra-creative vendors and our awesome volunteers, we give much thanks and praise!
Also, many thanks to all the volunteers, and all those who brought food to make our Holiday Lunch a wonderful family time together!
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
