Views from The Ridge 10.29.25
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
Worship
Sunday
9 AM, Chapel, Acapella
11 AM, Sanctuary, Instrumental
This Week’s Verse: Exodus 20:16
We are going through the Ten Commandments this fall.
Watch previous sermons here.
Discipleship
Sundays, 10:15 AM, Bible Class & Discipleship for All Ages
Fellowship Hall
Adult Bible Class: Open to all
BEMA Podcast Discussion group
Chapel Classroom, new study: The Practice of Compassion, open to women and men of all ages
Roots: Children’s Discipleship through Godly Play
Bible Story Focus this Week: The Ark and the Temple
Key Verse: 1 Kings 8:23
Room 102, PreK - Kindergarten
Room 122, 1st - 2nd Grade
Room 209, 3rd - 4th Grade
Sundays 10:15-10:45 AM, Room 220, BOYS 5th - 7th Grade, Formation Study w/ Bryan Wolfe
Sundays 10:15-10:45 AM, Room 220, GIRLS 5th - 7th Grade, Formation Study w/ Den Slater
Wednesdays, 5:15 - 5:45 PM, High School Girls’ Sermon Study Group
Room 220, Contact Den to join this group, open to 9th-12th Grade
Wednesdays, 6 PM - 7:30 PM, Teen Alpha Course
Room 220, Contact Den to join this group, open to 9th-12th Grade
Community Connections
Camelot Christmas Volunteer Information Meeting
Sunday, Nov. 9th - Fellowship Hall, 12:30 - 1 :30 PM (Directly after worship)
It’s that time of year again! Sunset Ridge is partnering with Camelot Elementary for our fourth Camelot Christmas! If you’d like to be part of this special event, come to our interest meeting on November 9th.
Upcoming Community Events
Every Wednesday, 11 AM - 1:30 PM, Open Studio Painting
Every Saturday, 9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
Beyond Sunday
Overflowing Generosity
Den Slater, Pastor of Belonging, Sunset Ridge Church
This week, we considered the words, “You shall not steal” (Exod. 20.15). Our minds rightly know that we should not take material things that belong to others, but Scott reminded us that this proclamation also speaks to something deeper. God has invited us to live as people who no longer need to crave more than we already have. The best means of overcoming such desire is found in God’s generosity. God meets all our needs with abundance, and we are invited to join the rhythm of divine generosity with our hands held wide open—a posture of receiving and giving.
I’m reminded of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. When the character Jean Valjean was released from prison, he stole silver from the bishop who gave him shelter. The police found him and brought him back to face judgment, but instead of condemning him, the bishop held out two silver candlesticks and said, “You forgot these.” That single act of extravagant mercy changed everything for Valjean.
Long starved by fear and scarcity, Valjean now found himself nourished by grace. Generosity healed the hunger that led to the theft, and those candlesticks burned beside his bed until his death—a light that never stopped reminding him of mercy received. They remind us, too, that the cure for taking is giving. It is not just about restraint; it is about trusting in God’s provision. As God restores us, we find our generosity.
There are other ways to steal, ones that have little to do with silver. We steal when we claim credit for what isn’t ours, when we withhold kindness, and when we demand recognition, affection, or time from others. Yet even then, the Spirit gently calls us back with the same cure: to give freely, knowing that we thrive in the richness of God’s grace. This is the hidden invitation of the commandment. God is not merely prohibiting theft but offering healing for the illusion that we are somehow lacking what we need. Every act of generosity dispels the illusion of scarcity and points our hearts toward trust. The more we give, the more we discover that God’s compassion will always satisfy our deepest longings.
Praises & Prayers
Last week, our executive director and pastoral leader, Jess Lowry, was invited to share about the work of Sunset Ridge Church and Collective at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Pastors from seven denominations and 14 states gathered to hear how Sunset Ridge is reimagining what it means to be a church rooted in community. Jess shared stories of innovation, collaboration, and hope—offering a glimpse of how faith communities can bring new life to their neighborhoods.
