Views from The Ridge 09.04.2024
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 4, 12-1PM Monthly Men’s Assembly in the Fellowship Hall
September 8
9am Worship in the Sanctuary (Scott Heare preaching: Mark 7:24-37)
10:15am Classes for all ages
Adult classes in the Fellowship Hall: Bible Class; BEMA podcast discussion
Youth Group
Roots & Roots 456 (PreK-3rd grade in Roots Room; Grades 4-6 in Rm 104)
11am Worship in the Chapel (Scott Heare preaching: Mark 7:24-37)
Upcoming
Saturday, September 14 Second Saturday
9am Yoga
10:15am Storytime with Miss Anastasia
Sunday, September 15, 12:30PM Parent Group
Thursday, September 26 De Colores Opening Reception
Around Our Community
If you were on campus this past week you may have noticed the exterior hallways to the chapel were brighter than usual–the three sets of exterior stained glass windows were lovingly removed and stored for us by the experts at Stanton Studios. Due to heat and age, the windows were bowing at the bottom edges and needed to be removed and repaired to preserve them.
A Park Building Us
Melanie Fry, Trustee, Sunset Ridge Church
The question was never “if,” but “when.”
From our very first conversations about building a park, we wrestled with how we would respond when, not if, the park became damaged. About a week after opening, Charis Park was tagged with graffiti. On the exposed face of the limestone boulders. On the legs of the meditation garden benches. On the slats of the community table. On the freshly painted trashcans.
Are you offended?
In a recent message, Scott Heare challenged us to hear the words of Jesus as He spoke to His disciples with a difficult and profound teaching. Jesus broke their frameworks, their narratives, their ways of understanding the world. He is still breaking ours. Scott asked us to think about how often—and for what reasons—we feel offended. Indeed, our society seems to count on the great motivator of “offense,” reinforcing the narrative that I should prioritize my comfort, my security, my independence, my . . . .
This park is not mine, or yours. It is our offering to the work of God’s Kingdom. What a great privilege it is to care for it. What a gift to have the opportunity to scrub black graffiti from rocks—rocks that did not exist on this land as part of a beautiful park a year ago.
And you know what? The graffiti came right off.
It is easy to feel violated, angry, fearful, indignant—offended. But I am convinced of this – that the ways in which we respond to adversity in the park will be just as much a part of our testimony as building the park itself.
May Jesus continue to dismantle our frames. If we will take Him within us, the Kingdom is within us. Love itself is within us to move out into the world and bring healing, hope, joy, and transformation. Jesus reminds us that we belong to more. May we choose grace and gentleness.
When we feel offense, let’s blast past it with love. And in so doing, testify to our city, to our neighbors, to our children.
Of course the park is equipped with thoughtful security measures. And the park’s architects made intelligent choices in both its design and materials to facilitate the safety of visitors and ease of maintenance. But when things happen (and they will), what an opportunity to give up offense. To lay it down. To refuse outrage and obsessing over “Who would do such a thing?”
And instead to reach, as Jesus did, for a bucket of water, and wash something.
We built a park. May it continue to build us.
Prayers & Praises
Newborn Sebastian (Bass) Adams is now home.
Meta Mancinelli is at Westover Hills Rehab.
Preston Weatherred, Melissa Branch’s father, is in rehab in Kerrville.
Mark Childre requests prayers as he begins substitute teacher training for Boerne ISD.
