Views from The Ridge 12.13.23
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This Week
Sunday, December 17 Third week of Advent
9:15am Combined study in the fellowship hall (book study: Stay Awhile, by Kara Eidson), children’s Roots gathering
10:30am Worship in the chapel (Isa. 61:1-4; John 1:6-8, 19-28 - Ready or Not)
11:30am Holiday luncheon potluck in the fellowship hall (Reminder…if you ordered a poinsettia, please pick it up in the Sanctuary following the luncheon!)
4:30pm Chapel worship
6-8pm Youth Christmas party
Monday, December 18 Prayer service for Jess Lowry
Next Monday night at 6pm we will gather in our chapel for a brief, informal time of prayer over our friend and leader Jess Lowry for her continued health struggles. We’d love to see you there.
Upcoming…
Sunday, December 24 Blended Christmas Eve worship service 11 AM in the sanctuary. There will be no classes meeting that morning.
Campus Offices Closed Week of Christmas. We will be back in office Tuesday, Jan 2nd. Sunday evening groups will start again Sunday, January 7th.
Plain and Ordinary
-Riley Stirman
Alfred Hitchcock once said that movies are "life with the dull bits cut out." We get to see the car chases and the weddings, but nobody wants to watch our lead character sitting in traffic or brushing their teeth.
When we talk about God bringing in his kingdom, we often think of the big, revolutionary things that are going to change. We think of the rulers brought down, the humble lifted up, the hungry with enough to eat that Mary described in her song in Luke 1. We think of the no more sorrow or pain described in Revelation. We think of death being no more.
But life is filled with little, boring moments along the way. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't make us exempt from the dull bits that are cut out of movies.
There's another quote, often attributed to the Catholic activist and journalist Dorothy Day, that feels appropriate here: "Everyone wants a revolution. No one wants to do the dishes." In other words, you don't get the big moments (like the coming of the kingdom) without a whole lot of little mundane, boring moments along the way.
In Jeremiah 29, God tells the Israelites in exile that they need to work for the peace of the city in which they find themselves. Among other things, they need to plant their gardens and wait patiently for them to bear fruit. God orders them to go on with the ordinary tasks of living while they wait for their return to Israel. Because he is present in those ordinary moments just like he's present in the big ones.
There's something beautiful about this, I think. Sure, our God formed himself into a human being, performed many miracles, and conquered death on the cross. But he also went on long walks. He also talked late into the night with friends. He also had to bathe and tie his shoes and wait for the bread to finish baking. He inhabited every part of human life - the mundane and the exciting alike.
The prophet Isaiah prophesied about Jesus's birth and said that he would be called Immanuel - God with us (Isaiah 7:14). And because he lived such a uniquely human life, that means God was - and is! - with us in every kind of moment.
This week consists of a million little tiny moments. The kind of moments you wouldn't normally think twice about. But Advent reminds us that there is something unique about God's relationship with this world and with us. We are able to remember that there is now, because of Jesus, something distinctly holy about every little moment.
Are you washing the dishes? Are you picking up clutter? Are you stuck in traffic? God is nearer to you than you can comprehend, inviting you into his loving presence every moment of every day. The only question is whether we're able to notice him.
Around the Community
Thank you to everyone who gave, served, and shared love and cheer during Camelot Christmas last week! We loved getting to spend this time with the Camelot families, and we know that Christmases will be a little brighter this year.
We have a few gifts remaining from this event and would love to invite our neighborhood and congregation to experience this generosity. If you or a family you know would benefit from this experience, please contact Noelle to make an appointment to shop the affordable toy store.
From Our Leaders
Be on the lookout for the monthly trustee letter in your inbox.
Praises & Prayers
Gwen Baird, daughter of Mary Ann Franzke, is recovering from mastectomy surgery.
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