Views from The Ridge 5.20.26
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This Week’s Scripture: John 14:15-21
Watch previous sermons here.
Wednesdays
Join us Wednesday evenings for High School Formation Time from 6:00 - 7:30 PM in Room 220. Open to all students in grades 9 - 12, this weekly gathering includes food, fun, and meaningful group discussions as we grow together in faith and community. Contact Den to join the group. Please note that adult formation and community supper have concluded for the spring season.
Sundays
Worship
9 AM, Chapel, Acapella
11 AM, Sanctuary, Instrumental
10:15 AM, Bible Class & Discipleship for All Ages
Fellowship Hall
Between the Words: A gathering between our community’s two worship times where we unfold the facets of weekly Scripture together. Each week stands on its own; come as you’re able. Adults and teens welcome.
BEMA Podcast Discussion group
Room 220
BOYS 5th - 7th Grade, Formation Study w/ Bryan Wolfe
GIRLS 5th - 7th Grade, Formation Study w/ Den Slater
Roots: Children’s Discipleship through Godly Play
Bible Story Focus this Week: A Life of Strength, Dignity, and Rest
Key Verse: Proverbs 31:25-31
Room 102, PreK - Kindergarten
Room 122, 1st - 2nd Grade
Room 209, 3rd - 4th Grade
Sunday Setlists
What if worship started before Sunday morning? Listening to these songs during the week can help build familiarity and allow the words to begin forming our hearts before we sing them together.
This Week’s Setlist
All 2026 Songs
Community Connections
Thrift Pop-Up on May 30th
One Another Coffee is hosting its second thrift pop-up of the year on Saturday, May 30, from 9 AM - 1 PM in the Sunset Ridge Church Fellowship Hall. All proceeds from the thrift pop-up will benefit Nuevos Vecinos, and a portion of coffee sales that day will also be donated to the local non-profit.
Upcoming Community Events
Every Saturday, 9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
Monday, May 25, Office Closed for Memorial Day
Saturday, May 30, 8 AM - 1 PM, One Another Coffee & Nuevos Vecinos Thrift Pop-up, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, May 31, 5th Sunday, Kids in 11AM Worship Service
Friday, June 19, Juneteenth, Office Closed
Sunday, June 21, Father’s Day
Friday, July 3, Office Closed in Observance of Independence Day
July 7 - 10, 9 AM - 12 PM, VBS Kinder - 5th, “Growing with God and Caring for Creation”
Beyond Sunday
The Woman of Proverbs 31
Dick Ihfe, DMin, Trustee, Sunset Ridge Church
This missive is about the archetypal woman of Proverbs 31 and it is being written by a man. Notice the irony? And men wonder why many women classify us as Neanderthals even though we think we are the perfect blend of Brad Pitt and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I am neither of those. I am more like a cross between John Pinette and Jake Tapper; but I am a heart transplant recipient who received the heart of a young woman thirteen years ago. So, I feel a distinct kinship with women, and I harbor a recurring call to the women’s shoe department at Macy’s. Here goes nothing!
The woman of Proverbs 31 has a bit of a reputation problem. For some, she’s inspiring. For others, she is exhausting. I mean, if you read the passage straight through, she wakes up early, runs a household, starts a business, invests in real estate, clothes her family, helps the poor, gives wise advice, and still somehow looks dignified and regal doing it. So, what are we supposed to do with her—especially from the perspective of Western, postmodern women who are already juggling more expectations than a circus performer with too many flaming torches?
A postmodern lens tends to question anything that feels like a rigid ideal, especially one handed down from an ancient culture. And fair enough, I think many contemporary women hear Proverbs 31 and think, “Great, one more impossible standard.” But if we slow down a bit and read it less like a job description and more like a character sketch, something interesting happens. The pressure eases, and the person behind the passage starts to come into focus.
First off, this woman is no pushover. She is not sitting quietly in the corner waiting for instructions. She’s making decisions, managing resources, and taking initiative. She “considers a field and buys it,” which is a bold move even by today’s standards. In modern terms, she’s part entrepreneur, part manager, part visionary. If she lived today, she would probably have a side hustle, a budgeting app or at least a podcast. That kind of agency lines up well with how many contemporary women see themselves—not confined, but capable and engaged.
Then there’s her work ethic. She’s described as industrious, which is a polite biblical way of saying she gets a lot done. Now, before anyone feels personally attacked, the point isn’t that she never rests or binge-watches anything. (Let’s just assume that if streaming services existed back then, she’d have a favorite show too.) The deeper idea is that her work has purpose. She’s not busy just to be busy; she is intentional. That’s something many women today are trying to reclaim—doing meaningful work instead of just surviving a never-ending to-do list.
Her strength is another standout quality. The text says she is “clothed with strength and dignity,” which sounds lovely and poetic, but also practical. Life is demanding. Between careers, relationships, family responsibilities, and the occasional existential crisis, strength isn’t optional—it is essential. What’s refreshing here is that her strength isn’t loud or showy. It is steady. It’s the kind that keeps going, even on the days when everything feels slightly off and the coffee isn’t strong enough.
And then there’s her wisdom. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” In a world where everyone has an opinion and a comment section, that’s no small thing. Imagine if social media ran on that principle—wisdom plus kindness. It would be a whole different place. Her words aren’t just clever; they are helpful. That kind of grounded, thoughtful communication is something many contemporary women value deeply, especially in a culture that can feel noisy and reactive.
One of the more surprising aspects of the Proverbs 31 narrative is this woman’s concern for others. She’s attentive to her household, yes, but she also reaches out to those in need. Now, in a culture that often emphasizes “you do you,” this outward focus might seem a bit counterintuitive. But here’s the thing: I argue that a lot of modern women are actually craving meaningful connection and purpose beyond themselves. Serving others, building community, and showing compassion aren’t outdated ideas—they are part of what makes life feel rich and grounded.
Of course, let’s address the obvious: she does everything, and she does it well. That can feel…a little unfair. Most people are just trying to keep one or two areas of life from falling apart at any given time. This is where it helps to remember that Proverbs 31 is more like poetry than a performance review. It’s painting a picture of what a life shaped by good character can look like, not handing out daily quotas. You’re not failing if you didn’t “rise while it was still night.” Some women do their best work after 10 a.m.—and that’s okay.
At its core, the passage is really about virtues—things like diligence, strength, wisdom, compassion, and integrity. Those qualities don’t belong to one era or one lifestyle. They show up in all kinds of ways. For one woman, that might look like leading a team at work. For another, it might be raising kids, caring for a parent, creating art, or volunteering in the community. The specifics change, but the heart behind them stays the same.
The passage ends by saying that “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” In today’s diverse and often secular culture, that line can be interpreted in different ways. But at the very least, it points to a life that isn’t completely self-centered—a life anchored in something bigger than personal success or public approval. And honestly, that’s something a lot of people are searching for, (men or women), whether they’d phrase it that way or not.
I believe the Proverbs 31 woman isn’t meant to make anyone feel inadequate. She is there to remind us of what a life of character can look like when it is lived with purpose and balance irrespective of gender. She’s not a one-size-fits-all model, and she’s definitely not keeping score. If anything, she’s a little nudge—okay, a firm nudge—toward living well in God’s family, loving others, and holding it all together with a bit of strength, a bit of wisdom, and, hopefully, a sense of humor along the way.
Finally, you may be asking yourself, “Where does this guy get off writing this article giving insight into what he thinks the Woman of Proverbs 31 is like in this day and age?” The answer is simple. I was married to her for 56 years.
Peace,
Dick Ihfe, DMin
Prayers of the People
Glennie Scalercio is in rehab. No visitors at this time, please, but cards would be welcome. Please mail them to her home address (available in the church office).
