Views from The Ridge 08.16.23
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This Week…
Wednesday, August 16, 7-8:30pm Youth group & 6th grade welcome
Sunday, August 20
9:15am Life Groups, children’s Roots gathering, no teen gathering (see website for more info)
10:30am Worship (“Like a Good Neighbor” - Luke 10:25-37, Jess Lowry)
No chapel worship this week
Wednesday, August 23, 6:30pm Sunset Worship
Upcoming…
August 27, 6:30pm Young Adult dinner at Torchy’s
August 30, 10am Women’s Wednesday Fellowship
Heaven On Earth
Riley Stirman
Have you ever had a moment where you felt that you've seen heaven on earth?
I find that when most people talk about those experiences, they usually reference some incredible sight in nature: the view from the top of a mountain, a beautiful beach at sunset, or maybe a crystal clear lake in a forest.
There are moments that we feel we are witnessing something outside the ordinary, maybe even something with a deeply spiritual significance. Sometimes we feel that we were lucky enough to peek behind the curtain that separates our world from God's heavenly kingdom.
I think I've been fortunate enough to witness a few of these moments in my life. But the one that most readily comes to mind has very little to do with the place and everything to do with the people.
In southern Missouri, there's a very special place called Camp Barnabas. This is a camp that ministers specifically to individuals with special needs, people who aren't used to having special experiences (like a summer camp) just like anyone else. For at least a week out of the year, the world is wide open to them. They can canoe, fish, practice archery, or play at a waterpark. They eat subpar camp food, sing those annoying camp songs, and complain about the sweltering heat/humidity combination, just like the rest of us.
My absolute favorite part of the week was actually at the very beginning. As volunteers, we received a little over a day of training where we talked about how best to be supportive to people with unique challenges in their daily lives. And every so often, the staff members would make a very exciting announcement for us. With the energy and excitement of someone in the front row at a Beatles concert, they would shriek, "THE CAMPERS ARE COMING!" And the rest of us would celebrate like there was no tomorrow. Because this camp believed that their campers were worth celebrating.
The following day, campers arrived. The entire camp turned out for it. We were instructed to create a receiving line, two massive walls of people who would show each and every camper how excited we were that they were there.
One at a time, every camper came through this line, getting treated like an absolute rockstar. They got to listen as people cheered and clapped and screamed and jumped, all because they had finally arrived. These people, so used to being ignored or overlooked or cast aside, became the most important people in the world. And it remains one of the most beautiful things that I've ever witnessed.
I'm convinced that our first day in heaven will be pretty close to that experience. I believe that the first thing we'll see is rejoicing - celebration that after a life well-lived, we've finally made it home. I believe that we'll see old friends, or loved ones, or our savior himself, overcome with joy that we're there at long last.
And I'm also convinced that it's our job, in the meantime, to bring heaven to earth in this way. It's our job to make sure that all people have their chance to be celebrated, to feel seen, and to know that their presence makes a difference. Especially the ones who often go overlooked. Because heaven isn't just this far-off future ideal. It's a reality that Jesus brought us. And it's our responsibility to live into that reality. One huge party at a time.
Around the Community
We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Sprouting Curiosity Collective to open a new nature-based preschool on our campus. Sprouts School will be a small neighborhood-based school with a learning-through-play philosophy. We will maintain low student-to-teacher ratios within our classes and students will spend 50% of their day outside, weather and air quality permitting.
The primary school will serve children ages 3 to 6 from 9:00am - 2:00pm with extended care available. We will offer 2-day, 3-day and 5-day a week options. In addition to the primary school, there will be an early learners school for children ages birth through 2.
If you are interested, please complete this interest form to select your ideal weekly schedule. This will get you priority access for enrollment when it opens. If you are filling it out for multiple children, please submit separate forms for each child. Contact taylor@sunset-ridge.org for questions and more information.
Prayers & Praises
Bob Doty, Julie Mankins’ father, will undergo a heart catheterization on August 17th.
Please keep all of our students, teachers and school staff in your prayers as they return to school.
Do you follow us on Instagram? Find our Daily Bible Readings in our stories, and updates throughout the week in our feed.
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
