Views from The Ridge 02.28.2024
Sunset Ridge is a church that desires to follow Jesus, reach people, and radiate God’s love and hope to all.
This Week
Sunday, March 3
9:15am Life Groups, children’s Roots gathering, teen gathering (see website for more info)
10:30am Worship in the Sanctuary (A Practice Perfected - Matthew 6:1-17)
4:30pm Supper Church
6-7pm Parent Group: Every Season Sacred
6-7pm Youth group gathering
Wednesday, March 6, 12pm Monthly Men’s Assembly
All men are invited! Bring your lunch and join us in the Fellowship Hall.
Upcoming
Saturday, March 9 Second Saturday yoga & storytime
Interested in what’s scheduled for our campus at large? Please consider subscribing to Goodness Weekly.
Around Our Community
The weather has been perfect for our youth group to enjoy the basketball court. We are so grateful for our beautiful campus that provides so many different ways to be in community together.
No Regrets
-Riley Stirman, Preaching Minister of Sunset Ridge Church
In 2013, the author George Saunders gave the convocation speech at Syracuse University's graduation ceremony.
At the beginning of the speech, he describes a new kid that moved to their school when he was in seventh grade. She was incredibly shy, perpetually nervous, wore unfashionable glasses, and had a habit of chewing her hair. She was often ignored and occasionally teased.
And then her family moved. One day, there. The next day, gone.
At the age of 55, Saunders described this as one of his greatest regrets. Not that he was the one that teased her - in fact, he was actually sort of nice to her, all things considered. Yet still, he knows that he missed an opportunity. And in reflecting on his life, he discovered that all of his greatest regrets were these little instances that he called failures of kindness. The times when someone was before him, in need of love and compassion as all of us are, and he responded reservedly or mildly.
"Or," Saunders went on to say, "to look at it from the other end of the telescope: Who, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth? Those who were kindest to you, I bet."
I have to say, I think he's on to something here. If I look back on the people who had the biggest impact on me, I'm drawn to the times when I've been shown unthinkable kindnesses. Moments of extreme generosity, thoughtfulness, or care that I had no reason to expect or demand.
This is what Jesus calls us to be. This is who I believe we're meant to mature into. Think of some of the ways that Paul says the Holy Spirit bears fruit in us: love and peace and gentleness and kindness. We are to become those people not just for those we already love, the ones already our friends. We are meant to adopt this posture of self-emptying kindness wherever we find ourselves. Even with strangers. Even with people who drive us nuts. Even with people who hate us.
Every time you encounter another human being, whether for a second walking past them, a minute in the grocery checkout line, or an hour over a meal, you have an opportunity. You have an opportunity to walk away and later regret your failure in kindness. You have an opportunity to engage from a safe emotional distance, to keep conversation light and surface-level, and to hope that a smile and a "thank you" counts as kindness.
You also have the opportunity to see someone. To hear someone. To offer kind words unprompted. To show a bit of thoughtful concern. To sacrifice just a little time and effort to make someone's day even a small percent brighter.
Following Jesus in this way isn't too glamorous. It's certainly not going to make any headlines, and our efforts - more often than not - go unnoticed or unappreciated. But even the possibility of putting just a little more love into the world is always worth a try. So let's be those people who live with no regrets. Let's chase after kindness.
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From Our Leaders
As Charis Park, the first significant project of our Missional Action Plan, nears completion, we want to provide an update from a Financial perspective.
We are only $250,000 away from reaching our goal of fully funding Charis Park! This is an incredible achievement. We are asking that you pray about your capacity to give to this amazing space that will be a long-lasting reminder of the faith and generosity of Sunset Ridge Church of Christ.
We will be sharing the naming opportunities that are available as a way to forever be a part of this beautiful space.
Details will be coming soon around the completion timeline and our much anticipated Grand Opening!
Directory Update
Sally Ball has moved to Discovery Village at Dominion. Her new address is:
7870 Heuermann Rd. #2003
San Antonio, TX 78256
Praises And Prayers
Prayers for Gay and Dewey Carlson’s friend, Joseph. Joseph is a man who came to Christ while incarcerated. He has been approved to be released on parole in April, but he is struggling to find a place to take him in while he finds work and a permanent residence. Please pray for Joseph in his transition to this new phase of life. Please forward any helpful contacts or suggestions to the Carlsons at dcc-glc2@att.net.
For the Purity of the People of God
Adapted by Douglas McKelvey from The Gelasian Sacramentary, 492 (Altered in 662)
Found in Liturgy of the Ordinary: Volume III
Almighty God,
who alone can order the unruly
wills and affections of sinful people,
grant unto your people, that they
may love what you command,
and desire what you promise,
so that, among the sundry
and manifold changes of the world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed,
where true joys are to be found–
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
