Goodness Weekly 8.8.22
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
– Margaret J Wheatley
Letter from a Neighbor:
I live in Terrell Heights, on top of the hill. My lifestyle is pretty much writing and riding. I ride my bike to the cafe and I write my stuff. When the Rose Hip Coffee trailer opened up in the parking lot of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, I was delighted. Yay! I could ride there and write. A new energy center. That's how I think of cafes. Once I was watching a PBS documentary about the history of beer in America and it was mentioned that the American Revolution was fomented in the pubs and cafes of colonial America. I find that charming. Anyways, Katie has created an energy center with her cafe and her generous spirit and her beautiful smile and thru her I have met the Charis Collective folks: Jess, et al.
I basically grew up in a church, my father being the pastor of a small Baptist church in a small midwestern town, but when my mind grew large enough to embrace it I saw a wider world and departed my sheltered belief driven lifestyle to explore it and find my own truth. My basic idea was that truth wasn't contained within any belief system but had to exist independent of whatever I believed if it was in fact truth. That's what I believe anyways, so I left the church behind.
My life journey has led me down many paths and many adventures, it has been exceptionally rich in experiences and discoveries but until now it never included any form of church association. That is until I met the kind and good people of the Charis Collective. They have extended their hospitality to me. So sweet and so beautiful to feel that. I've met several of them and attended their services including the sunset communion on the terrace service. Wonderful, transcendent. Lots of singing and prayer and praising the Lord. Felt like it healed some old wounds from my wasted youth growing up in the Baptist church, the dutiful son of the minister. It also reminds me that goodness and kindness are such human qualities, that we all have those qualities and we all can use them. We can bless each other. I personally think that's the mission of any church or religion.
The Charis Collective does it very well.
What’s Good:
Story Time has quickly become a neighborhood favorite! This past week, our little friends put their creative artistry to work as they created a banner to beautify our space. We invite you to stop by, grab a coffee & pastry from Rose Hip Coffee, and come check it out at the seating area! All are welcome to join ur Story Time Tuesdays at 9am on the front lawn.
Good Work:
At our Back to School Market we will have a school supply drive for Camelot Elementary. If you’re out at the store, please grab a couple of these items to share with the children at the school:
Crayola Crayons
Crayola Washable Markers
Watercolors
Wide Ruled Spiral Notebooks
Wide Ruled Composition books
Glue Sticks
Community Care Team -
This is a team of people committed to helping to care for our neighbors. We will do this by showing up for a neighbor who is feeling lonely, taking meals when they’re needed, etc. This week we will have a QR code on our Food Pantry to invite people to share other needs that they have & invite you to sign up to help meet those needs.
Sign up using this link:
Upcoming Events
Saturday, August 13th, 9am-1pm The Market at Sunset Ridge!!
Sunday, August 14th, 4:30pm Chapel Liturgy & Worship
Friday, August 19th, 7:30pm Sunset Worship, an outdoor summer series
Tuesday, August 9th, 9:00am Story Time on the lawn
Wednesday, August 10th, 9:00am Coffee & Games at Rose Hip Coffee
Morning:
Holy Spirit let me feel your presence throughout my day
While you sit with me at the breakfast table
As I tend to loved ones
As I encounter a stranger
As I do my work
Help me be present to the small wonders of my life.
Amen.
Evening:
God help me lay my head down with ease
Help me set aside today’s second guessings and tomorrow’s to dos
Slow my swirling thoughts
Let my body and my mind drink up rest like water
Help me wake up feeling refreshed and buoyant
Let Your light flow through my dreams.
Amen.
