Goodness Weekly 9.26.22
“When you rest, you catch your breath and it holds you up, like water wings…”
— Anne Lamott
What’s Good:
This Friday at our outdoor worship we gathered together in worship over ice cold Root Beer floats supplied by our friends over at The Good Hood. Even with the heat, there is always something special about worshiping God amidst God’s creation. The children’s bubbles, the butterflies, the sunset: all gifts and reminders of God’s goodness.
We look forward to our next outdoor worship on October 21st.
Charis Park Update:
Check out the future Wedding Pergola!
Through this new outdoor wedding venue we will host locally-sourced weddings that provide dignifying and sustainable employment opportunities.
Be on the lookout for booking opportunities coming Fall 2023
Message From Jess:
Rest. I wonder what this looks like for you? Did you know that there are different types of rest we all need? Each of us needs physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual rest, and each type of rest has a different way of being responded to.
Today begins day one of my four-week long sabbatical. I have served on staff at Sunset Ridge Church for nine years now. One of the biggest challenges I have struggled with during my time here is the ability to find healthy rhythms of rest.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I have hired a sabbatical and rest coach, Kerry, who is helping me to find these rhythms for both sabbatical, and all of the days after. One of the most poignant things Kerry has said is that, of all of the commandments, Sabbath is the one that we not only disobey, but we also encourage others to disobey. When someone is constantly working or busy we think they are more important. We live in a culture where the path to success is more work, more money, more power, etc.
This is not the path to more peace, or goodness, or wholeness in ourselves or the world around us.
I am learning how to rest. I will begin my sabbatical with a special time of play with my daughter, then spend a week in Maine in silence and solitude, travel to visit some people who are doing incredible work in their neighborhoods, hang with my big boys, connect with my husband, and learn the ways that my heart and soul respond to different rest practices so I come back with a toolkit to use in my daily life.
I want to invite you to join me over these next four weeks in trying a Sabbath practice yourself. For me, over the years, this has looked like shutting off my phone and computer for one whole day, spending time outside, intentionally moving more slowly and quietly, playing, creating, etc.
What would it look like for you to stop working for one hour of your day, or even one day of your week?
I can’t wait to share what I learn in the next four weeks. And more than anything I can’t wait to rest in the arms of a God who created the universe and can certainly keep it all going without me.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, October 2nd, 4:30pm Supper Church
Tuesday, September 27th, 9:00am Story Time on the lawn
Saturday, October 8th, 9:30am Family Morning
**Wednesdays at 7:30pm Youth Group at The Stirmans
No Youth Group this week, see you October 5th!
Morning:
Today I am found by you God,
Remind me of this radical goodness of your grace that says-
I know you
I see you
And I love you
Help me to remember that you are
not angrily waiting for me but are running
with arms wide open to wrap me in your loving arms
Wipe away my tears
And say welcome Home.
Amen.
Evening:
Thank you for the gift of this day,
and all of the messy complex moments of it
May my mistakes serve my growth
and be covered by your grace
May the hurt I experienced from others
be healed by your love
May I remember that you know all of me
and love me without reservation
Help me to show that kind of love
to those around me tomorrow
And rest in that love tonight.
Amen.
