Goodness Weekly 6.23.25
“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.”
- Lily Tomlin
WHAT’S GOOD
We’re deeply grateful to the District 10 City Council Office and the City of San Antonio for installing new stop signs at the crosswalk between our main campus and Charis Park. Since the park opened last fall, Brees Blvd—a busy thoroughfare—has seen a noticeable increase in pedestrian activity, including children from our Sprouts preschool and neighbors walking to and from the park.
This small but meaningful update helps us continue our work of supporting a safer, more connected, and flourishing neighborhood—and we’re thankful to see the city respond with care.
Drive Slow, Stop
Taylor Bates, Deputy Director, Sunset Ridge Collective
We recently had new stop signs installed on both sides of the crosswalk connecting our main campus to Charis Park. This may seem like a small update, but for me, it’s a big deal. I’ve been working with District 10 and the City of San Antonio for several years now to improve pedestrian safety in our neighborhood—especially for the students of our beloved on-campus preschool, Sprouts School. They cross the busy Brees Blvd almost daily to explore the neighborhood—my own two kids included.
I’m deeply grateful to the City for responding to this need. The new stop signs soothe a quiet anxiety I’ve carried for the past two years. But as one worry has settled, another has crept in.
On the first day that the new infrastructure was in place, I was standing by the coffee trailer, waiting for my matcha latte, and admiring the shiny new red signs when I began watching how drivers responded. The first car I saw—a small sedan—came to a full stop several feet before the white line. Yes! I thought. Then came another car that stopped, but a bit over the line, its bumper in the crosswalk. Hmm. A moment later, a third car did a rolling stop straight through. Yikes. And just like that, my anxiety resurfaced.
New stop signs at intersection of Brees and Emporia
We all know that infrastructure alone doesn’t guarantee safety. People are human, and our responses are far from perfect.
I’ve certainly been guilty of the same as a driver, and I know it’s often tied to my mental state. How much time do we really save by rolling through a stop sign?
Our pastoral staff talk often about rest—not just as a spiritual idea, but as something to practice daily. Rest isn’t just about taking a nap or vacation. It's about retraining our bodies and minds to default to a state of calm. One simple, everyday way we can do that? Obey traffic rules.
Drive the speed limit. Stop completely at stop signs. Yield with intention. These tiny decisions invite calm. They signal to our bodies that we don’t need to rush, that we’re safe, and that others can be too.
So next time you’re behind the wheel, consider this: spare yourself those few seconds you might be saving—and instead, use them to cultivate peace. Your body—and your neighbors—will thank you.
This Week
Something Good to add to your watchlist: The Quilters on Netflix–an award-winning short documentary, telling the story of men in a Missouri maximum-security prison who design and sew beautiful, personalized quilts for foster children.
Saturday, June 28th, 9 AM - 12 PM, Thrift Pop Up
Sunset Ridge Church is hosting a thrift pop-up on Saturday, at One Another Coffee, to benefit Nuevos Vecinos Ministries. Sip and shop to support this Missional Partner.
Coming Up…
Every Saturday, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
* Summer Hours 8 AM - Noon
Every Sunday, Worship at 9 AM and 11 AM
Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? We are currently booking for 2025–please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org
Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness, Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, and Community First Food Pantry.
Inhale: Slow me down inside
Exhale: Help me move peacefully
