Goodness Weekly 12.04.23
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
–Mother Teresa
What’s Good
The spirit of celebration has been sparked at Sunset Ridge Collective. This last week Chelsea decorated not only our chapel, but brought cheer to our entire campus. One Another Coffee is now carrying a line of limited edition ornaments made by our talented friend Suz Browning, all proceeds going straight to the creation of Charis Park. And with the biggest smiles brought to our faces happened this weekend with the wedding of Grace & Bennett.
This Week
Friday, Dec 8 6pm Camelot Christmas party (Volunteer set Up at 5 pm)
Saturday, Dec 9 Second Saturday
9am Yoga on the lawn ($10 Donation)
10am Storytime
11am “In Print” Art Sale in Coworking Space (enter through Main Office)
Plant based Breakfast Tacos will be available at One Another Coffee until Sold Out
Sunday, Dec 10 4:30pm Chapel worship
Coming Up
Sunday, Dec 17
11am Holiday Luncheon
4:30pm Outdoor Worship
6pm Youth Group Christmas Party
Campus Closed for the week of Christmas. Normal office hours to resume Tuesday, January 2nd.
A Message from Mae
Mae Czarnecki, Sunset Ridge Collective Communications Coordinator
Christmas presents under the tree may have been the first thing I remember creating joy in waiting. In the beginning, in true Oldest Daughter fashion, I wasted no time gathering up the presents labeled for me to shake and weigh and guess at what was inside. After many years of correct predictions, I made the conscious effort to keep myself from spoiling the surprise. I didn’t want to know how many I had, how big they were, or if I could gently press firmly enough around the package inside to make the potential sleeping Furby talk to me. I wanted the joy of Christmas morning to be filled with “OH MY GOSH THANK YOU”s instead of “I KNEW IT!”s.
As no surprise to my mother, I never found out the sex of my babies when I was pregnant. There were so many things I had to know and be prepared for, that this seemed like the one surprise I could keep for the day I met my daughters.
As I’ve gotten older, waiting has gotten heavier.
Waiting lists for transplants, insurance claim approval letters, and legal battles have been less fun than Christmas morning. In this particular season, I’m waiting for the full recovery of my friend and leader, Jess as she wades through waves of health uncertainty due to an autoimmune disease.
With this heavy waiting, I’ve been made reliant on a lineage of waiting gifted to me by my faith tradition. The 400 years from the end of the Old Testament, to the birth of Jesus in the New Testament are referred to as “Advent”. Through a time of uncertainty and silence, this group of believers had nothing to motivate them except their traditions. Generations passed full of questions, doubt, and fear right alongside routine, predictably, and community.
I, like you, am juggling so many uncertainties right now. None of which I can hurry or force. They all seem that much heavier in a season that’s supposed to be “Merry and Bright.” Choosing to acknowledge or create the shiny moments in the waiting I’m enduring right now takes strength. I’m so grateful I don’t have to carry it alone.
A Special Request
You may have noticed seeing less of our Executive Director, Jess, in Goodness Weekly and around campus. At this time, she is recovering from an adrenal crisis related to an autoimmune disease. She is gaining strength and healing at home surrounded by a few select loved ones. We are grateful for the example that her leadership is to all of us and the security we feel in our ability to do the good work here at Sunset Ridge Collective. If you would like to encourage her during this time, or provide a gift of a meal, please send cards to 95 Brees Blvd or coordinate with us here. Reading words of encouragement from the community she loves so much in this tangible way would mean the world to her.
Thank you for joining us in this waiting.
Inhale:
In a season of cold, dark days
Exhale:
May our waiting be warmed by community
