This Sunday, May 7 all are invited to gather in the fellowship hall after worship to celebrate Lavonda Pointer's 90th birthday! No gifts, please...just bring your smile!
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We are excited to welcome Carissa Robinson, who will begin serving as our Summer Ministry Intern on May 23! Carissa is currently finishing her third semester as a Master of Divinity student at Brite Divinity School. She grew up as a missionary kid in Venezuela and has also spent time working in Bolivia and teaching elementary school here in the United States. Carissa is married with three kids, lives in Crowley, and found her way to Disciples through Galileo Church. She is already coordinating with Ryan Wilkerson to ensure a smooth handoff as she joins our staff and assists with worship, youth/children's programs, outreach partnerships, and more. We look forward to welcoming Carissa to our congregation soon!
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Ryan Wilkerson Is Heading to Iowa
Ryan Wilkerson has accepted a position in Iowa this summer, where he will be serving as the Interim Camp Minister and Manager of the Christian Conference Center, the church camp serving Disciples in the Upper Midwest Region. Ryan and Mollie plan to keep their house here in Fort Worth while they summer in Newton, Iowa, departing around May 15 (moving Mollie's studio in the process so she can continue to prepare for General Assembly). Ryan has done an outstanding job as our Interim Associate Minister over the last 9 months, so be sure to wish him and Mollie well as they prepare for this transition over the next two weeks!
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Open & Affirming Recognition
Great news, church! On Tuesday we received official designation as an Open & Affirming (O&A) congregation from the Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance. This recognition is the result of 3+ years of churchwide conversations, education, and self-assessment led by our board-appointed O&A Taskforce, culminating in a congregational vote on November 6. Although the O&A process primarily focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion, we also sought ways to be more inclusive of people with differing abilities, vision/hearing impairment, food allergies, neurodivergence, and other differences that often lead to feelings of exclusion in church.
As disciples, we are called to find ways to continually expand our welcome so that the diverse people of God may be fully included in the life of the church. We hope you will help share the life-changing (and often life-saving) message of God's extravagant love!
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Day of Service Recap
Our church was selected as a recipient of Catholic Charities' Spring Day of Service as a direct result of our outreach efforts. Last Saturday, April 30 we welcomed 10 volunteers participating in the Day of Service event to work alongside volunteers from our church from 9:00-11:00 am. During those two hours the group organized the Room In The Inn closer, the kitchen, the paint closet, and the craft closet! In the process, we were able to donate many unused items and throw away a lot of clutter. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!
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Six Flags Trip
To celebrate the end of the school year we are taking a field trip to Six Flags! Special thanks to Aaryn Steele for initiating this event. We will meet at the QuikTrip at 6601 Brentwood Stair Rd on Saturday, May 6th at 10:30 am for a day of merriment and ride-riding! Russ said he can't wait to ride every ride with every youth at least twice! We hope you'll join us!
Final Youth Group of the School Year
Join us this Sunday from 4:00-5:30 pm for youth and children's group as we celebrate the end of the year with a funky snack showdown! And remember our motto: When you're here, you're family! (A motto that no other organization uses.)
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On April 23, the Pastor's Book Club kicked off an 8-week study of Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez. Russ leads the group each Sunday from 4:15-5:15 pm, and you're welcome to participate in-person in the church library, virtually on Zoom, or watch a recording of the session afterward. (Click here for the video of the first meeting.)
In her bestselling book, Du Mez (Professor of History at Calvin University) provides an insightful overview of the last seventy-five years of white evangelicalism, revealing how many American evangelical leaders have worked to replace the Jesus of the Gospels with an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism. The book helps make sense of many of the controversies, political alliances, and cultural faultlines that are shaping the world around us today.
To join the study, email Russ at russ@ridgleachristian.org. You can order copy of the book through the church for $10, purchase your own (physical or E-book), or borrow a library copy.
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Interested in making (or learning to make)
prayer shawls?
Over the years, our church's Prayer Shawl Ministry has knitted, blessed, and presented shawls to many individuals and families experiencing a difficult time or significant life event. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, the birth of a child, or treatment for cancer, a prayer shawl provides a warm embrace that reminds the recipient of God's love and the prayers and support of our church community.
You're welcome to join in if you are interested in knitting or crocheting prayer shawls! Whether you want to learn how to knit for the first time or you've been at it for years, your presence is welcome. The group meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:00 pm in the church library. If you're interested or would like more information, email Brenda at bwentworth666@gmail.com or let any of the church staff know.
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The Open Door Sunday School Class is studying Bible passages related to the theme "Jesus Calls Us" every Sunday morning at 10:00 am. All are welcome!
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