Each Sunday, we share a responsive, communal "Call to Justice" prior to our offering time. This time reminds us that our financial giving is not just to keep the lights on, but that we are giving to a greater mission. Echoing Matthew 25, we believe that we may know Jesus' heart when we are proximate to the brokenhearted and those experiencing injustices in the world like hunger, homelessness, exclusion, and prejudice. 

On the 1st and 2nd Sundays of the month, we are collect donations of non-perishable snacks. On the 3rd Sunday, after worship, we pack snack bags for houseless people in the South Louisville Community. 

Donations may be placed in the back of the Sanctuary.

Suggested nonperishable items for snack bags include:

• Gallon size Zip-lock bags

• Pop Tarts (a favorite!)

• Cookies

• Cans of Vienna sausages or other canned meats (all cans need to be pop-tops)

• Juice pouches

• Fruit snacks

• Snack crackers

*Please avoid food items that would melt, such as chocolate candy.

Located outside to the right of our Sanctuary entry doors, we have a "Blessing Box" that is a "take what you need, leave what you can" ministry. We do not supervise who takes food, but believe that those who need to eat - should eat.

Across from the Blessing Box, we also have a "Good Dog Box" to honor Stark, a therapy dog of a previous staff member who we came to love. If you are passing through our campus with your furry friend, please take a treat for them! As St. Francis said, "Every creature is a word of God."

If the Blessing Box is full, you may also put non-perishable items in the rolling cart in the back of the Sanctuary. Staff and volunteers will refill the box as needed during the week.

As a church, we are welcoming and affirming of all persons, no matter their expression of sexuality.

Each June, we spend the month recognizing PRIDE in worship in different ways. The universal Church has long excluded or persecuted those who do not identify as cisgender and/or heterosexual, and we believe we play a small part in providing a space of healing and acceptance. If you have been excluded or harmed by the church, we are here to walk with you - not to change you. Whether you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally (meaning, you may identify as "straight"), you are welcome at Ridgewood. 

Pastor Molly likes to say, we are "open, affirming, and learning." We strive to be respectful of all pronouns (s/he/they).  We are not perfect, but we hope you'll feel safe to walk with us in attempting to de-center ourselves and love all God's children as they are.

In fall 2023, we launched "Family PRIDE," an intentionally affirming support group for parents and grandparents of LGBTQ+ persons. This group walks together to support, encourage, learn, and affirm their children and grandchildren.

In our Vision for 2023, we decided to try to form relationship with PRP High School. They are less than 2 minutes down the road, but we noticed we have very little tie to them.

In conversation with their Family Resource Coordinators, we discovered needs of students that we could help to meet. Each quarter, we collect one basic item for the FRC office at PRP. In Fall of 2023, we collected around 100 sticks of deodorant. We repeated this collected in October of 2023.

Additionally, we wrote encouragement notes for 150+ staff and faculty members of PRP High School in August 2023. We included these in small goody bags that were delivered. 

We continue to pray for ways we can create this bridge, not for any benefit to ourselves, but so we can be helpful and supportive neighbors to both the students and the staff/faculty. 

We ordained our first female deacon in the mid-1980's. But in 2024, Ridgewood began financially giving to Baptist Women in Ministry, an organization that advocates for and supports women who follow a calling into professional ministry. Learn more about Baptist Women in Ministry here.

In March of 2024, we welcomed Rev. Dr. Meredith Stone, Executive Director of BWIM, to preach. While she was here, we presented a check from a fundraising lunch the week prior and together, voted upon a churchwide Resolution to Support Women in Ministry. See more photos here. 

Curious how we consider those "submission" passages in scripture? Listen to Pastor Molly's sermon here from June 2, 2024.

In June of 2022, we began a relationship with Amazing Grace Community of Faith, which is a United Methodist Congregation just around the corner from us. For the last two years, we have joined together for an ecumenical service of Baptism at Ridgewood; we join AG on Juneteenth for worship with them. 

Additionally, we have shared together in the joy of hosting Vacation Bible School in 2022 and 2023. VBS is open to all area children and provides free meals and a time of programming including a Bible Story, Science, Crafts, and Recreation.

Pictured here, Pastors Rev. Mark Windley (AG) and Rev. Molly Shoulta Tucker (RBC) at 2023 VBS.

On May 5, 2024, Ridgewood capped a 4-week series on Ecotheology by getting our hands dirty...quite literally! We welcomed our new neighbors, the Food Literacy Project, by helping pack seed bags, watering in their greenhouse, plant in seed trays, weed the garden, and plant new crops. We had a brief time of worship "in the garden," and then had communion with each other, and with Creation. We look forward to continue to partner in the future!

To view more photos from event, click here.