October 5, 2025
“In the morning it's manna hotcakes
We snack on manna all day
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner
Flaming manna souffle…
What? Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna patty
BaManna bread!”
~Keith Green, “So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt”
BRUNCH!
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Chris Zepp
WELCOMING STATEMENT
RISE believes that God has open arms, and so should we. Our Creator wants us to love, accept and affirm every human being, including persons of every age, race, ethnic background, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or socioeconomic status, educational background, religion or creed, and physical or mental ability. We celebrate our diversity and recognize the sacred worth and dignity of all. Everyone is invited and encouraged to join us as we seek to follow Jesus with mutual respect, understanding, and love.
*Read more about “Why Pronouns Matter” HERE.
CaLL to worship
~Homiletics, adapted
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“Holy Manna”
~William Moore/The Columbian Harmony
Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God.
Will you pray with all your power while we try to preach the word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the holy One comes down.
Brethren pray, and holy manna will be showered all a-round.
Sisters, will you come and help us? Moses' sisters aided him.
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior. Tell them that he will be found.
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Is there here a trembling jailer, seeking grace and filled with tears?
Is there here a weeping Mary pouring forth a flood of tears?
Brethren, join your cries to help them, sisters, let your prayers abound!
Pray, oh pray that holy manna will be showered all around.
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too.
Let us love and pray for sinners till our God makes all things new.
Christ will call us home to heaven, at his table we'll sit down.
Christ will gird himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
“Moses, Moses”
~Brent Holl
Moses, Moses rest your head
“You’ve got a big job,” the Great God said.
Moses, Moses, gather your strength
To lead my people through the wilderness.
Take them through the valleys,
Take them through mountains,
Take them many miles, that you just can’t count ‘em.
Take them through the sea,
Take them through the sand,
Take them to the shore of the Promised Land.
Hebrews, Hebrews rest your heads,
“You’ll be leaving soon,” Old Moses said.
Hebrews, Hebrews, gather your strength
You’ll soon have to travel through the wilderness.
Take them through the valleys,
Take them through mountains,
Take them many miles, that you just can’t count ‘em.
Take them through the sea,
Take them through the sand,
Take them to the shore of the Promised Land.
Moses, Moses take your people and flee,
Take ‘em on down to the great Red Sea
Moses, Moses hold your rod up high,
You’ll make it through the water high and dry.
Take them through the valleys,
Take them through mountains,
Take them many miles, that you just can’t count ‘em.
Take them through the sea,
Take them through the sand,
Take them to the shore of the Promised Land.
Moses, Moses, stand up tall
Your people need food, I can hear their call
Moses trusted God so well,
That sweet, sweet manna from the sky it fell.
Take them through the valleys,
Take them through mountains,
Take them many miles, that you just can’t count ‘em.
Take them through the sea,
Take them through the sand,
Take them to the shore of the Promised Land.
Hebrews, Hebrews what went wrong?
You built an idol and sang its song.
Hebrews, Hebrews tear it down,
I am the Great God, This is holy ground.
Take them through the valleys,
Take them through mountains,
Take them many miles, that you just can’t count ‘em.
Take them through the sea,
Take them through the sand,
Take them to the shore of the Promised Land.
Moses, Moses take my law
Give it to my people so they don't fall
Moses, Moses better be brave,
I am the great God, my people to save.
Take them through the valleys,
Take them through mountains,
Take them many miles, that you just can’t count ‘em.
Take them through the sea,
Take them through the sand,
Take them to the shore of the Promised Land.
(Spoken)
You know, this song is over
but the story never ends…
Scripture Reading
Exodus 16:2-12 (CEB)
2 The whole Israelite community complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert. 3 The Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the Lord had just put us to death while we were still in the land of Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I’m going to make bread rain down from the sky for you. The people will go out each day and gather just enough for that day. In this way, I’ll test them to see whether or not they follow my Instruction. 5 On the sixth day, when they measure out what they have collected, it will be twice as much as they collected on other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 And in the morning you will see the Lord’s glorious presence, because your complaints against the Lord have been heard. Who are we? Why blame us?” 8 Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning because the Lord heard the complaints you made against him. Who are we? Your complaints aren’t against us but against the Lord.”
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole Israelite community, ‘Come near to the Lord, because he’s heard your complaints.’” 10 As Aaron spoke to the whole Israelite community, they turned to look toward the desert, and just then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
11 The Lord spoke to Moses, 12 “I’ve heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat. And in the morning you will have your fill of bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Alexis Ward Owens
“Life is hard. Bread makes it better.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Do you practice regular sabbath? What does that look like for you?
What are some of the rhythms in your life that help you center and find order in the midst of the chaos of the world?
How could we be more like Moses and Aaron, sharing about God’s promise of Manna and reminding people to slow down and receive God’s love and grace when they feel like their cups are empty?
Communion
Song
“Dayton” (“Where Charity and Love Prevail”)
~Traditional Hymn, arr. Brent Holl
Where charity and love prevail there God is ever found;
brought here together by Christ’s love, by love are we thus bound.
With grateful joy and holy fear true charity we learn.
Let us with heart and mind and strength now love Christ in return.
Forgive we now each other's faults as we our faults confess,
and let us love each other well in Christian holiness.
Let us recall that in our midst dwells God's begotten Son.
As members of his body joined, we are in Christ made one.
Love can exclude no race or creed if honored be God's name.
Our common life embraces all whose maker is the same.
Offering and NOMOFOMO
One of our core values is, "God gives to us, so we give back." We're called to give as a joy-filled response to what we've been given. Your financial gifts make a tremendous difference in the lives of God's beloved in Harrisonburg and beyond. Whether it's helping to make sure children in our community have enough to eat, helping to respond to the mental health crisis in our community, or providing much needed backing for the operating costs of our spaces and staff — your gift is a part of God's dream and we are grateful for everyone who partners with us on this journey!
WTF?
Wednesday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
This Week’s Menu (10/8):
Sloppy Joes and Fries!
Join us for a midweek check in to fuel your body, mind and soul. RISE will provide the meal and a topic for conversation. All you have to do it show up!
If you are interested and/or able to help (cooking and prep, giving rides to students, setting up and greeting, washing dishes, etc) let us know using the link below!
Reaching Across the Racial Divide' is a free, collaborative event Saturday, October 11 from 1 – 3 p.m. sponsored by Laurel Ridge Community College, Shenandoah River District United Women in Faith, Shenandoah River District United Methodist Church, Virginia Conference United Methodist Women, Virginia Conference United Methodist Men, Virginia Conference Cross Racial/Cross Cultural Resource Team, VA UMC Director of Belonging and Advocacy-Rev. Lan Davis Wilson, Warren-Page NAACP, Shenandoah County NAACP, Belle Grove Plantation, Northern Shenandoah Valley "Coming to the Table," and others.
Featured speakers will be Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby, the authors of Cousins: Connected Through Slavery, (UWF 2023 Reading Program selection).
Location: Middletown Campus, Carl and Emily Thompson Conference Center
The authors will take questions and sign copies of their book, available for purchase. Additional information and registration with in-person and virtual options are available at laurelridge.edu/kilby.
Contact Laura Douglass, SRD UWF Social Action Coordinator, at lauradouglass@vaumc.org
Closing Song
“Down in the Valley to Pray”
~Traditional Spiritual
As I went down in the valley to pray,
Studying about that good old way,
When you shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O Sisters, let's go down,
let's go down, let's go down,
O Sisters, let's go down,
Down in the valley to pray
O Brothers. . .
O Mothers. . .
O Fathers. . .
All Together. . .
_____________________________________________
The earliest known version of the song, titled "The Good Old Way," was published in Slave Songs of the United States in 1867. The song was contributed to that book by George H. Allan of Nashville, Tennessee, who may also have been the transcriber.
Parting Blessing
~Numbers 6:24-26 (NRSV)
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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