February 5, 2023
Words of Greeting & Nomofomo
Chris Zepp
Welcome to Brunch Church! Many thanks to everyone who brought food to share! We are planning Brunch Church being the first Sunday of each month through the spring. We’ll be back at Pale Fire and live streaming next week.
Just Be (Reimagined) - For the 15-25ish crowd, Sunday afternoons, 1-2 pm
Today’s Topic - God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit (aka “The Trinity”)We’ve been using the metaphor of a journey (or road trip) as we have discussed the Just Be experience. Journeys (or road trips) often require adjustments and an awareness of when we need to be rerouted. So, we’ve reflected and revamped a bit. We’re hoping that these adjustments will enable more folks to attend, and perhaps the commitment won’t seem as overwhelming. It’ll still be a meaningful and transformational experience - we’re just gonna travel a little differently and “lighter.”
We will now meet for an hour, starting at 1 pm in the Ice House Library. We will spend a few minutes checking in, and then we will “jump in” and spend the rest of the time exploring questions. We will ask people to write down their questions about the topic, and we will explore as many of them as possible.
While we hope that folks will come to as many sessions as possible, we’re designing this so that each session can “stand alone.” So, if people can only come to some of the sessions, that’s ok. So please, come and “Just Be” for an hour on Sundays this semester. (You do not need to sign up)! Explore your questions about life, faith, God and all the things. Make some new friends along the way.” We strongly believe this will be worth your time!
Ask Us Anything - This Wednesday, February 8, 7 - 8:30 pm - Taylor Down Under on the JMU Campus
Back by popular demand! Do you have questions about life, faith and the meaning of it all? If so, you’re not alone! Many of us wrestle with big questions and long for a chance to ask them in a welcoming, shame-free space.Ask Us Anything will offer safe space to ask questions and hear from three area clergypersons from various traditions. While they will not claim to have “answers,” these clergy will do their best to offer thoughtful and authentic responses to your questions. Panel participants will include: Georgia Metz (she/her), Pastor of Shalom Mennonite Congregation; Alex Zuber (he/him), Associate Pastor of Muhlenberg Lutheran Church; and our very own Amanda Miller Garber (she/her), Pastor of RISE United Methodist Faith Community.
Anyone and everyone of all ages are welcome! A virtual option will be offered, but we encourage you to come and join us in person if possible. Contact us at riseharrisonburg@gmail.com or DM us on Facebook or Instagram with any questions. We hope to see you there!
Requests for care and/or prayer can always be sent via e-mail to cares@riseharrisonburg.org, texted to 833-803-0868, or submitted online via our RISE Cares form.
Connect:
If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
Sign up for texting services:
Text “RISE” to 833-803-0868 to join the primary list and receive weekly community updates and alerts
Text “RISEcares” to receive prayer requests, care needs, and community concerns and celebrations
Please continue to check social media/the website for all updates and information!
Welcoming Statement
JK Ancell
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, 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.
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
Abby Butler-Cefalo
Matthew 6:7-18 (ESV)
Caitlyn
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Questions for Reflection and Conversation:
What does prayer mean to you?
How do you best connect in prayer?
Do you resonate with the Lord’s Prayer? Why or why not?
Why do you think this prayer was even introduced?
How has prayer been used to harm people? Have you ever seen the Lord’s Prayer be used for harm?
When we look at this scripture, prayer seems so simple - why, or how, has it evolved in some harmful ways?
How can we reclaim prayer? What is the worth in reclaiming?
Prayer Time (“Choose your own Adventure” style)
There are countless ways to pray. Some are familiar, many others perhaps not.
In this time you are invited to "make your own adventure," to find a space here in our suite or outside in the hallway that works for you, and spend some time in prayer. Below are several possible options, with simple explanations. Perhaps there is a new one that you’d like to “test out.” Perhaps one of them speaks to you especially today. Or perhaps you have a prayer practice that is uniquely yours. Take this time to explore the experience of prayer that seems right for you in this moment. Or if prayer just isn’t your thing, take this time to just be…which some might argue is in itself a form of prayer.
Possible Prayer options:
Tactile Prayer
Engage your hands while allowing your heart and mind to center and pray. Play with play-dough, doodle, color a madala, knit - the choice is yours. (Some madalas and colors are available)
Breath Prayer
Though not a well-known practice, Breath Prayer is shaped by the action most essential to our lives: our very breath. It is our first action on the day we are born and our final act on the day that we die. Even the words for “spirit” in Hebrew (ruach) and Greek (pneuma)—the two languages in which the Bible was originally written—can also mean “breath.” It seems breath is not only essential to our physical existence but our spiritual nourishment, too.
Breath Prayer is as informal as they come. Here are the steps:
Choose a phrase. It can be a verse from the Bible or a line of praise and petition (one common formula is a name for God followed by your desire, such as “Spirit, peace”). You could also use the inward breath to name what you would like to receive and the outward breath to state what you would like to release.
Breathe in and out, with the first part of your prayer coming to mind on the inward breath and the latter half connecting with the outward breath.
Continue your prayer for a set period of time or until you feel you have reached a sense of inner stillness as you dwell in the presence of God.
Ignatian Examen
This form of prayer is one that is quite reflective and allows us to reflect on our days with intentionality. This is also one that you can talk through with a friend, journal about, or do while coloring a mandala or using play-doh or something similarly tactile. Here are five steps for this practice:
Become aware of God’s presence.
Review the day with gratitude.
Pay attention to your emotions.
Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
Look toward tomorrow.
Visio Divina
Visio divina is a form of “divine seeing” in which we prayerfully invite God to speak to our hearts as we look at an image. We invite you to find a piece of art/nature/area of the Ice House, a photo from your camera roll, or something outside that speaks to you. Simply be present to the image and allow it to speak to your heart, without any particular agenda. It might speak to you in words or wordlessly. As you gaze at the image, notice your breath and your body.
Then, reflect on these questions as you are led, sitting in silence with your reflections:
How do you feel looking at the image?
If you had to describe the image in a sentence or two, what would you say?
If you were in the image, where would you place yourself ?
Do you get a glimpse of the sacred from this image? Is God speaking to you in this image?
Does a name for God arise for you from this image?
Prayer Partners/Circle
This one is probably familiar. Find another/others with whom to share your heart and mind. Take turns praying aloud with and for one another.
Questions for further reflection
(As time allows)
Have you done these before?
Did one resonate with you more than the others?
Spend time with your senses - how were/are your different senses feeling in these different forms of prayer?
FINAL BLESSING
“Beannacht / Blessing”
~John O’Donohue
On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets into you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue,
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.