February 9, 2025
Purpose
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.
OPENING PSalm
Ps. 138 (ceb)
1 I give thanks to you with all my heart, Lord.
I sing your praise before all other gods.
2 I bow toward your holy temple
and thank your name
for your loyal love and faithfulness
because you have made your name and word
greater than everything else.
3 On the day I cried out, you answered me.
You encouraged me with inner strength.4 Let all the earth’s rulers give thanks to you, Lord,
when they hear what you say.
5 Let them sing about the Lord’s ways
because the Lord’s glory is so great!
6 Even though the Lord is high,
he can still see the lowly,
but God keeps his distance from the arrogant.7 Whenever I am in deep trouble,
you make me live again;
you send your power against my enemies’ wrath;
you save me with your strong hand.
8 The Lord will do all this for my sake.Your faithful love lasts forever, Lord!
Don’t let go of what your hands
have made.
Opening Songs
Brent Holl with Allison Garcia
“Glory”
~Mike Stern
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
Glory in the children and when the day has begun,
Glory in the lines of old faces and when the day is done,
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
There’s no glory in the battle nor the barrel of a gun,
There’s no glory in killing, no war victory to be won, but there’s
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
Glory to the creator, glory to the One,
Glory to the spirit, glory to the Three in One,
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
The earth and all it’s fullness and all it’s daughters and sons,
Belong to the glory and the glory still to come.
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
“Oh What A Beautiful City”
Oh! What a beautiful city!
Oh! What a beautiful city!
Oh! What a beautiful city!
Twelve gates to the city
Hallelu!
Three gates in the east
Three gates in the west
Three gates in the north
Three gates in the south
Making it twelve gates to the city
Hallelu!
My Lord built-that city
Said it was just four square
Wanted all sinners
To meet Him in the air
Cause He built twelve gates to the city
Hallelu!
Who are all those children
All dressed in white?
They must be the children
Of the Israelites
Cause He built twelve gates to the city
Hallelu!
Who are all those children
All dressed in red?
They must be the children
That Moses led
The Lord built twelve gates to the city
Hallelu!
When I get to Heaven
I’m gonna sing and shout
Ain’t nobody up there
Gonna put me out
‘Cause He built twelve gates to the city
Hallelu!
Scripture ReadingS
Isaiah 6:1-13 (CEB)
1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. 2 Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about. 3 They shouted to each other, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces!
All the earth is filled with God’s glory!”4 The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!”
6 Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.”
8 Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?”
I said, “I’m here; send me.”
9 God said, “Go and say to this people:
Listen intently, but don’t understand;
look carefully, but don’t comprehend.10 Make the minds of this people dull.
Make their ears deaf and their eyes blind,
so they can’t see with their eyes
or hear with their ears,
or understand with their minds,
and turn, and be healed.”11 I said, “How long, Lord?”
And God said, “Until cities lie ruined with no one living in them, until there are houses without people and the land is left devastated.” 12 The Lord will send the people far away, and the land will be completely abandoned. 13 Even if one-tenth remain there, they will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, which when it is cut down leaves a stump. Its stump is a holy seed.
Luke 5:1-11 (CEB)
1 One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. 2 Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. 3 Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.”
5 Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.”
6 So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. 7 They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” 9 Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. 10 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too.
Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” 11 As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Song
“Two Fishermen”
~Suzanne Toolan
Two fishermen, who lived along the Sea of Galilee,
stood by the shore to cast their nets into the ageless sea.
Now Jesus watched them from afar, then called them each by name.
It changed their lives, these simple men; they’d never by the same.
“Leave all things you have and come and follow me,
and come and follow me.”
And as he walked along the shore ‘twas James and John he’d find,
and these two sons of Zebedee would leave their boats behind.
Their work and all they held so dear they left beside their nets.
Their names they’d heard as Jesus called; they came without regret.
“Leave all things you have and come and follow me,
and come and follow me.”
O Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John beloved one,
you heard Christ’s call to speak good news revealed to God’s own Son.
Susanna, Mary, Magdalene who traveled with your Lord,
you ministered to him with joy for he is God adored.
“Leave all things you have and come and follow me,
and come and follow me.”
And you, good Christians, one and all who’d follow Jesus’ way,
come leave behind what keeps you bound to trappings of our day,
and listen as he calls your name to come and follow near;
for still he speaks in varied ways to those his call will hear.
“Leave all things you have and come and follow me,
and come and follow me.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Alexis Ward Owens
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What do you do when feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome begin to set into your mind and soul?
Do you identify more with Simon Peter or Isaiah? Why?
What do you feel like your purpose is in this world? Are you actively living into that purpose or are you more of a passive participant?
PRAYER
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!
Big Game Watch Party TONIGHT!
CLOSING SONG
“Let Me Be This Little Light”
This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? *NO!* I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let me be a light for Hope
Let me be a light for Peace
From the seas below to the skies above
Let me be a light for Love.
Parting Blessing
~Marianne Williamson
”Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Remember friends, you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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