February 19, 2023

WORDS OF WELCOME

Pastor Amanda Miller Garber

NOMOFOMO

  • Just Be - For the 15-25ish crowd, Sunday afternoons, Ice House Library, 1-2:15 pm
    Today’s Topic - Love, Relationships, and Theology (part deux)

  • Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner - This Tuesday (2/21) 7-8:30 pm, JMU Taylor 405
    A must for all college students - bring your friends and enjoy some yummy carbs!

  • Ash Wednesday - This Wednesday (2/22)

    • Ashes “To Go” - Noon- 1 pm, Ice House Circle (by Pale Fire)
      Pastor Amanda will be offering a “drive-by” opportunity for individual imposition of ashes and prayer “to go.”

    • Ashes on JMU Campus - 2-3 pm
      Pastor Amanda will be available for individual imposition of ashes and prayer.

    • Ash Wednesday Worship Service - 7:30 pm, Ice House Suite 203
      Informal and relaxed. Absolutely everyone is invited and encouraged to come!

  • 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

Daniel

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.

SONG

“Be Thou My Vision”

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, be thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, thy child may I be
Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High king of heaven, my treasure thou art

High king of heaven, when victory is won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav’n's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

Amanda Miller Garber
Chris Zepp


SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS OR TEXT THEM TO 833-803-0868!


  • Let’s talk about the concept we will explore today: mystery. When you hear this word, what comes to mind (particularly when we think of culture)? How is it often used in the church/religious settings (what images come to mind)?

  • Have you seen this concept or word used to cause harm?

  • This is transfiguration Sunday. This story is often heard before the season of Lent begins...

Matthew 17: 1-9 (CEB)

1 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain. 2 He was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.

3 Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll make three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, look, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” 6 Hearing this, the disciples fell on their faces, filled with awe.

7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anybody about the vision until the Human One is raised from the dead.”

  • What initially strikes you about this story? What’s going on here?

  • Why is this story in 3 gospels - clearly it’s supposed to be there ?

  • What does this say to us about mystery?

  • How might we open ourselves to mystery/ reclaim it in our journeys? Why should we?

SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS OR TEXT THEM TO 833-803-0868

COMMUNION


SONG

“Called or Not Called”

~Shawn Kirchner

Called or not called, God is there
Called or not called, God is there
Called or not called, God is there
The hand of the maker is everywhere

Named or unnamed…

Seen or unseen…

Known or unknown…

Called or not called…

FINAL BLESSING

~John O’Donohue

Kadie King

May you awaken to the mystery of being here
And enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
May you respond to the call of your gift
And find the courage to follow its path.
May the flame of anger free you from falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and anxiety never linger about you. 
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift, Woven around the heart of wonder

Amen.