March 5, 2023

WORDS OF Greeting and NomoFomo

Pastor Amanda Miller Garber

NOMOFOMO

  • 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 - For the 15-25ish crowd, Sunday afternoons, Ice House Library, 1-2:15 pm
    Today’s Topic - Forgiveness, Part 2

  • A New Season at RISE
    Those of you who are on the RISE E-mail list received an e-mail last week highlighting some of the transitions that are happening at RISE. (If you have not yet seen that letter you can view it HERE.) Leadership Team would like to know what questions and feedback you have after reading it. To submit your questions, thoughts, and comments, please complete this FEEDBACK FORM. Leadership team will be reviewing the submissions received, responding as necessary, and compiling a FAQ document as appropriate.

  • 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.

*Read more about “Why Pronouns Matter” HERE.

Hit Pause for a Moment

Chris Zepp

THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

Abby Butler-Cefalo

Today, we’re exploring part 2 of reclaiming “forgiveness.” More specifically, we are reclaiming the idea of relationship repair or reconciliation this week...

MATTHEW 18:15-20

Caitlyn

15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. 16 But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses 17 But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church. If they won’t pay attention even to the church, treat them as you would a Gentile and tax collector. 18 I assure you that whatever you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. And whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven. 19 Again I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, then my Father who is in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

Questions for Reflection and Conversation:

  • This scripture reads to start one-on-one, what is the benefit of that? What is the purpose of bringing in friends, THEN the church? (as in, WHY is this the specific order?)

  • Would the dialogues feel different if they went in a different order? How would this be different if it jumped straight to group dialogue, or didn't have one of the steps all together?

  • How might these conversations differ if it's a friend/loved one you're disagreeing with vs your enemy/hater?

  • What is being said by “treat them like the gentiles/tax collectors”? How is that different from how he treats his followers/disciples?

  • How might these conversations feel as the different roles - when have you been the mediator, the one bringing the conversation up, or the one that has done harm? 

  • How can this scripture be used for harm - particularly, when a victim/harmed body is being forced into this dialogue? How has the Church facilitated and perpetuated this harm?

    • Have you or a loved one experienced this? What was the ripple effect of that?

  • During the season of Lent, we focus on “turning back towards God.” How can reconciliation, as laid out in the scripture, be an act of turning back towards God?

  • How can these types of conversations be productive/healthy? How can we reclaim this without doing harm?

  • Parting question:

    • Is there a relationship that is strained in your life? What’s the next faithful step in seeking reconciliation?

FINAL BLESSING

Caroline Palmore

“Prayer before the prayer”

~Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu


I want to be willing to let go, to forgive.
But dare not ask for the will to forgive,
in case you give it to me
And I am not yet ready.

I am not yet ready for my heart to soften.
I am not yet ready to be vulnerable again.
Not yet ready to see that there is humanity in my tormentor’s eyes
Or that the one who hurt me may also have cried
I am not yet ready for the journey.
I am not yet interested in the path.
I am at the prayer before the prayer of forgiveness
Grant me the will to want to forgive.
Grant it to me not yet but soon
Can I even form the words?
Forgive me? Dare I event look?
Do I dare to see the hurt I have caused:
I can glimpse all the shattered pieces of that fragile thing
That soul trying to rise on the broken wings of hope
But only out of the corner of my eye.
I am afraid of it.
And if I am afraid to see
How can I not be afraid to say: Forgive me?
Is there a place where we can meet?
You and me
The place in the middle where we straddle the lines
Where you are right and I am right too.
And both of us are wrong and wronged
Can we meet there?
And look for the place where the path begins
The path that ends when we forgive.

Amen.