March 17, 2024
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Shiree Harbick
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 MUSIC
Maggie McClary
“BEAUTIFUL THINGS”
~Gungor
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change
At all?
All this Earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden spring up from this ground
At all?
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos
Life is being found in you
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new
You are making me new
(4x)
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
(2x)
“Brother”
~NEEDTOBREATHE
Ramblers in the wilderness
We cant find what we need
We get a little restless from the searching
Get a little worn down in between
Like a bull chasing the matador
A man left to his own schemes
But everybody needs someone beside them
Shining like a lighthouse from the sea
Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re low
Brother let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Facedown in the desert now
There’s a cage locked around my heart
I found a way to drop the keys where my failures were
Now my hands can’t reach that far
I ain’t made for a rivalry
I can never take the world alone
I know that in my weakness I am strong
It’s your love that brings me home
Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re low
Brother let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
And when you call, and need me near
Saying “where’d you go?”
Brother I’m right here
And on those days when the skies begin to fall
You’re the blood of my blood
We can get through it all
Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re low
Brother let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re low
Brother let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Scripture Reading
Noelle Voltz
John 12:20-33 (CEB)
20 Some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and made a request: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Human One to be glorified. 24 I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.
27 “Now I am deeply troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, for this is the reason I have come to this time. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd standing there heard and said, “It’s thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to him.”
30 Jesus replied, “This voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours. 31 Now is the time for judgment of this world. Now this world’s ruler will be thrown out. 32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” (33 He said this to show how he was going to die.)
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
Chris Zepp
TABLE AND LIVE CHAT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
If someone came to us today as said “We want to see Jesus,” what would we do or say?
What are you struggling with right now? What brings you despair? How might you open yourself to the possibility of experiencing a “thin place” in the midst of your suffering and despair?
In one of the final verses of our scripture (v 31), Jesus says “Now is the time for judgment of this world.” In the face of the world’s many ways of death (e.g., poverty, economic collapse, climate change, hunger, sickness, war), what does this judgment look like? Is there a promise of good news in the midst of this judgment?
Lenten REFLECTIONS
Roy Nelson
PERSONAL SHARING, Prayer, and Ribbon Ritual
SONG
“We Shall Walk through the Valley”
~African American Spiritual
We shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death
We shall walk through the valley in peace
And if Jesus himself will me our leader
We shall walk through the valley in peace
There will be no sorrowing there
There will be no sorrowing there
And if Jesus himself will be our leader
We shall walk through the valley in peace
(Hums)
And if Jesus himself will be our leader
We shall walk through the valley in peace
OFFERING AND NOMOFOMO
Alexis Owens
WONDERING ABOUT THE RISE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION?
Make plans to stay after worship on March 24th for a Q & A time and an opportunity to ask any and all questions you may have about Amanda’s new job, what Alexis is and will be doing, and/or anything you’d like to know about the transition in leadership that is happening at RISE. Additionally, during that time we will also have a brief called charge conference for the express purpose of approving an upcoming change in salary for Alexis. And if you can’t make it - or you just want to get your question out there while you are thinking about it - you can still share your questions via this form:
LENTEN STUDIES
Journey with Lindsay Cowett in discussing all things Lent!
Open Community Study
Tuesdays at 7 pm
Icehouse #203
February 20-March 26
College Student Study
Wednesdays at 7 pm
JMU ENGEO 1207
February 21-March 27
*DOES NOT MEET THIS WEEK*
(JMU Spring Break)
Sign up for either one with the button below!
COUNTDOWN to PASTOR AMANDA’s FINAL WEEKEND WITH RISE
7 more weeks to go until…
Taproom Takeover
Brothers Brewery
Saturday, April 27
4-7 pm
We will have food trucks, music, fun, and time with Amanda to hang out and tell stories!
Final Sunday Worship
Court Square Theatre
Sunday, April 28
Exactly 10ish
You won't want to miss Amanda’s last Sunday with RISE!
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!
PLEASE HELP WITH WORSHIP! We are always looking for persons willing to volunteer to assist and support our worship gatherings. If you'd be willing to volunteer to help (read, provide food, set-up, serve communion, clean-up run tech, etc) please sign up on this doc for the role and the date(s) of your choosing:
If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
You might also consider:
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
Requests for care and/or prayer can be sent via e-mail to cares@riseharrisonburg.org, texted to 833-803-0868, or submitted online via our RISE Cares form.
CLOSING SONG
“The Parting Glass”
~Traditional Irish Aire
Of all the money that ere I spent
I spent it in good company
And all the harm that ere I done
Alas, it was to none but me
And all I’ve done for want of wit
To memory now I can’t recall
So fill me to the parting glass
Goodnight and joy be with you all
Oh, all the comrades that ere I had
They’re sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that ere I had
They’d wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I will gently rise and I’ll softly call
“Goodnight and joy be with you all!”
Oh if I had enough money to spend
And leisure time to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in this town
That sorely has my heart beguiled
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
I own she has my heart in thrallf
So fill to me the parting glass
“Goodnight and joy be with you all.”
Parting Blessing
~Traditional Irish Blessing
May good luck be with you wherever you go
and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.
May your days be many and your troubles be few,
May all God's blessings descend upon you.
May peace be within you, may your heart be strong,
May you find what you're seeking wherever you roam.
May it be!