March 24, 2024
Prelude
Maggie McClary
“Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”
~Godspell
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Daniel Green
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.
Liturgy of the Palms
Daniel Green
Mark 11:1-11 (CEB)
1 When Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back right away.’”
4 They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. 5 Some people standing around said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. 9 Those in front of him and those following were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessings on the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.
Choral Recitation of Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (NRSV)
Everyone is invited to wave palm branches while reading the “All” verses
Leader: O give thanks to the LORD, for God is good!
All: God’s steadfast love endures forever!
Leader: Open to us the gates of righteousness, that we may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
All: This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it!
Leader: We thank you that you have answered us and have become our salvation.
All: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone!
Leader: This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
All: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Leader: Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you - give us success!
All: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD!
Leader: The LORD is God, and has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!
All: You are our God, and we will give thanks to you; you are our God, and we will extol you!
Leader: O give thanks to the LORD, for God is good!
All: God’s steadfast love endures forever!
OPENING MUSIC
50% Ginger
“MULTIPLIED”
~NEEDTOBREATHE
Your love is like radiant diamonds
Burst inside us, we cannot contain
Your love will surely come find us
Like blazing wildfires, singing Your name
God of mercy, sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the sky
These hallelujahs be multiplied
(Repeat)
“Days of Elijah”
~Robin Mark
These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of Your servant Moses
Righteousness being restored
And though these are days of great trials
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are the voice in the desert crying
Prepare ye the way of the Lord
Behold he comes
Riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun
At the trumpet call!
Lift your voice
It’s the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes
And these are the days of Ezekiel
The dry bones becoming as flesh
And these are the days of your servant David
Rebuilding a temple of praise
And these are the days of the harvest
The fields are as white in the world
And we are the laborers in Your vineyard
Declaring the word of the Lord
Behold he comes
Riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun
At the trumpet call!
Lift your voice
It’s the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes
There’s no god like Jehovah
There’s no god like Jehovah
There’s no god like Jehovah
There’s no god like Jehovah
(2x)
Behold he comes
Riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun
At the trumpet call!
Lift your voice
It’s the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes
(2x)
Scripture Reading
Amy Lugo
Mark 14:1-12a, 17-20, 27-31 (CEB)
1 It was two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and legal experts through cunning tricks were searching for a way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 But they agreed that it shouldn’t happen during the festival; otherwise, there would be an uproar among the people.
3 Jesus was at Bethany visiting the house of Simon, who had a skin disease. During dinner, a woman came in with a vase made of alabaster and containing very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke open the vase and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some grew angry. They said to each other, “Why waste the perfume? 5 This perfume could have been sold for almost a year’s pay and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
6 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. 7 You always have the poor with you; and whenever you want, you can do something good for them. But you won’t always have me. 8 She has done what she could. She has anointed my body ahead of time for burial. 9 I tell you the truth that, wherever in the whole world the good news is announced, what she’s done will also be told in memory of her.”
10 Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to give Jesus up to them. 11 When they heard it, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he started looking for an opportunity to turn him in.
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread...Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 During the meal, Jesus said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me—someone eating with me.”
19 Deeply saddened, they asked him, one by one, “It’s not me, is it?”
20 Jesus answered, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me into this bowl.
27 Jesus said to them, “You will all falter in your faithfulness to me. It is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep will go off in all directions. 28 But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
29 Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else stumbles, I won’t.”
30 But Jesus said to him, “I assure you that on this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted, “If I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” And they all said the same thing.
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
Reflection Panel Discussion: Pastor Amanda Miller Garber (moderator) with Daniel Green and Noelle Voltz
Be part of the discussion!
TEXT YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS TO 833-803-0868
Lenten REFLECTIONS
Abby Dotson
PERSONAL SHARING, Prayer, and Ribbon Ritual
COMMUNION
Pastor Amanda Miller Garber
Servers: Abby Dotson and Daniel Green
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
Abby Dotson
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!
Join us on after worship TODAY
Make plans to stay for a bit after worship 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 stick around - or you just want to get your question out there while you are thinking about it - you can share your questions via this form:
Final Meetings this week!
Open Community Study
Tuesday, March 26 at 7 pm
Icehouse #203
College Student Study
Wednesday, March 27 at 7 pm
JMU ENGEO 1207
GooD FRIDAY Worship
Friday, March 29 @ 7 pm
JMU Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
A brief contemplative service of scripture and song in remembrance of the death of Jesus
Easter Sunday Picnic & Worship
Sunday, March 31
JMU Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
9:30ish - Picnic Brunch
10ish - Worship
Volunteers are needed to help provide and set-up food -
We need lots of volunteers to bring food, help with set up, be a greeter or help with the kids, etc. Click the buttons below to sign up or talk with Alexis or Chris!
COUNTDOWN to PASTOR AMANDA’s FINAL WEEKEND WITH RISE
Just 5 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!
If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
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Text “RISE” to 833-803-0868 to join the primary list and receive weekly community updates and alerts
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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 Cave”
~Mumford and Sons
It’s empty in the valley of your heart
The sun it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears and faults you’ve left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat
But I will hold on hope
I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again
Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I’ll take mine
Now let me at the truth which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope
I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker’s land
So make your siren’s call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
Cause I want freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it’s meant to be
But I will hold on hope
I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics
May God grant you grace
to follow in faith where Christ has led the way,
that you may live each day
with courage and perseverance,
and at length fall asleep peacefully in him
and rise in his likeness.
May it be so!