April 14, 2024
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Abby Dotson
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.
SONGS
Maggie McClary
“Somlandela”
~Zimbabwean traditional
Somlandela, somlandela Jesu
Somlandela, yonke indawo
Somlandela, somlandela Jesu
Lapho eyakhona somlandela!
We will follow, we will follow Jesus
We will follow, everywhere he goes
We will follow, we will follow Jesus
Everywhere he goes, we will follow
We will follow, we will follow Jesus
We will follow, everywhere he goes
We will follow, we will follow Jesus
Everywhere he goes, we will follow
Somlandela, somlandela Jesu
Somlandela, yonke indawo
Somlandela, somlandela Jesu
Lapho eyakhona somlandela!
“You’re Beautiful”
~Phil Wickham
I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
Ooh, Ooh
I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who you are
You’re beautiful
Ooh, Ooh
(2x)
I see You there hanging on a tree
You bled and then You died
And then You rose again for me
Now You are sitting on your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful
Ooh, Ooh
(2x)
When we arrive on eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory
And tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful
Ooh, Ooh
(2x)
I see your face
You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
(3x)
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Sheridan Horne & Neal Wong
Luke 24:36b-48 (CEB)
Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 37 They were terrified and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.
38 He said to them, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 40 As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish. 43 Taking it, he ate it in front of them.
44 Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
John 20:19-31 (CEB)
19 It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.”
24 Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.”
26 After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!”
28 Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”
30 Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. 31 But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
Chris Zepp
TABLE AND LIVE CHAT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What resonates with you in these stories? With whom do you identify? Thomas? One of the other disciples in the room? One of those not in the room (e.g. Mary Magdalene)? One of those “happy” ones “who don’t see and yet believe?”
If you imagine yourself in the story - having just experienced the crucifixion a few days before (remember this is still Easter Sunday!) - where would you have been? How would you have processed the violent, state-sponsored death of your leader and friend (whom you had thought might be even more).
Is doubt really a bad thing? Is it preferable to believe without evidence and/or examination? What is Jesus really getting at when he tells Thomas “Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”
Celebrating the Baptism of Miguel Antonio Garcia
Pastor Amanda Miller Garber
Welcome/Brief Explanation of Baptism
The RISE Community is excited to be celebrating this very special day! Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we are initiated into Christ’s holy Church. We are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new life through water and the Spirit. All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price.
Lighting the Baptismal Candle
Representative of the Community (Seth Owens)
On behalf of the RISE community, I am honored to present Miguel Antonio for the sacrament of baptism. Your community celebrates with you today, and we love you! Miguel, you are a gift!
Profession of Faith for the Family and Community
Pastor: As Miguel’s family, I invite you to respond to the following questions.
As you guide, teach and love this child, will you seek and offer forgiveness and the healing and restoration of relationships? Will you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
Family: We will.
Pastor: Will you seek to embody God’s unstoppable love and persistent hope in every possible way?
Family: We will.
Pastor: By God’s grace, will you promise to follow the way of Jesus, embody his teachings, and mend God‘s creation – together with the beloved community of Jesus?
Family: We will.
Pastor: Will you do all in your power to raise this child in a community of faith that will help him more fully understand what it means to follow Jesus’ teachings of mercy, forgiveness, justice, grace, and love?
Family: We will.
Pastor: And to you, Miguel’s faith community, I ask the following:
As a community, will you nurture, encourage, and forgive one another, and hold one another accountable, as you seek to follow Jesus and mend God’s creation together? Will you include Miguel in your care and embody the love of Jesus for him?
The RISE Community responds:
With God’s help, we will proclaim God’s good news and seek to live like Jesus.
We will surround MIguel with a community of love and forgiveness, so that he may grow in his service to others.
We will pray for him, laugh with him, cry with him and seek to model God’s unconditional love for him and all of God’s beloved children.
Melissa Harmon shares the story of Jonah
Prayer before the Baptism
Let us pray.
Creator God, thank you for Miguel Antonio Garcia. Surround him with a community of love and forgiveness, so that he may grow in faith and remain deeply rooted in your love. Throughout his life, send your Spirit to strengthen and guide him. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Baptism of Miguel Antonio Garcia
The Signation
Presentation of the certificate and gift from the RISE community
A Final Blessing
(adapted from a quote by Archbishop Desmund Tutu)
Miguel Antonio,
As you grow, remember that God dreams that you and I - and all of us - will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness and for compassion.
God loves you, now and forever!
Amen.
COMMUNION
Pastor Amanda Miller Garber
SONG
“All who are thirsty”
~Brenton Brown
All who are thirsty, all who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of God’s mercy
As deep cries out to deep
We sing
Come, Lord Jesus, come
Come, Lord Jesus, come
All who are thirsty, all who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of God’s mercy
As deep cries out to deep
We sing
Holy Spirit, come
Holy Spirit, come
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!
COUNTDOWN TO PASTOR AMANDA’S FINAL WEEKEND WITH RISE
Just 2 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!
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
“My Lighthouse”
~Rend Collective
In my wrestling and in my doubts
In my failures, You wont walk out
Your great love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea
Woah, You are the peace in my troubled sea
In the silence You won’t let go
In my questions your truth will hold
Your great love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea
You are the peace in my troubled sea
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me
safe to shooooooooore
Safe to shoooooooore
Safe to shoooooooooore
Safe to shore
I won’t fear what tomorrow brings
With each morning I rise and sing
My God’s love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea
Woah, You are the peace in my troubled sea
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me
safe to shooooooooore
Safe to shoooooooore
Safe to shoooooooooore
Safe to shore
Fire before us
You’re the brightest
You will lead us through the storms
(3x)
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me
safe to shooooooooore
Safe to shoooooooore
Safe to shoooooooooore
Safe to shore
FINAL BLESSING
~Homiletics, adapted
Sheridan Horne & Neal Wong
Because of Jesus,
and those who believed and put their trust in him before us,
We can now go forth
To think more clearly,
Feel more deeply,
Speak more truthfully,
Love more extravagantly,
Risk more boldly,
Serve more creatively,
Give more lavishly,
And live more abundantly.
May it be so!