May 19, 2024
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Alexis Owens
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
Brent Holl
“Glory”
~Mike Stern
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
Glory in the children and when the day has begun,
Glory in the lines of old faces and when the day is done,
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
There’s no glory in the battle nor the barrel of a gun,
There’s no glory in killing, no war victory to be won, but there’s
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
Glory to the creator, glory to the One,
Glory to the spirit, glory to the Three in One,
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
The earth and all it’s fullness and all it’s daughters and sons,
Belong to the glory and the glory still to come.
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
“Keep Your Lamps”
~Gary Davis
Keep your lamps trimmed an burning,
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
Come see what the Lord has done.
Children, don't grow weary,
Children, don't grow weary,
Children, don’t grow weary,
Come see what the Lord has done.
Troubles and trials soon be over,
Troubles and trials soon be over,
Troubles and trials soon be over,
Come see what the Lord has done.
Keep your lamps trimmed an burning,
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
Come see what the Lord has done.
Soon the morning will be breaking,
Soon the morning will be breaking,
Soon the morning will be breaking,
Come see what the Lord has done.
Brothers and Sisters keep on singing,
Brothers and Sisters keep on singing,
Brothers and Sisters keep on singing,
Come see what the Lord has done.
Keep your lamps trimmed an burning,
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
Come see what the Lord has done.
SCRIPTURE READING
Eleanor Baker
Acts 2:1-21 (CEB)
1 When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
5 There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. 7 They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? 8 How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” 12 They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” 13 Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”
14 Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! 15 These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! 16 Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young will see visions.
Your elders will dream dreams.
18 Even upon my servants, men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun will be changed into darkness,
and the moon will be changed into blood,
before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
“Defining Moments”
Chris Zepp
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Where have you experienced a “defining moment” in the story of Pentecost? Where have you seen the Holy Spirit at work among us still?
What do we do with these moments? How do we watch and wait for them? (Can we be ready for them?) What comes next?
How can we discern what is of the Spirit and what is not? How can we tell the difference between the Spirit moving among a group of people in dramatic fashion and mob mentality/group think? Between the inner promptings of the Spirit and our own interior voices?
Prayer
~Erin Matteson
SONG
“Beach Spring” (Holy Spirit, come with power)
Holy Spirit, come with power, breathe into our aching night.
We expect you this glad hour, waiting for your strength and light.
We are fearful, we are ailing, we are weak and selfish too.
Break upon your congregation, give us vigor, life anew.
Holy Spirit, come with fire, burn us with your presence new.
Let us as one mighty choir sing our hymn of praise to you.
Burn away our wasted sadness and enflame us with your love.
Burst upon your congregation, give us gladness from above.
Holy Spirit, bring your message, burn and breathe each word anew
Deep into our tired living till we strive your work to do.
Teach us love and trusting kindness, lend our hands to those who hurt.
Breathe upon your congregation and inspire us with your word.
Offering and NOMOFOMO
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!
closing SONG
“Guide My Feet”
Guide my feet, while I run this race
Guide my feet, while I run this race
Guide my feet, while I run this race
For I don’t want to run this race in vain.
Hold My Hand….
Stand by Me….
I’m your child…
Search my heart…
Guide my feet…
Parting BLESSING
May we go in the comfort and peace,
the hope and the promise of the Spirit,
who continues to move among us,
within us, and through us,
guiding our feet every step of the way.
May it be so!
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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