June 23, 2024
I’ve been to pretty buildings, all in search of you
I have lit all the candles, sat in all the pews…
my car became the church and I
the worshipper of silence there
in a moment peace came over me
and the one who was beatin’ my heart appeared....
oh the distance is not do-able
in these bodies of clay my brother
oh the distance, it makes me uncomfortable
guess it’s natural to feel this way…
~Live, “The Distance”
from the album The Distance to Here (1999)
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 SCRIPTURE
Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 (CEB)
1 “Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever!”
2 That’s what those who are redeemed by the Lord say,
the ones God redeemed from the power of their enemies,
3 the ones God gathered from various countries,
from east and west, north and south.23 Some of the redeemed had gone out on the ocean in ships,
making their living on the high seas.
24 They saw what the Lord had made;
they saw his wondrous works in the depths of the sea.
25 God spoke and stirred up a storm
that brought the waves up high.
26 The waves went as high as the sky;
they crashed down to the depths.
The sailors’ courage melted at this terrible situation.
27 They staggered and stumbled around like they were drunk.
None of their skill was of any help.
28 So they cried out to the Lord in their distress,
and God brought them out safe from their desperate circumstances.
29 God quieted the storm to a whisper;
the sea’s waves were hushed.
30 So they rejoiced because the waves had calmed down;
then God led them to the harbor they were hoping for.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful love
and his wondrous works for all people.
32 Let them exalt God in the congregation of the people
and praise God in the assembly of the elders.
Opening Song
“Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
SCRIPTURE READINGs
Job 38:1-11 (CEB)
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 Who is this darkening counsel
with words lacking knowledge?
3 Prepare yourself like a man;
I will interrogate you, and you will respond to me.4 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?
Tell me if you know.
5 Who set its measurements? Surely you know.
Who stretched a measuring tape on it?
6 On what were its footings sunk;
who laid its cornerstone,
7 while the morning stars sang in unison
and all the divine beings shouted?
8 Who enclosed the Sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment,
the dense clouds its wrap,
10 when I imposed my limit for it,
put on a bar and doors
11 and said, “You may come this far, no farther;
here your proud waves stop”?
Mark 4:35-41 (CEB)
35 Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” 36 They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along.
37 Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. 38 But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”
39 He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. 40 Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?”
41 Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
“The Distance”
Chris Zepp
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Talk about a time that you truly experienced awe. How did it make you feel? Did you feel drawn closer to God or more distant?
Both of our scripture readings are born of struggle - personal tragedy and psychological torment for Job; peril and fear for the disciples. How have you experienced struggle? Has it created distance between you and God? How has that distance been bridged (or has it?)
Theologians speak of the transcendence (supernatural; existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level) and immanence (being present as a natural and permanent part of something) of God. How do you relate most naturally with God? How does Jesus fit into it?
Prayer
~Homiletics, adapted
SONG: “Peace Pilgrim’s Prayer”
Peace be still and know that I am God
Peace be still and know that I am
Peace be still and know
Peace be still
Peace be
Peace, Peace, Peace
(Repeat)
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!
TODAY!
Right after worship :-)
SUMMER “SITTINGS”
6-8 pm Every Wednesday Night
Turner Pavilion* (or Pale Fire Brewery)
June 26 - September 11
You know how some people have “standing” appointments or office hours? Well, since we always need to do things just a little bit differently, we took that idea and decided to try having some “sitting” hours this summer. Join Alexis and/or Chris this summer at the Harrisonburg Summer Concerts on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. Whether you have some burning theological questions or you just want to hang out and enjoy some music with friends, we’ll be there and happy to chat!
Information on the full concert series can be found HERE.
This week’s concert at Turner Pavilion:
Lowdown Brass Band, with Harrisonburg HS Blue Streaks Band opening
Your source of information for all things RISE! Check out the latest edition if you haven’t already! Its packed with info on all our events this summer, staffing updates, etc.
closing SONG
“Great is the Lord”
~Michael W. Smith
Great is the Lord, he is holy and just
by his power we trust in his love.
Great is the Lord, he is faithful and true,
by his mercy he proves he is love.
Great is the Lord, and worthy of glory!
Great is the Lord, and worth of praise.
Great is the Lord; now lift up your voice,
now lift up your voice:
Great is the Lord! (x2)
Great is the Lord, he is holy and just
by his power we trust in his love.
Great is the Lord, he is faithful and true,
by his mercy he proves he is love.
Great are you, Lord, and worthy of glory!
Great are you, Lord, and worth of praise.
Great are you, Lord; I lift up my voice,
I lift up my voice:
Great are you, Lord! (x2)
Parting BLESSING
“The Eighth Day”
by Doris Good
After God had rested,
He looked about Him
and sighed.
His diamond creation showed a flaw.
He saw the friction of
man to man
was marring
its brilliance,
For only the hardness
of a heart
could scratch
its surface.
God pondered.
A new force was needed
in the universe.
A leveling force
A cohesive force
Which babe to aged could
Recognize
Claim
Cherish
Clutch and give.
A force that could melt two into one,
That could make self and others
indistinguishable.
So God created LOVE
And placed a measure
in each heart.
And behold…
It is good.
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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