July 21, 2024
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Allison Garcia
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 Litany and Song
Chris Zepp
(The opening litany comes from Homiletics and is in the form of a “call and response.” The leader will speak a line which ends with “we thank you,” to which everyone responds, “Praise be to God!”)
For the gift of life, we thank you.
Praise be to God!
For the gift of breath, we thank you.
Praise be to God!
For the gift of creation, we thank you.
Praise be to God!
For the gift of family, we thank you.
Praise be to God!
For the gift of community, we thank you.
Praise be to God!
For the gift of the church, we thank you.
Praise be to God!
“FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH”
For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon and stars of light:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For thy Church which evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
SCRIPTURE READING
Ephesians 2:11-22 (CEB)
11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. 12 At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. 13 But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. 15 He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. 16 He reconciled them both as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God.
17 When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. 18 We both have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit. 19 So now you are no longer strangers and aliens. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household. 20 As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. 22 Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
“Olympic Peace”
Chris Zepp
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Nelson Mandela said, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.” Do you agree? Are there ways that sports succeed in uniting people where other efforts fail (such as religion/faith)? What are its drawbacks/downsides?
What else has similar power to unite and bring people together across divisions, differences, and even hatreds? Does faith/religion/spirituality have something offer in this realm?
Directly from the Reflections…Does faith in Christ really break down the barriers that divide us, as the letter to the Ephesians suggests? Is the peace of Christ enough to make the Rainbow Wielding Lesbian and the Good-Ol’ Boy MAGA Man sister and brother, mutually recognized members of God’s household? If so, how?
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!
SUMMER “SITTINGS”
Pale Fire Brewery, Lower Patio
6-8 pm Every Wednesday Night
Thru 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 on the patio at Pale Fire Brewery 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.
Feel free to bring dinner with you, eat before you come, OR purchase a pizza at pale fire!
You DO NOT have to come the entire time, feel free to come late or only stay for a portion of time!
RISE GAME NIGHT FRIDAY!
Friday, July 26 - 6 pm, Home of the Zepps
Grab your favorite game(s) and let’s play!
Bring a snack to share… drinks will be provided.
DM us or contact Chris if you need the address or directions!
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
“In Christ There is No East or West”
In Christ there is no East or West,
in him no South or North,
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
In him shall true hearts ev’rywhere
their high communion find.
His service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.
Join hands, then, people of the faith,
whate’er your race may be.
All children of the living God
are surely in to me.
In Christ now meet both East and West,
in him meet South and North.
All Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.
Parting BLESSING
~Homiletics, adapted
And now may the God of America and Ecuador, of France and Mexico, of Kenya and China and Canada…may the God who loves all the the world bless you – and bless our fellow humans wherever they may be. As we go from this place, may we go with the peace of Christ that we might be a part of bringing peace and healing to a broken world, mending God’s creation, together.
May it be so - Amen!
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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