July 28, 2024
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Bridget Christian
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 Affirmation
~Homiletics, adapted
We give thanks now for the gift of a new day – unlived, untried, ready to be lived.
A new day with surprising miracles - with love to be given, kindness to be shared, and peace to be enjoyed.
The gift of a new day - God's gift to us.
Let’s receive it with joy and live it with expectation!
Opening Song
Chris Zepp
“MORNING HAS BROKEN”
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
SCRIPTURE READING
John 6:1-21 (CEB)
1 After this Jesus went across the Galilee Sea (that is, the Tiberias Sea). 2 A large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miraculous signs he had done among the sick. 3 Jesus went up a mountain and sat there with his disciples. 4 It was nearly time for Passover, the Jewish festival.
5 Jesus looked up and saw the large crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?” 6 Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip replied, “More than a half year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have even a little bit.”
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, 9 “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted. 12 When they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing will be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves that had been left over by those who had eaten.
14 When the people saw that he had done a miraculous sign, they said, “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.” 15 Jesus understood that they were about to come and force him to be their king, so he took refuge again, alone on a mountain.
16 When evening came, Jesus’ disciples went down to the lake. 17 They got into a boat and were crossing the lake to Capernaum. It was already getting dark and Jesus hadn’t come to them yet. 18 The water was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When the wind had driven them out for about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water. He was approaching the boat and they were afraid. 20 He said to them, “I Am. Don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and just then the boat reached the land where they had been heading.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
“Paralysis, Provision, and Peace”
Chris Zepp
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Are you prone to “analysis paralysis”? Have you had an experience where just doing something helped you move forward? What does this have to do with your life of faith?
In situations where the need seems greater than available resources, can we trust in the provision of God? Why or why not? What specific situations come to mind when you think about this question?
What do you do when you are afraid or anxious? What do the events on the water with Jesus and the disciples have to offer in such moments? How does the presence of “I Am” bring peace? (Or does it?)
Prayer
~Homiletics, adapted
SONG: “Lord, Listen to your Children”
Lord, listen to your children praying
Lord, send your Spirit in this place
Lord, listen to your children praying
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace…
(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
(or inside in the event of poor weather)
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!
PICNIC IN THE PARK
Next Sunday! August 4
Immediately following worship
Join us for an end of Summer celebration! We will have a cookout immediately after worship at our pavilion. RISE leaders will provide Burgers and Hotdogs, and we encourage everyone to bring your favorite picnic side to share! (Be on the lookout for a Perfect Potluck Sign-up coming this week)
After we eat, feel free to stick around and hang out with us, enjoy some outdoor games, maybe a round of disc golf…who knows what kind of fun we might have :-)
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
“When the Storms of Life are Raging”
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me; (stand by me)
when the storms of life are raging, stand by me. (stand by me)
When the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea,
thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of tribulation, stand by me. (stand by me)
When the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail,
thou who never lost a battle, stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of faults and failures, stand by me. (stand by me)
When I’ve done the best I can, and my friends misunderstand,
thou who knowest all about me, stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of persecution, stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of persecution, stand by me. (stand by me)
When my foes in war array undertake to stop my way,
thou who rescued Paul and Silas, stand by me. (stand by me)
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me; (stand by me)
when I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me. (stand by me)
When my life becomes a burden, and I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me. (stand by me)
Parting BLESSING
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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