July 30, 2023
WORDS OF GREETING AND NOMOFOMO
Chris Zepp
Know any students who will be starting at one of our Harrisonburg area colleges or universities this Fall? Consider helping them to connect with RISE by sharing their name(s) and/or contact info with us. We would be happy to reach out - We LOVE to connect with new students!! Email us, call us, text us, tell us in person, or even better, take a moment to fill out this short form to let us know a little about them: https://forms.gle/rAUDR1QMMS2UfsUJ6
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES - Wednesdays 6-8 pm at Turner Pavilion
Conveniently playing right across the street from our Homebase, the 2023 Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series features an exciting line-up for the upcoming season. Join with RISE friends on Wednesday evenings and get in on the fun, especially on 8/16 and 9/13! More info on the full line-up can be found here: https://downtownharrisonburg.org/levitt-amp-harrisonburg/The Hungry Games will continue on Saturday, August 19 @ 6 pm when we’ll gather at the home of Chris and Amanda Zepp in Bridgewater for a night of fellowship, food, and fun. Mark your calendars now and contact Chris or DM us with any questions or for more info.
We’ll be gathering for worship on Sunday mornings at 10ish in the Arboretum all summer long, with a weekly variety of spiritual practices and experiences to connect us with God, one another, and the natural world! We will begin each week on the terrace by the Welcome and Education Center (on the hill) - Bring lawn chairs, blankets, etc as you desire. For more information about the Arboretum, visit www.jmu.edu/arboretum/index.shtml
(In the event of rain, watch our socials and text line for updates - any day-of weather related calls will be made by 9 am)If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
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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.
SONG
“CALLED OR NOT CALLED”
~Shawn Kirchner
Called or not called, God is there
Called or not called, God is there
Called or not called, God is there
The hand of the maker is everywhere
Named or unnamed…
Seen or unseen…
Known or unknown…
Called or not called…
Spiritual Practice and THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
THREE QUESTIONS
~Adapted from a method developed by Dick Murray
The core of this scripture reflection practice involves three simple questions that can be easily expanded or adapted to use with any chosen scripture text:
"What do we learn about God from this passage?"
"What do we learn about us/humanity from this passage?"
"What do we learn about the relationship of God and humanity from this passage?"
Other potential questions that can supplement these three basic questions include:
"Where do you see yourself (or RISE) in this scripture?
"Where do you feel God guiding you (or RISE) based on this passage?"
“What about this scripture challenges you (or RISE)?"
We will be engaging these questions in reflection on today’s gospel text from the Revised Common Lectionary. We will use a basic circle process to give some structure to our discussions and reflections, engaging at least the three primary questions and possibly more depending on our time. We will close the reflections with prayer.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (CEB)
31 He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. 32 It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.”
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that somebody hid in a field, which someone else found and covered up. Full of joy, the finder sold everything and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one very precious pearl, he went and sold all that he owned and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that people threw into the lake and gathered all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, they pulled it to the shore, where they sat down and put the good fish together into containers. But the bad fish they threw away. 49 That’s the way it will be at the end of the present age. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from the righteous people, 50 and will throw the evil ones into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?”Jesus asked.
They said to him, “Yes.”
52 Then he said to them, “Therefore, every legal expert who has been trained as a disciple for the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings old and new things out of their treasure chest.”
SONG
“Seek Ye First”
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And God’s righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu, Alleluia
Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
Allelu, Alleluia
Al - le - lu - ia
Al - le - lu - ia
Al - le - lu - ia
Allelu, Alleluia
FINAL BLESSING
~St. Anselm
Now, O Lord our God,
Grant us grace to desire you with a whole heart,
that so desiring you we may seek and find you,
and so finding you may love you,
and loving you may hate that which separate us from you…
Amen.