September 29, 2024
Words of greeting and Gathering
Alexis Ward 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 Invitation
~Homiletics, adapted
Opening Music
Brent Holl
“Higher Ground”
~Michael Stern
River water rising
Rain still comin’ down
The ‘ol farm’s a lake, but if the levees break
It’ll damn near take this whole town
It’s like livin’ in a nightmare
That you can’t believe is true
How we’ll clean up this mess is anybody’s guess
Don’t know how we’ll make it through
I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way
We don’t have much money
And we’re runnin’ out of gas
This crazy war goes on & now our house is gone
We just pray this too will pass
I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way
All across this country
All across this land
From east to west folks will do their best
To lend a helpin’ hand
I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard my neighbor say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way
River water rising
Rain still comin’ down
The ‘ol farm’s a lake, but if the levees break
It’ll damn near take this whole town
It’s like livin’ in a nightmare
That you can’t believe is true
How we’ll clean up this mess is anybody’s guess
Don’t know how we’ll make it through
I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way
We’re headed up to higher ground
I heard the people say.
And with their hands held out to me said
We’d best be on our way.
And with their hands held out to me said
We’d best be on our way.
“PHOENIX & THE GOLDEN RULE*”
(Story behind the song below)
~Michael Stern
I didn’t know when we set sail
In ’58 we’d all end up in jail
And I’ve been called worse than fool
For sailing on the Golden Rule
From San Pedro we headed west
On waves of a peaceful protest
Trimmed our sails to the wind
And prayed the bomb would not be used again
The Golden Rule, Golden Rule
Words that we had learned in Sunday School
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
Met the Phoenix crew
‘Bout halfway through
Both our ships moored in Honolulu
We agreed to do our best
And try to stop nuclear tests
Neither ship did give way
But trials then kept us at bay
We made it just part way through
So now the rest is up to you
It’s up to me, it’s up to you
Do unto as you would have them do
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
I didn’t know when we set sail
In ’58 we’d all end up in jail
And I’ve been called worse than fool
For sailing on the Phoenix & on the Golden Rule
It’s up to me, it’s up to you
Do unto as you would have them do
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
_______________________________________
*Two anti-war sailing ships moored in Honolulu in 1958 and their crews met for the first time. Skipper Bert Bigelow of the Golden Rule and Earle Reynolds of the Phoenix of Hiroshima shared an unusual bond. Both had witnessed first-hand the long-lasting carnage that resulted from the United States’ use of atomic bombs in Japan, and each concluded that nuclear weapons were immoral. Bigelow and the Golden Rule were attempting to prevent further testing of nuclear weapons by sailing into the nuclear testing site in the Marshall Islands. They were intercepted in Hawaii, their ship impounded, and the entire crew was arrested.
Meanwhile, the Reynolds family was on its way back to the United States after Earle had conducted research on the lasting impact of atomic radiation on the children of Japan. The Phoenix took up where the Golden Rule left off and succeeded in sailing further into the test zone. But they, too, were intercepted and Earle was charged with treason. While neither crew succeeded in actually stopping nuclear testing, they planted seeds which prompted lasting efforts to work for nuclear disarmament.
The Veterans for Peace Golden Rule Project and the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima are two exceptional examples of what happens when people of faith simply follow the Golden Rule.
~Michael Stern
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Philippians 2:1-4 (The Message)
1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Romans 12:1-5; 14:19 (The Message)
1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
4-5 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around.
19 So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault.
Matthew 7:12 (The Message)
12 “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“Life. Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How do you feel talking about political issues? Do you dread it? Find it exciting and stimulating? Does it depend on circumstances and context? Why is it so hard for many of us to talk about politics? What are your concerns as we engage in political conversations over the next several weeks?
Does faith have a role to play in our political lives? Why or why not? If it does, what does it look like? If it does not, what role does faith play?
What do you think about the Golden Rule as a standard for considering political issues? What are its strengths? What are its shortcomings? Is it fair to say that equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness can be assumed as what you would have others “do unto you”?
Take another look at the scriptures that were read today besides the Golden Rule. What do they have to teach us as we consider political issues?
COMMUNION
Laura Douglass, Deacon
prayer
Song
“Higher Ground”
~Johnson Oatman, Jr & Charles H. Gabriel
I’m pressing on the upward way,
new heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
still praying as I’m onward bound,
”Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
where doubts arise and fears dismay;
tho’ some may dwell where these abound,
my prayer, my aim is higher ground.
Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
tho’ Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
for faith has caught the joyful sound,
the song of saints on higher ground.
Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height,
and catch a gleam of glory bright;
but still I pray till heav’n I’ve found,
”Lord, lead me onto higher ground.”
Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
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!
Craft ‘n’ Chat
6-8 pm Tuesday Evenings
James Madison University
Gabbin Hall, Room 0204
Join RISE on campus for evenings of crafting together and conversation about life and maintaining balance in a chaotic world. Feel free to bring any projects you’re already working on, but craft supplies will also be provided!
Contact Alexis or Sheridan for more info and/or directions.
The Sitting
(With an Issue)
6-8 pm Wednesday Nights
Brothers Craft Brewing
October 2 - November 6
It’s been great joining many of you over the past few months at The Sitting for open-ended conversation and company. But we’ve decided to get a bit more intentional about bringing some timely and topical conversation to our Sittings. For the next six weeks, we will take the opportunity on Wednesday nights to continue the conversations we will begin at worship on Sunday mornings by taking an even deeper dive into the issues that concern ourselves, our country, and our world during this election season. How do we live as people of faith in these trying times? And how do we think about the issue and concerns that divide us and our neighbors? Let’s talk about it and try to figure it out together!
During this election season, it is hard to find a safe place to talk about the prevalent issues in our country. We hope RISE can provide a safe place for judgment-free and pressure-free discussion about issues that affect us all. ❤️ Please come with an open heart and open mind!
RISE GROUP OPTIONS SURVEY
We are actively considering planning some group options for the next several months at RISE and are seeking community input so that we can try to offer programming that best meets your needs & desires at the most accessible time(s). Please take a few moments to complete our short "Group Options Survey" at the link below to let us know what you are looking for!
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
“The COmmon Good”
~Chris Zepp
In this world where strife and hatred cause division with our friends
It is hard to find a vision that unites instead of rends
Politicians stoke division, talking heads just make it worse
So-called leaders chase poll numbers, taking care of their own purse
But the church should be much different — for each other we should live
Looking not to our own interests, but instead to what we give
Can we take our love and caring into public, witness bear?
The Golden Rule we preach on Sunday, our world needs us all to share
In this country, it is given — certain rights won’t be suppressed
Life and liberty and freedom to pursue our happiness
But our freedom doesn’t come free, obligation is implied
Liberty does not come solo — to our neighbors it is tied
We are called to love our neighbors even when we disagree
Work for justice, and for mercy — turn the “me” into a “we”
Then together we shall flourish, treating each as if our own
The common good shall be our calling — faith-filled values be made known
Parting Blessing
~SourceBook of Worship Resources, adapted
Friends, we are the church – together.
So together, let’s work for the common good,
stand fast in hope, and embrace each sign of God's new reign.
As we engage the politics and powers of our day,
don’t forget that we live under the blessing of God's care,
alongside fellow children of God,
each of which is a blessed gift to the world!
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
You might also consider:
Sign up for texting services:
Text “RISE” to 833-803-0868 to join the primary list and receive weekly community updates and alerts
Text “RISEcares” to receive prayer requests, care needs, and community concerns and celebrations
Requests for care and/or prayer can be sent via e-mail to cares@riseharrisonburg.org, texted to 833-803-0868, or submitted online via our RISE Cares form.