October 1st, 2023
WORDS OF GREETING AND NomoFomo
Pastor Amanda Miller Garber
If you have children, check out our new “KidZone” - a designated and supervised area within our worship space where kids can be kids - play with toys or games, draw and color, interact with caring adults, youth and one another, etc - and still be with the community for worship. Parents can choose to stay close and worship alongside their kids or sit more distantly and allow KidZone staff and volunteers to give energy and attention to their children for a time.
Speaking of, WE ARE HIRING A KIDZONE COORDINATOR! Thanks to a very generous donor, RISE is now able to hire someone to staff and coordinate our KidZone during Sunday morning worship! The RISE KidZone Coordinator will serve the RISE community by providing nurture, supervision, and care to the young children of the worshiping community. While providing primary staff coverage for the KidZone during RISE worship gathering is the foremost responsibility of this position, scheduling and managing additional volunteers for the KidZone (at least one per week) is also expected. Time commitment will be 3-4 hours per week - primarily 9:30 -noon on Sunday mornings - and pay is $50/week. This position is open effective immediately, and interviews will be held on a rolling basis until the position is filled. If interested in the position (or if you know of someone who might be), contact Chris Zepp, Minister of Care and Communications (cares@riseharrisonburg.com) to request a full position description.
Plan to stay after worship TODAY for a brief meeting to affirm Alexis for Ministry
We've done it again! Our amazing MOO, Alexis Owens, has discerned that the time is right to explore credentialed ministry in the UMC! She has now officially begun that process and we need to have an official RISE meeting to affirm and approve her candidacy. (We'll explain the details more when we meet, BUT we can say that our beloved MOO has no immediate plans on leaving the area or attending seminary at this time). So if possible, please plan to stay after worship for a brief meeting. We will just stick around the University Commons (the old Common Grounds space) after worship - everyone is welcome and the entire meeting should last no more than 15-20 minutes. Cheers Alexis!(And speaking of our MOO, Alexis would like to encourage everyone to BYOM (bring your own mug) to worship on Sunday mornings if possible to help reduce waste as much as we can.)
Blessing of the Animals - October 4, 5:30 pm
Bring your pets and beloved animal friends to Hillandale Park, shelter #11 (at the end of the loop) next Wednesday evening for a service of blessing sponsored by RISE along with Muhlenberg Lutheran, Park View Mennonite, Shalom Mennonite, and Trinity Presbyterian.We are always looking for persons willing to volunteer to assist and support our worship gatherings. If you’d be willing to help with set up/clean up, offering rides, providing a light breakfast, participating in the service, helping with music or the arts, etc, etc please let us know by filling out this short form: Worship Support Team Response.
Have a musical talent? Wanna just shake a box of cereal or hit a tambourine? Join the music team!! Will is looking for folks to help grow our music ministry. Talk to him after service today or find any RISE leader and let them know and we will get you connected.
If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
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
Please continue to check social media (Facebook & Instagram) and our website for all updates and information!
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.
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 Prayer
Amanda Miller Garber
Opening Music
Will Stutzman and Team
“FOr we are strangers no more”
Chorus:
For we are
Strangers no more, but members of one family;
Strangers no more, but part of one humanity;
Strangers no more, we’re neighbors to each other now;
Strangers no more, we’re bound to one another now.
Come walk with me, we’ll worship God together,
As we join song to song, and prayer to prayer.
Come, take my hand, and we will work together
by lifting all the burdens we can share.
Where diff’ring cultures meet, we’ll serve together.
Where hatred rages, we will strive for peace.
Come, take my hand, and we will pray together that justice
Come, and strife and warfare cease.
“Crowded table”
You can hold my hand, when you need to let go
I can be your mountain, when you’re feeling valley low
I can be your streetlight, showing you the way home
If you can hold my hand, when you need to let go
Chorus:
I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we’re young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
If we want a garden, we’re gonna have to sow the seeds
Plant a little happiness, let the roots run deep
If it’s love that we give, then it’s love that we reap
If we want a garden, we’re gonna have to sow the seed
(Chorus)
The door is always open
Your picture’s on my wall
Everyone’s a little broken
And everyone belongs
Yeah, Everyone belongs
(Chorus)
“Awake my soul”
How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don’t know
My weakness I feel I must finally show
Lend me your hand and we’ll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I’ll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes, I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free
Har Har
Har Har
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
You were made to meet your maker
Theological Exploration
“Everyone? Everyone”
Brief series recap by Adam King and Table Discussions
TEXT YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS TO 833-803-0868
Scripture Reading
John 14: 1-3 (CEB)
“Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too.
“The Work of the People”
Table Discussions and FACEBOOK Live Chat Discussion Questions
How does the idea that God wants EVERYONE (even that person you despise) to be able to join to the party make you feel?
Do you think there are (or should be) certain requirements to be invited to God’s table? What are they?
Do you ever feel like you don’t “deserve” to be at the Table? Why do you think that might be?
How can RISE “make the table bigger”? What can you do to help?
Offering
Alexis Owens
Venmo: RISEUnitedMethodist-Community
PayPal: riseharrisonburg@gmail.com
Closing song
“Hold us together”
It don’t have a job, It don’t pay your bills
Won’t buy you a home in Beverly Hills
Won’t fix your life in five easy steps
Ain’t the law of the land or the government
But it’s all you need
(Chorus)
And love will hold us together
Make us a shelter to weather the storm
And I’ll be my brother’s keeper
So the whole world will know that we’re not alone
It’s waiting for you, knocking at your door
In the moment of truth, when your heart hits the floor
And you’re on your knees
(Chorus)
This is the first day of the rest of your life
This is the first day of the rest of your life
‘Cause even in the dark, you can still see the light
This is the first day of the rest of your life
(Chorus)
