October 22, 2023
Words of Greeting
Chris Zepp
If you have children, check out the “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.
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.
WELCOMING STATEMENT
Allison Garcia
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 Music
Will Stutzman and Allison Garcia
“BE Thou My Vision”
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, they presence my light
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word
I ever with thee, and thou with me Lord
Born of they love, thy child may I be
Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee
Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only, first in my heart
Ruler of heaven, my treasure thou art
True light of heaven, when vict’ry is won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’ns Sun
Heart of my heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
“Words to Build a Life on”
CHORUS:
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine
Blessed are the poor
Blessed are the weak
Blessed are the ones
Who can barely speak
Blessed in your hurt
Blessed in your pain
Blessed when your teardrops
Are falling down like rain
Blessed when you’re desperate
Blessed when you’re scared
Blessed when you’re lonely
Blessed when you’ve failed
Blessed when you’re beat up
Blessed when you’re bruised
Blessed when you’re tore down
Blessed when you’re used
CHORUS
Blessed when you’re heartbroke
Blessed when you’re fired
Blessed when you’re choked up
Blessed when you’re tired
Blessed when the plans
That you so carefully laid
End up in the junkyard
With all the trash you made
Blessed when you feel like
Giving up the ghost
Blessed when your loved ones
Are the ones who hurt you most
Blessed when you lose your
Own identity
Then blessed when you find it
And it has been redeemed
CHORUS
Blessed when you’re hungry
Blessed when you thirst
Cause that’s when you will eat of
The bread that matters most
Blessed when you’re put down
Because of me you’re dissed
Because of me you’re kicked out
They take you off their list
You know you’re on the mark
You know you’ve got it right
You are to be my salt
You are to be my light
So bring out all the flavour
In the feast of this My world
And light up all the colours
Let the banners be unfurled
Shout it from the rooftops
Let the trumpets ring
Sing your freaking lungs out
Tell them Jesus Christ is King!
Jesus is my Saviour
Jesus is divine
Jesus is my answer
Jesus is my life
CHORUS
OPENING PRAYER
Roy Nelson
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
Reflection Panel Discussion: Adam King (moderator) and Alexis Owens
TEXT YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS TO 833-803-0868
Matthew 22:1-14 (CEB)
1 Jesus responded by speaking again in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding party for his son. 3 He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding party. But they didn’t want to come. 4 Again he sent other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready. Come to the wedding party!”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went away—some to their fields, others to their businesses. 6 The rest of them grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them.
7 “The king was angry. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire.8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding party is prepared, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9 Therefore, go to the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.’
10 “Then those servants went to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding party was full of guests. 11 Now when the king came in and saw the guests, he spotted a man who wasn’t wearing wedding clothes. 12 He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet and throw him out into the farthest darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.’
14 “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen.”
“The Work of the People”
Table Discussions and FACEBOOK Live Chat Discussion Questions
What during this conversation made you curious?
What’s one thing you’ll take with you today?
COMMUNION
Adam King
Servers: Madalyn Mongold and Noelle Voltz
SONG DURING COMMUNION
Will Stutzman and Allison Garcia
“Lord I Need You”
Lord I come I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
And without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart
CHORUS:
Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
CHORUS
So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
CHORUS
OFFERING and NomoFomo
Chris Zepp
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!
MEET AND FEED 2023! Thursday, October 26, 9:45-12 midnight
A RISE tradition like no other! We’ll be passing out food and water to students celebrating Halloweekend in Harrisonburg, and we need your help! Volunteer to help “meet and feed” on the night of the event (costumes highly encouraged! but not mandatory) OR donate food or water to the cause by the day before. Or you could always make a special financial donation and let us do the shopping for you - just mark your donations “Meet and Feed 2023” in whatever format you use! Sign up HERE to let us know how you plan to help.DEATH DINNER!!!! Monday, October 30, 6:30 pm
Join us friends for a night of both fun and real talk about all things related to death! Ever wonder what happens to a body after someone dies? Questions about this afterlife? This is your opportunity to ask a funeral director questions and have conversation! We will have a spooky dinner and costumes are encouraged! Sign up by filling out a quick form [click HERE] to claim your spot and get details about location, etc.OUR OWN DEEP WELLS: A movement dedicated to adapting communal and individual soulful practices to build mental and emotional resilience - EMU November 10-11, 2023
A 24 hour retreat for area college students, young adults, student life professionals, etc that welcomes you to slow down, explore the soulful practices that are helping you survive and thrive, and sit with others who may be called to lead, share, or experience soulful practices in community. For full details and registration info, click HERE. Contact Pastor Amanda (ajmgarber@gmail.com) with any questions.
COMING SOON!
We are so excited to announce our new podcast - “Hardly Christian!” In this podcast, a host will be joined by a few guests and spend about 30 minutes per episode discussing listener questions about theology, God, church, etc. with as much raw honesty as possible. We know that in many faith circles, expressing ideas or feelings contrary to traditional beliefs is seen as shameful or even heretical, but we believe that the most faithful thing we can do is lean in and provide space for those conversations without shame or notions of the “right answer”. We’d love for you to tune in! Find out more on facebook and instagram @hardlychristian. We plan to publish the first episode on October 31st -Reformation Day.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.
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.
Closing song
Will Stutzman and Allison Garcia
“A Message”
~Coldplay
My song is love
Love to the loveless shown
And it goes on
You don't have to be alone
Your heavy heart
Is made of stone
And it's so hard to see clearly
You don't have to be on your own
You don't have to be on your own
And I'm not gonna take it back
And I'm not gonna say I don't mean that
You're the target that I'm aiming at
And I'll get that message home
My song is love
My song is love unknown
And I'm on fire for you, clearly
You don't have to be alone
You don't have to be on your own
And I'm not gonna take it back
And I'm not gonna say I don't mean that
You're the target that I'm aiming at
And I'm nothing on my own
Got to get that message home
And I'm not gonna stand and wait
Not gonna leave it until it's much too late, oh
On a platform, I'm gonna stand and say
That I'm nothing on my own
And I love you, please come home
My song is love, is love unknown
And I've got to get that message home
FINAL BLESSING
Abby Dotson