November 5, 2023
WORDS OF GREETING
Pastor Amanda Miller Garber
WELCOMING STATEMENT
Emmanuela Obuobisa
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.
Brunch TIme!
OPENING MUSIC
Will & Friends
“Rain Down”
CHORUS:
Rain down, rain down
rain down your love on your people
rain down, rain down,
rain down your love, God of life.
Faithful and true is the word of our god
All of God’s work are so worthy of trust.
God’s mercy falls on the just and the right;
Full of God’s love is the earth.
CHORUS
We who revere and find hope in our God
Live in the kindness and joy of God’s wing.
God will protect us from darkness and death;
God will not leave us to starve.
CHORUS
“Heart of Worship”
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
PRE-CHORUS:
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart
CHORUS:
I'm comin' back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve?
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
PRE-CHORUS
CHORUS
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
“FAM - Not Your Typical Family Series”
Brief introduction to the series by Adam King
“THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE”
TABLE DISCUSSIONS AND FACEBOOK LIVE CHAT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share about the food or recipe you brought today or describe a food item that is meaningful to you and your family. How does this food item connect you to your ancestors or family story? Feel free to share a story or memory related to this food.
If we could see food as sacred, how might that change the way engage with our family and chosen family. And vice versa, how does our relationships with our families affect our relationship with food.
This is a day that invites us to think about transcendence, life beyond death. As you think about the eternal banquet, what is your vision of God’s banquet table. What saints would you want to see there? What conversations would you hope to have? What food would you hope was there?
Candle Lighting
NomoFomo
WE ARE STILL HIRING A KIDZONE COORDINATOR! We are still hoping 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. 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.
LAST CHANCE! 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.
HARDLY CHRISTIAN PODCAST NOW LIVE
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”. The first episode - "Why are Christians so weird about sex?" - is now live! We’d love for you to tune in!
We are always looking for persons willing to volunteer to assist and support our worship gatherings. If you’d be willing to volunteer to help, please sign up on this doc for the role and the date(s) of your choosing: Worship Volunteer Schedule.
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.
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!
CLOSING SONG
Will & Friends
“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
FINAL BLESSING
Eleanor Baker
Beloved, receive this good news: you are children of God, united as family with the saints of every tribe, nation, language, and generation. Go forth now in the company of the multitude who have put on the life of the Lamb that you may love and live after the imitation of Jesus.
Amen.