November 10, 2024
“The law of love excludes no one, but requires a choice from everyone.”
~Wendell Berry
Gathering SONG
Brent Holl
“COME, THOU FOUNT (NETTLETON)”
Come, thou fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, mount of God’s unchanging love.
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 Prayer
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
(Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Opening Music
Brent Holl
“BLESSED BE GOD’S NAME”
Like the sun & the moon, love will endure
Blessed be God’s name
From age unto age & shore unto shore
Blessed be God’s name
Let the mountains & the hills bring a message of peace
Blessed be God’s name
As welcome as rain that falls on dry soil
Blessed be God’s name
Defending the poor & the children in need
Blessed be God’s name
Redeeming their lives from exploitation & greed
Blessed be God’s name
Advocates of force will shrink from love’s power
Blessed be God’s name
Love’s harvest abundant, luxuriant in flower
Blessed be God’s name
Like the sun & the moon, love will endure
Blessed be God’s name
From age unto age & shore unto shore
Blessed be God’s name
“How Can I Keep From Singing”
My life flows on in endless song,
above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the sweet, though far off hymn
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear its music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth it liveth.
And though the darkness round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes, the clouds grow thin,
I see the blue above it.
And day by day this pathway clears,
since first I learned to love it.
The peace from love makes fresh my heart,
a song of hope is ringing.
All things are mine, since truth I’ve found.
How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?
SCRIPTURE READINGs
Romans 13:1-7 (The Message)
1-3 Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.
3-5 Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.
6-7 That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Alexis Ward Owens
“Love is Stronger than Fear”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How do you start your day to set yourself up for success? Are you just going through the motions of the morning? Stumbling over to the coffee pot and waiting for the bean juice to seep into your veins? What habits, or small actions could you take to integrate into your morning routine to start your day off on a positive note?
What do you do when you feel anxious or afraid? How do you work through those feelings? Who are the people in your life who you feel like support you and you can lean on? Do you do a good job of also supporting them?
Love is stronger than fear. What are you doing to actively seek out love everyday? When we focus on, and often drown in, the fear we forget to look for the love in our day. Where/when have you seen acts of love recently?
Prayer:
Romans 12:9-17 (CEB)
9 Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. 11 Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! 12 Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. 14 Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. 16 Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. 17 Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.
Song
“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, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father; thine own 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
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
_______________________________________
"Be Thou My Vision" is an 8th century Irish hymn that was translated by Eleanor Hull in 1912. Today the hymn is sung to the Irish folk tune "Slane". This song is rooted in medieval Celtic Christianity and is believed to be an original poem that may have been written by an Irish saint who experienced blindness later in life.
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!
BYOM
(And share them!)
RISE 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. Now that we have another consistent space, we are also collecting mugs for Sunday morning use, so if you have a few at home that you would like to donate to the cause, we would be happy to have them!
The Sitting
6-8 pm Wednesday Nights
Brothers Craft Brewing
It’s back to basics this week with The Sitting - just a time of connection, conversation, and getting to know each other a little bit better! There is no “agenda” - just openness, availability, and community :-)
Feel free to eat before you come OR bring dinner with you!
And to be clear, you DO NOT have to come the entire time- feel free to come late or only stay for a portion of time!
Don’t already know about The Sitting? You know how some people have “standing” appointments or office hours? Well, this is basically the RISE equivalent. Everyone is invited to join Alexis and/or Chris on Wednesday nights - Whether you have some burning theological questions or you just want to hang out and enjoy some time with friends, we’ll be there and happy to chat!
GaME Night
Friday, November 15
6 pm
Zepp Home
Bring a friend, your favorite game(s), and any food/sharing snacks as you wish and join us for a night of fun! Sodas, seltzers, and coffee/tea/hot chocolate will be provided, but you are welcome to bring something of your choosing as well.
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
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
“LEST WE FORGET”
~Michael Stern
Lest we forget in our striving to win
Where we are going and where we have been
Remember the dawn and the glorious sunset
Remember lest we forget
Lest we forget as we struggle in love
The gift of each other is a gift from above
As we forgive others, forgive our debt
Remember lest we forget
Lest we forget or if we should get lost
The things we can hold to whatever the cost
Creator, Redeemer will be with us yet
Remember lest we forget
Lest we forget to see God in each face
For in serving each other, receive wondrous grace
Through peace, justice, mercy we’ll never regret
Remember lest we forget
Through peace, justice, mercy we’ll never regret
Remember lest we forget
Parting Blessing
“Continue”
~Maya Angelou
My wish for you
Is that you continue
Continue
To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness
Continue
To allow humor to lighten the burden
of your tender heart
Continue
In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the peals of your laughter
Continue
To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined
Continue
To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And that no one is beneath
Nor above you
Continue
To remember your own young years
And look with favor upon the lost
And the least and the lonely
Continue
To put the mantel of your protection
Around the bodies of
The young and defenseless
Continue
To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise
Continue
To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a
Natural action to be expected
Continue
To let gratitude be the pillow
Upon which you kneel to
Say your nightly prayer
And let faith be the bridge
You build to overcome evil
And welcome good
Continue
To ignore no vision
Which comes to enlarge your range
And increase your spirit
Continue
To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing
Continue
To float
Happily in the sea of infinite substance
Which set aside riches for you
Before you had a name
Continue
And by doing so
You and your work
Will be able to continue
Eternally
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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