November 12, 2023
WORDS OF GREETING
WELCOMING STATEMENT
Gabe Carr
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 & Friends
“Brother”
Ramblers in the wilderness, We can't find what we need
We get a little restless from the searching,
Get a little worn down in between
Like a bull chasing the matador, Is the man left to his own schemes
Everybody needs someone beside 'em,
Shining like a lighthouse from the sea
CHORUS:
Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call, When you're low
Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way, Bring you home
Face down in the desert now
There's a cage locked around my heart
I found a way to drop the keys where my failures were
Now my hands can't reach that far
I ain't made for a rivalry I could never take the world alone
I know that in my weakness I am strong
But it's your love that brings me home
CHORUS
And when you call And need me near
Sayin' where'd you go? Brother, I'm right here
And on those days When the sky begins to fall
You're the blood of my blood We can get through it all
CHORUS x2
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
“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 broken
Blessed when you’re blind
Blessed when you’re fragile
When you have lost your mind
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
Blessed when you see what
Your friends can never be
Blessed with your eyes closed
Then Blessed you see Me
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
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
“FAM - Not Your Typical Family Series”
Adam King
Listen to the Story
Light a candle. Breathe and Center
Listen as if you are listening to scripture, as if you expect the Holy to show up.
Listen deeply, without an agenda, paying attention to the feelings the story stirs in you.
Immerse Yourself in the Feelings
Share the full range of emotions you felt as you listened
Surface feelings that showed up in your body: tense shoulders, change of breathing, tears, etc.
Share briefly any stories from your own life that this story called to mind.
View it Wider
Let the story speak to the Stories you know by heart
Where does Scripture, your faith tradition, or another faith tradition show up in this story?
How might this story unearth a new interpretation or invert a familiar passage for you?
Whose voice is missing from the story or from our conversation around it?
Where does power, inequity, or systemic evil show up in the story?
Explore “aha” moments
What surfaced for you that you might keep pondering?
What idea had heat or energy for you?
What do you want to say out loud so we can help each other hold onto it?
What Next Most Faithful Step is emerging for you here?
COMMUNION
Servers: Eleanor Baker and Daniel Green
SONG DURING COMMUNION
Will & Friends
“Goodness of God”
I love You Lord
oh Your mercy never fails me
All my day I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God
CHORUS:
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your Voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I’ve known you as a father
I’ve known you as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God
CHORUS
Your goodness is running after it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after it’s running after me
With my life laid down I’m surrendered now
I give you everything
Your good is running after it’s running after me
CHORUS
OFFERING AND 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.
COMMUNITY THANKFULNESS EVENT - Asbury United Methodist Church (205 S. Main Street, Hburg), Monday, November 20, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Sponsored by the Interfaith Association of Harrisonburg Rockingham, we are coming together with thankfulness for the Interfaith relations in the Harrisonburg Rockingham communities. This event is free and open to the public, with a freewill donation in celebration of IFA HR's 40th Anniversary.
PLEASE HELP WITH WORSHIP! 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 (read, provide food, set-up, serve communion, clean-up run tech, etc) 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
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
“Awake My Soul”
~Mumford & Sons
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, har har, har har
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker
You were made to meet your maker
FINAL BLESSING
~Malcolm Doney, All Hallows on the Wall
May the love which overcomes all differences
which heals all wounds
which puts to flight all fears
which reconciles all who are separated
be in us and among us, now and always, Amen.
And the blessing of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be upon you this day and for ever more.
Amen.