December 17, 2023

“Homecoming”

WORDS OF GREETING and Centering

Chris Zepp

WELCOMING STATEMENT

Roy Nelson

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 & Scripture

Brent Holl

“Gabriel’s Message”

~Sabine Barin-Gould

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.
"All hail," said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favor’d lady." Gloria!

"For known as blessed mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honor thee.
Thy son shall be Immanuel by seers foretold,
most highly favor’d lady." Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said.
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favor’d lady, Gloria!

Luke 1:46-55 (CEB)

The “Magnificat” - the words of Mary, the expectant mother of Jesus, as she met her relative Elizabeth, the expectant mother of John the Baptist, who felt her child leap in her womb at their coming…

46 Mary said,
“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
47 In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
48 He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
49 because the mighty one has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
50 He shows mercy to everyone,
from one generation to the next,
who honors him as God.
51 He has shown strength with his arm.
He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
52 He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy,
55 just as he promised to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

“Rejoice, Rejoice”

        ~Marty Haugen

Awake! Awake and greet the new morn,
for angels herald its dawning.
sing out your joy, for soon he is born,
behold! the Child of our longing.
Come as a baby weak and poor,
to bring all hearts together,
he opens wide the heav’nly door,
and lives now inside us forever.

To us, to all in sorrow and fear,
Emmanuel comes a-singing,
his humble song is quiet and near,
yet fills the earth with its ringing;
Music to heal the broken soul
and hymns of loving kindness,
the thunder of his anthems roll
to shatter all hatred and blindness.

In darkest night his coming shall be,
when all the world is despairing,
as morning light so quiet and free,
so warm and gentle and caring.
Then shall the mute break forth in song,
the lame shall leap in wonder,
the weak be raised above the strong,
and weapons be broken asunder.

Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,
though dark the winter and cheerless,
the rising sun shall crown you with light,
be strong and loving and fearless.
Love be our song and love our prayer,
and love, our endless story,
may God fill ev’ry day we share
and bring us at last into glory.

Advent REFLECTIONS

Samantha Hall and Katrina Weiland

Personal Sharing and Prayer

Lighting the Third Advent Candle

“O COME, O COME, IMMANUEL”

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

REFRAIN:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.

REFRAIN

O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.

REFRAIN

O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.

REFRAIN

Scripture Reading

Roy Nelson

Psalm 126  (CEB)

When the Lord changed Zion’s circumstances for the better,
it was like we had been dreaming.
2 Our mouths were suddenly filled with laughter;
our tongues were filled with joyful shouts.
It was even said, at that time, among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them!”
3 Yes, the Lord has done great things for us,
and we are overjoyed.

4 Lord, change our circumstances for the better,
like dry streams in the desert waste!
5 Let those who plant with tears
reap the harvest with joyful shouts.
6 Let those who go out,
crying and carrying their seed,
come home with joyful shouts,
carrying bales of grain!

THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

“Homecoming”

Chris Zepp

“THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE”

TABLE AND LIVE CHAT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What promises and mercies of God remain unfulfilled in your life or in our world today?  What song of praise do you wish you could sing this Holiday season?

2. What about the flip side?  What songs of praise can you sing?  What mercies of God have you experienced or witnessed?  What promises of God have you seen fulfilled?

3. Where in your life - or in our world today - do you feel like joy is impossible?  Even though it seems that way, what would it look like to find joy there?  What would a “dream” future look like in that space?

Prayer

Chris Zepp

Adapted from a prayer by Earle W. Fike, Jr.

SONG

Brent Holl

“Bread and Fishes”

~Andy Bell

As I went a walkin' one mornin' in spring
I met with some travelers in an old country lane
One was an old man, the second a maid
And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said

REFRAIN:
We've the wind in the willows, and the birds in the sky
We've a bright sun to warm us, where ever we lie
We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine
To share on our journey with all of man-kind

I sat down beside them, the flowers all around
And we ate on a mantle spread out on the ground
They told me of prophets and princes and kings
And they spoke of the one god who knows everything

REFRAIN

I asked them to tell me their name and their race
So I might remember their kindness and grace
"My name is Joseph, this is Mary my wife
And this is our young son, our pride and delight”
We travel the whole world, by land and by sea
To tell all the people how they might be free

REFRAIN

Sadly, I left them, in an old country lane
For I knew that I never would see them again
One was an old man, the second a maid
And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said:

REFRAIN

OFFERING AND NOMOFOMO

Alexis Owens

Pastor Amanda sends her greetings from Winter Camp!

Join us for a “Top Notch” Christmas Eve experience
“Home on the Farm!”

Here’s the plan:

First, please join us in crossing all of your fingers and toes because we really need the weather to be dry and NOT ten degrees on Christmas Eve this year. We’re going to think positively about this event and assume that the weather will cooperate. Obviously, if nature throws us a curveball, we will adjust and communicate appropriately about that.

We plan to gather at Top Notch Farm - the home of the Kemper / Kite Family - at exactly 11 am(ish). - Note time change to allow people more travel time to the location & more time for temperatures to rise. (Get directions and learn about the farm HERE). We will have quality time with the animals, a relatively brief worship experience and Christmas Eve s’mores/ snacks. We hope to conclude no later than 12:30 pm(ish). Those in attendance should dress very warmly and come prepared to be outside by a fire. Some hay bales will be available for seating, but feel free to bring a chair (blankets are encouraged too). Contact us with questions using social media, email or text. And bring allllll of your friends and loved ones!

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!

It’s that time of year when a bit of nostalgia sets in for many of us. We start to envision idyllic scenes with snowflakes, roasting chestnuts and warm woolen mittens. Our minds wander to cozy places that seem *almost* perfect. We say *almost* because there’s one thing that could make your nostalgic winter scene just a little bit better. A tiny bit more wondrous. A wee bit more … magical. What is that one thing, you ask?

SNOW GREAT CHRISTMAS CAROLS FROM RISE!

That’s right, friends. It’s time to let RISE remove some of that holiday stress from your life. We can provide a once in a lifetime experience for your friends and loved ones (it might even move them to tears … and hopefully in a good way). We will dress festively and ensure that your special someone’s Christmas season is more merry and memorable.

Here’s how you order (hopefully several) snow great Christmas carol(s):

1. Fill out the carol request form HERE or using the button below. You choose your recipient and when you’d like your virtual carol delivered.  You’ll also be able to choose your favorite holiday song (or let us choose it for you). If you’re not into traditional holiday music, that’s ok. We’re open to performing show tunes and hip hop, too, if that’s your thing. We will email or text the carol to your recipients, and they will repeatedly tell the story of the best Christmas gift ever.

2. We kindly request a donation of at least $50 per virtual Christmas carol (more is appreciated, and generosity encourages us to bring our absolute best to the performance ;-). 

3. If you’d like to select a certain individual to perform your carol, we will do our best to accommodate that request. We request an extra suggested donation of 15 dollars per carol (your requested person can be a RISE leader or someone else of your choosing).

4. If you’d like us to offer a spoken message or  greeting in addition to performing the carol, you can indicate that on the form. We will gladly share that message on the video for an additional suggested donation of 15 dollars.

The fun begins NOW and will last through the end of the year.  Please help RISE finish 2023 in a financially healthy place and help us continue mending God’s creation together! Spread some holiday cheer - it’ll be so great! And here’s some more good news - your suggested donations are tax deductible! Woo hoooo!

If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
You might also consider:

• 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.

CLOSING SONG

Brent Holl

“Three Kings”

~Robbie O’Connell

Three Kings came riding from the East
Just as the Day was dawning
The newborn King of Kings to see,
All on a Christmas Morning.

A fiery star, it guided them,
Just as the Day was dawning
It brought them unto Bethlehem.
All on a Christmas Morning.

They came onto a stable there,
Just as the Day was dawning
And found a newborn infant there.
All on a Christmas Morning.

And down upon their knees they fell,
Just as the Day was dawning
The child he sweetly smiled on them.
All on a Christmas Morning.

Three gifts they gave him to behold.
Just as the Day was dawning
Of Frankincense and Myrrh and Gold.
All on a Christmas Morning.

A Parting BLESSING

Roy Nelson

We leave this space in peace and joy because of what the Incarnation means. We have a Savior who knows what it is to be tired and tested, befriended and betrayed, adored and reviled. There is no sadness, no pain, no grief we can experience that he has not already plumbed to the depths. He is in every circumstance, in every place, at all times with us. And he shows mercy to everyone. So go, beloved, to walk with God. And let our hearts glorify and rejoice in Jesus, our Savior.

Amen

REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!