April 13, 2025
Palm / Passion Sunday — The Cost
“The [Palm Sunday] story is a reminder of the political challenge of Jesus’ ministry…
In his ‘triumphal entry’ Jesus lampoons the ‘powers that be’ and their pretensions to glory and dominion,
and he enacts an alternative to their way…”
~Charles L Campbell, Feasting of the Word
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 SCRIPTURES
Psalm 118:1-2,19-29 (NRSV)
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Luke 19:29-40 (NRSV)
29 When he [Jesus] had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Opening Songs
Brent Holl and Songs Will Happen!
“Sing Hosanna”
~Traditional, with new lyrics by CWZepp
O give thanks to the Lord, we are bless-ed
O give thanks to the Lord today.
O give thanks to the Lord, we are bless-ed
We are bless-ed by God's steadfast love.
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King
Jesus rode into the city on a donkey.
Jesus rode into the city today.
Jesus rode into the city on a donkey.
Rode that little donkey all the way.
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King
Waving branches people shouted out their praises.
And they spread their cloaks upon the ground.
Waving branches people shouted out their praises
“Blessed comes he in the name of the Lord”
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King
“He came down”
~Cameroon Traditional
He came down that we may have Hope (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Why did he come?)
He came down that we may have Peace (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Why did he come?)
He came down that we may have Joy (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Why did he come?)
He came down that we may have Love (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Sing it all again!)
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 50:4-9a (CEB)
4 The Lord God gave me an educated tongue
to know how to respond to the weary
with a word that will awaken them in the morning.
God awakens my ear in the morning to listen,
as educated people do.
5 The Lord God opened my ear;
I didn’t rebel; I didn’t turn my back.
6 Instead, I gave my body to attackers,
and my cheeks to beard pluckers.
I didn’t hide my face
from insults and spitting.
7 The Lord God will help me;
therefore, I haven’t been insulted.
Therefore, I set my face like flint,
and knew I wouldn’t be ashamed.
8 The one who will declare me innocent is near.
Who will argue with me?
Let’s stand up together.
Who will bring judgment against me?
Let him approach me.
9 Look! The Lord God will help me.
Who will condemn me?
Selections from Luke 22 & 23
Luke 22:39-48,54,63-65; 23:1-3, 13-16, 18-21, 33-38 (CEB)
39 Jesus…made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” 41 He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. 42 He said, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.” 43 Then a heavenly angel appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 He was in anguish and prayed even more earnestly. His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. 45 When he got up from praying, he went to the disciples. He found them asleep, overcome by grief. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.”
47 While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd appeared, and the one called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him. 48 Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the [Son of Man] with a kiss?”
54 After they arrested Jesus, they led him away and brought him to the high priest’s house.
63 The men who were holding Jesus in custody taunted him while they beat him. 64 They blindfolded him and asked him repeatedly, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 Insulting him, they said many other horrible things against him.
1 The whole assembly got up and led Jesus to Pilate and 2 began to accuse him. They said, “We have found this man misleading our people, opposing the payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming that he is the Christ, a king.” 3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.”
13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. 14 He said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who was misleading the people. I have questioned him in your presence and found nothing in this man’s conduct that provides a legal basis for the charges you have brought against him. 15 Neither did Herod, because Herod returned him to us. He’s done nothing that deserves death. 16 Therefore, I’ll have him whipped, then let him go.”
18 But with one voice they shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” (19 Barabbas had been thrown into prison because of a riot that had occurred in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate addressed them again because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 They kept shouting out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” They drew lots as a way of dividing up his clothing. 35 The people were standing around watching, but the leaders sneered at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he really is the Christ sent from God, the chosen one.” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came up to him, offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you really are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 Above his head was a notice of the formal charge against him. It read “This is the king of the Jews.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“King of the Who?”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What do you think of when you hear that Jesus is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”? Does it have any real world significance for you? Does it strike you as quaint or antiquated? What might be an equivalent metaphor that has a more appropriate amount of contemporary gravitas?
If Jesus’ “triumphal entry” on Palm Sunday was indeed a piece of political satire that lampooned the “powers that be” and invited people to see and live in the world a new way, what would be an equivalent action in our world today? For instance, rather than kings, would Jesus lampoon billionaires? Celebrity influencers? What would the real world implications be of doing so? What would be the cost?
How does the Palm & Passion Sunday story play out in our lives today? How far are you willing to go in following the path Jesus made when he rode into Jerusalem that Sunday? What cost(s) would be worth it in doing so?
Song
“Jesus Walked that Lonesome Valley”
~Traditional Gospel Hymn
Jesus walked this lonesome valley;
He had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him;
He had to walk it by himself.
You must go and stand your trial;
You have to stand it by yourself.
Oh, nobody else can stand it for you;
You have to stand it by yourself.
There's a road that leads to glory
Through a valley far away,
Jesus asked us to walk it with him
He will show us the way.
We must walk this lonesome valley;
We have to walk it by ourselves.
Oh, nobody else can walk it for us;
We have to walk it by ourselves.
PALM SUNDAY PRAYER
~Earle W. Fike, Jr. from Please Pray with Me: Prayers for People at Worship, adapted
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!
WTF?
Wednesday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
Join us for a midweek check in to fuel your body, mind and soul. RISE will provide the meal and a topic for conversation. All you have to do it show up!
THIS WEEK (4/16) - Pulled pork BBQ, Mac-N-Cheese, Cornbread, Green beans
We welcome people from all walks of life and all walks of faith to join us on our journey. And we mean it. Everyone is welcome at RISE. Everyone. We seek to be a place free of judgment and full of love.
Good Friday
April 18, 2025
6 pm
Join us for a short contemplative service
on the lawn outside JWUMC!
Easter Sunday
April 20, 2025
Outside on the lawn at JWUMC
(Weather Permitting)
Join us for all-new Easter Celebrations!
9:30 am - Potluck Brunch with JWUMC
10 am(ish) - Worship
11:30 am - Easter Egg Hunt with JWUMC
If you are able, please sign-up for the Easter Brunch Potluck to help us coordinate the food festivities!
RISE Summer Survey
We are actively considering & planning opportunities for the coming summer months at RISE and are seeking community input so that we can try to offer programming that best meets your needs & desires at the most accessible time(s). Please take a few moments to complete our short "Summer Survey" at the link below to let us know what interests you!
CLOSING SONG
“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
~S. Sundar Singh
I have decided to follow Jesus (3x)
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me (3x)
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow (3x)
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus (3x)
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus? (3x)
No turning back, no turning back.
Parting Blessing
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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.