“When in the dark night of suffering
sagacity cannot see a handbreadth ahead of it,
then faith can see God,
since faith sees best in the dark.”
~Soren Kierkegaard
Uplifting Discourses in Various Spirits
November 17, 2024
Words of greeting and Gathering
Chris Zepp
WELCOMING STATEMENT
Lindsay Cowett
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
~Sing the Story, #127, adapted
Opening SONG
“CALLED OR NOT CALLED”
~Shawn Kirchner
Called or not called, God is there
Called or not called, God is there
Called or not called, God is there
The hand of the maker is everywhere
Named or unnamed…
Seen or unseen…
Known or unknown…
Called or not called…
SCRIPTURE READINGs
Matthew 21:33-46 (CEB)
33 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it to tenant farmers and took a trip. 34 When it was time for harvest, he sent his servants to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit. 35 But the tenant farmers grabbed his servants. They beat some of them, and some of them they killed. Some of them they stoned to death.
36 “Again he sent other servants, more than the first group. They treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let’s kill him and we’ll have his inheritance.’ 39 They grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40 “When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenant farmers?”
41 They said, “He will totally destroy those wicked farmers and rent the vineyard to other tenant farmers who will give him the fruit when it’s ready.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the scriptures, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord has done this, and it’s amazing in our eyes? 43 Therefore, I tell you that God’s kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a people who produce its fruit. 44 Whoever falls on this stone will be crushed. And the stone will crush the person it falls on.”
45 Now when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard the parable, they knew Jesus was talking about them. 46 They were trying to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, who thought he was a prophet.
Philippians 3:4b-14 & 16 (CEB)
If anyone else has reason to put their confidence in physical advantages, I have even more:
5 I was circumcised on the eighth day.
I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin.
I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews.
With respect to observing the Law, I’m a Pharisee.
6 With respect to devotion to the faith, I harassed the church.
With respect to righteousness under the Law, I’m blameless.7 These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. 8 But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ 9 and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. 10 The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death 11 so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead.
12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.
16 Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.
John 1:1-5 (NRSV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“Learning to Walk in the Dark”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Have you ever experienced a “dark night of the soul”? (Or maybe you are experiencing one now). What was it like? How did you hold on (or how are you holding on) to the hope of the light that you could not (or cannot) see?
As a community of faith, we experience and share life together. How are we able to help each other through dark times of struggle, despair, etc, when we are experiencing the same ourselves?
Remembering is a powerful anchor for faith in the midst of dark times. What teachings do you remember and hold on to in such times? What Bible stories or scriptures bring you peace and/or purpose? What heroes/models inspire and comfort you?
Prayer
Song
“Teresa’s Prayer”
Christ be in my mind, and in my thinking
Christ be in my eyes, in everything I see
Christ be in my ears, and in my hearing
Christ be in my mouth, in every word I speak
Christ be in my heart, and in my loving
Christ be in my life, each moment that I live…
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!
The Sitting
6-8 pm Wednesday Nights
Brothers Craft Brewing
LAST ONE OF THE SEASON!
It’s back to basics 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!
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
“When the Storms of Life are Raging”
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me; (stand by me)
when the storms of life are raging, stand by me. (stand by me)
When the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea,
thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of tribulation, stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of tribulation, stand by me. (stand by me)
When the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail,
thou who never lost a battle, stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of faults and failures, stand by me. (stand by me)
When I’ve done the best I can, and my friends misunderstand,
thou who knowest all about me, stand by me. (stand by me)
In the midst of persecution, stand by me; (stand by me)
in the midst of persecution, stand by me. (stand by me)
When my foes in war array undertake to stop my way,
thou who rescued Paul and Silas, stand by me. (stand by me)
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me; (stand by me)
when I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me. (stand by me)
When my life becomes a burden, and I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me. (stand by me)
Parting Blessing
~Iona Community
God to enfold you, Christ to uphold you,
Spirit to keep you in heaven’s sight;
So may God grace you, heal and embrace you,
Lead you through darkness into the light.
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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