February 18, 2024
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Eleanor Baker
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 MUSIC
Maggie McClary & Friends
“Holy Spirit”
~Brian and Katie Torwalt
There is nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence Lord
I have tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence lord
Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
There is nothing worth more
that could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence lord
Nada vale más
Que tú mi, Señor
No hay comparación
Eres nuestro vivir
Tu presencia
I have tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
He probado, he visto
De tu dulce amor
Donde yo libre soy
Y vergüenza no hay
Tu presencia
Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
Santo espíritu te invito aquí
Inúndanos llena la atmósfera
Tu gloria es lo que anhelamos hoy
Y ser llenados de Tu presencia
Tu presencia
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
(4x)
“Lord, I Need You”
~Matt Maher
Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here, I find my rest
Without you, I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart
Lord I need You, Oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found, is where You are
And where You are, Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Lord I need You, Oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
When I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay
(2x)
Lord I need You, Oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Scripture Reading
Amy Lugo
Mark 1:9-15 (CEB)
9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”
12 At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.
14 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, 15 saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”
THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
“Remember…”
Chris Zepp
TABLE AND LIVE CHAT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Why was John baptizing people in the Jordan River? Why did Jesus get baptized by him? Why is baptism important? (Is it?)
Assuming you do not have the capacity to spend 40 days in the wilderness during Lent, how could you find ways to be intentional in seeking the Spirit over these next few weeks? Will you give something up? Take up a new contemplative or prayer practice? Seek a time and place for retreat?
What good news has been forgotten (buried / overshadowed / repressed ) in your life and soul? What do YOU need to remember during this season of Lent?
Lenten REFLECTIONS
Lindsay Cowett
PERSONAL SHARING, Prayer, and Ritual
SONG
“We Shall Walk through the Valley”
~African American Spiritual
We shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death
We shall walk through the valley in peace
And if Jesus himself will me our leader
We shall walk through the valley in peace
There will be no sorrowing there
There will be no sorrowing there
And if Jesus himself will be our leader
We shall walk through the valley in peace
(Hums)
And if Jesus himself will be our leader
We shall walk through the valley in peace
OFFERING AND NOMOFOMO
Abby Dotson
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!
LENTEN STUDIES
Journey with Lindsay Cowett in discussing all things Lent!
Open Community Study
Tuesdays at 7 pm
Icehouse #203
February 20-March 26
College Student Study
Wednesdays at 7 pm
JMU ENGEO 1207
February 21-March 27
Sign up for either one with the button below!
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:
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
“My Lighthouse”
~Rend Collective
In my wrestling and in my doubts
In my failures, You wont walk out
Your great love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea
Woah, You are the peace in my troubled sea
In the silence You won’t let go
In my questions your truth will hold
Your great love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea
You are the peace in my troubled sea
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me
safe to shooooooooore
Safe to shoooooooore
Safe to shoooooooooore
Safe to shore
I won’t fear what tomorrow brings
With each morning I rise and sing
My God’s love will lead me through
You are the peace in my troubled sea
Woah, You are the peace in my troubled sea
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me
safe to shooooooooore
Safe to shoooooooore
Safe to shoooooooooore
Safe to shore
Fire before us
You’re the brightest
You will lead us through the storms
(3x)
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
Shining in the darkness, I will follow You
My lighthouse, my lighthouse
I will trust the promise
You will carry me
safe to shooooooooore
Safe to shoooooooore
Safe to shoooooooooore
Safe to shore
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics, adapted and expanded
Our Lenten journey has begun! The creative, redeeming, sustaining presence of God accompanies us. So let’s open our hearts to follow wherever the Spirit may lead us over these 40 days. And remember that we are loved, cared for, and entrusted with good news for all the world. Amen!