February 23, 2025
Forgiveness
It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm.
But the other wolf…that one is full of anger.
He cannot think clearly because his anger and hatred are so overwhelming…
Both of them wish to dominate my spirit.
Which one wins, Grandfather?
The one I feed.
~From a traditional Native American story
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 PSalm
Ps. 37:1-11 (ceb)
1 Don’t get upset over evildoers;
don’t be jealous of those who do wrong,
2 because they will fade fast, like grass;
they will wither like green vegetables.
3 Trust the Lord and do good;
live in the land, and farm faithfulness.
4 Enjoy the Lord,
and he will give what your heart asks.
5 Commit your way to the Lord!
Trust him! He will act
6 and will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like high noon.
7 Be still before the Lord,
and wait for him.
Don’t get upset when someone gets ahead—
someone who invents evil schemes.8 Let go of anger and leave rage behind!
Don’t get upset—it will only lead to evil.
9 Because evildoers will be eliminated,
but those who hope in the Lord—
they will possess the land.
10 In just a little while the wicked won’t exist!
If you go looking around their place,
they won’t be there.
11 But the weak will inherit the land;
they will enjoy a surplus of peace.
Opening Songs
Songs Will Happen! (Brent Holl with Allison Garcia and Sheridan Horne)
“PHOENIX & THE GOLDEN RULE*”
(Story behind the song below)
~Michael Stern
I didn’t know when we set sail
In ’58 we’d all end up in jail
And I’ve been called worse than fool
For sailing on the Golden Rule
From San Pedro we headed west
On waves of a peaceful protest
Trimmed our sails to the wind
And prayed the bomb would not be used again
The Golden Rule, Golden Rule
Words that we had learned in Sunday School
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
Met the Phoenix crew
‘Bout halfway through
Both our ships moored in Honolulu
We agreed to do our best
And try to stop nuclear tests
Neither ship did give way
But trials then kept us at bay
We made it just part way through
So now the rest is up to you
It’s up to me, it’s up to you
Do unto as you would have them do
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
I didn’t know when we set sail
In ’58 we’d all end up in jail
And I’ve been called worse than fool
For sailing on the Phoenix & on the Golden Rule
It’s up to me, it’s up to you
Do unto as you would have them do
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
Do unto others as you
Would have them do unto you
_______________________________________
*Two anti-war sailing ships moored in Honolulu in 1958 and their crews met for the first time. Skipper Bert Bigelow of the Golden Rule and Earle Reynolds of the Phoenix of Hiroshima shared an unusual bond. Both had witnessed first-hand the long-lasting carnage that resulted from the United States’ use of atomic bombs in Japan, and each concluded that nuclear weapons were immoral. Bigelow and the Golden Rule were attempting to prevent further testing of nuclear weapons by sailing into the nuclear testing site in the Marshall Islands. They were intercepted in Hawaii, their ship impounded, and the entire crew was arrested.
Meanwhile, the Reynolds family was on its way back to the United States after Earle had conducted research on the lasting impact of atomic radiation on the children of Japan. The Phoenix took up where the Golden Rule left off and succeeded in sailing further into the test zone. But they, too, were intercepted and Earle was charged with treason. While neither crew succeeded in actually stopping nuclear testing, they planted seeds which prompted lasting efforts to work for nuclear disarmament. The Veterans for Peace Golden Rule Project and the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima are two exceptional examples of what happens when people of faith simply follow the Golden Rule.
~Michael Stern
“The 23rd Psalm/Amazing Grace”
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me to lie down,
In pastures green; he leads me
To the quiet waters by.
My soul he does restore again,
And He makes me to walk
Within the paths of righteousness,
All for his own name's sake.
Yet, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Oh, I will fear no ill:
For He is with me, and his rod
And staff do comfort still.
He’s set a feast before my eyes,
In presence of my foes;
My head with oil He anoints
My cup, it overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Will surely follow me;
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 45:1-15 (CEB)
1 Joseph could no longer control himself in front of all his attendants, so he declared, “Everyone, leave now!” So no one stayed with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. 2 He wept so loudly that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard him. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really still alive?” His brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him.
4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” and they moved closer. He said, “I’m your brother Joseph! The one you sold to Egypt. 5 Now, don’t be upset and don’t be angry with yourselves that you sold me here. Actually, God sent me before you to save lives. 6 We’ve already had two years of famine in the land, and there are five years left without planting or harvesting. 7 God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way. 8 You didn’t send me here; it was God who made me a father to Pharaoh, master of his entire household, and ruler of the whole land of Egypt.
9 “Hurry! Go back to your father. Tell him this is what your son Joseph says: ‘God has made me master of all of Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t delay. 10 You may live in the land of Goshen, so you will be near me, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everyone with you. 11 I will support you there, so you, your household, and everyone with you won’t starve, since the famine will still last five years.’ 12 You and my brother Benjamin have seen with your own eyes that I’m speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about my power in Egypt and about everything you’ve seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15 He kissed all of his brothers and wept, embracing them. After that, his brothers were finally able to talk to him.
Luke 6:27-38 (CEB)
27 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. 31 Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.
32 “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. 36 Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.
37 “Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“Boomerang”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How have you experienced forgiveness in your life, as one receiving forgiveness and/or as one forgiving another? Or what real-life stories of forgiveness have impacted or inspired you?
What burden of anger or resentment are you carrying around today? What is it doing to your soul? How long have you nurtured it, even cherished it? Is it causing you pain and anguish, perhaps even more than the initial cause? Could it be time to forgive and let it go?
How do we balance the need and blessing of forgiveness with the cause of justice? Is it ever right to NOT forgive? How do these highly idealistic teachings of Jesus deal with the problem of evil?
PRAYER
~Homiletics, adapted
“Be Thou My Vision”
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
_______________________________________
"Be Thou My Vision" is an 8th century Irish hymn that was translated by Eleanor Hull in 1912. Today the hymn is sung to the Irish folk tune "Slane". This song is rooted in medieval Celtic Christianity and is believed to be an original poem that may have been written by an Irish saint who experienced blindness later in life.
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? Take 2
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!
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.
BRUNCH CHURCH!
Next Sunday - March 2
Same bat time.
Same bat channel.
But with more food:-)
Bring your favorite brunch item to share if you are able!
Faith in Troubled Times Symposium
A group from RISE will be attending the "Faith in Troubled Times" prayer symposium with Amanda Held Opelt. Amanda will be discussing her book A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing which she wrote after the passing of her sister Rachel Held Evans. To register, scan the code above or click the button below, and let Alexis know if you have any questions!
CLOSING SONG
“This is God’s Perfect World”
This is God’s perfect world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres
This is God’s perfect world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought
This is God’s perfect world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
Declare their maker's praise
This is God’s perfect world
He shines in all that's fair
In the rustling grass, I hear him pass
He speaks to me everywhere
This is God’s perfect world
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king, let the heavens ring
God reigns, let the earth be glad
The Lord is king, let the heavens ring
God reigns, let the earth be glad
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics, adapted
May Almighty God, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, bless and keep us forever. May God’s unwavering grace be for each of us a very present help, now and always. And as we go from this place out into God’s perfect world, may the life we have been given empower us to give each person we meet the gifts of love and life, grace and forgiveness. Who knows - we just might change the world!
Remember friends, you are a gift!
Now let’s go and be a gift!
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.