Graphic Design by Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

March 8, 2026

Everyone has a job. I wash the potatoes, filling the sink with slivers of potato peel. You brine the turkey, hovering by the oven all afternoon. Someone sets the table, taking care to fill a vase with asters and marigolds, sprigs of holly and shoots of evergreen. We play music while we prepare. “What The World Needs Now is Love”1 comes on. We can’t get it out of our heads. We whistle along to Dionne all afternoon. And eventually, the doorbell rings.

You’ve invited the neighbors, the grad student who sits on the second row at church, the widower in the choir. We add seats to the table. We go around the room and share one thing we’re grateful for. Eyes well as we create a laundry list of beauty. The kids get squirmy, but we’re grateful for that too.

And then we eat! We scoop whipped potatoes and crisp green beans with fresh garlic. We pass the bread basket, leaving crumbs all over the table. They are tiny reminders of communion in our midst. And at the end of the night, when we walk our guests to the car and carry sleeping children to their car seats, our neighbors say, What a holy moment it all was. Surely this must be what heaven feels like. Surely we can create it together.

“Surely, This Must Be It”
by Rev. Sarah A. Speed

Worship Resources used in this service by Rev. Sarah A. Speed
A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

Check in and Get Connected!

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 Affirmation

~Rev. Sarah A. Speed, adapted

If you need good news, settle into this space –
we have good news to share!

If you need a word of hope, then trust us when we say –
there is hope enough to go around!

If you need a glimmer of joy, then you’re in luck –
We have resilient joy abounding!

If you need to feel God’s presence in your midst –
then know that this is God’s house!

This is the good news of the gospel:
God is here. Love is real. Joy is on the move!

Opening SongS

Songs Will Happen!

“You’ve got a Place” (“Welcome Table”)

~Traditional Spiritual

You’ve got a place at the welcome table
You’ve got a place at the welcome table
some of these days. Hallelujah!
You’ve got a place at the welcome table
You’ve got a place at the welcome table
some of these days.

We’re goin’ to feast on milk and honey…

We’ll give thanks at the welcome table…

We’ll come home to the welcome table…

I’m goin’ down to the river of Jordan…

I’m goin’ to sit down with my Jesus…

I’m goin’ to sing in the heavenly choir…

I’m gonna eat at the welcome table…

“One World”

~Michael Stern

REFRAIN:
One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.

One moment can change a whole lifetime,
one life can change eternity,
one stranger be friended,
one broken heart mended,
one child loved, one captive set free,
one child loved, one captive set free.

One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.

One day when the lamb and the lion
and our pride and our anger lie down,
weapons to plowshares,
a joy born of love’s tears,
a sacrifice and a crown,
a sacrifice and a crown.

One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.

One day we will all meet our Maker,
till that day we must do what we can
to stand by each other,
to love one another,
ev‘ry child, ev‘ry woman and man,
ev‘ry child, ev‘ry woman and man.

One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.

Tell Me Something Good

Sandra Reisinger

Scripture Readings

Mark 6:32-44 (CEB)

32 They departed in a boat by themselves for a deserted place.
33 Many people saw them leaving and recognized them, so they ran ahead from all the cities and arrived before them. 34 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
35 Late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place, and it’s already late in the day. 36 Send them away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something to eat for themselves.”
37 He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
But they said to him, “Should we go off and buy bread worth almost eight months’ pay and give it to them to eat?”
38 He said to them, “How much bread do you have? Take a look.”
After checking, they said, “Five loaves of bread and two fish.”
39 He directed the disciples to seat all the people in groups as though they were having a banquet on the green grass. 40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 Everyone ate until they were full. 43 They filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. 44 About five thousand had eaten.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (CEB)

20 Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; 21 glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Pastor Alexis

“Running on fumes, but a fume is a fume”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

“You cannot pour from an empty cup”, “receive love give love repeat”, we all know that it is important to prioritize self care, rest, and sabbath. Where do you think the line in the sand is on caring for yourself and continuing to share the breadth of what you have to offer your community and the world?
Previously, Jesus instructed his disciples to go out in pairs, carrying “no bread, no bag, no money in their belts” (Mark 6:8). Even as Jesus sent them to heal and serve others, he prompted them to do so through a model of interdependence. Going in pairs meant they were never serving in isolation. Going without food or money meant they would be forced to rely on the generosity and hospitality of others. Perhaps Jesus was training them not just to give, but also receive. If Jesus had already set that precedent with the disciples, why do you think the disciples suggest that the crowd be sent away to feed themselves (Mark 6:36) rather than leaning into the model of community care?
The feeding of the five thousand contains parallels to the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. In both, a specific and finite number of vessels (water jars and baskets) are mysteriously filled. In each story, Jesus is the miracle worker, but he acts in a secretive and understated way, staying out of the spotlight.How would you describe Jesus’ leadership style? Why do you think he chooses to perform these miracles in such an understated way?

Song

“Bread and Fishes”

~Alan 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

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 mankind

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

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 mankind

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

Like 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 mankind

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:

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 mankind

PRAYER

~Rev. Sarah A. Speed, 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!

CURRENT MATERIAL NEEDS:

Disinfectant Wipes
Hand Soap

(see a list of ongoing material needs on our giving page)

Give Now

BOOK STUDY GROUP

Monday Evenings, 7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks

Monday, March 9
Discussing Chapters 3 & 4
(“Affection” and “Friendship”)

For the first study, we will be reading the C.S. Lewis classic The Four Loves, a fairly short read exploring various ways that we understand love and how they draw us closer to God.

If you’re interested but haven’t yet signed up, you are still welcome! Just click the button below to get added to the list, through which we will communicate schedule changes, new books to read, and anything else book study related!

Book Study Interest

WTF?
LENT EDITION

Thursdays at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC

This Week’s Menu (3/12):
DIY Personal Pizzas

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!

If you are interested and/or able to help (cooking and prep, giving rides to students, setting up and greeting, washing dishes, etc) please let Alexis know!

Turner Ashby High School MUSICAL
The Little Mermaid

THIS WEEK!!

March 12-15

TAHS Musical Theater presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Our very own Gabe Carr is the Assistant Stage Manager and Tristan Zepp plays percussion in the pit orchestra! Reserve your tickets using the link below!

Order Little Mermaid Tickets

Dinner and Bingo
to Support our
Love Packs Ministry

THIS FRIDAY!

March 13, 6-9 pm
JWUMC

Support our Love Packs Ministry - a weekend food bag program for school-age children & families - while having fun and enjoying good food and company! Just $25 a ticket! Reserve yours now by clicking the link below!

Dinner and Bingo Tickets