March 16, 2025
Vision
Words of greeting and GATHERING
Chris Zepp
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. 27:1-6 (CEB)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Should I fear anyone?
The Lord is a fortress protecting my life.
Should I be frightened of anything?
2 When evildoers come at me trying to eat me up—
it’s they, my foes and my enemies,
who stumble and fall!
3 If an army camps against me,
my heart won’t be afraid.
If war comes up against me,
I will continue to trust in this:
4 I have asked one thing from the Lord—
it’s all I seek:
to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,
seeing the Lord’s beauty
and constantly adoring his temple.
5 Because he will shelter me in his own dwelling
during troubling times;
he will hide me in a secret place in his own tent;
he will set me up high, safe on a rock.6 Now my head is higher than the enemies surrounding me,
and I will offer sacrifices in God’s tent—
sacrifices with shouts of joy!
I will sing and praise the Lord.
Opening Songs
Songs Will Happen! (Even Without Allison!)
Brent Holl and Company
“Bound for the Promised Land”
~S. Stennett/American Folk Melody; arr. BMH
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie.
I’m bound for the promised land,
I’m bound for the promised land.
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I’m bound for the promised land.
There gen'rous fruits that never fail on trees immortal grow.
There rocks and hills and brooks and vales with milk and honey flow.
I’m bound for the promised land,
I’m bound for the promised land.
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I’m bound for the promised land.
All o'er those wide extended plains shines one eternal day.
There God the sun forever reigns and scatters night away.
I’m bound for the promised land,
I’m bound for the promised land.
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I’m bound for the promised land.
When shall I reach that happy place, and be forever bless'd?
When shall I see my Father's face, and in his bosom rest?
I’m bound for the promised land,
I’m bound for the promised land.
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I’m bound for the promised land.
Filled with delight, my raptured soul can here no longer stay.
Though Jordan's waves around me roll, fearless I'd launch away.
I’m bound for the promised land,
I’m bound for the promised land.
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I’m bound for the promised land.
“Restoration” (I Will Arise)
~Anonymous/American Folk Melody; arr. BMH
Far, far away from my loving father, I had been wand’ring wayward, wild,
fearing only lest his anger overtake his sinful child.
Fain had I fed on the husks around me, till to myself I came and said,
”Plenty have my father’s servants, perish I for want of bread.”
I will arise and go to Jesus, he will embrace me in his arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior, oh, there are ten thousand charms.
I will arise, though faint and weary, home to my Father I will go.
Woe to me that e'er I wandered, Ah that I such need should know.
"Father," I'll say, "I have sinned before thee, no more may I be called thy son.
Make me only as thy servant, pity me a wretch undone!"
I will arise and go to Jesus, he will embrace me in his arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior, oh, there are ten thousand charms.
Then I arose and came to my father. Mercy amazing! Love unknown!
He beheld me, ran, embraced me, pardoned, welcomed, called me son!
I will arise and go to Jesus, he will embrace me in his arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior, oh, there are ten thousand charms.
I will arise and go to Jesus, he will embrace me in his arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior, oh, there are ten thousand charms.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 (CEB)
1 After these events, the Lord’s word came to Abram in a vision, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your protector. Your reward will be very great.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you possibly give me, since I still have no children? The head of my household is Eliezer, a man from Damascus.” 3 He continued, “Since you haven’t given me any children, the head of my household will be my heir.”
4 The Lord’s word came immediately to him, “This man will not be your heir. Your heir will definitely be your very own biological child.” 5 Then he brought Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you think you can count them.” He continued, “This is how many children you will have.” 6 Abram trusted the Lord, and the Lord recognized Abram’s high moral character.
7 He said to Abram, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
8 But Abram said, “Lord God, how do I know that I will actually possess it?”
9 He said, “Bring me a three-year-old female calf, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a dove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He took all of these animals, split them in half, and laid the halves facing each other, but he didn’t split the birds. 11 When vultures swooped down on the carcasses, Abram waved them off. 12 After the sun set, Abram slept deeply. A terrifying and deep darkness settled over him.
17 After the sun had set and darkness had deepened, a smoking vessel with a fiery flame passed between the split-open animals. 18 That day the Lord cut a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from Egypt’s river to the great Euphrates.”
Luke 13:31-35 (CEB)
31 At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, “Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.”
32 Jesus said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m throwing out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. 33 However, it’s necessary for me to travel today, tomorrow, and the next day because it’s impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. 35 Look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you won’t see me until the time comes when you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Alexis Ward Owens
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What do you think the vision looks like that God is casting for your life? In other words, what is your calling or life’s mission?
When were times in your life when you felt like you were ready for the next step but your timing was not lined up with God’s timing? Either, like Abraham and Sarah who desperately wanted children but had to be patient, OR like Jesus who we can imagine was not thrilled about his life abruptly coming to an end in his early 30s.
Is your mission and your purpose WORTH walking into the lion’s den? Where is the line in the sand for you? How far are you willing to go to live out the purpose for your life? Have you risked your life (literally or emotionally) to fulfill your purpose?
SONG
“Dance”
~Michael Stern
Dance as if no one was watching
Sing as if no one could hear
Love as if your heart had not been broken
Walk throughout the woodland alters
Gaze as if seeing for the first time
Love as if your heart had not been broken
Laugh as if you were a child
Live as if your dreams had come true
Love as if your heart had not been broken
Dance as if no one was watching
Gaze as if seeing for the first time
Love as if your heart had not been broken
Sing as if no one could hear you
Live as if your dreams had come true.
PRAYER
~ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE: PRAYER FOR PROTECTION
I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In the obedience of angels, In the service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In the predictions of prophets, In the preaching of apostles, In the faith of confessors, In the innocence of holy virgins, In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendour of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The firmness of rock. I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.
I summon today All these powers between me and those evils, Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul; Christ to shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
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 - St. Paddy’s Day Celebration
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.
Help EMU pack 100,000 meals THIS WEEK
for hungry children around the world!
(in two-hour shifts)
Friday, March 21, 10 am-8 pm
and Saturday, March 22, 10 am-6 pm
Yoder Arena at EMU’s University Commons
1307 Park Road, Harrisonburg
The EMU Y-Serve student club is hosting the two-day event (held March 21-22) in partnership with the Harrisonburg Tacos 4 Life restaurant and the Feed My Starving Children nonprofit. EMU students, faculty and staff, as well as volunteers from local church congregations, retirement communities, businesses and civic organizations will join together for the major meal-packing project at the EMU University Commons. Learn more HERE
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
“Will the Circle Be Unbroken”
~A.P. Carter / Lyrics from Phyllis Gaskins
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home a'waiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky
We sing songs of our childhood
Hymns of faith that made us strong
Ones that Mother Maybelle taught us
Hear the angels sing along
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home a'waiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky
We are part of a blessed circle
Going back a long, long time
And we're happy to face the future
Holding hands, both yours and mine
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home a'waiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky
I was singing all the night long
I was singing with my Friends
And we all can sing together
Cause the circle never ends
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home a'waiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky
Parting Blessing
~Saint Patrick
May your days be many and your troubles be few.
May all God’s blessings descend upon you.
May peace be within you, may your heart be strong.
May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.
May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us.
May thy Salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore.Amen.
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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