March 22, 2026

I wrecked the family car, an old gold minivan
that had traveled every inch of I-95. It had worn cushions
and an old school map in the glove box.
It held a folder full of mix CDs under the passenger seat
and every memory of every family trip,
and I wrecked it.
I called the tow truck while the engine
hissed and smoked. I called my dad,
my own apologies tripping over themselves
to get to the front of the line.
I expected to be grounded.
I expected a “How could you?”
But when I got home that night,
my dad held me close and said,
“A car is just a car, but you are my child.
The only thing that matters is that you are okay.”
And I knew it for what it was.
It was mercy. It was love.
It was the thing that mattered most.

“The Things That Matter Most ”
by Rev. Sarah A. Speed

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

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.

Call To Worship

~Rev. Sarah A. Speed

Welcome to the weary and the worn.
Welcome to the wiggly and the eager.
Welcome to the skeptical and the seeking.
Welcome to the early risers and those still trying to wake up.
Welcome to the rule followers and the rule breakers.
Welcome to those hungry for justice & those desperate for mercy.
Welcome to the sinners and the saints.
This is God’s house.
You can make yourself at home here.
Let us worship our just, merciful, and faithful God!

Opening SongS

Brent Holl & Songs Will Happen!

“Count Well the Cost”

~Michael Stern

Count well the cost of building some-thing right from the start
A new congregation or a work of art
There may be trials that seem to tear all your work apart
Count well the cost of patience, of heart
Count when you’re making a start
Count and then follow your heart

Count well the cost of following the one crucified
The river Jordan is deep and wide
And it’s not easy crossing to the other side
To love and to serve, to swallow your pride
Count well before you decide

Count well the cost of waging peace for often we fail.
In some situations may end up in jail.
To find a joy born of suffering, a freedom born of pain
count well the cost then wage peace again.
Wage peace all over again.

Count well the cost of following the one who would forgive
seven times seventy, so shall we live.
To find a joy born of suffering, a freedom born of pain,
count well the cost then forgive again.
For-give again and again.

Count well the cost of building some-thing right from the start
A new congregation or a work of art
There may be trials that seem to tear all your work apart
Count well the cost of patience, of heart
Count when you’re making a start
Count and then follow your heart

“Jesus met the woman at the well”

~Traditional

Jesus met the woman at the well (x3)
And He told her everything she'd ever done

He said, "Woman, woman, where is your husband?" (x3)
"I know everything you've ever done"

She said, "Jesus, Jesus, I ain't got no husband" (x3)
"And You don't know everything I've ever done"

He said, "Woman, woman, you've got five husbands" (x3)
"And the one you have now, he's not your own"

She said, "This man, this man, He must be a prophet" (x3)
"He done told me everything I've ever done"

Tell Me Something Good

Caleb Christen

Scripture Readings

John 8:2-11 (CEB)

2 Early in the morning he returned to the temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The legal experts and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. Placing her in the center of the group, 4 they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone women like this. What do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.

7 They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.” 8 Bending down again, he wrote on the ground. 9 Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in the middle of the crowd.

10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you?”

11 She said, “No one, sir.”

Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.”

Matthew 23:23 (CEB)

23 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You give to God a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, but you forget about the more important matters of the Law: justice, peace, and faith. You ought to give a tenth but without forgetting about those more important matters.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Pastor Alexis Ward Owens

 “Sometimes you just have to pick a flower in the outfield”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. There’s no mention of the husband, and no details of the woman’s alleged transgression are provided. Could she have been raped or threatened? Is the focus of this story even about adultery, or should our focus be elsewhere? Is Jesus or the woman the one being questioned and put on trial?

1. Put your imagination cap on, What do you think Jesus is writing in the sand and why is this detail emphasized? Is he writing the sins of the religious leaders? A secret message to the woman? The Ten Commandments? Is he simply doodling nervously in the face of the mounting questions, an avoidance tactic to buy time?

2. In Matthew 23, Jesus is preaching to the crowds and disciples, denouncing the hypocrisy of many religious leaders. He declares that justice, mercy, and faith are the weightier principles of the law. How do you see justice, mercy, and faithfulness prioritized in our laws and world? In what ways are these values neglected?

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

~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)

BOOK STUDY GROUP

Monday, March 23, 7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks

Discussing Chapters 5 & 6
(“Eros” and “Charity”)
**Final Discussion of Current Book**

This is our final session on this C.S. Lewis classic, The Four Loves. Be watching for info soon on our next read beginning after Easter!

If you are interested in future studies, but haven’t yet signed up, you can do so now! 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!

WTF?
LENT EDITION

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

This Week’s Menu (3/26):
DIY Ramen Bar

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!

Closing Song

“O Healing River”

~Anonymous/American Folk Hymn

O healing river, send down your waters,
Send down your waters, on this barren ground
O healing river, send down your waters,
and wash the blood from off the sand.

This land is parching, this land is burning,
no seed is growing in the barren ground.
O healing river, send down your waters,
O healing river, send your waters down.

Let the seed of freedom awake and flourish,
let the deep roots nourish, let the tall stalks rise.
O healing river, send down your waters,
O healing river, from out of the skies.

Parting Blessing

~Rev. Sarah A. Speed

Jesus saw a crowd ready to throw stones and invited them to choose another way.
Jesus offered them grace, mercy, and compassion, and offers the same to us today.
So hear and believe this good news:

Our God is a God of mercy.
Our God is a God of compassion.
Our God is a God of grace.

We are forgiven, loved, and invited to choose the better way.
Thanks be to God!

Remember friends — you are a gift!

Now go and be a gift!

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