April 7, 2024

Check in and Get Connected!

WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING

Alexis Owens

BRUNCH TIME!

WELCOMING STATEMENT

Maggie McClary

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.

SONGS

“Mountain of God”

~Phil Campbell-Enns

Come, let us go to a place that is pure
To learn about love and wipe away tears
To melt swords of steel and hearts made of stone
To set prisoners free and give strangers a home

So come, come as you are
Oh, come from near and far
Oh, come, salvation we’ll taste
As we climb the mountain of God

From each corner and end of the Earth
We’ll gather together to sing of your worth
Of blind who can see and weary who rest
Good news for the poor, freedom for oppressed

So come, come as you are
Oh, come from near and far
Oh, come, salvation we’ll taste
As we climb the mountain of God

New life awaits for all who believe
All who love mercy, do justice, walk humbly
With Christ as our guide, united we’ll be
Living the kingdom secure in God’s peace

So come, come as you are
Oh, come from near and far
Oh, come, salvation we’ll taste
As we climb the mountain of God
(2x)

“Holy Holy Holy”

~Reginald Heber and John B. Dykes

Holy Holy Holy, Lord God almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee
Holy Holy Holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed trinity

Holy Holy Holy, all the saints adore thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be

Holy Holy Holy, Lord God almighty
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy Holy Holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed trinity

SCRIPTURE READING

Daniel Green

Acts 4:32-35 (CEB)

32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. 33 The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at work among them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35 and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need.

THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

Chris Zepp

TABLE AND LIVE CHAT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

What were your first experiences and memories of church?
How did you learn about fellowship, grace, and taking care of others? Who bore witness of the risen Jesus to you?
While many of us have had very positive experiences with the church, many of us have also had very negative experiences as well. Some might even call theirs a “love-hate” relationship with the church. How do we hold those together? How do we create, maintain, and live into being the kind of community that continues to bear powerful witness to Jesus, the kind of community about which people can say “an abundance of grace is at work among them.”

SONG

“Still my Soul”

~Katie Graber and Charlene Nafziger

Still my soul
Calm my roaming mind
Give me peace, may my heart unwind
Let me stay, your beloved guest

Take my fear, make my worry rest
What I hold, let me give to you
Aid my strength when my storms drive through
When my thoughts won’t let me go
I’ll sing to you:
Oh still my soul

PRAYER

OFFERING AND NOMOFOMO

Alexis Owens

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!

Give Now

COUNTDOWN TO PASTOR AMANDA’S FINAL WEEKEND WITH RISE

Just 3 more weeks to go until…

Taproom Takeover
Brothers Brewery
Saturday, April 27
4-7 pm

We will have food trucks, music, fun, and time with Amanda to hang out and tell stories!

Final Sunday Worship
Court Square Theatre
Sunday, April 28
Exactly 10ish

You won't want to miss Amanda’s last Sunday with RISE!

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:

Worship Volunteer Schedule

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.

Get Connected!

closing SONG

“Ring the Bells”

~Johnnyswim

Ring the bells! This time I mean it
Bid the hatred “fair thee well”
Give back the pieces of my Jesus
Take that counterfeit to hell

Bang the drums! This means war
Not the kind you’re waiting for
We say “Mercy won’t be rationed here”
It’s what we’re fighting for

If all is fair in love and war
Then what the hell is loving even for?
If we can’t sing it loud enough
We’ll keep on adding voices up
Ring the bells!
(4x)

Move your feet you tiny people
You’ve been hiding for too long
Behind your statues and your steeples
Does that hit too close to home?

I’ve got faith to move a mountain
And to watch that mountain move
It’s time for words to fall like thunder
Sound of justice breaking through

If all is fair in love and war
Then what the hell is loving even for?
The world laughs and martyrs sing
But love breaks through the calvary!
Ring the bells!
(4x)

You called me boy instead of son
And I ain’t the only one
Was in the throne room of a kingdom
Where I found that I belong

I ain’t scared to face a fortress
I have seen them fall before
With broken bones you’ve built it
But it crumbles board by board

If all is fair in love and war
Then what the hell is loving even for?
If we can’t sing it loud enough
We’ll keep on adding voices up
Ring the bells!
(8x)