April 12, 2026
Many years ago now, a wise old priest invited me to come speak at his church in Alabama. “What do you want me to talk about?” I asked him.
Come tell us what is saving your life now,” he answered.
…All I had to do was figure out what my life depended on. All I had to do was figure out how I stayed as close to that reality as I could, and then find a way to talk about it that helped my listeners figure out those same things for themselves.
The answers I gave all those years ago are not the same answers I would give today – that is the beauty of the question – but the principle is the same. What is saving my life now is the conviction that there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the bodily experiences of human life on earth.”
~Barbara Brown Taylor
An Altar in the World
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
Pastor 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 Affirmations
~Homiletics, adapted
May we come together today in the shape embodied by Jesus…
Let us release the fragrant aroma of a “Christbody” community.
Let us be rich in the essence of Agape love living through us.
Let us receive love, give love, and keep the cycle going.
May our fellowship of faith be a “Paradise Found” for all who care to join us…
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“Receive Love. Give Love. Repeat.” (RLGLR)
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
Love comes from the heart of God
and flows to all the earth
Each of us gets a piece of it
a gift that's ours from birth!
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
Love is meant to be given away
once love you have received
Love that's shared is thrice the gift
God, self, and neighbor pleased!
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
We come together to celebrate
and share the gift of Love
Love is a wonderful gift to share,
enduring for ever more.
Love is patient, Love is Kind,
Love never ends
Faith and Love and Hope abide,
The greatest of these is Love!
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
“Crowded Table”
~The Highwomen - Brandi Carlile & Natalie Hemby with Lori McKenna
You can hold my hand, when you need to let go
I can be your mountain, when you’re feeling valley low
I can be your streetlight, showing you the way home
If you can hold my hand, when you need to let go
I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we’re young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
If we want a garden, we’re gonna have to sow the seeds
Plant a little happiness, let the roots run deep
If it’s love that we give, then it’s love that we reap
If we want a garden, we’re gonna have to sow the seed
Yeah, I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we’re young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
The door is always open
Your picture’s on my wall
Everyone’s a little broken
And everyone belongs
Yeah, Everyone belongs
I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we’re young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done
Scripture Reading
1st Peter 1:3-9 (NRSV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“Keeping the Faith”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What is saving your life now? How would you answer that question today?
How are you/we keeping the faith? How have received the inheritance of the “good news”? How are we protecting it and preparing it for passing it on?
Do you ever wonder whether faith really makes a difference? What makes you question it? How do you respond to those who say it does not? Does such questioning make your faith stronger/more resilient? Or does it threaten/weaken it?
PRAYER
~Feasting on the Word Worship Companion, adapted
Song
“Amazing Grace”
~John Newton
Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
'twas grace hath brought us safe thus far,
and grace will lead us home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
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)
WTF?
Thursdays at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
This Week’s Menu (4/16):
Jambalaya
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!
BOOK STUDY GROUP
New Book Starting tomorrow!
Monday Evenings, 7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks
Do you like to read? Enjoy diving deeper and talking about what you read with others? We’ve got a group for you!
For our next study, we will be reading a contemporary book: The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues by Dan McClellan (2025). “In The Bible Says So, Dan McClellan leverages his popular "data over dogma" approach, and his years of experience in the academy and on social media, to lay out in clear and accessible ways what the data indicate the Bible does and doesn't say about issues ranging from homosexuality, abortion, and slavery to monotheism, inspiration, and even God's wife.” The first session will cover the introduction plus the first 2 chapters.
If you’re interested in this group, but haven’t yet signed up previously, please do so (even if you can’t make this particular study)! 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! DM us or contact Chris if you need more info or the Harbicks’ address.
NEXT SUNDAY!
Ecumenical Earth Day
Worship Service
Sunday, April 19, 9:45 am
Harrisonburg Turner Pavilion
Join folks from around the community in a special worship celebration for Earth Day!
(NO WORSHIP SERVICE HERE AT JWUMC!)
Bingo NIGHT
to Support our
Love Packs Ministry
Wednesday, April 22, 6:30 pm
Interstate Bowl North
Support our Love Packs Ministry - a weekend food bag program for school-age children & families - while having fun, enjoying good company, and maybe winning some cool prizes! Just $20 a ticket! Reserve yours now by clicking the link below!
Celebration of Life Gathering for Merritt Lincoln
Saturday, April 25, 11 am - 1 pm
Lake Pavilion, Harrisonburg Purcell Park
Many of those who have been connected with RISE over the years will remember Merritt Lincoln, who had been active in our faith community for many years before moving out of the area to be with family. A celebration of life gathering will take place on Saturday, April 25th, at 11 a.m. in Harrisonburg Purcell Park at the shelter by the pond for all who wish to mourn and connect in Merritt’s memory. You can see Merritt’s Obituary HERE.
Group Options Survey
As we look ahead to the next several months entering the summer, we are considering our options for group activities and offerings at RISE. We would love your input during our planning! Please take a few moments to complete our short "Group Options Survey" at the link below to let us know what you are looking for!
Closing Song
“Hold US Together”
~Matt Maher & Steve Wilson
It don’t have a job
It don’t pay your bills
Won't buy you a home in Beverly Hills.
Won't fix your life
in five easy steps.
Ain't the law of the land
or the government.
But it's all you need...
And love will hold us together
make us a shelter to weather the storm.
And I'll be my brother's keeper
so the whole world will know that we're not alone.
It's waiting for you
Knockin' at your door
in the moment of truth
when your heart hits the floor
and your on your knees...
And love will hold us together
make us a shelter to weather the storm.
And I'll be my brother's keeper
so the whole world will know that we're not alone.
This is the first day of the rest of your life
This is the first day of the rest of your life
‘Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright,
It's gonna be alright.
(Repeat)
And love will hold us together
make us a shelter to weather the storm.
And I'll be my brother's keeper
so the whole world will know that we're not alone.
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics, adapted
Friends, we have been given so much!
Hope to encourage, faith to believe, wisdom to teach, and love to hold us all together.
So let’s go as encouraging, believing, teaching, and most of all as loving followers of Jesus to an expectant world.
Keep the faith, share the good news, and bring peace and love to all you meet.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
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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.