May 10, 2026
“Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.”
~William Makepeace Thackeray
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 Blessing
~Jan Richardson
Blessing the Mothers
Who are our first sanctuary.
Who fashion a space of blessing with their own being:
with the belly the bone and the blood
or,
if not with these,
then with the durable heart that offers itself to break and grow wide,
to gather itself around another as refuge,
as home.Who lean into the wonder and terror of loving what they can hold but cannot contain.
Who remain in some part of themselves
always awake,
a corner of consciousness keeping perpetual vigil.Who know that the story
is what endures
is what binds us
is what runs deeper
even than bloodand so they spin them in celebration of what abides
and benediction on what remains:a simple gladness that latches onto us
and graces us on our way.
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“TURN TURN TURN”
~Pete Seeger
To everything, turn, turn, turn,
There is a season, turn, turn, turn,
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to be born, a time to die,
a time to plant, a time to reap.
A time to kill, a time to heal,
a time to laugh, a time to weep.
To everything, turn, turn, turn,
There is a season, turn, turn, turn,
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to build up, a time to break down.
a time to dance, a time to mourn,
A time to cast away stones,
a time to gather stones together.
To everything, turn, turn, turn,
There is a season, turn, turn, turn,
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to love, a time to hate,
a time of war, a time of peace,
A time you may embrace,
a time to refrain from embracing.
To everything, turn, turn, turn,
There is a season, turn, turn, turn,
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to gain, a time to lose,
a time to rend, a time to sew,
A time to love, a time to hate,
a time for peace, I swear it's not too late.
To everything, turn, turn, turn,
There is a season, turn, turn, turn,
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
“MOM’s Medley” (for Mother’s Day)
~You Are My Sunshine / Will the Circle Be Unbroken / Angel Band, arr. Brent Holl
(You are my Sunshine)
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I’ll always love you and be with you
I’ll protect you from harm’s way
‘Cause I adore you, you’re my dream come true
You’re my beautiful sunshine
(Will the Circle Be Unbroken)
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
I was singing all the night long
I was singing with my Friends
And we all can, sing together
Cause the circle never ends.
(Angel Band)
Oh come angel band
Come and around me stand
Oh bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
Oh bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
Oh bear my longing heart to him
Who bled and died for me
Whose blood now cleanses from all sins
And gives me victory
Oh come angel band
Come and around me stand
Oh bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
Oh bear me away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home
Scripture Reading
Acts 17:22-31 (CEB)
22 Paul stood up in the middle of the council on Mars Hill and said, “People of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 23 As I was walking through town and carefully observing your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown God.’ What you worship as unknown, I now proclaim to you. 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in temples made with human hands. 25 Nor is God served by human hands, as though he needed something, since he is the one who gives life, breath, and everything else. 26 From one person God created every human nation to live on the whole earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us. 28 In God we live, move, and exist. As some of your own poets said, ‘We are his offspring.’
29 “Therefore, as God’s offspring, we have no need to imagine that the divine being is like a gold, silver, or stone image made by human skill and thought. 30 God overlooks ignorance of these things in times past, but now directs everyone everywhere to change their hearts and lives. 31 This is because God has set a day when he intends to judge the world justly by a man he has appointed. God has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Alexis Ward Owens
“Mother’s of all shapes and sizes…like Paul!”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Who are some of the mothers who have had an impact on your life? Your mother, your partner, mother in law, a friend's mother, a mother you ran into at the grocery store? It can be the smallest of moments or the most influential person in your world! Share a story.
Paul frequently describes his ministry through the lens of a nurturing, protective, and firm parent-child relationship with the churches he founded. He often refers to himself as a "spiritual father" to believers like Timothy and Titus, bearing responsibility for their spiritual growth and well-being. Who have been the “Pauls” in your life or in your children’s lives? Who were the people who helped shape your spiritual journey or served as an example you wanted to follow?
As is the case in our scripture today, Paul invested deeply in mentoring others. Who are you currently pouring into, helping to grow and guide through patience, example, and presence?
Communion
Song
“The Love of God”
~Frederick M. Lehman (1917)
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song
_____________________________________________
The Story...
Lines similar to verse 3 are found in the Qur’an (18:109 and 31:27) and in Akdamut, an 11th-century Jewish poem. Frederick Lehman tells us that the English rendition included in his song had reportedly “been found penciled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum after he had been carried to his grave.” While it is only supposition that the man was the one who translated or adapted the words to leave us these well-known lines, if the account is true it shows in any case that he highly esteemed the message.
https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/The_Love_of_God/
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!
(see a list of ongoing material needs on our giving page)
FOOD DRIVE
Collecting Items Through May
Join with The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham in helping to support Families and Neighbors in Need!
Check the list on the flyer for recommended items / shopping list, and bring your donations to worship with you anytime this month!
Last WTF? of the Spring Season!!
Thursdays at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
This Week’s Menu (5/14):
Sloppy Joes, Fries, Green Beans
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!
NEXT SUNDAY
Due to an event hosted by JWUMC, we will be worshipping outside next week in and around the Pavilion.
Bathrooms will still be accessible and we will livestream as usual. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, blankets, etc as you wish or just use the picnic tables on site.
“STORIES AND VOICES”
Coming to worship this summer!
At RISE we believe that we are all theologians. It’s a big reason why we spend a fair amount of our time in worship gatherings each week in discussion and reflection. But this summer, we want to take it up a notch. Enter “Stories and Voices” — a campaign to bring YOUR voices and YOUR stories to the fore this summer!
Do you have a story that has been significant in your life and/or faith journey that you are willing to share?
Are you an artist, actor, musician, or videographer?
Have you ever just wanted to take your turn leading the community in theological reflection?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, think about clicking on the link below to start the conversation about how we can bring your story and your voice to fore in RISE worship this summer!
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
“What Does The Lord Require of Thee?”
~Michael Stern
What does the Lord require of thee
but justice and tenderness and humility.
Do justly, love tenderly,
walk humbly before your God.
Come to God’s presence with praise and thanksgiving.
What does the Lord require of thee
but justice and tenderness and humility.
Do justly, love tenderly,
walk humbly before your God.
Justice will flow like an unfailing river.
What does the Lord require of thee
but justice and tenderness and humility.
Do justly, love tenderly,
walk humbly before your God.
God’s steadfast love lasts forever and ever.
What does the Lord require of thee
but justice and tenderness and humility.
Do justly, love tenderly,
walk humbly before your God.
Parting Blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you and give you peace—today and always.
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.