May 18, 2025
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
~"Get Together"
The Youngbloods
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. 148:1-4,10-13a (CEB)
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from heaven!
Praise God on the heights!
2 Praise God, all of you who are his messengers!
Praise God, all of you who comprise his heavenly forces!
3 Sun and moon, praise God!
All of you bright stars, praise God!
4 You highest heaven, praise God!
Do the same, you waters that are above the sky!10 Do the same, you animals—wild or tame—
you creatures that creep along and you birds that fly!
11 Do the same, you kings of the earth and every single person,
you princes and every single ruler on earth!
12 Do the same, you young men—young women too!—
you who are old together with you who are young!13 Let all of these praise the Lord’s name…
Praise the Lord!
Opening Songs
Songs Will Happen!
“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
“Love as I have Loved You”
~Michael Stern
Love as I have loved you
Love, love
Like the moon and stars above you
Love, love, love
Your vine will branch and flower
Love, love
When love displays its power
Love, love, love
Ask, it will be given
Love, love
Forgive and be forgiven
Love, love, love
Love as I have loved you
Love, love
Like the moon and stars above you
Love, love, love
Scripture Reading
John 13:31-35 (GNT)
31 After Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man's glory is revealed; now God's glory is revealed through him. 32 And if God's glory is revealed through him, then God will reveal the glory of the Son of Man in himself, and he will do so at once. 33 My children, I shall not be with you very much longer. You will look for me; but I tell you now what I told the Jewish authorities, ‘You cannot go where I am going.’ 34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“The Love Haptic”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
In what ways have you experienced Agape love firsthand in the church? At RISE?
Have you experienced Agape love in places other than the church? Have there been communities or settings in which you have felt that kind of love? What made it so?
Are there areas where our love haptic is lacking or could be better? How can we better express and live out our love for one another in real and concrete ways?
Song
“We Walk by Faith”
~Lyrics: Henry Alford / Tune: Marty Haugen; arr. Brent Holl
We walk by faith, and not by sight;
No gracious words we hear
From Him who spoke as none ne'er spoke,
But we believe him near.
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
We may not touch His hands and side,
Nor follow where He trod;
But in His promise we rejoice,
And cry, "My Lord and God!"
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
And may our faith abound,
To call on you when you are near,
And seek where you are found.
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
That when our lives of faith are done,
In realms of clearer light,
We may behold you as you are,
With full and endless sight.
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
He is near, yes, He is near
By our faith, He is near.
Prayer
~Homiletics, 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!
THE Sitting
6-8 pm Wednesday Nights
Starting May 21 at
Brother’s Craft Brewing!
It’s back! Some people have “standing” office hours, but we do things just a little bit differently here at RISE, so we have “sitting” hours during the summer season! Join Alexis and/or Chris on Wednesday nights throughout the summer - whether you have some burning theological questions or you just want to hang out with friends, we’ll be there and happy to chat!
RENAISSANCE FAIRE INVITE NEXT WEEKEND
Saturday, May 24
Spotsylvania, VA
Sheridan Horne writes: “Mack and I will be attending the Virginia Renaissance Faire on May 24 and we would like to invite YOU to tag along with us! Ticket sales for the event are available on their website (https://varf.org/). I have a ton of Renaissance faire clothes for those who are interested, and can provide rides to and from Harrisonburg. Please feel free to reach out with any questions and let me know if you are interested so that we can coordinate details!”
Closing Song
“Get Together”
~The Youngbloods / Jesse Colin Young
Love is but a song we sing
Fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
Some may come and some may go
We will surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment's sunlight
Fading in the grass
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing
You will understand (listen!)
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics, adapted
May our lives give witness to Christ's love.
May our words bring reconciliation.
May our thoughts be of peace.
May our touch bring healing.
May our actions work for justice.
May our love for one another
be a sign of hope and a beacon of joy.
And may others look at us and say:
They have so much Agape Love!
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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