June 21, 2026
"Alone, we can do so little;
together, we can do so much."
~Helen Keller
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 AFFIRMATION
~Homiletics, adapted
We gather as unique individuals with a variety of mindsets.
Some of us come reluctantly, some of us come expectantly, and some of us come painfully.
However we come… each of us has come - carving out the time to be here – in this place and in this time of worship.
So let us be here. Let us lay aside the problems we carried in and the lists of tasks that await us when we leave. Let us open ourselves to the gifts of God in this time and place. And let us lift our voices together in gratitude and praise…
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“Glory”
~Michael Stern
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
Glory in the children and when the day has begun,
Glory in the lines of old faces and when the day is done,
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
There’s no glory in the battle nor the barrel of a gun,
There’s no glory in killing, no war victory to be won, but there’s
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
Glory to the creator, glory to the One,
Glory to the spirit, glory to the Three in One,
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
The earth and all it’s fullness and all it’s daughters and sons,
Belong to the glory and the glory still to come.
Glory in the highest, glory in each lowly one,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun,
Glory in the morning, glory in the setting sun.
“Higher Ground”
~Lyrics: Johnson Oatman, Jr., Music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1892
I’m pressing on the upward way,
new heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
still praying as I’m onward bound,
”Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
where doubts arise and fears dismay;
tho’ some may dwell where these abound,
my prayer, my aim is higher ground.
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
tho’ Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
for faith has caught the joyful sound,
the song of saints on higher ground.
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height,
and catch a gleam of glory bright;
but still I pray till heav’n I’ve found,
”Lord, lead me onto higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
Scripture Reading
Romans 12:4-5 (CEB)
4 We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. 5 In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
A;exis Ward Owens
“We love community, even creepy Uncle Al”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Share a story about a time that you were at an event or gathering for an occasion or specific purpose (e.g. conference, wedding, etc), but found the real value to be the experience of community.
Share a story from a time when you experienced a sense of community and connection with strangers.
Using the definition of church — where the needs of the world and our gifts meet — how is RISE doing well? What could we improve upon?
Communion
Pastor Alexis
Song
“One World”
~Michael Stern
REFRAIN:
One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.
One moment can change a whole lifetime,
one life can change eternity,
one stranger be friended,
one broken heart mended,
one child loved, one captive set free,
one child loved, one captive set free.
One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.
One day when the lamb and the lion
and our pride and our anger lie down,
weapons to plowshares,
a joy born of love’s tears,
a sacrifice and a crown,
a sacrifice and a crown.
One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.
One day we will all meet our Maker,
till that day we must do what we can
to stand by each other,
to love one another,
ev‘ry child, ev‘ry woman and man,
ev‘ry child, ev‘ry woman and man.
One world in which we live together,
one sun shining on you and me,
one ocean flows into another,
one day we all will be free,
one day we all will be free.
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)
IT’s Movie Night!
Today, 3 pm
Zepps’ Home
Bring a friend, drinks and snacks for yourself or to share (we’ll have some on hand), and join us for a Sunday matinee movie and discussion.
This month’s movie:
Thunderbolts*
(View Trailer HERE)
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
THE Sitting
6-8 pm THURSDAY Nights
Feel the Rain Brother’s Craft Brewing
It’s that time again! Some people have “standing” office hours, but you know that we do things a bit differently here at RISE, so we have “sitting” hours during the summer season! Join Alexis and/or Chris on Thursday nights at Brothers 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 with whoever might come!
Feel free to bring the kids and your dinner!
Hiking with Alexis
This Saturday (June 27)
Meet at 10 am at the Friendly City COOP
We will have a few options of hikes and will decide as a group how strenuous of a hike we think we can handle and go from there.
Bring a water bottle!
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Closing 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/
Parting Blessing
~Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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