July 13, 2025
“The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference.”
~Elie Wiesel
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me,
‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
~Fred Rogers
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. 25:1-10 (NRSV, adapted for the plural)
1 To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls.
2 O God, in you we trust;
do not let us be put to shame;
do not let our enemies exult over us.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.4 Make us to know your ways, O Lord;
teach us your paths.
5 Lead us in your truth and teach us,
for you are the God of our salvation;
for you we wait all day long.6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of our youth or our transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember us,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
Opening Songs
Songs Will Happen!
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
~Dorothy Akers
There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
And I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived,
When we shall leave this place.
There are blessings you cannot receive
Till you know Him in His fullness and believe;
You're the one to profit when you say,
"I am going to walk with Jesus all the way."
Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived,
When we shall leave this place.
If you say He saved you from your sin,
Now you're weak, you're bound and cannot enter in,
You can make it right if you will yield,
You'll enjoy the Holy Spirit that we feel.
Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived,
When we shall leave this place.
“Nothing Without Love”
~Michael Stern
If I have eloquence & power
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
If I have beauty like a flower
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
If I have faith that can move mountains
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
If I have knowledge flowing fountains
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
If I have courage facing fire
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
Or sacrifice all I desire
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
Love is patient, love is kind
Love remembers those left behind
Love is not jealous or conceited
There’s nothing without love, nothing without love
Even in death is not defeated
There’s nothing without love, nothing without love
Love is patient, love is kind
Love remembers those left behind
There’s nothing without love, nothing without love
There’s nothing without love, nothing without love
Scripture Reading
Luke 10:25-37 (The Message)
25 Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”
26 He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”
27 He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”
28 “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”
29 Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”
30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
33-35 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’
36 “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”
37 “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“My Standing Bystanding”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
With whom do you identify most in this parable? How would you understand or hear the story differently if you saw yourself in a different character?
How does the story of the “Good Samaritan” expand or challenge your understanding of who your neighbors are? To whom do we have moral responsibilities?
What is your standing “excuse” for not being a helper/neighbor? Distraction? Fear? Busyness? Principle? What might you do differently so that you are better able to “go and do likewise”?
Song
“LEST WE FORGET”
~Michael Stern
Lest we forget in our striving to win
Where we are going and where we have been
Remember the dawn and the glorious sunset
Remember lest we forget
Lest we forget as we struggle in love
The gift of each other is a gift from above
As we forgive others, forgive our debt
Remember lest we forget
Lest we forget or if we should get lost
The things we can hold to whatever the cost
Creator, Redeemer will be with us yet
Remember lest we forget
Lest we forget to see God in each face
For in serving each other, receive wondrous grace
Through peace, justice, mercy we’ll never regret
Remember lest we forget
Through peace, justice, mercy we’ll never regret
Remember lest we forget
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!
Help us Prepare Bagged Dinners for our friends at the navigation center
The Interfaith Association of Harrisonburg Rockingham has asked RISE to help prepare 85 bagged dinners for the unhoused residents at the Navigation Center (formerly known as Valley Open Doors) next Sunday, July 20.
To do that we need your help!
Make a special financial gift to help us buy the food to fill the bags — we’ll take care of the shopping! Just use the “Give Now” link above and mark it for “Bagged Dinners.” (You can also give a check or cash to Alexis or Chris.)
Stay after worship next week to help pack the bagged dinners. Many hands will make light work!
That’s all We’ll be delivering the meals to the Center in time for their evening meal next Sunday.
MIKE STERN IN CONCERT TODAY!
Sunday, July 13
1:30 pm
Bridgewater Church of the Brethren
Mike Stern, the artist behind many of the songs in our current SWH repertoire, led us in song and reflection in worship last week. If you missed him then or loved what you heard, you have another chance to catch him in concert this afternoon when he and his ensemble of musical friends will present a full concert at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. The concert is free and open to the public - donations will be accepted and appreciated.
Scripture DEep DivE
4 pm Sunday Afternoons in July
Join Sandra and others for a deeper dive and discussion on the scriptures and reflection questions from our Sunday morning services. Creative options to help guide us in our reflections will also be offered for anyone who thinks “artistically”. The group will meet at Sandra’s home on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 for the month of July (July 6-27). (DM us for address). Feel free to bring snacks, and do note that Sandra has an indoor cat and the location is not fully accessible but probably navigable with a ramp.
Please sign up using the link below if you are interested in participating so Sandra knows to expect you!
THE Sitting
6-8 pm Wednesday Nights
Pale Fire Brewing
(Outside Lower Level, weather permitting)
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!
Plus, enjoy the music of Harrisonburg’s Summer Music Series happening right next door at Turner Pavilion. Check out the concert schedule HERE.
Campfire Party FRIDAY
Friday, July 18
6 pm
Garcia’s Home
Bring a friend, some things to roast, and join us for a night of fun hanging around a campfire in Allison and Miguel’s backyard!
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
Closing Song
“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
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics, adapted
God’s faithfulness, kindness and mercy are unfailing and without end.
May that faithfulness, kindness and mercy spill out from our lives to each person that we encounter this week.
May lives be changed as the gospel is lived out in our words and actions among our neighbors.
Go now, full of faithfulness, kindness, and mercy…
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!
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.