August 2, 2026

“Survival mode is supposed to be a phase that helps save your life. 
It is not meant to be how you live.”

~Michele Rosenthal

BRUNCH!

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

Sometimes, we feel like Jacob - wrestling with God and angels.
Sometimes, we feel like Jonah - wanting to run away from it all.
Sometimes, we feel like Peter - numb with grief and despair.

But we are here to seek a better way - a faith that is salt for the earth and light for the world.
We are here to nurture that faith, so that we might let it shine…

Opening SongS

Songs Will Happen!

“Let Me Be This Little Light”

~Traditional / Karen Medley, arr. Brent Holl

This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? *NO!* I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let me be a light for Hope
Let me be a light for Peace
From the seas below to the skies above
Let me be a light for Love.

“The Cave”

~Mumford and Sons

It’s empty in the valley of your heart
The sun it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears and faults you’ve left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I’ll take mine
Now let me at the truth which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker’s land

So make your siren’s call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
Cause I want freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it’s meant to be

But I will hold on hope
I won’t let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I’ll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I’ll know my name as it’s called again

Scripture Readings

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Luke 22:54-62 (ESV)

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Genesis 32:22-32 (ESV)

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Jonah 1:1-6 (ESV)

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Sheridan Horne

“Faith in survival mode”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What resonated with you in today’s reflections? What touched your heart or gave voice to your own experience(s)?

2. Think about a time (or times) when you have not been proud about how you portrayed your faith or been ashamed of the way you lived out your faith. Talk about the experience(s) and how you might reframe them into something more positive and give yourself grace for not being a “perfect” human being, but rather someone with room to grow in faith.

3. What additional questions, thoughts, or ideas have these reflections generated for you?

Song

“Come and Find the Quiet Center” (Beach Spring)

~Shirley Erena Murray

Come and find the quiet center
   in the crowded life we lead,
          find the room for hope to enter,
               find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
     clear our eyes, that we can see
          all the things that really matter,
               be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,
     cools the heat and slows the pace,
          God it is who speaks and names us,
               knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
     lifting shades to show the sun,
          raising courage when we're shrinking,
               finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel,
     open to each other's pain,
          let our loves and fears unravel,
               celebrate the space we gain:
there's a place for deepest dreaming,
     there's a time for heart to care,
          in the Spirit's lively scheming
               there is always room to spare!

PRAYER

~Pastor Alexis Ward Owens

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)

Community Material Need:

We are looking to help out a single mom in our community who is moving out of a shelter and needs help setting up a new apartment for her and her son. If you have any of the following things in good condition that you would be willing to donate to the cause, please DM us or contact Alexis:

• Kitchen stuff: pots, pans, dishes, cups, etc

• Bathroom stuff: trash cans, floor mats, towels, etc

• Furniture: Dressers, table, couch, bed/mattress, etc

• Twin mattress and small tent for son

• Vacuum/mop/broom/cleaning supplies, etc

• Boys clothes & shoes. (boys size 8/9 (small) clothing & big kids size 2 shoes)

THE Sitting
LAST ONE OF THE SUMMER!!

6-8 pm THURSDAY Night
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!

Picnic, Firepit, and Games

Friday, August 7, 6 pm

Sellers’ Home

Dinner on the grill, two firepits, games on the sunporch - could you think of a better way to spend a Friday summer night?

Join us at the Sellers’ for an evening of grillin’ and chillin’ together with some fun RISE peeps! (Both fire pits and the house are wheelchair accessible.)

Bring favorite games, your own water bottle or drink of choice, and a snack, dessert, or appetizer to share as you wish and are able (not required).

DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.

Movie Night

Next Sunday (8/9) 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:
First Reformed
(View Trailer HERE)

DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.

NEXT BOOK STUDY

(One Discussion Only)
Monday Evening, August 31, 7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks

For our next study, we will be reading “What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman” by Lerita Coleman Brown. “Known as the godfather of the civil rights movement, Howard Thurman served as a spiritual adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders and activists in the 1960s. Thurman championed silence, contemplation, common unity, and nonviolence as powerful dimensions of social change. In “What Makes You Come Alive,” Brown…walks with us through Thurman's inimitable life and commitments as he summons us into centering down, encountering the natural world, paying attention to sacred synchronicity, unleashing inner authority, and recognizing the genius of the religion of Jesus. We learn from Thurman's resilience in the psychologically terrorizing climate of the Jim Crow South, his encounters with Quakers and with Mahatma Gandhi, and his sense of being guided by the Spirit. Decades after their deaths, sages like Howard Thurman offer spiritual kinship and guidance for our contemporary life. Thurman's spirituality enlivened an entire movement, and it can awaken us to intimacy with God and to authentic action today.”

All you need to do to participate is buy the book, read it (or read what you can), and join us at the Harbicks’ for a conversation inspired by the reading on August 31! DM us or contact Chris if you have questions, need more info, or need the address.

In Our Community…

ACTS OF Atonement

Court Square Theater
August 13-16, 2026

The story you saw before, “Can’t Feel At Home”, was drawn from the historical record. Real families real mountains. Real removals. “Acts Of Atonement”, a new play from JoeBob Productions, begins where history grows quiet. The record tells us what happened in the 1930s… But they do not tell us what the children and grandchildren did with that memory. What follows is not history. It is a possibility. A question asked 33 years later . What might a community do if it tried to make things right? Our very own Gabe and Jeff Carr are in the cast! Reserve your tickets using the link below!

Closing Song

“Higher Ground”

~Michael Stern

River water rising
Rain still comin’ down
The ‘ol farm’s a lake, but if the levees break
It’ll damn near take this whole town

It’s like livin’ in a nightmare
That you can’t believe is true
How we’ll clean up this mess is anybody’s guess
Don’t know how we’ll make it through

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

We don’t have much money
And we’re runnin’ out of gas
This crazy war goes on & now our house is gone
We just pray this too will pass

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

All across this country
All across this land
From east to west folks will do their best
To lend a helpin’ hand

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard my neighbor say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

River water rising
Rain still comin’ down
The ‘ol farm’s a lake, but if the levees break
It’ll damn near take this whole town

It’s like livin’ in a nightmare
That you can’t believe is true
How we’ll clean up this mess is anybody’s guess
Don’t know how we’ll make it through

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

We’re headed up to higher ground
I heard the people say.
And with their hands held out to me said
We’d best be on our way.
And with their hands held out to me said
We’d best be on our way.

Parting Blessing

~Homiletics, adapted

Life is messy and people are messy and nothing happens in a straight line. We fall down again and again, scraping our elbows, skinning our knees and doing face-plants in the mud. Sometimes we have no choice but to go through it in survival mode. But, in the midst of it all, there is Christ — Christ who lifts us up, Christ who sets our feet on higher ground, Christ who walks with us every step of the way, even in survival mode!

Remember friends — you are a gift!

Now go and be a gift!

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