August 24, 2025
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 Prayer
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”
~Peter Scholtes
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
“BLESSED BE GOD’S NAME”
~Michael Stern
Like the sun & the moon, love will endure
Blessed be God’s name
From age unto age & shore unto shore
Blessed be God’s name
Let the mountains & the hills bring a message of peace
Blessed be God’s name
As welcome as rain that falls on dry soil
Blessed be God’s name
Defending the poor & the children in need
Blessed be God’s name
Redeeming their lives from exploitation & greed
Blessed be God’s name
Advocates of force will shrink from love’s power
Blessed be God’s name
Love’s harvest abundant, luxuriant in flower
Blessed be God’s name
Like the sun & the moon, love will endure
Blessed be God’s name
From age unto age & shore unto shore
Blessed be God’s name
Scripture Reading
Luke 13:10-17 (CEB)
10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. 12 When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.” 13 He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God.
14 The synagogue leader, incensed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded, “There are six days during which work is permitted. Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day.”
15 The Lord replied, “Hypocrites! Don’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from its stall and lead it out to get a drink? 16 Then isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” 17 When he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, but all those in the crowd rejoiced at all the extraordinary things he was doing.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Alexis Ward Owens
“Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF”
Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What is your baseline? What do you feel like you need in order to feel well loved and cared for?
What are some ways you could take better care of yourself? Where are some areas of growth in honoring yourself and your health (spiritual, mental, physical), and allowing the room to receive love?
The woman in the story recognized that she needed help, she couldn’t carry the weight of her illness alone, but she continued to advocate for herself and her needs, even when it was hard. So often we try to do everything in life on our own, when we ask for help we can feel like we failed. But what would it mean to rephrase “help” as “receiving love”. Do you feel like you do a good job of reaching out for help and advocating for yourself during seasons when you could use a little extra “love”? If not, why?
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!
WTF?
Starting THIS WEDNESDAY
August 27
Wednesday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
This Week - Taco Bar and Key Lime Dessert!
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) let us know using the link below!
Mark Your Calendars Now for these Don’t-Miss Events!
RISE 15th Birthday
Worship and Picnic
Sunday, September 14
On the lawn at JWUMC
Join us for outdoor worship, followed by a community picnic, yard games, activities, and tie-dying our new RISE swag! Please bring a friend and a side dish if you are able!
Shenandoah Valley
Pride Festival
Sunday, September 21, 1-5 pm
Harrisonburg Turner Pavilion
The Shenandoah Valley Pride festival will be held at a new location on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Turner Pavilion in downtown Harrisonburg, 1-5 pm. Enjoy performances and products from talented and inclusive local artists, music groups, and vendors. Come out, have a great time, and show your love! Plus, RISE will be present and holding space to remind everyone that they are a gift! We will be hosting a booth and are looking for volunteers to help staff our table with a friendly and welcoming presence. We will have RISE swag, hair tinsel, and pride-themed temporary tattoos. We encourage volunteers to wear a RISE t-shirt and/or your favorite rainbow gear! Please sign up below to volunteer for an hour shift (or two!)
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Closing Song
“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
Parting Blessing
~Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz
“And so I have come to understand that strength, inner strength, comes from receiving love as much as it comes from giving it. I think apart from the idea that I am a sinner and God forgives me, this is the greatest lesson I have ever learned. When you get it, it changes you…God’s love will never change us if we don’t accept it.”
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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