August 25, 2024
WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING
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 SCRIPTURE
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-15 (NRSV)
1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.
14 “Now, therefore, revere the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Opening Music
Brent Holl
“Count Well the Cost”
~Michael Stern
Count well the cost of building some-thing right from the start
A new congregation or a work of art
There may be trials that seem to tear all your work apart
Count well the cost of patience, of heart
Count when you’re making a start
Count and then follow your heart
Count well the cost of following the one crucified
The river Jordan is deep and wide
And it’s not easy crossing to the other side
To love and to serve, to swallow your pride
Count well before you decide
Count well the cost of waging peace for often we fail.
In some situations may end up in jail.
To find a joy born of suffering, a freedom born of pain
count well the cost then wage peace again.
Wage peace all over again.
Count well the cost of following the one who would forgive
seven times seventy, so shall we live.
To find a joy born of suffering, a freedom born of pain,
count well the cost then forgive again.
For-give again and again.
Count well the cost of building some-thing right from the start
A new congregation or a work of art
There may be trials that seem to tear all your work apart
Count well the cost of patience, of heart
Count when you’re making a start
Count and then follow your heart
“Hold on”
~American Spiritual, arr. Mahalia Jackson
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Heard the voice of Jesus say
Come unto me, I am the way.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
When my way gets dark as night,
I know the Lord will be my light,
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
You can talk about me much as you please
The more you talk, gonna stay on my knees.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
When I get to heaven, gonna sing and shout
Be nobody there to put me out.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Brothers and Sisters don’t you cry!
There’ll be good times by and by
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.
When I get to heaven, gonna sing and shout
Be nobody there to put me out.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on
SCRIPTURE READING
John 6:56-69 (CEB)
56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in them. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me lives because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. It isn’t like the bread your ancestors ate, and then they died. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
60 Many of his disciples who heard this said, “This message is harsh. Who can hear it?”
61 Jesus knew that the disciples were grumbling about this and he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What if you were to see the Human One going up where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life and the flesh doesn’t help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 Yet some of you don’t believe.”Jesus knew from the beginning who wouldn’t believe and the one who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this reason I said to you that none can come to me unless the Father enables them to do so.” 66 At this, many of his disciples turned away and no longer accompanied him.
67 Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are God’s holy one.”
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“When the Going Gets Tough…”
(the tough eat lembas)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What keeps you going when the going gets tough? Can you recall any times in your own life when you were sustained by (metaphorical) lembas bread?
What does communion mean to you? How do you understand the nature of “the bread and cup”? Do you have trouble swallowing any of the theology surrounding communion? If so, what do you do with that theological dissonance?
If you could create another, new ritual to serve the same purpose and fulfill the same spiritual needs as communion, what would it look like? Why?
COMMUNION
Laura Douglass, Deacon
prayer
Song
“How Can I Keep From Singing”
~Pete Seeger* (see note below)
My life fows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the sweet, though far off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear its music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth it liveth.
And though the darkness round me close, songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble in their fear and hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile our thoughts to them are winging.
When friends by shame are undefled, how can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes, the clouds grow thin, I see the blue above it.
And day by day this pathway clears, since first I learned to love it.
The peace from love makes fresh my heart, a song of hope is ringing.
All things are mine, since truth I’ve found. How can I keep from singing?
*The original hymn text may well be a Quaker hymn written in the 1850’s by Ann Warner who lived on an island in the Hudson River. Her text refers to Quakers who were jailed for their beliefs. Pete Seeger brought the song to life in 1957 by publishing it in Sing Out Magazine. He learned the third verse (When tyrants...) from Doris Plenn, who wrote it during the McCarthy era in tribute to those, like Pete Seeger, who refused to take loyalty oaths and were often punished.
The hymn text and the original tune in the The Worship Book hymnal are attributed to Robert Lowry. The original tune was later adapted and arranged by Ira Sankey
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!
Introducing Our Newest RISE Student INtern for 2024-2025
Sheridan Horne
James Madison University
I am a health science major, I own a Chinchilla named Arthur, and I Rise because the community is all accepting, all loving, and freely follows Jesus's teachings with no caveats. I feel safe to be the entire "me" in this community, and they support me as I navigate through life's ups and downs
Crafts ‘n’ Chat
6-8 pm Tuesday Evenings
James Madison University
Join RISE on campus for evenings of crafting together and conversation about life and maintaining balance in a chaotic world. Feel free to bring any projects you’re already working on, but craft supplies will also be provided! This week, we will be meeting in Taylor Down Under; future regular location TBD.
Summer “Sittings”
6-8 pm Every Wednesday Night
Pale Fire Brewery, Lower Patio (inside if rain)
Through September 11
We have been LOVING hanging out with you all each week. If you have not made it to one of the Sittings yet we highly encourage you to join us! This is an awesome time of connection, contemplation, and getting to know each other a little bit better! There is no “agenda” - just openness, availability, and community :-)
Feel free to bring dinner with you, eat before you come, OR purchase dinner at Pale Fire!
You DO NOT have to come the entire time, feel free to come late or only stay for a portion of time!
Don’t already know about The Sitting? You know how some people have “standing” appointments or office hours? Well, since we always need to do things just a little bit differently, we took that idea and decided to try having some “sitting” hours this summer. Everyone is invited to join Alexis and/or Chris at Pale Fire on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. We meet outside on the lower patio (or inside in the event of rain) so we can enjoy the music of the Harrisonburg Summer Concerts next door at Turner Pavilion (Information about the concert series can be found HERE.) Whether you have some burning theological questions or you just want to hang out and enjoy some music with friends, we’ll be there and happy to chat!
Your source of information for all things RISE! Check out the latest edition if you haven’t already! Its packed with info on all our events this summer, staffing updates, etc.
closing SONG
“Guide My Feet”
Guide my feet, while I run this race
Guide my feet, while I run this race
Guide my feet, while I run this race
For I don’t want to run this race in vain.
Hold My Hand….
Stand by Me….
I’m your child…
Search my heart…
Guide my feet…
Parting Blessing
May light always shine in our darkness.
May love always beat in our hearts.
May our ears hear nothing but encouragement.
And as we part from one another,
may the living bread of Jesus be comfort and strength along our way.
May grace upon grace be ours - today and tomorrow, now and forever.
Amen.
REMEMBER - YOU ARE A GIFT!
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