September 6, 2026

All you need is love,
(dah, dah, dah, dah, dah)
all you need is love,
(dah, dah, dah, dah, dah)
all you need is love, love,
love is all you need.

~From "All You Need Is Love"
John Lennon

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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 Prayer

~By Frederick Ohler, adapted from Better Than Nice and Other Unconventional Prayers

Passionate God,
We naturally, understandably, and prudently prefer the wisdom of the Buddha, who said "He who loves fifty, has fifty woes, [and] he who loves none has no woe ..."
for it hurts to care, to extend, to let other lives matter
because they suffer and they fail and they die
and we'd rather not hurt so
but we are haunted by Your holy Fool,
who cried over Jerusalem
and wept for Lazarus
who feels each pain and everybody's aches
who suffered about and with and for all
and who loves every soul as if it were his own child.
We have much to repent,
more to learn,
And most to feel,
for Christ's sake.
May it be so…
Amen.

Opening SongS

Songs Will Happen!

“All you Need is Love”

~John Lennon & Paul McCartney

(Love, love, love)

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy

There’s nothing you can make that can't be made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
REPEAT

“You and Me”

~Sara Watkins

I remember the night
I remember the sound
I remember the light
When the moon came 'round
The night flowers bloomed
The air so sweet
I remember you
I remember me

Central Valley sunshine
Run out of town
Make your head all funny
So you stick around
Dusty roads
Make dirty feet
I remember you
I remember me

I remember the night
I remember the sound
I remember the light
When the moon came 'round
The night flowers bloomed
The air so sweet
I remember you
I remember me

Wish I knew you now
Like I knew you then
For hours I sit at your feet
And listen
When I want
To feel free
I remember you
I remember me

I remember the night
I remember the sound
I remember the light
When the moon came 'round
The night flowers bloomed
The air so sweet
I remember you
I remember me

Found myself at your place
When I was out walking
I could hear your piano
And I swear I could hear you sing
And the joy we shared as we tarry there
I remember you
I remember me

I remember the night
I remember the sound
I remember the light
When the moon came 'round
The night flowers bloomed
The air so sweet
I remember you
I remember me
(REPEAT)

Scripture Readings

Psalm 119:33-40 (CEB)

33 Lord, teach me what your statutes are about,
and I will guard every part of them.
34 Help me understand so I can guard your Instruction
and keep it with all my heart.
35 Lead me on the trail of your commandments
because that is what I want.
36 Turn my heart to your laws,
not to greedy gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.
Make me live by your way.
38 Confirm your promise to your servant—
the promise that is for all those who honor you.
39 Remove the insults that I dread
because your rules are good.
40 Look how I desire your precepts!
Make me live by your righteousness.

Romans 13:8-10 (CEB)

8 Don’t be in debt to anyone, except for the obligation to love each other. Whoever loves another person has fulfilled the Law. 9 The commandments, Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t desire what others have, and any other commandments, are all summed up in one word: You must love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love doesn’t do anything wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is what fulfills the Law.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Chris Zepp

“License to Love: It’s the Law”
OR
“Buckle Up Buttercup: It’s About to Get Real”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

In terms of faith, how do you feel about “the law”? Does it come with positive or negative associations for you? Do you think law is important for our lives and our faith? Why or why not?
Much like driver’s ed fearmongering, faith is often presented in such a way to “scare the hell out of you,” with God much like a cosmic police officer and eternal punishment awaiting violators. (“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”, etc.) Is there good in this kind of understanding and presentation of faith? If so, how do we reconcile it with an understanding of love being the law’s fulfillment?
Can you think of examples in your life and faith that illustrate love being the fulfillment of law? What about examples of law having to submit to the demands of love?