October 4, 2026
“Start by doing what is necessary,
then what is possible,
and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
~St. Francis Of Assisi
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
“Forward”
by Marie Smith
Big feelings clouded my judgement
Mountain road curved
Through mist we drove on
The clarity of the landscape
Mirrored how I needed to treat you
Thoughts gave way to reality
Allowing me to move forward with you
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“Meet me in the Garden”
~Shannon Dove, arr. Brent Holl
Play me the Rock of Ages, You sing and I’ll turn the pages
Help me count my blessings, it’s gonna take all day.
Meet me down in the Garden, I’ll bring along this old guitar and
sit for a while and strum…
Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
Play me the Rock of Ages, You sing and I’ll turn the pages
Help me count my blessings, it’s gonna take all day.
Meet me down in the Garden, I’ll bring along this old guitar and
sit for a while and strum…
___________________________
This arrangement contains the refrain of Shannon Dove’s, “Granny Mary’s Song” written for and about his grandmother. When Shannon discovered that my Grandma’s name was also Mary, he said, “Well, then this is our song, bro!” Shannon’s original version shares more details of his grandmother and her inspiration to his life. You can hear the full song and more of Shannon’s original songs at: https://shannondove.hearnow.com/dove-songs
“You are My All in All”
~Dennis Jernigan
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again, I bless your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down, you pick me up
When I am dry, you fill my cup
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name
Scripture Reading
Matthew 21:33-46 (CEB)
33 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it to tenant farmers and took a trip. 34 When it was time for harvest, he sent his servants to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit. 35 But the tenant farmers grabbed his servants. They beat some of them, and some of them they killed. Some of them they stoned to death.
36 “Again he sent other servants, more than the first group. They treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let’s kill him and we’ll have his inheritance.’ 39 They grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40 “When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenant farmers?”
41 They said, “He will totally destroy those wicked farmers and rent the vineyard to other tenant farmers who will give him the fruit when it’s ready.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the scriptures, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord has done this, and it’s amazing in our eyes? 43 Therefore, I tell you that God’s kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a people who produce its fruit. 44 Whoever falls on this stone will be crushed. And the stone will crush the person it falls on.”
45 Now when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard the parable, they knew Jesus was talking about them. 46 They were trying to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, who thought he was a prophet.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Pastor Alexis Ward Owens
“The Trees have feelings too”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What does it look like for you to share the fruits of your vineyard? What fruits do you have to offer others in this world?
How does this parable address St. Francis’s questions of “Who is God?” And “Who are we?”
Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and ecology because he viewed all living creatures as beloved children of God. If God had made you to be an animal, what animal would you be and why?
COMMUNION & PRAYER
Pastor Alexis Ward Owens
“Prayer of St Francis”
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
Song
“On Eagles Wings”
~Michael Joncas
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord: "My refuge,
My rock in whom I trust!"
And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
The Snare of the Flower will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under his wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield
And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
For to his angels he’s given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways;
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone
And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
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)
WTF?!
Thursday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
October 8 Menu:
Burgers and Fries
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! (September Menu Below). Please do let us know if you have dietary needs/restrictions and intend to join us.
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!
RECEIVE LOVE.
GIVE LOVE.
EAT.
BOOK STUDY
Monday, October 19
7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks
For our next study, we will be reading “Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World” by Kat Armas. “Everyone wants to belong. But what does belonging look like in the context of living within an empire and its ideologies? In “Liturgies for Resisting Empire,” Cuban American theologian and writer Kat Armas provides a roadmap for Christians seeking a countercultural way of living that prioritizes community and humanity over dominance and power. Armas combines spiritual practices and biblical theology to help us create authentic belonging to God, ourselves, each other, and creation.”
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 October 19! DM us or contact Chris if you have questions, need more info, or need the address.
The RISE Report
Your source of information for all things RISE! Get a sneak peak at the latest edition being sent out at noon today! And if you aren’t yet getting it in your inbox, let us know so we can add you to the list!
Closing Song
“RIPPLE”
~Lyrics by Robert Hunter / Music by Jerry Garcia
If my words did glow, with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played, on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice, come through the music?
Would you hold it near, as if it were your own?
It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps, they’re better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs, to fill the air
Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full, may it be again.
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of man
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn, and the dark of night
And if you go, no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You, who choose to lead, must follow
But if you fall, you fall alone
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home
La dee da da da…
___________________________________
The lyrics to “Ripple” were written by Robert Hunter, with music composed by Jerry Garcia. This was the songwriting duo that produced many of the Grateful Dead’s best songs, including most of the material on their two most beloved albums, American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead, and other favorites like “Sugaree”.
“Ripple” is about making peace with life, and finding a path that suits you by learning from the other lost people around you, and of course embracing the power of joy through music. It’s about remembering that we’re all in this together, but also that your life is your own to lead.
“Ripple”, however, certainly does dip its toes in the waters of religion. Especially with the line, “Let it be known there is a fountain / That was not made by the hands of men,” which Hunter told Rolling Stone in 2015 was his favorite lyric that he had ever written. It suggests rather directly that there is some greater being that created this mystical fountain, which one might assume is the Fountain of Youth.
As noted in the old school annotated Grateful Dead lyrics site at the University of Santa Cruz, Hunter’s lyrics also contain what could be interpreted as references to several other works of mythology and literature. Noted references include the ancient Indian mystic Kabir, the Hebrew Psalm 23, Walt Whitman and Yeat’s poetry, and more. In this way Hunter places “Ripple” in context with all of these things that weigh and interpret the meaning of life, and gives his own interpretation, but moreso invites listeners to ponder it for themselves:
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go, no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
(Liner Notes extracted from https://extrachill.com/grateful-dead-ripple-meaning)
Parting Blessing
May you go in peace, with open hands and a grateful heart.
May you notice the beauty around you, care for the people you meet, and leave a little more kindness wherever you go.
And when the road gets hard, may you remember that you are never walking alone.
Go gently, love freely, and let peace lead the way.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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