October 18, 2026
“The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.
~Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love
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
Thoughts from Kat Armas
Empire is always hungry. It’s a grasping thing, expanding, consuming. It doesn’t ask permission; it doesn’t heed the cries of those in its path. It’s about more—more land, more power, more wealth—gathered at the expense of whoever, whenever. It moves without memory, without mourning. Expansion is its gospel; dominion, its sacrament.
This is why resistance begins inward. In a world obsessed with more—more land, more ownership, more cruelty—we will choose less. The world might call it small, might say we lack ambition. But there is a surrender that is not defeat but liberation—a refusal to participate in empire’s hunger. To embrace less is not to shrink but to root. It is to say: I do not need to be everywhere at once. I do not need to own what was never mine. I do not need to expand my borders to justify my being.
In a world bent on taking, we choose to let go—loving what is near, protecting what is fragile. This is a quiet rebellion—to say no to empire’s restless hunger and yes to the slow, the small, the sacred.
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“Down in the Valley to Pray”
~Traditional Spiritual
As I went down in the valley to pray,
Studying about that good old way,
When you shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord, show me the way.
O Sisters, let's go down,
let's go down, let's go down,
O Sisters, let's go down,
Down in the valley to pray
O Brothers. . .
O Mothers. . .
O Fathers. . .
All Together. . .
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The earliest known version of the song, titled "The Good Old Way," was published in Slave Songs of the United States in 1867. The song was contributed to that book by George H. Allan of Nashville, Tennessee, who may also have been the transcriber.
Some versions of this hymn include a reference "the river” in place of “the Valley.” The phrase "in the river" is significant, for two reasons. The more obvious reason is that the song has often been sung at outdoor baptisms (such as the full-immersion baptism depicted in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?). Another reason is that many songs sung by victims of slavery contained coded messages for escaping. When the enslaved people escaped, they would walk in the river because the water would cover their scent from the bounty-hunters' dogs. And "Good Lord, show me the way" could be a prayer for God's guidance to find the escape route, commonly known as "the Underground Railroad."
“Stand Up!”
~Michael Stern
First they came for the Communists,
then they came for the Jews,
but I wasn’t a Communist and I wasn’t a Jew.
So I didn’t stand up and I didn’t ask why.
By the time they came for me,
there was no one left to ask why.
Then they came for unionists,
and they came for the priests,
but I wasn’t a unionist and I wasn’t a priest.
So I didn’t stand up and I didn’t ask why.
By the time they came for me,
there was no one left to ask why.
Then they came for the pacifists,
and they came for the gays,
but I wasn’t a pacifist and I wasn’t a gay.
So I didn’t stand up and I didn’t ask why.
By the time they came for me,
there was no one left to ask why.
Still they come for the outcasts,
for the poor and the refugees,
and though I am not an outcast
and I’m not poor or a refugee.
Now I’m gonna stand up and I’m gonna ask why,
and if some time they come for me,
I hope there’s someone standing by my side.
Yes, we’re gonna stand up and were gonna ask why,
and if some time they come for us,
there’ll be lots of people standing side by side,
a whole lot of people standing side by side
Scripture Reading
Matthew 22:15-22 (CEB)
15 Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. 16 They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism. 17 So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked.
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” 22 When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Pastor Alexis Ward Owens
“Silly Jesus, tricks are for the Pharisees”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Taxes are not inherently evil. At its best, taxes allow the empire to have the resources to be able to care for those on the margins, those who have fallen on hard times, and those who may be unable to care for themselves. What are some examples of government funded programs that are actively functioning to serve people in this way?
Based on the themes in this parable, what message do you think our government is trying to send by printing “In God we trust” on the back of all of our paper currency?
How does the belief that every person bears God's image challenge systems that treat people as disposable, exploitable, or less worthy than others? And what implications might that have for how we use our money, time, influence, and resources?
Song
“Stay Gentle”
~Brandi Carlile
Stay gentle, keep the eyes of a child
Don't harden your heart or your hands
Know to find joy in the darkness is wise
Although they will think you don't understand
Don't let the world make you callous
Be ready to laugh
No one's forgotten about us
There is light on your path
Stay gentle, keep the eyes of a child
And wear your heart on your sleeve
Know to find joy in the darkness is wise
Although they will think you are naive
Don't let 'em lower your shoulders
Love 'em more while they try
Grow younger while you're growin' older
Be amazed by the sky
Darling, stay wild if you can
The girl with the world in her hands
The kingdom of Heaven belongs to a boy
While his worry belongs to a man
Stay gentle, stay gentle
The most powerful thing you can do
Oh, gentle, unbreakable you
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In this uplifting folk song, Brandi Carlile encourages us to resist theworld's efforts to harden our hearts and instead stay gentle. TheAmericana singer was contemplating the trajectory of life wheregentleness is lost and regained."It just seems like this big rainbow of a lifeline where you start outso gentle and funny and innocent, and you don't care if somebodythinks you're naive. You ask whatever questions you want to ask. Andthen, at some point, you sort of shut it down, and you become a bitbrutal. And then you get gentle again," she toldStereogumin 2021."And it's like why can't you just stay gentle? What is it about theworld that sort of steals our gentleness and then gives it back to usjust in time for us to realize that we should've just stayed thatway?
PRAYER
Chris Zepp
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)
BOOK STUDY TOMORROW NIGHT
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.
WTF?!
Thursday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
October 22 Menu:
Indian Curries
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.
NEXT SUNDAY
We will be worshipping outside next week at the Pavilion.
Bathrooms will still be accessible and we will livestream as usual. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, blankets, etc as you wish or just use the picnic tables on site.
Turner Ashby High School Theatre Club Sock Sales
Gabe Carr is selling socks to beneift the TAHS Theatre Club and keep membership affordable for everyone. Funds raised through the sock sale will help cover club prizes, activities, and other club expenses. Plus, for every 2 packs of socks sold, 1 pair is donated to someone in need in our local community! Lots of options to choose from - fun and plain, low-rise and compression, and sizes for all. Click the button below to see all the options.
Closing Song
Revive Us Again
~Michael Stern
Do you know exactly when the night is over and day begins,
That moment that the light breaks in to revive again?
Night and day have always been locked in embrace so often when
one reaches out, one reaches in to revive again
Oh, revive us, revive again
Oh, revive us, revive again.
Faith and action meet as kin, peace and justice kiss and then,
like Daniel in the lion’s den revive us again.
Oh, revive us, revive again
Oh, revive us, revive again.
With strength and kindness wearing thin,
hate and violence come sneaking in.
Oh, take away such guilt and sin, revive us again.
Oh, revive us, revive again
Oh, revive us, revive again.
Dear God grant new life again
with joy that burns from deep within
love cannot lose, she’ll surely win, revive us again.
Oh, revive us, revive again
Oh, revive us, revive again.
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The Story:
Once a rabbi gathered her students and asked, “When does nighttime end and day begin?” The most confident students rose immediately. The first one said, “It’s when the sun rises in the east.” The rabbi waited without saying anything. Another student said, “The day really begins when we wake up and have breakfast.” The rabbi still waited. A third student spoke up. “Surely the day begins regardless of oversleeping. The day begins when the rooster crows.” While the rabbi waited a fourth student offered, “The day begins when there is enough light to see the fruit that hangs on a tree in the distance.” The rabbi still said nothing. Finally, the youngest student - who was little more than a child – said, “It’s when you look in the face of a stranger or enemy and see a neighbor and friend.” The old rabbi’s eyes filled with tears. The rest of the students said nothing because they all realized - precisely at that moment - that nothing more needed to be said.
~Michael Stern
Parting Blessing
~AWO
As we leave this place, may we reflect the image of our Creator through love, justice, mercy, and humility. May our lives be a living testimony that, above all earthly allegiances, our highest loyalty belongs to God.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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