October 19, 2025

“We tend to resist realities such as retreat, surrender or letting go. We think they make us small and prove our unworthiness. Be positive, we say, be upbeat. That is fine counsel to a point, for much of life is perseverance. But life tends also to be cumulative. I arrive here tense, not only because of work that didn't quite get done before departure, or because of excitement about new ventures, but because of sorrows and joys stretching back many years, failures whose shame won't vanish, betrayal that still gnaws, dreams whose beacon remains strong, and a growing sense of responsibility for family. Life is serious business, and its burdens aren't disposable.

Asking, then, seems more than knowing how to pray, what to pray, and the God who listens. Asking means giving up, caving in, dropping pretense -- behaviors we tend to avoid. At that moment, there is no research to do, no book to read, no counsel to seek, no hand to hold. There is only God. And that is a frightening and disturbing place…”

~Tom Ehrich, “On a Journey” July 25, 2004

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 PSALM

~Psalm 121 (CEB)

1 I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
    Where will my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the maker of heaven and earth.
3 God won’t let your foot slip.
    Your protector won’t fall asleep on the job.
4 No! Israel’s protector
    never sleeps or rests!
5 The Lord is your protector;
    the Lord is your shade right beside you.
6 The sun won’t strike you during the day;
    neither will the moon at night.
7 The Lord will protect you from all evil;
    God will protect your very life.
8 The Lord will protect you on your journeys—
    whether going or coming—
    from now until forever from now.

Opening SongS

Songs Will Happen!

“Crowded Table”

~The Highwomen - Brandi Carlile & Natalie Hemby with Lori McKenna

You can hold my hand, when you need to let go
I can be your mountain, when you’re feeling valley low
I can be your streetlight, showing you the way home
If you can hold my hand, when you need to let go

I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we’re young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done

If we want a garden, we’re gonna have to sow the seeds
Plant a little happiness, let the roots run deep
If it’s love that we give, then it’s love that we reap
If we want a garden, we’re gonna have to sow the seed

Yeah, I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we’re young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done

The door is always open
Your picture’s on my wall
Everyone’s a little broken
And everyone belongs
Yeah, Everyone belongs

I want a house with a crowded table
And a place by the fire for everyone
Let us take on the world while we’re young and able
And bring us back together when the day is done

“Elijah Rock”

~Spiritual - Mahalia Jackson, arr. Brent Holl

Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord
Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord

Elijah, Elijah
Elijah
Elijah, Elijah
Elijah

Satan is a liar and a conjure too
If you don't watch out
He'll conjure you
If I could I surely would
Stand on the rock where Moses stood

Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord
Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord

Elijah, Elijah
Elijah
Elijah, Elijah
Elijah

Ezekiel said he saw him
Wheel in the mid' of a wheel
John talked about him
Book of the seven seals
Some say the Rose of Sharon
Others say the Prince of Peace
But I can tell everybody
He's been a rock and a shelter for me
Hallelujah

Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord
Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord

Elijah, Elijah
Elijah
Elijah, Elijah
Elijah

You can call my rock in the mornin'
Call him late at night
He's always with me
And all my battles He'll fight
When I'm in trouble
I can call him on the line
He put a telephone in my heart
And I can call God anytime
Hallelujah

Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord
Elijah rock, shout, shout
Elijah rock, comin' up Lord

Elijah, Elijah
Elijah
Elijah, Elijah
Elijah

Scripture Reading

1st Kings 19:1-16,19 (The Message)

1-2 Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: “The gods will get you for this and I’ll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you’ll be as dead as any one of those prophets.”

3-5 When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day’s journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: “Enough of this, God! Take my life—I’m ready to join my ancestors in the grave!” Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.

Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep.

7 The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, “Get up and eat some more—you’ve got a long journey ahead of you.”  8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: “So Elijah, what are you doing here?”

10 “I’ve been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah. “The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”

11-12 Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.” A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

13-14 When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?” Elijah said it again, “I’ve been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”

15-16 God said, “Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.

19 Elijah went straight out and found Elisha son of Shaphat in a field where there were twelve pairs of yoked oxen at work plowing; Elisha was in charge of the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak over him.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Chris Zepp

“Some Days…”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How do you relate to Superheroes (of either/both the comic or faith variety)? Do you find it encouraging to learn of their struggles and doubts and failures, or is that discouraging to you? Why?

2. In Elijah’s meltdown that we read about today, we read about some of the ways that he got back on track (with just a little help from God and an angel): he took care of his basic needs (food and drink, sleep), he got out into nature (the wilderness), he took some time away from the burdens and responsibilities that were weighing him down (40+ days), and he reflected on his purpose and priorities (“what are you doing here?”). What can we learn from Elijah’s experience in our own moments of despair or times we feel we are at the end of our rope?

3. This story is a pretty individualistic one - just Elijah and God (and God’s angel). And one of Elijah’s chief complaints is that “I’m the only one left.” But today’s reading ends with a suggestion of greater connection as Elijah is sent to anoint other leaders, one of which will be his successor. What role does community and connection play in all this? Could Elijah’s story have been different if he had anointed a successor before this time?

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/

PRAYER

~Homiletics, adapted

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?

Wednesday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC 

This Week’s Menu (10/22):
Chili Cook Off!

Join us for a midweek check in to fuel your body, mind and soul. This week, we’re encouraging anyone who is willing and able to make and bring a small batch of chili to share! RISE will provide toppings and “extras.” All of us will be the judges 😀.

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!

Closing Song

“I’ll be on My Way”

~Shawn Kirshner

When I am gone, don’t you cry for me
Don't you pity my sorry soul
What pain there might have been
Will now be passed
And my spirit will be home

(REFRAIN)
I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way
I'll have left my feet of clay upon the ground
I will be glory bound,
I'll be on my way

When I am gone
Don't you cry for me
Don't my pity my sorry soul
What pain there might have been
Will now be past and my spirit will be home

I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way
I'll have left my feet of clay upon the ground
I will be glory bound,
I'll be on my way

When I am gone
Please forgive the wrong
That I might have done to you
There'll be no room for regrets up there
High above way beyond the blue

I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way
I'll have laid my. frown and all my burdens down
I'll be putting on my crown
I'll be on my way

When I am gone, don't you look for me
in the places I have been
I'll be alive but somewhere else
I'll be on my way again

I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way
I'll lift my wings and soar into the air
There'll be glory everywhere
I'll be on way

I'll be on my way, I'll be on my way
I'll have laid my frown and all my burdens down
I'll be putting on my crown
I'll be on my way

I'll have left my feet of clay upon the ground
I will be glory bound,
I'll be on my way

Parting Blessing

~Feasting on the Word Worship Companion, adapted

When forces in the world threaten us,
when our bodies or spirits fail us,
there is One who seeks us,
One who meets us,
One who heals us,
One whose love washes over us
and sets us free…

Remember this, friends!

Remember friends — you are a gift!

Now go and be a gift!

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