November 8, 2026
“They say in ancient times, men, that women ruled the world
But the goddess was the one who laid it down
Well, I got the woman as alive as the day
Gonna breathe a whisper, knock you right down to the ground
So go ahead men and say what you came to say…
The black widow's a spider
The black widow's a spider
Then go and prepare for your dyin' day
Won't take one minute till you're curled up dead beside her
Sofia, I need ya
Like a freeloader needs his train
And I wanna feel ya, Sofia
Fallin' down on me like rain
…I'll never, I'll never be the same”
~Live, “Sofia” (2006)
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
Proverbs 8:1-4,10-12, 22-26 (GNT)
1 Listen! Wisdom is calling out.
Reason is making herself heard.
2 On the hilltops near the road
and at the crossroads she stands.
3 At the entrance to the city,
beside the gates, she calls:4 “I appeal to all of you;
I call to everyone on earth.10 Choose my instruction instead of silver;
choose knowledge rather than the finest gold.11 “I am Wisdom, I am better than jewels;
nothing you want can compare with me.
12 I am Wisdom, and I have insight;
I have knowledge and sound judgment.22 “The Lord created me first of all,
the first of [divine] works, long ago.
23 I was made in the very beginning,
at the first, before the world began.
24 I was born before the oceans,
when there were no springs of water.
25 I was born before the mountains,
before the hills were set in place,
26 before God made the earth and its fields
or even the first handful of soil.
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“The Joke”
~Brandi Carlile
You're feeling nervous, aren't you, boy?
With your quiet voice and impeccable style
Don't ever let them steal your joy
And your gentle ways
To keep 'em from running wild
They can kick dirt in your face
Dress you down, and tell you that your place
Is in the middle, when they hate the way you shine
I see you tugging on your shirt
Trying to hide inside of it
And hide how much it hurts
Let 'em laugh while they can
Let 'em spin, let 'em scatter in the wind
I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends
And the joke's on them
You get discouraged, don't you, girl?
It's your brother's world for a while longer
We gotta dance with the devil on a river
To beat the stream
Call it living the dream, call it kicking the ladder
They come to kick dirt in your face
To call you weak and then displace you
After carrying your baby on your back across the desert
I saw your eyes behind your hair
And you're looking tired, but you don't look scared
Let 'em laugh while they can
Let 'em spin, let 'em scatter in the wind
I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends
And the joke's on them
(Repeat)
“Be Thou My Vision”
~Celtic Folk Tune, Translated by Eleanor Hull
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
_______________________________________
"Be Thou My Vision" is an 8th century Irish hymn that was translated by Eleanor Hull in 1912. Today the hymn is sung to the Irish folk tune "Slane". This song is rooted in medieval Celtic Christianity and is believed to be an original poem that may have been written by an Irish saint who experienced blindness later in life.
Scripture Readings
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-20 (NRSV)
12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her
and is found by those who seek her.
13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
14 One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
15 To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
16 because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them in their paths
and meets them in every thought.17 The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction,
18 and concern for instruction is love of her,
and love of her is the keeping of her laws,
and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,
19 and immortality brings one near to God,
20 so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.
Amos 5:18-24 (NRSV)
18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!
Why do you want the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, not light,
19 as if someone fled from a lion
and was met by a bear
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall
and was bitten by a snake.
20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?21 I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
24 But let justice roll down like water
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the other young women came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“The One About Some Silly Girls, Justice, and Sophia”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What do these scriptures evoke in you when you read them with an eye tuned to gender nuances and connections? Do you have personal connections or associations with any of them?
How does our own gender identification and personal experience impact our reading of scripture and our understanding of God? Is this experience and identity something we should lean into or seek to minimize as we approach scripture and issues of faith and theology?
What do you think about Sophia as a divine figure? Are you comfortable in thinking about God having a female form? Are gendered images of God appropriate/useful? Why or why not?
What do you think about the traditional association of values/virtues with gender (e.g. justice and wisdom as feminine, strength and courage as masculine, etc). Are gender associations helpful or harmful in understanding and developing them?
Song
“The Beautiful River”
~Asa Hull / R. Torry, Jr., arr. Brent Holl
Oh, have you not heard of the beautiful stream
that flows through the promised land?
Its waters gleam bright in the heavenly light,
and ripple o’er golden sand.
O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its fountains are deep and its waters are pure
and sweet to the weary soul.
It flows from the throne of Jehovah alone!
O come where its bright waves roll.
O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.
This beautiful stream is the river of life!
It flows for all nations free!
A balm for each wound in its water is found;
O sinner, it flows for thee!
O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Oh, will you not drink of this beautiful stream,
and dwell on its peaceful shore?
The Spirit says: come all ye weary ones, home,
and wander in sin no more!
O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.
PRAYER
Pastor Alexis Ward Owens
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)
the JMU Holiday HELPERS
We will once again be partnering with JMU Holiday Helpers club this year to give some love to our community and neighbors this holiday season!
More information will be coming soon about specific ways that you can support this effort with donations, etc. Until then, you always make a special financial gift to support the effort. Just use the “Give Now” button above and mark it for “Holiday Helpers.” Or you can send a designated gift via snail mail. All donations so designated will be used to support the Holiday Helpers this year.
WTF?!
Thursday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
November 12 Menu:
Grilled Chicken, Cheesy Potatoes, & Green Beans
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 BOOK STUDY
Monday, November 30
7 pm
Home of the Harbicks
For our next study, we will be reading “Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy” by Robert P. Jones (2026). “What happens when the church trades faith for power, and democracy for dominion? In this searing book, Robert P. Jones names our moment for what it is: a great Backslide. White Christianity’s devotion to Donald Trump and Christian nationalism is not only a regression into authoritarian politics but a profound act of apostasy — a betrayal of the best of the Christian tradition.
Timely and unflinching, Backslide is essential reading for anyone unwilling to surrender the soul of faith or the promise of democracy. A prophetic summons to moral responsibility, it reminds us that time is short for deciding which Christianity, and which America, will prevail.”
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 November 30! DM us or contact Chris if you have questions, need more info, or need the address.
Closing Song
“Hold on”
~African-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
Parting Blessing
~CWZepp
Friends, listen!
Wisdom is calling out and reason is making herself heard.
So may we hold on to wisdom, whenever and wherever we may find her.
May we hold on to justice, though it be fluid and fleeting like an everflowing stream.
And may we hold on to hope, that when it comes time for the wedding banquet, we won’t be distracted by what he said, or she said, or they said, but instead be ready for a new day and ready to live in the God way.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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