~Banksy
November 16, 2025
“He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody”
~The Beatles,
“Nowhere Man” (1965)
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 98 (CEB)
1 Sing to the Lord a new song
because he has done wonderful things!
His own strong hand and his own holy arm
have won the victory!
2 The Lord has made his salvation widely known;
he has revealed his righteousness
in the eyes of all the nations.
3 God has remembered his loyal love
and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
every corner of the earth has seen our God’s salvation.4 Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth!
Be happy!
Rejoice out loud!
Sing your praises!
5 Sing your praises to the Lord with the lyre—
with the lyre and the sound of music.
6 With trumpets and a horn blast,
shout triumphantly before the Lord, the king!
7 Let the sea and everything in it roar;
the world and all its inhabitants too.
8 Let all the rivers clap their hands;
let the mountains rejoice out loud altogether 9 before the Lord
because he is coming to establish justice on the earth!
He will establish justice in the world rightly;
he will establish justice among all people fairly.
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“Nowhere Man”
~John Lennon & Paul McCartney
He's a real Nowhere Man
Sitting in his Nowhere Land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me
Nowhere Man, please listen
You don't know what you're missing
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command
He's as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere Man can you see me at all
Nowhere Man, don't worry
Take your time, don't hurry
Leave it all till somebody else lends you a hand.
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me
Nowhere Man, please listen
You don't know what you're missing
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command
He's a real Nowhere Man
Sitting in his Nowhere Land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
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.
_______________________________________
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
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 65:17-25 (CEB)
17 Look! I’m creating a new heaven and a new earth:
past events won’t be remembered;
they won’t come to mind.
18 Be glad and rejoice forever
in what I’m creating,
because I’m creating Jerusalem as a joy
and her people as a source of gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad about my people.
No one will ever hear the sound of weeping or crying in it again.
20 No more will babies live only a few days,
or the old fail to live out their days.
The one who dies at a hundred will be like a young person,
and the one falling short of a hundred will seem cursed.
21 They will build houses and live in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They won’t build for others to live in,
nor plant for others to eat.
Like the days of a tree will be the days of my people;
my chosen will make full use of their handiwork.
23 They won’t labor in vain,
nor bear children to a world of horrors,
because they will be people blessed by the Lord,
they along with their descendants.
24 Before they call, I will answer;
while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 Wolf and lamb will graze together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but the snake—its food will be dust.
They won’t hurt or destroy at any place on my holy mountain,
says the Lord.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“Nowhere Land”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What do you think about the concept of utopia (and utopian visions)? Are they hopeful? Impractical? Distracting? Inspiring? Are there other utopian visions (other than Isaiah’s) that have had an impact on your life and/or faith?
What do you think is the ultimate end goal of our Christian faith? If you were in a World Geography course and had to name the core belief of your own faith, what would you say?
If the purpose of utopian visions is to effect changes in the realm of the real world, what are the effects of the vision from our scripture today? What real world changes does it/can it inspire?
Song
“This is God’s Sacred World”
~Maltbie D. Babcock and Franklin L. Shepperd, arr. Brent Holl
This is God’s sacred world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres
This is God’s sacred world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
God’s hand the wonders wrought
This is God’s sacred world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
Declare their maker's praise
This is God’s sacred world
God shines in all that's fair
In the rustling grass, I hear God pass
God speaks to me everywhere
This is God’s sacred world
O let us not forget
What’s going wrong seems much too strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is God’s sacred world
Why should my heart be sad?
To the Lord we sing, let the heavens ring
God reigns, let the earth be glad
To the Lord we sing, let the heavens ring
God reigns, let the earth be glad
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!
GIVING Opportunity with
the JMU Holiday HELPERS
We are excited to be partnering with JMU Holiday Helpers club this year to give some love to our community and neighbors this holiday season!
There are several ways that you can support this endeavor:
Make a special financial gift to support the overall effort. Just use the “Give Now” link above and mark it for “Holiday Helpers.” (You can also give a check or cash to Alexis or Chris.) All donations so designated will be used to support the Holiday Helpers.
“Adopt” one of the five children RISE has agreed to supply with gifts. (We have specific lists of needs for each child). Contact Alexis if you are interested in this.
Donate items from the wishlist/donation guide below. We will be collecting these items through the month of November.
WTF?
Wednesday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
This Week’s Menu (11/19):
Soup and Bread
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!
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!
RISE FriendsGiving
Friday, November 28, 1 pm
Sellers Home
Beth Sellers and family are inviting anyone from the RISE Community who would like to join in a special “Friendsgiving” to join them in their home for a feast on Friday, November 28. Beth is happy to cook for everyone, and no one needs to bring anything other than themselves and an appetite, though you would be most welcome to bring something to share if you desire. Everyone is invited, but RSVPs are required. If you interested in joining the Friendsgiving, please RSVP with the link below TODAY!
Closing Song
“The Great Storm is Over”
~Bob Franke
The thunder and lightning gave voice to the night,
The little lame child cried aloud in her fright,
Hush little baby, a story I'll tell,
Of a love that has conquered the powers hell.
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Sweetness in the air and justice on the wind
Laughter in the house where the mourners have been
The deaf shall have music, the blind have new eyes
The standards of death taken down by surprise.
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Release for the captives, an end to the wars
New streams in the desert, new hope for the poor,
The little lame children will dance as they sing,
And play with the bears and the lions in spring.
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Hush little baby, let go of your fear,
The lord loves his own and your mother is here,
The child fell asleep as the lantern did burn,
The mother sang on 'til her bridegroom's return.
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Alleluia, the great storm is over,
Lift up your wings and fly!
Parting Blessing
~L.R. Knost
Do not be dismayed by the brokenness in the world.
All things break.
And all things can be mended.
Not with time, as they say, but with intention.
So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.
The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you…
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
If you would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can start by submitting this short form to Get Connected!
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Requests for care and/or prayer can be sent via e-mail to cares@riseharrisonburg.org, texted to 833-803-0868, or submitted online via our RISE Cares form.