June 21, 2026
“Not till we are lost,
in other words not till we have lost the world,
do we begin to find ourselves,
and realize where we are
and the infinite extent of our relations.”
~Henry David Thoreau
“You and I will be lost and found a thousand times
along this cobbled road of us.”
~Atticus Poetry
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
~Homiletics, adapted
God is like the gentle shepherd,
leading us beyond our wants and beyond our fears,
to a place of rest,
where we sing the music of God's love
and find new strength to walk
through the valleys and shadows of life.
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“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
“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.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 91:11-12 (ESV)
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Derek Stroop
“Found, Lost, and Found Again”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What resonated with you in today’s reflections? What touched your heart or gave voice to your own experience(s)?
What questions do these reflections raise for you in your faith journey?
What additional thoughts or ideas have these reflections generated for you?
PRAYER
~Homiletics, adapted
Song
“It is well*”
~Horatio Spafford
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
It is well (it is well)
with my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul.
It is well (it is well)
with my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well (it is well)
with my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.
O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well (it is well)
with my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.
________________________________
*Late in 1873, Horatio G. Spafford and his family were scheduled to travel from the United States to Europe. Delayed by pressing business, Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead on the French liner Ville du Havre. The ship collided with the English ship Lochearn on November 22 and sank in just twelve minutes. Spafford's wife was saved, but his daughters perished. After arriving in Wales, Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone." Spafford then left by boat to meet her. Near the tragic scene on the high seas, he wrote this text.
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)
IT’s Movie Night!
Today, 3 pm
Zepps’ Home
Bring a friend, drinks and snacks for yourself or to share (we’ll have some on hand), and join us for a Sunday matinee movie and discussion.
This month’s movie:
Thunderbolts*
(View Trailer HERE)
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
THE Sitting
6-8 pm THURSDAY Nights
Feel the Rain Brother’s Craft Brewing
It’s that time again! Some people have “standing” office hours, but you know that we do things a bit differently here at RISE, so we have “sitting” hours during the summer season! Join Alexis and/or Chris on Thursday nights at Brothers throughout the summer - whether you have some burning theological questions or you just want to hang out with friends, we’ll be there and happy to chat with whoever might come!
Feel free to bring the kids and your dinner!
Hiking with Alexis
This Saturday (June 27)
Meet at 10 am at the Friendly City COOP
We will have a few options of hikes and will decide as a group how strenuous of a hike we think we can handle and go from there.
Bring a water bottle!
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Closing Song
“Amazing Grace”
~John Newton & William Walker
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.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
'twas grace hath brought us safe thus far,
and grace will lead us home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
_____________________________
The Story: John Newton (b. London, England, 1725; d. London, 1807) was born into a Christian home, but joined his father at sea when he was eleven. His licentious and tumultuous sailing life included a flogging for attempted desertion from the Royal Navy and captivity by a slave trader in West Africa. After his escape he himself became the captain of a slave ship. Several factors contributed to Newton's conversion: a near-drowning in 1748, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, (whom he married in 1750), and his reading of Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ. In 1754 he gave up the slave trade and, in association with William Wilberforce, eventually became an ardent abolitionist.
NEW BRITAIN (also known as AMAZING GRACE) was originally a folk tune, probably sung slowly with grace notes and melodic embellishments. Typical of the Appalachian tunes from the southern United States, NEW BRITAIN is pentatonic with melodic figures that outline triads. It was first published as a hymn tune in shape notes in Columbian Harmony (1829) to the text "Arise, my soul, my joyful pow'rs." It was first set to "Amazing Grace" in William Walker’s Southern Harmony (1835).
Parting Blessing
~Based on Psalm 121
We lift up our eyes to the hills. Where does our help come from?
Our help comes from God, the maker of heaven and earth.
The God who watches over us will neither slumber nor sleep.
God is the shade at our right hand,
and the sun will not harm us by day, nor the moon by night.
God will keep us from all harm,
watching over our lives – both our coming and our going –
now and forevermore.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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