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Summer 2026
Worship with RISE this Summer!
At RISE we believe that we are all theologians. It’s a big reason why we spend a fair amount of our time in worship gatherings each week in discussion and reflection. But this summer, we are taking it up a notch with a worship series that features the diversity of stories and voices of our community even more prominently.
Join us for Stories and Voices
Sunday mornings this summer beginning June 7!
Unless otherwise noted,
worship begins at exactly 10ish am
John Wesley UMC Fellowship Hall (Downstairs)
445 Sterling St, Hburg
We do have a few more slots open in our summer schedule, so if you have have interest in sharing your story and/or taking a turn leading the community in theological reflection, click on the link below to start the conversation about how we can bring your story and your voice to fore in RISE
FIRST SUNDAY
Brunch Church
June 7
July 5
August 2
Same bat time.
Same bat channel.
Just more food:-)
Bring some of your favorite brunch food to share if you are able!
Summer Fun Stuff
THE Sitting
6-8 pm THURSDAY Nights
Feel the Rain Brother’s Craft Brewing
It has become a summer tradition for RISE. Some people have “standing” office hours, but you know that we do things a bit differently, 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!
GaME NightS
Friday, June 12, 7 pm
Harbicks’ Home
Friday, July 17, 7 pm
Harbicks’ Home
Friday, August 21, 6:30 pm
Laura Douglass’ Home
Bring a friend, your favorite game(s), and any food/sharing snacks as you wish / are able and join us for some fun times!
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for addresses, directions, or more info.
Movie Nights!
Sunday, June 21, 3 pm
Sunday, July 12, 3 pm
Sunday, August 9, 3 pm
All at the 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. Each movie will be chosen and announced via worship and the RISE Weekly texts about two weeks in advance.
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
Hiking with Alexis
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!
Campfire Hang
Saturday, July 25, 6 pm
Garcias’ Home
Bring a friend, some yummy things to roast, game(s) or music (guitars?) to share, and join us for a night of fun hanging around a campfire in Allison and Miguel’s backyard!
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
Picnic, Firepit, and Games
Friday, August 7, 6 pm
Sellers’ Home
Dinner on the grill, two firepits, games on the sunporch - could you think of a better way to spend a Friday summer night?
Join us at the Sellers’ for an evening of grillin’ and chillin’ together with some fun RISE peeps! (Both fire pits and the house are wheelchair accessible.)
Bring favorite games, your own water bottle or drink of choice, and a snack, dessert, or appetizer to share as you wish and are able (not required).
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
MORE TO COME?
Who knows?
Watch our socials, the RISE Weekly, and worship announcements for any other spontaneous/late additions to our summer fun calendar! And if you have an idea for something fun to do together, let us know and we’ll help you get the word out! We are always open to more ideas, especially if you are willing to host / lead! Contact Chris to get started with planning!
VA UMC Annual Conference
is coming to Harrisonburg!!
June 17-20
Atlantic Union Bank Center, JMU
RISE is one of the many communities which make up the Virginia United Methodist Conference. This year the annual conference gathering is being hosted at the Atlantic Union Bank Center at JMU! This is very exciting, and provides all kinds of opportunities to plug in!
If you would like to learn more about Annual Conference you can ask Pastor Alexis or check out the conference website HERE.
Worship
Annual conference offers several worship experiences throughout the several days of conference. It is pretty cool to join together in worship with several thousand other people from around the commonwealth. Highly recommended are:
6/17 at 4:30 pm Opening Worship with VA Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson
6/19 at 2 pm Juneteenth Worship
6/20 at 11am Service of Call and Ordination with Rev. Dr. Lewis
Volunteer
The conference leadership is looking for a lot of local help to make this event happen! In particular they are looking for folks who would be willing to sign up for 2 hours shifts for Transportation Support and Conference Set Up/Take Down (descriptions of these tasks are listed below). If you have a flexible schedule and would be available to pitch in for a few hours it would be greatly appreciated!
Transportation Support
Wednesday-Saturday
Transportation Support volunteers will assist and advise participants about bus transportation and shuttles to and from events at the arena and Hotel Madison.
Conference Set Up/Take Down
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
Conference Set Up/Take Down volunteers will be responsible for bringing in and setting up the stage (lifting), setting up tables for displays and tables around the arena, as well as taking them down after the event. Friday afternoon/evening we will need help preparing for the Ordination service.
Sign up to volunteer here:
DINE
Annual Conference Breakfast
Friday, June 19, 7 am
Dayton UMC
This is a wonderful opportunity for those who may or may not be attending the Annual Conference sessions to experience the work of two groups who are focusing on Creation Care especially, but certainly not exclusively. The program is jointly sponsored by the VA United Women in Faith and United Methodist Men and will be presented by Jeremy Harold, whose efforts in Harrisonburg City have received national recognition. The meal will be locally catered. To register, click the button below:
A big thank you to Sheridan and Mack for service as the RISE delegates this year!
Community Opportunities
June FOOD DRIVE
Join with The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham in helping to support Families and Neighbors in Need!
We’ve been collecting in worship for several weeks, but you can still participate directly in the beginning of June. See the flyer for drop-off locations and for recommended items / shopping lists.
Staff Vacation Schedules
Chris will be on vacation most of the week of June 7-13.
Alexis will be on vacation July 18-25.
RISE Merch Shop
The RISE Merch Shop is open for business and make wonderful Christmas gifts! Order all of your favorite RISE gear shipped directly to your home. Profits from each sale go directly back to RISE operations.
RISE NEEDS YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Your generosity makes everything we do possible!!
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!
Make a one-time donation or set up recurring gifts today!
At RISE,
we care about what’s going on in your life!
When life is good, we want to celebrate together. And when it isn’t - well, we want to be there for you then too. So keep us posted on what it is going on in your life. And when you have need for care or prayer, be sure to let us know how we can lift you up.
Requests for care and/or prayer can always be sent via e-mail to cares@riseharrisonburg.org, texted to 833-803-0868, or submitted online via our RISE Cares form.
To receive updates on (non-confidential) care needs, prayer requests, and community concerns and celebrations, text “RISEcares” to 833-803-0868 or e-mail cares@riseharrisonburg.com.
If you are fairly new to the community and would like to connect more deeply with RISE, you can begin by completing this short form to let us know about you, your interest, and your gifts:
You might also consider signing up for texting services:
(We promise not to spam or share your number!)
Text “RISE” to 833-803-0868 to join the primary list and receive weekly community updates and alerts
Text “RISEcares” to receive prayer requests, care needs, and community concerns and celebrations
And of course, please continue to check social media (Facebook & Instagram) and our website for all the updates and current information!