Your source of information for all things RISE!
August 2025
A Message from Pastor Alexis
Earlier this summer, we announced that Alexis had been appointed as pastor of both RISE and John Wesley UMC. After extensive conversation with JWUMC and VAUMC Conference leadership over the past two months, it has been been determined that such an arrangement would not be in the best interests of the current desires of the John Wesley congregation. Therefore, Alexis will no longer be serving as Pastor of JWUMC, effective immediately, and Conference leadership is working secure new leadership for JWUMC.
The last few months have been a trying time as we worked to discern the best way forward for me to serve as pastor of both RISE and John Wesley UMC. I have needed to miss most of of our worship gatherings, invested a lot of time and energy into meetings with leadership, and worked hard to find a mutually agreeable solution for our two worshipping communities to thrive. In the end, that has proven impossible, at least at the present moment.
I want to thank the RISE community for being so supportive and gracious during this time. While we know this change brought some anxieties and concerns to surface for many of you, we never doubted that RISE would adapt and grow with grace as we always have. Thank you for your trust and patience through this process.
What this means for us as a community is that we can now return to “business as usual.” We will continue to meet for worship on Sundays at exactly 10ish. We will continue to meet in the basement at JWUMC and enjoy neighborly relationships with the community as we have since our move to this location. And I will continue to be your full time pastor.
In summary, I am now able to give my full attention and energies to our ministry with RISE, John Wesley UMC will be getting a new appointed pastor, and not much else will be changing. I am looking forward to this new school year and all the exciting ways that we will be working to mend God’s creation together.
~Alexis
We hope you will join us for worship
as we start the new school year!
Unless otherwise noted,
worship begins at exactly 10ish am
John Wesley UMC Fellowship Hall (Downstairs)
445 Sterling St, Hburg
August 24
Receive Love
Luke 13:10-17
August 30
Give Love
Luke 14:1, 7-14
September 7
Repeat
Luke 14:25-33
September 14
15 Years Running!
John 4:1-26
RISE 15th Birthday
Worship and Picnic
Sunday, September 14
On the lawn at JWUMC
Join us for outdoor worship, followed by a community picnic, yard games, activities, and tie-dying our new RISE swag! Please bring a friend and a side dish if you are able!
Coming Up…
WTF? - ITs Back!
Wednesday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
Starting August 27
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!
Shenandoah Valley
Pride Festival
Sunday, September 21, 1-5 pm
Harrisonburg Turner Pavilion
The Shenandoah Valley Pride festival will be held at a new location on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Turner Pavilion in downtown Harrisonburg, 1-5 pm. Enjoy performances and products from talented and inclusive local artists, music groups, and vendors. Come out, have a great time, and show your love! Plus, RISE will be present and holding space to remind everyone that they are a gift! We will be hosting a booth and are looking for volunteers to help staff our table with a friendly and welcoming presence. We will have RISE swag, hair tinsel, and pride-themed temporary tattoos. We encourage volunteers to wear a RISE t-shirt and/or your favorite rainbow gear! Please sign up below to volunteer for an hour shift (or two!)
RISE Merch Shop
The RISE Merch Shop is open for business! 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!