Your source of information for all things RISE!
October 2025
RISE Turns 15!
We had a great time celebrating our 15 years of life and ministry last month!
Check out these pictures from our worship and picnic on September 14…
What an incredible display of love, unity, and celebration at the 2025 Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival!
RISE had a blast at the Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival reminding everyone that they are a gift! Thanks to those who helped to staff our booth with a warm and friendly presence, and to all those who came out to join in the fun and festivities!
Check out a few pics from the day below, and click HERE for a thank you message from the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance.
We hope you will join us for our next worship series!
October 5
Moses freaks out
Exodus 16:2-12
October 12
King Nebuchadnezzar goes insane
Daniel 4
October 19
Elijah gets hangry
1 Kings 19
October 26
Peter denies Jesus
Luke 22:54-62
Unless otherwise noted,
worship begins at exactly 10ish am
John Wesley UMC Fellowship Hall (Downstairs)
445 Sterling St, Hburg
WTF?
Wednesday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
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!
Free Community Event!
Reaching Across the Racial Divide' is a free, collaborative event Saturday, October 11 from 1 – 3 p.m. sponsored by Laurel Ridge Community College, Shenandoah River District United Women in Faith, Shenandoah River District United Methodist Church, Virginia Conference United Methodist Women, Virginia Conference United Methodist Men, Virginia Conference Cross Racial/Cross Cultural Resource Team, VA UMC Director of Belonging and Advocacy-Rev. Lan Davis Wilson, Warren-Page NAACP, Shenandoah County NAACP, Belle Grove Plantation, Northern Shenandoah Valley "Coming to the Table," and others.
Featured speakers will be Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby, the authors of Cousins: Connected Through Slavery, (UWF 2023 Reading Program selection).
Location: Middletown Campus, Carl and Emily Thompson Conference Center
The authors will take questions and sign copies of their book, available for purchase. Additional information and registration with in-person and virtual options are available at laurelridge.edu/kilby.
Contact Laura Douglass, SRD UWF Social Action Coordinator, at lauradouglass@vaumc.org
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!