September 13, 2026

HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY TO RISE!!

"A person is a person through other persons."

~Arch Bishop Desmund Tutu

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 Prayer

~From An African Prayer Book, by Arch Bishop Desmund Tutu

Disturb us, O Lord

when we are too well-pleased with ourselves
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little,
because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, O Lord

when with the abundance of things we possess,
we have lost our thirst for the water of life
when, having fallen in love with time,
we have ceased to dream of eternity
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.

Stir us, O Lord

to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas
where storms show Thy mastery,
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.

In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes
and invited the brave to follow.

Amen

Opening SongS

Songs Will Happen!

“Blessed Are…”

~Brent Holl

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.

Let us RISE up singing a new song
Let us RISE up singing all day long
Let your voices blend together
As we sing out loud and long
Let us RISE up singing a new song

Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Let us RISE up singing a new song
Let us RISE up singing all day long
Let your voices blend together
As we sing out loud and long
Let us RISE up singing a new song
(Repeat)

“My God is a Rock”

~African-American Spiritual

My God is a rock in a weary land, weary land, weary land
My God is a rock in a weary land
A shelter in the the time of the storm.

Stop and let me tell you about chapter one
When the lord God's work had just begun
Stop and let me tell you about chapter two
When the lord God preached that Bible through
Stop and let me tell you about chapter three
When the lord God died up on Calvary.

My God is a rock in a weary land, weary land, weary land
My God is a rock in a weary land
A shelter in the the time of the storm.

Now stop and let me tell you about chapter four
When the lord God visits among the poor
Stop and let me tell you about chapter five
When the lord God brought all the dead alive
Stop and let me tell you about chapter six
When he went to Jerusalem and healed the sick.

My God is a rock in a weary land, weary land, weary land
My God is a rock in a weary land
A shelter in the the time of the storm.

Stop and let me tell you about chapter seven
When he died and he risen and he went to heaven
Stop and let me tell you about chapter eight
When the lord God was standin’ at the golden gate
Stop and let me tell you about chapter nine
When the lord God turned all the water to wine

My God is a rock in a weary land, weary land, weary land
My God is a rock in a weary land
A shelter in the the time of the storm.

Scripture Readings

Psalm 103:1-13 (CEB)

1 Let my whole being bless the Lord!
Let everything inside me bless his holy name!
2 Let my whole being bless the Lord
and never forget all his good deeds:
3 how God forgives all your sins,
heals all your sickness,
4 saves your life from the pit,
crowns you with faithful love and compassion,
5 and satisfies you with plenty of good things
so that your youth is made fresh like an eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness;
does justice for all who are oppressed.
7 God made his ways known to Moses;
made his deeds known to the Israelites.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
very patient, and full of faithful love.
9 God won’t always play the judge;
he won’t be angry forever.
10 He doesn’t deal with us according to our sin
or repay us according to our wrongdoing,
11 because as high as heaven is above the earth,
that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor him.
12 As far as east is from west—
that’s how far God has removed our sin from us.
13 Like a parent feels compassion for their children—
that’s how the Lord feels compassion for those who honor him.

Genesis 50:15-21 (CEB)

15 When Joseph’s brothers realized that their father was now dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us, and wants to pay us back seriously for all of the terrible things we did to him?” 16 So they approached Joseph and said, “Your father gave orders before he died, telling us, 17 ‘This is what you should say to Joseph. “Please, forgive your brothers’ sins and misdeeds, for they did terrible things to you. Now, please forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God.”’” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18 His brothers wept too, fell down in front of him, and said, “We’re here as your slaves.”

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I God? 20 You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today. 21 Now, don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” So he put them at ease and spoke reassuringly to them.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Pastor Alexis Ward Owens

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Can you think of an example of a time (like Joseph and his brothers) when someone meant ill will towards another person, but in the end it worked out ok? What kinds of trials did they have to go through? Were the people able to make amends? 

2. Name someone in your life who truly embodies this idea of Ubuntu. Someone who is a shining example of what it means to be licensed to love.

3. In honor of our birthday, share how long you have been a part of the RISE community and a favorite RISE memory.

COMMUNION & PRAYER

Pastor Alexis Ward Owens

Bread Made Fresh and Gluten-Free by Laura Douglass!

Song

“What a Wonderful World”

~Bob Thiele & George David Weiss

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They’re really saying I love you

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself, what a wonderful world

_____________________________________

A Story from Brent Holl:

I spent most of my teaching life in a rural middle school in Augusta County Virginia teaching music to 11-14 year old students. One of my favorite classes was 7th grade choir, especially in the fall of 2001 with a rather small but enthusiastic group of around 20. One of our songs starting the year was What a Wonderful World. My idea was to help them with a nice tone quality and an uplifting message, and it fast became one of our favorites.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, we were working out some harmony, singing through the song. The principal appeared at the door, walked to me, and without a word, held a clipboard with a message for me that began, “Do not respond or stop what you are doing in class today. You MUST hide your feelings and carry on with the class AS NORMAL.”

Then I read the rest of the message that described the horror unfolding in New York City. Details were sketchy, but the news was devastating. The principal left after some pretty strong eye contact and I was left facing the class. Kids are smart and responsive, so my next action became very important. I turned to them and simply said in a shaky voice, “From the beginning please.” The students immediately noticed that I was unable to sing with them, but they sang all the way through the song carrying me with them all the way.

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)

WTF? Is back!

Thursday’s at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC

September 17 Menu:
Buddha Bowls

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! (September Menu Below). Please do let us know if you have dietary needs/restrictions and intend to join us.

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!

RECEIVE LOVE. GIVE LOVE. EAT.

2026 Harrisonburg Pride Weekend

COMMUNITY PRIDE WORSHIP

Saturday, September 19, 5 pm
Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Come and worship with our inclusive community partners! (Our very own Pastor Alexis Ward Owens will be preaching!)

Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival

Sunday, September 20, Noon - 6 pm
Harrisonburg Turner Pavilion

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 and other fun stuff. 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!)

BOOK STUDY

Monday, October 19
7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks

For our next study, we will be reading “Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World” by Kat Armas. “Everyone wants to belong. But what does belonging look like in the context of living within an empire and its ideologies? In “Liturgies for Resisting Empire,” Cuban American theologian and writer Kat Armas provides a roadmap for Christians seeking a countercultural way of living that prioritizes community and humanity over dominance and power. Armas combines spiritual practices and biblical theology to help us create authentic belonging to God, ourselves, each other, and creation.”

All you need to do to participate is buy the book, read it (or read what you can), and join us at the Harbicks’ for a conversation inspired by the reading on October 19! DM us or contact Chris if you have questions, need more info, or need the address.

Closing Song

“Come on Up to the House”

~Tom Waits

Well, the moon is broken and the sky is cracked
Come on up to the house
The only things that you can see is all that you lack
Come on up to the house

All your crying don't do no good
Come on up to the house
Come down off the cross, we can use the wood
You gotta come on up to the house

Come on up to the house
Come on up to the house
The world is not my home
I'm just a-passin’ thru
Come on up to the house

There's no light in the tunnel, no irons in the fire
Come on up to the house
And you're singin’ lead soprano in a junkman's choir
You gotta come on up to the house

Does life seem nasty, brutish and short
Come on up to the house
The seas are stormy and you can't find no port
Got to come on up to the house

Come on up to the house
Come on up to the house
The world is not my home
I'm just a-passin’ thru
Come on up to the house

There's nothin’ in the world that you can do
You gotta come on up to the house
And you been whipped by the forces that are inside you
Gotta come on up to the house

Well, you're high on top of your mountain of woe
Gotta come on up to the house
Well, you know you should surrender, but you can't let it go
You gotta come on up to the house

Come on up to the house
Come on up to the house
The world is not my home
I'm just a-passin’ thru
Come on up to the house

Parting Blessing

Receive Love, Give Love, Repeat.
We say these words not because they’re sweet,
But because we have a dream!

So friends, remember that dream, and remember that you are a gift.  
Now go and be a gift. 

And for those who are staying for our birthday picnic -
May our fellowship and celebrations be an embodiment of our dream
for a life of love lived together and shared with all. 

May it be so!

BIRTHDAY PICNIC!

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!
You might also consider:

• Sign up for texting services:

  • 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

• 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.