April 27, 2025

Witness

Any time we look into newspapers, or into our own hearts, and despair,
we do well to remember that God's people have faced similar prospects,
similar reversals, similar headlines, similar assaults on faith,
and have recovered from the doubt, been rescued from the pessimism and foreboding
and gone on to live in praise of God.

 ~Eugene Peterson,
Living the Message: Daily Reflections

WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING

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 PSalm

Ps. 150 (The Message)

1-6 Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God!
Hallelujah!

Opening Songs

Songs Will Happen!
(Brent Holl, Sheridan Horne, & Noelle Voltz-Mongold)

“MULTIPLIED”

~NEEDTOBREATHE

Your love is like radiant diamonds
Burst inside us, we cannot contain
Your love will surely come find us
Like blazing wildfires, singing Your name

God of mercy, sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the sky
These hallelujahs be multiplied

(Repeat)

“AWAKE MY SOUL”

        ~Mumford & Sons

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know
My weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free

Har har, har har, har har, har har

Awake my soul
Awake my soul

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know
My weakness I feel I must finally show

Har har, har har, har har, har har

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life

Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker

Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker
You were made to meet your maker

Scripture Readings

John 20:19-31 (CEB)

19 It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.”

24 Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.”

26 After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!”

28 Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”

30 Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. 31 But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.

Acts 5:27-42 (CEB)

27 The apostles were brought before the council where the high priest confronted them: 28 “In no uncertain terms, we demanded that you not teach in this name. And look at you! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are determined to hold us responsible for this man’s death.”

29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than humans! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God has exalted Jesus to his right side as leader and savior so that he could enable Israel to change its heart and life and to find forgiveness for sins. 32 We are witnesses of such things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles. 34 One council member, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law named Gamaliel, well-respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be taken outside for a few moments. 35 He said, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you intend to do to these people. 36 Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and some four hundred men joined him. After he was killed, all of his followers scattered, and nothing came of that. 37 Afterward, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got some people to follow him in a revolt. He was killed too, and all his followers scattered far and wide. 38 Here’s my recommendation in this case: Distance yourselves from these men. Let them go! If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. 39 If it originates with God, you won’t be able to stop them. Instead, you would actually find yourselves fighting God!” The council was convinced by his reasoning. 40 After calling the apostles back, they had them beaten. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go. 41 The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name. 42 Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Chris Zepp

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is y(our) mission from God?  What does it look like today?  Is it the same for every Christian or does it differ from person to person?

2. What gets in y(our) way of fulfilling your mission objectives?  What obstacles, stumbling blocks, or antagonists would keep you/us from living fully into y(our) mission? Are they external (like the religious authorities who opposed Peter and the disciples) or internal (like Thomas’ doubts)?  How can you/we overcome or minimize them?

3. How can we be sure that we are, in fact, on a mission from God, and not on a path of our own creation? Are there tests or safeguards that can keep us centered in the divine will?  (Perhaps especially when we are considering acts of civil disobedience) 

Song

“Higher Ground”

~Lyrics: Johnson Oatman, Jr., Music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1892

I’m pressing on the upward way,
new heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
still praying as I’m onward bound,
”Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
where doubts arise and fears dismay;
tho’ some may dwell where these abound,
my prayer, my aim is higher ground.

Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
tho’ Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
for faith has caught the joyful sound,
the song of saints on higher ground.

Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height,
and catch a gleam of glory bright;
but still I pray till heav’n I’ve found,
”Lord, lead me onto higher ground.”

Lord, life me up and let me stand,
by faith, on heavens’ tableland,
a higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

PRAYER

~Homiletics, adapted

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!

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! 

THIS WEEK (4/30)
DIY Mediterranean Bowls (Chicken falafel, tzatziki, tomato/cucumber salad, etc)

We welcome people from all walks of life and all walks of faith to join us on our journey. And we mean it. Everyone is welcome at RISE. Everyone. We seek to be a place free of judgment and full of love.

NEXT SUnDay!
Brunch Church &
Graduate Recognition

May 4, 2025

We hope to see you next Sunday to help us recognize all of our graduates this year and send them off well!

SENIORS:
If you are graduating please let us know if you can attend and what your plans are so that we know how many to plan for!

LAST CALL!

RISE Summer Survey

We are actively considering & planning opportunities for the coming summer months at RISE and are seeking community input so that we can try to offer programming that best meets your needs & desires at the most accessible time(s). Please take a few moments to complete our short "Summer Survey" at the link below to let us know what interests you!

GaME Night

Friday, May 9
6 pm
Zepp Home

Bring a friend, your favorite game(s), and any food/sharing snacks as you wish and join us for a night of fun! Sodas, seltzers, and coffee/tea/hot chocolate will be provided, but you are welcome to bring something of your choosing as well.

DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.

Closing Song

“Nothing Without Love”

~Michael Stern

If I have eloquence & power
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
If I have beauty like a flower
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love

If I have faith that can move mountains
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
If I have knowledge flowing fountains
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love

If I have courage facing fire
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love
Or sacrifice all I desire
It’s nothing without love, nothing without love

Love is patient, love is kind
Love remembers those left behind

Love is not jealous or conceited
There’s nothing without love, nothing without love
Even in death is not defeated
There’s nothing without love, nothing without love

Love is patient, love is kind
Love remembers those left behind

There’s nothing without love, nothing without love
There’s nothing without love, nothing without love

Parting Blessing

~Homiletics, adapted

Because of Jesus, 
and those who believed and put their trust in him before us,
We can now go forth:
To think more clearly,
Feel more deeply,
Speak more truthfully,
Love more extravagantly,
Risk more boldly,
Serve more creatively,
Give more lavishly,
And live more abundantly.

May it be so!

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!
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