January 18, 2026
“Today, as the Church seeks to experience a profound missionary renewal, there is a kind of preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility. It has to do with bringing the Gospel to the people we meet, whether they be our neighbours or complete strangers. This is the informal preaching which takes place in the middle of a conversation...Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place: on the street, in a city square, during work, on a journey.”
~Pope Francis
Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Section 127 (2013)
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 Psalm
Psalm 40:1-5a (The Message, adapted for the inclusive plural)
1-3 We waited and waited and waited for God.
At last God looked; finally God listened.
God lifted us out of the ditch,
pulled us from deep mud.
God stood us up on a solid rock
to make sure we wouldn’t slip.
God taught us how to sing the latest God-songs,
praise-songs to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
compares to God!
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“Stay True”
~Michael Stern
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true, stay it through,
Stay true to your soul, stay true.
Stay true to justice and try to stand your ground
In this world of oppression and violence all around
You know there’s strength in many numbers,
But there’s strength in just a few
Stay true to you
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true, stay it through,
Stay true to your soul, stay true.
Stay true to helping the stranger in need
Stay true while waiting just like a mustard seed
Help us stay true to others and no matter what we do
Stay true to you
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true, stay it through,
Stay true to your soul, stay true.
Stay true to freedom the truth will set us free
Stay true to loving that’s how we want to be
Help us stay true to neighbors no matter where they be
Stay true to thee
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true, stay it through,
Stay true to your soul, stay true.
You know there’s gods of deterrence and gods of gold
Gods of selfish ego and gods of power untold
Stay true to the God of mercy, justice, and peace
Stay true to thee
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true to your soul, stay true
Stay true, stay it through,
Stay true to your soul, stay true.
“The Joke”
~Brandi Carlile
You're feeling nervous, aren't you, boy?
With your quiet voice and impeccable style
Don't ever let them steal your joy
And your gentle ways
To keep 'em from running wild
They can kick dirt in your face
Dress you down, and tell you that your place
Is in the middle, when they hate the way you shine
I see you tugging on your shirt
Trying to hide inside of it
And hide how much it hurts
Let 'em laugh while they can
Let 'em spin, let 'em scatter in the wind
I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends
And the joke's on them
You get discouraged, don't you, girl?
It's your brother's world for a while longer
We gotta dance with the devil on a river
To beat the stream
Call it living the dream, call it kicking the ladder
They come to kick dirt in your face
To call you weak and then displace you
After carrying your baby on your back across the desert
I saw your eyes behind your hair
And you're looking tired, but you don't look scared
Let 'em laugh while they can
Let 'em spin, let 'em scatter in the wind
I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends
And the joke's on them
(Repeat)
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 49:1-7 (The Message)
1-3 Listen, far-flung islands,
pay attention, faraway people:
God put me to work from the day I was born.
The moment I entered the world he named me.
He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate.
He kept his hand on me to protect me.
He made me his straight arrow
and hid me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You’re my dear servant,
Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”4 But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”5-6 “And now,” God says,
this God who took me in hand
from the moment of birth to be his servant,
To bring Jacob back home to him,
to set a reunion for Israel—
What an honor for me in God’s eyes!
That God should be my strength!
He says, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—
just to recover the tribes of Jacob,
merely to round up the strays of Israel.
I’m setting you up as a light for the nations
so that my salvation becomes global!”7 God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel,
says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations,
slave labor to the ruling class:
“Kings will see, get to their feet—the princes, too—
and then fall on their faces in homage
Because of God, who has faithfully kept his word,
The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you.”
John 1:29-42 (The Message)
29-31 …John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I’ve been talking about, ‘the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.’ I knew nothing about who he was—only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God.”
32-34 John clinched his witness with this: “I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ That’s exactly what I saw happen, and I’m telling you, there’s no question about it: This is the Son of God.”
35-36 The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”
37-38 The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.” They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.
40-42 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.
Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Chris Zepp
“The Invitation”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How do you feel about sharing your faith with others? About inviting people to RISE? Do you have any misgivings or hesitancies about either?
Do you resonate with Wheatley’s idea of creating “Islands of Sanity”? Would you agree that RISE is one? What characteristics are essential in creating such an “island” in our crazy world? Which of them are present at RISE? Which do we need to work on?
What can we do to be more of a “light for the nations”? Or at least more of a light of hope and peace and joy and love in the midst of a world gone crazy?
Song
“Holy Spirit, come with power” (Beach Spring)
~B.F. White, The Sacred Harp (1844)
Holy Spirit, come with power, breathe into our aching night.
We expect you this glad hour, waiting for your strength and light.
We are fearful, we are ailing, we are weak and selfish too.
Break upon your congregation, give us vigor, life anew.
Holy Spirit, come with fire, burn us with your presence new.
Let us as one mighty choir sing our hymn of praise to you.
Burn away our wasted sadness and enflame us with your love.
Burst upon your congregation, give us gladness from above.
Holy Spirit, bring your message, burn and breathe each word anew
Deep into our tired living till we strive your work to do.
Teach us love and trusting kindness, lend our hands to those who hurt.
Breathe upon your congregation and inspire us with your word.
Prayer
~Homiletics, adapted
Gracious God,
We are students in search of a Teacher,
we are disciples longing for a Master,
we are sinners needing a Savior,
we are Christians following the Christ.
We’ve been invited to come to see who you are.
And you are ...
Holy One, Redeemer of Israel,
Rabbi, Teacher, Son of God ...
Word-made-flesh, God-with-us,
Messiah, Anointed, Lamb of God.
You are ...
Beyond all names, surpassing all wisdom,
A joyful new song, a cry in the night ...
Greater than knowledge, finer than riches,
Our clarity of hearing, our clearness of sight.
You are ...
Desire of our hearts, center of our worship,
Strength for the journey, our emptiness filled ...
An answer to our questions, a question for our answers,
God in three persons, mystery revealed.
We see that you are all this and more.
And so we worship you…
Amen.
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!
MLK DAY OF SERVICE
FOOD DISTRIBUTION And Ceremony
Food Distribution
Tomorrow (1/19) 12-3 pm at Lucy Simms Center
Ceremony of Remembrance
Tuesday (1/20) 12 Noon at Lucy Simms Center
The Arc of Harrisonburg & Rockingham is holding an MLK Day food distribution tomorrow. Information about distribution and/or delivery of food to anyone who needs on Monday can be found here: https://thearcofhr.org/2026-mlk-food-distribution/
Additionally, all are invited to attend the MLK Ceremony taking place on Tuesday, January 20 as we come together at the Lucy Simms Center to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and reflect on the importance of service and community! Full details about the ceremony can be found here: https://thearcofhr.org/2026mlkceremony/
WTF?
(NOW on a new Night!)
Thursdays at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC
This Week’s Menu (1/22):
Soup Night
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) please let Alexis know!
Book Club / Study
Do you like to read? Enjoy diving deeper and talking about what you read with others? You’re not alone! We’ve got some interest in another book study (perhaps even an ongoing book club) and are looking to make a start of something in the New Year. So…
If you are interested in book studies/discussions, please click the button below and fill out the short form.
We will be in touch with those who respond to try to find the best day, time, and place for meeting. (We will likely start in late January or early February)
We’ve already got a first book chosen by request: The Four Loves, by CS Lewis. It’s a fairly short, classic read exploring various ways that we understand love and how they draw us closer to God.
VOICE All Call info session
Sunday, January 25, 5:30-7:30 pm
Vision of Hope United Methodist Church
Like to sing? Want to add some music to your life? Join VOICE for our next All Call information session! This is an informal, commitment-free way to learn more about VOICE, the upcoming season, membership expectations, and do some casual singing (and have a few snacks!) No audition or experience required; must be 13 or older to join. Summer concert dates are June 27 and 28, 2026. (Beth and Taylin Sellers and Sue Nelson are already members of the ensemble!)
Closing Song
“Receive Love. Give Love. Repeat.” (RLGLR)
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
Love comes from the heart of God
and flows to all the earth
Each of us gets a piece of it
a gift that's ours from birth!
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
Love is meant to be given away
once love you have received
Love that's shared is thrice the gift
God, self, and neighbor pleased!
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
We come together to celebrate
and share the gift of Love
Love is a wonderful gift to share,
enduring for ever more.
Love is patient, Love is Kind,
Love never ends
Faith and Love and Hope abide,
The greatest of these is Love!
Receive love. Give love.
Let's keep the cycle going.
Receive love. Give love.
Repeat. And love again!
(REPEAT)
Parting Blessing
Like the servant of Isaiah,
May God shine through us
As a light to the nations
Like the disciples who came to Jesus,
May we receive the invitation to
Come along and see for ourselves
And experience God first hand
And in a world gone crazy,
May we create an island of sanity
Grounded in the solid rock of Jesus
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.