March 15, 2026

We have this unwritten agreement,
us members of humanity.
When the toddler at the coffee shop runs round the corner,
when her mom, at the register, looks up in panic,
we, the adults in the room, will pledge,
with quick smiles and silent head nods, to keep watch.
We will lean out of our seats.
We will put down our phones.
We will stand at the ready
to scoop up,
to offer words of comfort,
to make silly faces,
to keep an eye on the door.
And we will do this,
because we cannot ignore the instinct to care.
We will do this,
because we cannot ignore the child right in front of us.
We will do this,
because love always includes the least of these.

“Unwritten Agreement”
by Rev. Sarah A. Speed

Worship Resources used in this service by Rev. Sarah A. Speed
A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING

Alexis Ward Owens

Opening Affirmation

~Rev. Sarah A. Speed

God loves the field mouse.
God loves the crows that take flight when church bells ring.
God loves the baby, cooing in the back pew.
God loves the child who rocks and claps.
God loves the one with wrinkled hands and soft eyes.
God loves the bumblebees and the tabby cats.
God loves those who walk, crawl, and roll.
God loves the giant oaks and the evergreens,
standing strong over all of us.
God loves the young, the impressionable, and the earnest.
There is no bit of creation that God does not love.
So let us worship this good-news God!

Opening SongS

Laura Douglass & Songs Will Happen!

“God, With Joy We Look Around Us”

~Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2000) / Music (REGENT SQUARE): Henry Thomas Smart (1867)

God, with joy we look around us
At your world's diversity.
Folk of every kind surround us
And you call your church to see:
All are made in your own image!
All are people whom you love!

In the times we've hurt each other,
Lord, we've hurt the ones you bless.
Hating sister, cursing brother,
We've denied what you express:
All are made in your own image!
All are people whom you love!

God, you sent a Savior to us,
Breaking walls that would divide.
By your Spirit, now work through us
As we witness side by side:
All are made in your own image!
All are people whom you love!

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.

“Welcoming God”

~Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (1998) / Music (ASSURANCE): Phoebe Palmer Knapp (1873)

Children are welcome, Christ said one day,
When the disciples just urged them away.
Children are welcome at Jesus' knee:
God's own examples for ministry.
Welcoming God, you open the Way;
Even the smallest worship and pray,
Singing with faith and serving you well,
Your life to know and good news to tell.

Women are welcome, as are the men;
Through God's own Spirit, we're partners again.
Partners as prophets, ministers, too:
No more divided — made one in you.
Welcoming God, you open the way;
Those once divided join now to pray,
Serving at Table, preaching your Word,
So that your love for all will be heard.

Outcasts are welcome; sinners are, too,
Eating with Jesus and being made new:
Some like Zacchaeus turned right around;
Wounded and poor ones felt peace profound.
God of great love, you stand at the door,
Welcoming people outcast and poor.
So you forgive and call us to be
Filled with the joy of your jubilee.

So may we welcome into our pew
All who in Jesus are being made new —
All those who seek him, wanting to know,
Wanting to love him, wanting to grow.
Welcoming God, you stand at our door,
As someone different, outcast or poor.
With longing eyes, Lord Jesus, you search.
May we all welcome you in your church.

Tell Me Something Good

Neal Wong

Scripture Readings

Matthew 19:13-15 (The Message)

13-15 One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.

Deuteronomy 24:17-22 (The Message)

17-18 Make sure foreigners and orphans get their just rights. Don’t take the cloak of a widow as security for a loan. Don’t ever forget that you were once slaves in Egypt and God, your God, got you out of there. I command you: Do what I’m telling you.

19-22 When you harvest your grain and forget a sheaf back in the field, don’t go back and get it; leave it for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow so that God, your God, will bless you in all your work. When you shake the olives off your trees, don’t go back over the branches and strip them bare—what’s left is for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. And when you cut the grapes in your vineyard, don’t take every last grape—leave a few for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. Don’t ever forget that you were a slave in Egypt. I command you: Do what I’m telling you.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Chris Zepp

“People Like These”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In what ways have the realities of children in Jesus’ day changed in our world, and in what ways are those realities still present? Why do you think Jesus focuses on children so often in the gospels? What gifts do children bring to the world and to the church? What lessons can adults learn from them?

2. Our theme for today says that the good news is “protection and care for the vulnerable.” Is there a difference between protection and care, or are these ideas one and the same? If so, what is it?

3. In Matthew 18:6 and 18:10 Jesus offers harsh directives to protect and care for “the little ones.” Deuteronomy 24:19-21 includes specific instructions for how to care for “the immigrant, orphan, and widow” by leaving behind gleanings in the field. In addition to those named in these scriptures, who are the vulnerable people groups in our community? Who lacks power and status, and whose humanity is questioned or threatened? How can we help to provide the protection and care that they need?

Song

“Christ, You Spoke to Us of Children”

~Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2019) / Music (W ZLOBIE LEZY): Polish Melody

Christ, you spoke to us of children:
"Let the children come to me.
Do not stop them, for the kingdom
Is for little ones like these."
God, we grieve now as our nation
Fails its moral obligation
To receive the refugees.

Christ, you spoke of God's intention:
"Do not cause my children harm!"
Yet we place them in detention,
Far from loved ones, scared and worn.
Children, huddled close together,
Grieve for families that are severed;
God of love, what have we done?

Christ, you taught us to give water
And to help the ones who thirst.
Yet in places near the border,
We confess we've done our worst.
Those who walk must now walk farther.
We have made their journey harder;
We dump water in the dirt.

God of immigrant and stranger,
God who welcomes those in need,
When your children are in danger,
Will we love them or concede?
May we not seek cheap forgiveness
Till we dare to work for justice —
Till your little ones are freed.

PRAYER

~Rev. Sarah A. Speed, 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!

CURRENT MATERIAL NEEDS:

Disinfectant Wipes
Hand Soap

(see a list of ongoing material needs on our giving page)

WTF?
LENT EDITION

Thursdays at exactly dinner-ish! (6pm EST)
Downstairs at John Wesley UMC

This Week’s Menu (3/19):
St. Patrick’s Celebration - Homemade Reubens

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!

Turner Ashby High School MUSICAL
The Little Mermaid

FINAL PERFORMANCE TODAY!

TAHS Musical Theater presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Our very own Gabe Carr is the Assistant Stage Manager and Tristan Zepp plays percussion in the pit orchestra! Reserve your tickets using the link below!

BOOK STUDY GROUP

Monday Evenings, 7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks

NO MEETING THIS WEEK

Monday, March 23
Discussing Chapters 5 & 6
(“Eros” and “Charity”)
**Final Discussion of Current Book**

For the first study, we will be reading the C.S. Lewis classic The Four Loves, a fairly short read exploring various ways that we understand love and how they draw us closer to God.

If you’re interested but haven’t yet signed up, you are still welcome! Just click the button below to get added to the list, through which we will communicate schedule changes, new books to read, and anything else book study related!

Closing Song

“See the precious children”

~Text: Anna Strickland (2025) / Music (BEACH SPRING): B.F. White (1844)

See the precious children seated on the lap of Christ our Lord
Called the greatest in the kingdom held so gently and adored
They are precious in the sight of God who made each tiny toe
In their weakness they’re held by love as each day they learn and grow

See the precious widowed women gleaning harvests from the field
Then returning to their kitchen to prepare their daily meal
They are precious in the sight of God who holds their broken hearts
In their sorrow they’re held by love that redeems each fragile part

See the precious foreign strangers as they carry all they own
To a land that’s full of dangers for the powerless and prone
They are precious in the sight of God who made their homeland, too
In their journey they’re held by love as each day they start anew

See the precious dispossessed ones asking for some food to eat
Sleeping under starry heavens, daily living on the streets
They are precious in the sight of God who loves them as a child
In their hunger they’re held by love as they guard their human pride

See the precious world impoverished by our malice and our greed
Humans, animals, and planet crying out for some relief
We’re all precious in the sight of God who made each holy thing
In our living we’re held by love as we care for every being

Parting Blessing

~Rev. Sarah A. Speed

As you leave this place,
when you meet anger, speak with love.
When you meet fear, speak with hope.
When you meet pain, speak with gentleness.
But no matter what, speak this good news.

For the good news of the gospel is
love and justice for all.
It is joy that surprises,
and nonviolence that transforms.
The good news of the gospel is alive in the world,
so go forth speaking.

For if you won’t, then who will?
Thanks be to God
for this good, good news.

Remember friends — you are a gift!

Now go and be a gift!

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