June 14, 2026
“We may not be able to avoid fear
or stop hurt in our lives,
but we are promised the nearness of God
to help us face our fears
and get through our hurt.”
~Dr. Joel Muddamalle,
Humble Theology
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 AFFIRMATION
~Homiletics, adapted, inspired by Psalm 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Through storms and peril, danger and strife,
Through darkness and torment, tears and pain,
Through uncertainty and confusion, sorrow and loss,
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
So let’s wait for the Lord;
Let our hearts take courage and be strong
As we wait for the Lord…
Opening SongS
Songs Will Happen!
“COME, THOU FOUNT (NETTLETON)”
~Anonymous, with additional verse by CWZepp
Come, thou fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, mount of God’s unchanging love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I'm come,
and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand'ring from the fold of God.
He to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.
Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wand'ring heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above!
We are called to love our neighbors even when we disagree
Work for justice, and for mercy — turn the “me” into a “we”
Then together we shall flourish, treating each as if our own
The common good shall be our calling — faith-filled values be made known
“How Can I Keep From Singing”
~Pete Seeger* (see note below)
My life fows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the sweet, though far off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear its music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth it liveth.
And though the darkness round me close, songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble in their fear and hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile our thoughts to them are winging.
When friends by shame are undefled, how can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes, the clouds grow thin, I see the blue above it.
And day by day this pathway clears, since first I learned to love it.
The peace from love makes fresh my heart, a song of hope is ringing.
All things are mine, since truth I’ve found. How can I keep from singing?
_______________________________________
*The original hymn text may well be a Quaker hymn written in the 1850’s by Ann Warner who lived on an island in the Hudson River. Her text refers to Quakers who were jailed for their beliefs. Pete Seeger brought the song to life in 1957 by publishing it in Sing Out Magazine. He learned the third verse (When tyrants...) from Doris Plenn, who wrote it during the McCarthy era in tribute to those, like Pete Seeger, who refused to take loyalty oaths and were often punished.
Scripture ReadingS
Isaiah 41:10
(New Century Version)
So don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.
(The Message)
‘You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
(NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
THEOLOGICAL Reflection
Sarah Nicklas
REFLECTION TIME:
(clay accessible at each table)
Take a piece of clay. Think of something in your life right now that you are afraid about. I want you to squeeze it, smash it, pierce it with your fingers, or mold it into a rough, jagged shape that represents that heavy, messy fear. Let's take one minute in silence to feel the weight of that clay in our hands.
(Reflective Music)
Look at that messy, jagged shape of clay in your hands that represents your fear. Now, remember a time you prayed, or a time you realized God was right there with you. Start rolling and shaping that clay into something that represents safety, prayer, or God's presence. As you mold it, notice that the clay didn't vanish. God didn't just snap His fingers and make the thing you feared in your life disappear. Instead, He takes the exact thing that scared you, brings His presence into it, and reshapes it into peace. You are never holding your fears alone. God is holding your hands while you reshape them. Take this piece of clay as a reminder that God is always with you even when you are afraid.
(Reflective Music)
Before we move on, look at someone at your table, point to their clay, and tell them: 'God is with you.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What resonated with you in today’s reflections? What touched your heart or gave voice to your own experience(s)?
What questions do these reflections raise for you in your faith journey?
What additional thoughts or ideas have these reflections generated for you?
PRAYER
Chris Zepp
SongS
“Be Thou My Vision”
~Celtic Folk Tune, Translated by Eleanor Hull
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
_______________________________________
"Be Thou My Vision" is an 8th century Irish hymn that was translated by Eleanor Hull in 1912. Today the hymn is sung to the Irish folk tune "Slane". This song is rooted in medieval Celtic Christianity and is believed to be an original poem that may have been written by an Irish saint who experienced blindness later in life.
“Move in our midst”
~Text by Kenneth Morse / Tune and amendments by Brent Holl
Move in our midst, O Spirit of God.
Go with us down from your holy hill.
Walk with us through the storm and the calm.
Spirit of God, now go with us still.
Touch now our hands to lead us aright.
Guide us forever, show us your way.
Transform our darkness into your light.
Spirit of God, still lead us today.
Strike from our feet the fetters that bind.
Lift from our lives the weight of our wrong.
Teach us to love with heart, soul, and mind.
Spirit of God, your love makes us strong.
Kindle our hearts to burn with your flame.
Raise up your banners high in this hour.
Stir us to build new worlds in your name.
Spirit of God, O send us your pow’r!
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)
BOOK STUDY GROUP
Monday Evenings, 7:30 pm
Home of the Harbicks
Next Meeting TOMORROW (6/15)
Discussing Chapters 15-19 & Conclusion
Do you like to read? Enjoy diving deeper and talking about what you read with others? We’ve got a group for you!
We are reading The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues by Dan McClellan (2025). “In The Bible Says So, Dan McClellan leverages his popular "data over dogma" approach, and his years of experience in the academy and on social media, to lay out in clear and accessible ways what the data indicate the Bible does and doesn't say about issues ranging from homosexuality, abortion, and slavery to monotheism, inspiration, and even God's wife.”
VA UMC Annual Conference
This Wednesday thru Saturday! (June 17-20)
Atlantic Union Bank Center, JMU
RISE is one of the many communities which make up the Virginia United Methodist Conference. This year the annual conference gathering is being hosted at the Atlantic Union Bank Center at JMU! This is very exciting, and provides all kinds of opportunities to plug in! Learn about them all HERE. And if you would like to learn more about Annual Conference you can always ask Pastor Alexis!
THE Sitting
6-8 pm THURSDAY Nights
Feel the Rain Brother’s Craft Brewing
It’s that time again! Some people have “standing” office hours, but you know that we do things a bit differently here at RISE, so we have “sitting” hours during the summer season! Join Alexis and/or Chris on Thursday nights at Brothers throughout the summer - whether you have some burning theological questions or you just want to hang out with friends, we’ll be there and happy to chat with whoever might come!
Feel free to bring the kids and your dinner!
Movie Night!
Next Sunday, June 21, 3 pm
Zepps’ Home
Bring a friend, drinks and snacks for yourself or to share (we’ll have some on hand), and join us for a Sunday matinee movie and discussion.
This month’s movie:
Thunderbolts*
(View Trailer HERE)
DM us or contact Chris Zepp (worship@riseharrisonburg.com) for address, directions, or more info.
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Closing Song
“You Never Let Go”
~Matt Redman
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back, I know You are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles, But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles,
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
(REPEAT)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
You never let, You never let go
You never let go of me
Parting Blessing
~Homiletics, adapted, with inspiration from Romans 8:38-39
We all know already that following Jesus is not easy. But we do not walk the difficult parts by ourselves. God walks with us, and we walk with each other. So may God give us strength for our journey, wisdom for our decisions, and love for ourselves and our companions.
For as the Good book says, we stand firm in the conviction that neither death nor life, neither the present nor the future, nor anything that this life can throw at us, can separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Remember friends — you are a gift!
Now go and be a gift!
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