October 26, 2025

“As much as we might want to shake our fists at Peter, I for one know I can't. Because I get it. I really do. I know what it's like to have intentions that are good but follow-through that falls to pieces. It's easy to say the words — we're all in for Jesus, and we'll do anything He asks of us. But then we get rejected or hurt by someone or become afraid we’ll fail, and it becomes difficult to live out those words. Fear, pain and insecurities can really do a number on our hearts.”

~Lysa TerKeurst

WORDS OF GREETING AND GATHERING

Chris Zepp

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 84:1-7 (The Message)

1-2 What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,
Always dreamed of a room in your house,
where I could sing for joy to God-alive!

3-4 Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!
How blessed they are to live and sing there!

5-7 And how blessed all those in whom you live,
whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!

Opening SongS

Songs Will Happen!

“The Beautiful River”

~Asa Hull / R. Torry, Jr., arr. Brent Holl

Oh, have you not heard of the beautiful stream
that flows through the promised land?
Its waters gleam bright in the heavenly light,
and ripple o’er golden sand.

O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.

Its fountains are deep and its waters are pure
and sweet to the weary soul.
It flows from the throne of Jehovah alone!
O come where its bright waves roll.

O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.

This beautiful stream is the river of life!
It flows for all nations free!
A balm for each wound in its water is found;
O sinner, it flows for thee!

O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.

Oh, will you not drink of this beautiful stream,
and dwell on its peaceful shore?
The Spirit says: come all ye weary ones, home,
and wander in sin no more!

O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream.
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.

“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 Reading

Luke 22:54-62 (CEB)

54 After they arrested Jesus, they led him away and brought him to the high priest’s house. Peter followed from a distance. 55 When they lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.

56 Then a servant woman saw him sitting in the firelight. She stared at him and said, “This man was with him too.”

57 But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him!”

58 A little while later, someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.”

But Peter said, “Man, I’m not!”

59 An hour or so later, someone else insisted, “This man must have been with him, because he is a Galilean too.”

60 Peter responded, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the Lord’s words: “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.

THEOLOGICAL Reflection

Alexis Ward Owens

“Sometimes you just need a good meltdown”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How often do you find yourself in places you shouldn’t be? Doing things you shouldn’t be doing? Can you name any examples or share a story of a time when you felt like you disobeyed an elder (or God) in your life?

2. How do you release pent up emotion? What does your version of an epic meltdown look like? Do you feel better or worse after you meltdown?

3. How can we (both as a community and as individuals) help to provide safe space for folks in the broader community to experience and feel their emotions in a healthy way that leads to grace, healing and reconciliation?

Song

“Move in our midst”

~Text by Kenneth Morse / Tune by Brent Holl

Move in our midst, thou Spirit of God.
Go with us down from thy holy hill.
Walk with us through the storm and the calm.
Spirit of God, go thou with us still.

Touch thou our hands to lead us aright.
Guide us forever, show us thy way.
Transform our darkness into thy light.
Spirit of God, lead thou us today.

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 

This Week’s Menu (10/29):
Spooky Spaghetti

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) let us know using the link below!

BRUNCH CHURCH!

Next Sunday - November 2

Same bat time.
Same bat channel.
Just more food:-)

Please bring your favorite brunch item to share if you are able!

GIVING Opportunity with
the JMU Holiday HELPERS

We are excited to be partnering with JMU Holiday Helpers club this year to give some love to our community and neighbors this holiday season!

There are several ways that you can support this endeavor:

1. Make a special financial gift to support the overall effort. Just use the “Give Now” link above and mark it for “Holiday Helpers.” (You can also give a check or cash to Alexis or Chris.) All donations so designated will be used to support the Holiday Helpers.

2. “Adopt” one of the five children RISE has agreed to supply with gifts. (We have specific lists of needs for each child). Contact Alexis if you are interested in this.

3. Donate items from the wishlist/donation guide below. We will be collecting these items through the month of November.

Closing Song

“Higher Ground”

~Michael Stern

River water rising
Rain still comin’ down
The ‘ol farm’s a lake, but if the levees break
It’ll damn near take this whole town

It’s like livin’ in a nightmare
That you can’t believe is true
How we’ll clean up this mess is anybody’s guess
Don’t know how we’ll make it through

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

We don’t have much money
And we’re runnin’ out of gas
This crazy war goes on & now our house is gone
We just pray this too will pass

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

All across this country
All across this land
From east to west folks will do their best
To lend a helpin’ hand

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard my neighbor say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

River water rising
Rain still comin’ down
The ‘ol farm’s a lake, but if the levees break
It’ll damn near take this whole town

It’s like livin’ in a nightmare
That you can’t believe is true
How we’ll clean up this mess is anybody’s guess
Don’t know how we’ll make it through

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

We’re headed up to higher ground
I heard the people say.
And with their hands held out to me said
We’d best be on our way.
And with their hands held out to me said
We’d best be on our way.

Parting Blessing AND SENDING SONG

~Homiletics, adapted

From the days of Moses in the wilderness, 
to Jesus’ final walk through Jerusalem, 
to the epic meltdowns of our lives today, 
God’s desire for us has been and remains the same: 
that we might know and respond 
to the grace and love of God in faith.

So friends, remember that you are loved,
and that you are a gift.
Now go and be a gift
as you live out that love….

I’m headed up to higher ground
I heard a stranger say
And with a hand held out to me, said
We’d best be on our way

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.