A peak into a special part of the service for the youngest members of our community when Melissa shares with them how much God loves them. Take a listen!
A blessing for the kids
RMC Blog posts
Balm in Gilead – our year of anti-racism learning
Raleigh Mennonite continues to grow in its understanding of the bountiful love that God has for all of creation, in all of its diversity, as embodied in the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. In the coming year we wish to deepen our understanding of our role as a mostly white congregation, with the various […]
First Sunday Back Indoors In Person!
Just as the COVID-19 delta variant is picking up steam, we met in person for the first time at our new location, Shepherd’s Hall at Church of the Good Shepherd on August 8. We started sharing space with them this summer and Melissa has an office in their office suite. It was great to worship […]
Baptism Service at the Eno River – Aug. 1, 2021
You don’t go down into the waters of Jordan without stirring up a great deal of mud… if being baptized is being led to where Jesus is, then being baptized is being led towards the chaos and the neediness of a humanity that has forgotten its own destiny” – Rowan Williams
Brunch & Hymns – First Sundays this Summer
During the summer of 2021 we will continue the tradition of Brunch and Hymns at Pullen Park. Given the pandemic, however, this year will be a bit different, with less emphasis on the brunch part… On the first Sundays in May, June and July we’ll meet at Pullen Park’s shelter #3. On the first Sunday […]
Mary: The Paper Doll Project
This Advent we are delighted to host Carole Baker’s art installation, Mary: The Paper Doll Project. Baker created four life-size Marys representing four Marian visitations from around the world. This exhibit is interactive as the outer garments are interchangeable. You’ll be able to change them, just like a giant paper doll. Baker created the exhibit to explore the universality and particularity of […]
Advent wreath making
On Nov 22, from 2-5 we’ll have an Advent wreath making workshop. We’ll use those wreaths as part of Zoom worship throughout Advent. We’ll be outdoors, in the circle drive in front of Church of the Good Shepherd. We’ll have six tables each session. Each table can hold one group of 3+, or two smaller groups (couples or singles). Our […]
Singing together…virtually
Raleigh Mennonite folks enjoy singing, though that’s hard to do during the pandemic while we meet on Sundays via Zoom. That hasn’t kept a few in the RMC Vocal Ensemble from making music. Thanks to the talents of David and Rosene, the ensemble has created videos of a number of songs, with each person recording […]
Pie-it-Forward
by Jackie ParkerA blog entry in response to our “A Year at the Table” series. One Sunday, during the sharing portion of our worship, I revealed I was having a hard time—that the pandemic, fear for people’s health, and physical distancing were taking a toll—and with no end in sight, I was starting to feel […]
Communion during the COVID-19 Pandemic
By David and Rosene Rohrer, with photo by Karin Shank Having learned from each other about the variety of ways communion is celebrated around the world, we easily adjusted to observing this important practice from our homes during the novel coronavirus pandemic in 2020. One Sunday for our virtual service (via Zoom) we each chose […]
Palm Sunday 2020
This Sunday was unique for RMC, just as it was for many others throughout the world during the pandemic we’re living through. But our worship service brought us together in ways we could not have otherwise been together. Each Sunday since holding our services via Zoom we’ve had the opportunity to be joined together with […]
Fasting from Food Waste – Article in Sojourners
Sojourners recently published an article, “Fasting from Food Waste in a Season of Hoarding,” that features a core group from Raleigh Mennonite Church who have made a commitment this Lenten season to reduce food waste as a spiritual practice. Little did the group know when Lent started that this season would land us in the […]
Walking Toward Suffering
Melissa Florer-BixlerSermon from March 29, 2020 worship service, held via ZoomJohn 11The spoken version of the message, without notes, is also available on the podcast. One of the parts of our faith that is most important to me is the affirmation that God has something to do with the world. And if God has something […]
Communion “Pop-up Seminary” Weekend
As another aspect of RMC’s A Year at the Table, we had the pleasure of having Dr. Malinda Berry join us on February 15 and 16, providing input on our Mennonite theology of Communion, asking new questions for Communion practice, and helping create a robust and living theology of table as a local community. She […]
First Sunday at Fletcher Academy
During renovations to the building at 1116 N. Blount St., we are meeting for Sunday School and Worship at Fletcher Academy’s campus at 400 Cedarview Ct., north of Millbrook between Six Forks and Falls of the Neuse. Here are a few images from our first Sunday there, Feb. 2, 2020.
Last day at Building for Hope…at least for now
Sunday, January 26, marked our last day worshiping at 1116 N. Blount St. for at least six months. Here are a few photos from the last service and the move out process that took place afterward. We will be meeting for worship at Fletcher Academy at 300 Cedarview Ct. while the building is being renovated. […]
What happens after communion?
by David Rohrer Throughout history communion has been wrought with conflict. Heated debate focused on: Who can participate? Who can officiate? What’s required to prepare for communion? What elements are used? What process occurs in those who partake? Is Christ in the host (bread) or only there with his “real presence?” Is communion necessary for […]
De-mummification of Rigid Communion Ritual
by David Rohrer Below are highlights from my reading of Laurel Marshall’s masters thesis regarding the practice of communion and baptism in Christian base communities in El Salvador: The role of liberation theology in informing communion and baptism. The emphasis on sharing and inclusiveness in practicing the communion. Caring for one another as being a way […]
Communion and Hospitality
by Shannon Hess Our short time in El Salvador left me with a lot to process and a lot to reflect on, much of which I haven’t even tried to begin to put into words. I can’t honestly say that I really put much thought into Communion before our congregation started asking questions and making […]
Radical Hospitality
by Belissa Acosta My main takeaway from going to El Salvador is the radical hospitality that the members of the base communities showed us. The way they opened up their homes to us and shared what they had made me realize a few things about my own goals in life. For the past couple months, […]
Communion as Solidarity
by Jackie Parker So much to say about El Salvador, it’s hard to know where to begin. My heart is filled with the beauty and generosity of spirit of everyone we met and with the sheer horror of the tragedies that have taken place in their country. Our delegation was so warmly welcomed by each […]
A Year At The Table: The In’s and Out’s of Being at the Table
by Zinith BarbeeA blog entry in response to our “A Year at the Table” series.January 21, 2020 The table is an image that is integral to hospitality. It is the critical prop in “the greatest story ever told.” In our services, it reflects the meaning of the Last Supper. Hospitality at the table is a […]
El Salvador Delegation Photos
Photos from visit to Christian base communities in El Salvador the week of Thanksgiving 2019 are posted on a separate site.
Table Stories from Raleigh Mennonite Church
by Lois BeckA blog entry in response to our “A Year at the Table” series.January 8, 2020 Our pastor invites us to communion: “This isn’t the table of the Mennonite Church; it isn’t Raleigh Mennonite’s table. It is Jesus’ table, and he invites all of us.” The piece of bread and a sip from the […]
