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. […]
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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.
What is this Passover Feast? – Jan. 19, 2020
Exodus 12:3-13 and Mark 14:12-25 Our biblical example of communion stems from Jesus sharing the Passover meal with his disciples. Rachel reflects on how the church’s communion practice, particularly in white-dominant congregations, can deepen rather than heal racial divisions in the church as it did in the past when white slave owners required those they […]
Remembrance of baptism – Jan. 12, 2020
Matthew 3:3-17 NOTE: There were electronic issues during the recording which caused interference in the audio. It gets progressively worse toward the end of the recording, but it’s a good sermon, so if you can persevere, it’s worth it! Baptism is a little death. At the same time, all of life is baptism. There is […]
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 […]
Not Belonging – Jan. 5, 2020
John 1, Matthew 2:1-12 Stan Wilson provided the sermon this morning. Drawing from Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Stan says to be true to our Christian vocation, we need to “not belong.” For the church to not belong, we need to be part of a community that is called to embrace the wholeness and […]
Adoption – Dec. 22, 2019
Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25 Even though Joseph is not Jesus’ biological father, Jesus becomes a part of Joseph’s story; the inheritor and adopted child of the whole line of God’s promises. Our story as Christians is also one of adoption. We were destined for adoption as God’s children through Jesus Christ.
Children’s views on A Year at the Table
Leah’s perspective on her involvement with Food for Thought: “Food for Thought is where Trader Joe’s gets rid of all the food it cannot sell. And we give it away to people. I like being a part of it because it gets me out of the house. My whole family is a part of it. […]
Revolutionary Magnificat – Dec. 15, 2019
Isaiah 35:1-10 & Luke 1:46-55 When women in the Bible have something to say, it often comes out as a song. Mary’s song, recounted in Luke 1, is revolutionary. God is on the side of the dispossessed and Mary sings of the revolution taking place through God’s world-toppling love. Melissa’s message was preceded by a […]
Fulfilled – Filled Up – Dec. 8, 2019
Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3:1-12 On this second Sunday of Advent, Melissa told us, “this is a season to be shaken up and shaken out.” Christians have a profound failure to live out the Gospel, but we’re also attuned to our failure. We require outside intervention and Jesus comes through an intervention of love. It’s […]
The Story Isn’t Over – Nov. 24, 2019
Amos 9:11-15 Guest speaker Angie Hong brought the message this morning. She compares her upbringing with the story from Amos. Even in the midst of destruction, we are never so far from love and grace that there isn’t room for hope.
Reconciled in God through Jesus – Nov. 17, 2019
Food is political. Eating is a kind of politics. Isaiah offers this vision of the the end of all things, centering around a meal. In this passage, all things, all people, are reconciled in God. Everything bruised and damaged is made whole, but also those who bruise and damage are made whole. We’re all there […]
St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Raleigh – Eucharistic Celebration
by Al RebergA blog entry in response to our “A Year at the Table” series.November 16, 2019 The Communion Liturgy at Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church is read from the Book of Common Prayer or recited from memory. Two people bring the bread and wine down the center Aisle and gives them to the Torch Bearer […]
Reflections on Communion at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Oaxaca
by David RohrerA blog entry in response to our “A Year at the Table” series.November 11, 2019 Last summer on two consecutive Sundays, Hans, Ann, Rosene and David celebrated communion with our brothers and sisters at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Oaxaca, Mexico. The service was conducted in English. The church has no assigned priest; rather it […]
Singing the Psalms – Nov. 10, 2019
World-renowned bluegrass, folk and Americana singer-songwriter Charles Pettee was our special guest this morning. Charles has set many Psalms to music and shared several of them with us as well as his song about Jesus and feeding the 5,000. You can hear many more FolkPsalms performed by Charles and other fine musicians on this YouTube […]
Interfaith Meal – Nov. 3, 2019
We shared a wonderful meal with our Muslim and Jewish neighbors and drew insights from the rich table practices of these traditions.
Lamentations – Nov. 3, 2019
Lamentations 4:1-9 What did you bring today that you have not said aloud? What corner of sorrow have you left covered? We work without pause, return again to a race for efficiency, too busy to attend to the grief we bury in our chests. So pause here… Pause here among others who have come to […]
The Glory of the Ordinary – Oct. 27, 2019
Ecclesiastes 8:10-15 The book of Ecclesiastes is a strange book to have in our canon. It’s a pessimistic book that veers into sarcasm, and it has no issue telling you exactly how life is in the world. A book for the frustrated and the cynical. It’s comforting to know that the Bible has room for […]
