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Raleigh Mennonite Church

As a Christian community, called to peacemaking and reconciliation, we affirm that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender, who are gay or straight, of any ability, age, or economic status, are welcome to full participation in our congregation.

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Blog

Hard to Find Humor – April 19, 2020

April 20, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Holy Humor Sunday

I Corinthians 15:1-26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. But death is roaring all around us these days in the midst of the pandemic. That makes “Holy Humor Sunday,” a tradition of RMC for the last few years, a lot more difficult right now. But in many ways, our times are much less […]

Hard to Find Humor – April 19, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Easter, holy humor, hope, humor, I Corinthians, Melissa Florer-Bixler

I Have Come for YOU! – April 12, 2020

April 12, 2020

As we celebrated Easter Sunday together via Zoom, Melissa spoke from the Gospel of John’s account of Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples are huddled together, afraid the Roman soldiers will find them and they too will be killed as Jesus was. Every person in the story recounted in this gospel is alone, in the dark. Only […]

I Have Come for YOU! – April 12, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Easter, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Pulling Back the Curtain – April 5, 2020

April 5, 2020

It’s Palm Sunday. Instead of processing around the outside of Hope School as we’ve done the past couple of years, we waved our branches from our homes, worshipping together via Zoom. (See raleighmennonite.org/2020/palm-sunday for a link to the video shared during the service of several RMCers waving branches in front of their homes.) Indeed, things […]

Pulling Back the Curtain – April 5, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday 2020

April 5, 2020

Zoom meeting gallery view with many people online from their own homes.

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 […]

Palm Sunday 2020

Filed Under: Events, Video, Worship Tagged With: COVID-19, Palm Sunday, video, Worship

Fasting from Food Waste – Article in Sojourners

April 3, 2020

Produce rescued from a dumpster.

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 […]

Fasting from Food Waste – Article in Sojourners

Filed Under: Table Tagged With: COVID-19, food rescue, Food waste, Lent, social justice, Sojourners

Walking Toward Suffering

March 29, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom

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 […]

Walking Toward Suffering

Filed Under: Worship Tagged With: Gospel of John, Lazarus, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, suffering

Walking Toward Suffering – March 29, 2020

March 29, 2020

On our third online worship service during the COVID-19 pandemic, Melissa had some technical challenges so presented her message without notes. The scripture was from John 11, the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. When Mary and Martha tell Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died,” Jesus doesn’t […]

Walking Toward Suffering – March 29, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of John, Lazarus, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, suffering

The Inability to See – March 22, 2020

March 28, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom

We all met from our homes via Zoom as the second week apart due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melissa preached from John 9:1-41. This is a time of anxiety and fear, but it’s also a time for us to sift through our own lives and for us to think about what it will be like […]

The Inability to See – March 22, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of John, listening, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Good News at the Margins – March 15, 2020

March 21, 2020

Melissa preaching at Fletcher to a Zoom audience

On this first Sunday we streamed our service rather than meet in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Melissa preached from John 4:5-42. A small group met at Fletcher to lead worship. “These are unusual and difficult times. But these are opportunities for us to both be and to receive good news. To let our […]

Good News at the Margins – March 15, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Samaritan woman

He Visited Me – March 8, 2020

March 8, 2020

Ronda preaching at RMC on March 8, 2020

John 3:1-17 We had the honor of having Ronda Singletary bring the message this morning. Ronda was recently released from the women’s prison and shared her powerful testimony, including poetry that she wrote. The recording starts with Sus Long leading the congregation in the song written by and for the women she has worked with, […]

He Visited Me – March 8, 2020

Tagged With: Gospel of John, Ronda Singletary, Sus Long

Temptations – March 1, 2020

March 1, 2020

Ryan Paige preaching at RMC on March 1, 2020

Matthew 4:1-11 The temptations Jesus encountered shows Jesus was the Messiah. The most god-like thing to do in that moment was to not be godlike and while Jesus had the power to be godlike he chose not to. What would you do in the moment of temptation if you were in Jesus’ position and had […]

Temptations – March 1, 2020

Tagged With: Gospel of Matthew, Lent, power, Ryan Paige, temptation

People v. Rome – then and now – Feb. 23, 2020

February 26, 2020

Melissa Florer-Bixler preaching at RMC service Feb. 2, 2020

Scripture Isaiah 25:6-9Revelation 19:5-10 The secular world enslaves people, in Roman times literally and today through harsh work environments, low wages, unaffordable health care and debt. In Revelation God provokes us to see greed and the hoarding of wealth and align with the poor.

People v. Rome – then and now – Feb. 23, 2020

Communion “Pop-up Seminary” Weekend

February 16, 2020

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 […]

Communion “Pop-up Seminary” Weekend

Filed Under: Uncategorized

One Mennonite’s Perspective on Living into Communion – Feb. 16, 2020

February 16, 2020

Dr. Malinda Berry preaching at RMC on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020

Luke 22:14-23 Our guest preacher this Sunday was Dr. Malinda Berry. This was part of the weekend she spent with us teaching on our Mennonite theology of Communion and how we might create a robust and living theology of table as a local community. Communion helps us connect with each other. Malinda drew in part […]

One Mennonite’s Perspective on Living into Communion – Feb. 16, 2020

Tagged With: A Year at the Table, communion, Gospel of Luke, Living More with Less, Malinda Berry, Mennonite, table, theology

Bread as Life – Feb. 9, 2020

February 9, 2020

Melissa Florer-Bixler preaching at RMC service Feb. 2, 2020

John 6:25-40, I Corinthians 11:23-26, 12:12, 24-27 Melissa continued the series on communion, focusing today on the role of bread. How bread comes to be is significant, from the grains to the yeast that acts as leavening. In many ways, we are bread. How do we break ourselves open to be made whole?How do we […]

Bread as Life – Feb. 9, 2020

Tagged With: A Year at the Table, bread, communion, Gospel of John, I Corinthians, Melissa Florer-Bixler, table

First Sunday at Fletcher Academy

February 4, 2020

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.

First Sunday at Fletcher Academy

Filed Under: Events, Worship Tagged With: fellowship, First Sunday, fletcher, Worship

Last Supper – Feb. 2, 2020

February 4, 2020

Melissa preaches at Fletcher Academy on Feb. 2, 2020, the first Sunday RMC met there.

Matthew 26:17-30 On this first Sunday that we held worship at Fletcher Academy, Melissa recounts the story of the Last Supper, Jesus having Passover with his friends. The account in Matthew spends more time talking about the betrayal by Judas than it does about breaking of the bread and sharing the cup. When we come […]

Last Supper – Feb. 2, 2020

Tagged With: A Year at the Table, communion, Gospel of Matthew, Judas, Melissa Florer-Bixler, passover, table

Here in this Place – Jan. 26, 2020

February 3, 2020

Melissa preaching, holding up hands, Jan. 26, 2020

Matthew 5:21-24 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-26 Melissa reflects on the place where we have worshiped since 1994 and how that has affected us as a community.

Here in this Place – Jan. 26, 2020

Tagged With: building, community, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Last day at Building for Hope…at least for now

February 1, 2020

Congregational singing led by Rosene and David on Jan. 26, 2020

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. […]

Last day at Building for Hope…at least for now

Filed Under: Events, Service, Worship Tagged With: hope, move, Worship

What happens after communion?

February 1, 2020

Two people sharing unique communion elements in El Salvador.

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 […]

What happens after communion?

Filed Under: Table Tagged With: A Year at the Table, Christian base communities, communion, community, El Salvador, history, Luther, peace, sara-wenger-shenk, social justice, table, Zwingli

De-mummification of Rigid Communion Ritual

February 1, 2020

Delegation around dinner table planning El Salvador itinerary

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 […]

De-mummification of Rigid Communion Ritual

Filed Under: Table Tagged With: A Year at the Table, baptism, Christian base communities, communion, community, El Salvador, hospitality, Laurel Marshall, liberation-theology, table

Communion and Hospitality

February 1, 2020

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 […]

Communion and Hospitality

Filed Under: Table Tagged With: A Year at the Table, Christian base communities, communion, community, El Salvador, hospitality, table

Radical Hospitality

January 31, 2020

The El Salvador delegation with hosts from the El Rodeo community.

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, […]

Radical Hospitality

Filed Under: Table Tagged With: Christian base communities, communion, community, El Salvador

Communion as Solidarity

January 30, 2020

A sign in Spanish in front of a church.

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 […]

Communion as Solidarity

Filed Under: Table Tagged With: A Year at the Table, Christian base communities, communion, El Salvador, Intercultural, social justice, solidarity, war

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Raleigh NC 27611
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We are hosting our worship services on Zoom for the foreseeable future during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact us if you'd like to join.

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