Isaiah 42:1-9, Matthew 3:13-17 Phil Jackson was our guest speaker this Sunday, retelling the story of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Would you have gone out to hear John in the wilderness? Many people went out to hear this guy preach and teach. Jesus was among those who went to where John was preaching. […]
Dying to Live – Jan. 4, 2026
Matthew 2:1-12 On this Epiphany Sunday Susan began with a portrayal of the wise men’s perspective crafted by Frederick Buechner. Why did the magi follow the star to where Jesus was? “To be wise is to be eternally curious.” Is to live without Christ the real death, and to die with him the only life? […]
A Tabernacle Among Us – Dec. 21, 2025
John 1: 1-18 Susan Scott reminded us of a powerful image from this week’s scripture in John where Jesus became flesh and “tabernacled with us.” Jumping back in time to Exodus, God instructs the chosen people in great detail on how to build a portable tabernacle, a sanctuary, for God to dwell in, but only […]
We Make Scarcity from Abundance – Dec. 14, 2025
Isaiah 55:1-13 Buy it quick before it runs out! One day sale only! Maybe I should get two just in case. We are trained from an early age by society and by advertising to fear that if we don’t purchase something, it will not be available to us in the future or at that price, […]
New Hope from Dry Bones – Dec. 7, 2025
John 11:14-27 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Susan Scott’s sermon starts us with Israel’s period of exile in Babylon, where Jerusalem has fallen, the temple is destroyed, and the people feel like God has abandoned them without hope. Ezekiel reminds the Israelites that God has not forgotten them. God keenly knows their suffering and Showed Ezekiel a vision […]
Courage under Fire – Nov. 30, 2025
Daniel 3:1, 8-30 Due to some technical issues, the beginning of Susan’s sermon was cut off. On this first Sunday of Advent 2025, we were introduced to the theme for Advent: “Be Amazed!” This week’s focus was on the three youths, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to bow down to the image of King […]
An Attitude of Gratitude
2 Timothy 1:3-7, Philippians 1:3-4,7 Ann Robertson brought the message this Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. She reminded us of the importance of being grateful for the people in our lives who have made a difference and reflected on the ways that gratitude benefits us. Ann also provided some solutions to address times when we might […]
Gratitude with the Turkey – Nov. 16, 2025
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 As we approach Thanksgiving, Susan provided suggestions for how to live into a life of gratitude. The book of Thessalonians is said to be the oldest writing in the new testament. The letter is written to a church facing persecution, with the people fearing for their lives. Yet the writer tells them […]
Overflow… – Nov. 9, 2025
Proverbs 3:9-17 Our guest speaker this Sunday was Franco Salvatori, an Everence stewardship consultant. Due to flight cancellations he couldn’t be with us in person, so he shared his message via Zoom. Consumerism is a unifying religion in America. It’s the thing that makes you wish you just had more. But as Christ’s followers we’re […]
Underlying Assumptions – Nov. 2, 2025
Ephesians 1: 15-23 Ephesians 3: 14-21 When you pray to God, what underlying assumptions about God do you bring to the interaction? Do you believe God to be: loving? trustworthy? concerned with your life? These assumptions, and honestly our biases, fundamentally shape how we pray, the nature of our prayer life, and a good portion […]
The “Politics” of Jesus – Oct. 26, 2025
Matthew 4: 8-10 Mauricio Chenlo preached on Satan’s temptation of Christ, offering him all of the kingdoms of the world. Similarly, often we depend on the kingdoms of the world to deliver the kingdom of God. Mauricio related his experiences growing up in Argentina where he experienced Christian faith expressed in the nation’s politics swing […]
Stubborn, Prayerful Hope – Oct. 19, 2025
Luke 18: 1-8 Susan Scott preached on the unusual prayer practices of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus was steeped in the prayers of the Jewish people, but Luke recounts that he Jesus instructed his followers to pray in a different way, including for those that persecute you. The prayers of Jesus in Luke […]
When Things are Awful – Oct. 5, 2025
Habakkuk 1: 1-4 Susan Scott preached on World Communion Sunday and reminded us that regardless of our various religious journeys, national origins, denominations, and worship practices (including the incarcerated who cannot choose their mode of worship), that we are all a part of larger Christian Church family that is striving to follow the teachings of […]
Meeting at the Table – Sept. 21, 2025
Mark 14:16-26, Isaiah 25:6-8 Susan spoke this Sunday about something Christians universally practice and everyone maintains is important in some way: the Lord’s Supper. Also called Communion, the Eucharist or the Mass. She painted three word pictures for us that could provide a greater appreciation for what we’re doing at the table: a Passover meal, […]
Formation in the Rubble of Loss – Sept. 14, 2025
Lamentations 3:17-26 This Sunday Melissa Rogati shared from her personal story of lament and dealing with a dark period in her life. It’s very uncomfortable to be in that place. As humans, we don’t like being there. But as she came to eventually realize, God is in the dark too! It’s us who feel discomfort […]
A brief history of Gifts Discernment – Sept. 7, 2025
I Corinthians 12:4-13 Following the summer time of gifts discernment, each September Raleigh Mennonite recognizes the many volunteers who help make the church function. This Sunday Susan provided a brief overview of church history and how Mennonites incorporated the concept of the “priesthood of all believers” as a fundamental tenet of our faith and community […]
Dramatic Readings – Aug. 31, 2025
Luke 10: 25-28 This week volunteers from the RMC congregation shared dramatic readings, acting out some of the experiences of the founding figures in Anabaptist/Mennonite history that suffered persecution and even martyrdom. This continues our series celebrating 500 years of Anabaptism. The sincere faith and devotion of these individuals to Anabaptist principles are a source […]
A Lens of Love – Aug. 24, 2025
Ephesians 2: 14-22 RMC’s Leah Weaver preached this week on her own faith story and her history with the Mennonite Church (and RMC specifically). Throughout her time as a youth at RMC, she experienced the love of a “second” family and received inspiration from many members whose lives and ministries demonstrated the love of Christ […]
Indonesian Mennonites – Aug. 17, 2025
1 Peter 2: 11-17 RMC’s Hans Linnartz shared from the pulpit last week about the inspiring story of the formation of the Mennonite Church in Indonesia. The ideal of nonviolence is difficult to achieve in the best of circumstances, but the slowly growing Mennonite Church in Indonesia had to overcome challenges from the Dutch colonial […]
The Stories That Shape Our Lives – Aug 10, 2025
Luke 1: 26-38 Susan Scott preached today for the first time as RMC’s interim pastor. Susan shared stories from her life’s journey and the bible stories that meant the most to her at these most critical and formative parts of her life. With this act of sharing Susan also invites us as well to examine […]
Love one another as I have loved you – July 27, 2025
John 15:9-17 On this last Sunday of Melissa’s pastoral ministry with us at RMC, she spoke from this scripture passage that Jesus shares with his disciples toward the end of his ministry. Unlike clubs and societies, the foundation of our friendship as the church isn’t a shared interest, but a shared good. Friends pursue the […]
Creatively Reordering Stories – July 20, 2025
Luke 10:38-42 This Sunday Elizabeth Korver-Glenn shares of the dearth of information she was able to find about early Black and Brown Mennonite leaders, with an even greater lack of any details about Black and Brown Mennonite women. She found brief information about Phoebe Sheela Bisahu Solomon and Rowena Lark in the archives of Mennonite […]
Storytelling: The Good Samaritan – July 13, 2025
Luke 10:25-37 This summer at RMC we’re focusing on telling stories of hope from the Bible. Katie Mangum was our guest speaker this Sunday and shared reflections on one of the most common and beloved of Jesus’ parables, that of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ parables can be frustrating, since many don’t have clear meanings. Even […]
Soft Heart, Hard Feet – June 29, 2025
Luke 16: 1-9 RMC’s Susan Scott preached this week on what Jesus was trying to do when he spoke in parables. The parables Jesus spoke in are often confusing, indirect, and seldom leave the listener with clear answers to their questions. Why won’t Jesus get to the point? However, this storytelling tactic forces the listener […]
























