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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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Spirit Empowered Community – May 28, 2023

May 28, 2023

Scripture: John 20:19-23; Acts 2:1-21 On this Pentecost Sunday we also celebrated the birthday of Raleigh Mennonite and the annual renewal of our covenant together. We take time to remember that we’ve said “yes” to showing up for one another. There’s no rule book for how to do this. The only tools we’re given to […]

Spirit Empowered Community – May 28, 2023

Tagged With: Acts, community, Gospel of John, Holy Spirit, Melissa Florer-Bixler, peace, Pentecost

Doing the work to which we were called – May 21, 2023

May 25, 2023

Casey Stanton preaching at Raleigh Mennonite on May 21, 2023.

Scripture: John 17:1-11 We were privileged to have Casey Stanton provide the message this Sunday. Casey is co-director of Discerning Deacons, a project serving the Catholic Church through active discernment around women and the diaconate. Called to be active in promoting change within the Catholic Church, Casey called all of us to do the work […]

Doing the work to which we were called – May 21, 2023

Tagged With: called, Casey Stanton, Catholic, Discerning Deacons, Gospel of John

Abiding – May 14, 2023

May 16, 2023

Father Jemonde Taylor and Pastor Melissa prepare communion at St. Ambrose Church

This was a unique Sunday when Raleigh Mennonite joined St. Ambrose Episcopal for a joint worship service in St. Ambrose’s sanctuary. Father Jemonde Taylor and Pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler brought a dialogical sermon from the gospel reading in John 14:15-21. During Lent the choirs from both churches joined together to learn about and sing songs from […]

Abiding – May 14, 2023

Tagged With: abide, blackness, Gospel of John, Jemonde Taylor, Melissa Florer-Bixler, racism, trust, white supremacy

Marshmallow Prayers – May 7, 2023

May 8, 2023

Susan Scott preaching at RMC on May 8, 2023

Susan provided the message this Sunday from John 14:1-14 Jesus tells his disciples to, “Ask for anything in my name and I will give it.” That offer needs to be looked at in context!

Marshmallow Prayers – May 7, 2023

Tagged With: Gospel of John, prayer, Susan Scott

The Way Through – April 30, 2023

May 1, 2023

Our guest speaker this Sunday was Ian McPherson, from Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. Chrys introduced him before he spoke from the lectionary passage of John 10:1-10. We often hear of Jesus referred to as the good shepherd. But in this passage, Jesus first refers to himself twice as “the gate.” “Christ’s in-breaking into our world […]

The Way Through – April 30, 2023

Tagged With: Gospel of John, Ian McPherson, shepherd, the gate, together

We are Bread – April 23, 2023

April 23, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on April 23, 2023

Melissa preached from Luke 24:13-35 on this third Sunday of Easter. Bread weaves a thread through the pages of scripture. Bread is a character in our salvation story. Even though they had talked at length with this stranger, it wasn’t until the two traveling on the road to Emmaus sat and broke bread with Jesus […]

We are Bread – April 23, 2023

Tagged With: beloved, bread, communion, Gospel of Luke, Melissa Florer-Bixler

While it was still dark – April 9, 2023

April 10, 2023

On this Easter morning Melissa preached from John 20:1-18. Early on the first morning, while it was still dark, there was sweat and adrenaline and weeping. It has been three days since the crucifixion. Three days since they took his body down from the cross, and sealed it inside a cave with a massive boulder. […]

While it was still dark – April 9, 2023

Tagged With: darkness, Easter, Gospel of John, light, Mary Magdalene, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Dangerous Parties – April 2, 2023

April 4, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on Sunday, April 2, 2023

Melissa spoke from Matthew 21:1-11 on this Palm Sunday. She shared the story of one of her favorite parties she has been a part of, when women were released from jail after their bond was paid by members of SONG. “When I see the women with radiant faces celebrating their freedom, I am there with […]

Dangerous Parties – April 2, 2023

Tagged With: empire, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Palm Sunday, parties, song

No One Needs to Know You’re a Chicken – March 26, 2023

March 29, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on March 26, 2023.

On this fifth Sunday of Lent Melissa preached from Romans 8:6-11. Our bodies are not neutral. We are formed by environments, constrained or freed, or subjected to housing laws and legal decisions, physical borders, corporations. Our bodies, our racialized bodies, our aging bodies, our gendered bodies, these are formed by forces much larger than our […]

No One Needs to Know You’re a Chicken – March 26, 2023

Tagged With: Lent, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

Seeing & Not Believing – March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on March 19, 2023, with a quilt behind her and a plant and stalks of brown grass and wheat on a table in front of her.

On this fourth Sunday of Lent Melissa preached from John 9:1-41 and Romans 5:1-11. The story of Jesus healing the man who was born blind, and the subsequent questioning by the Pharisees illustrates the difference between being cured and being healed. After he gains his sight, he is repeatedly questioned by the people in power […]

Seeing & Not Believing – March 19, 2023

Tagged With: blind, Gospel of John, grace, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

Confession and Sin – March 12, 2023

March 14, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on March 12, 2023 in front of a quilted wall hanging.

On this third Sunday of Lent, Melissa spoke from Romans 5:1-11. Most of our sins aren’t interesting or dangerous. They’re mostly petty and boring and cruel. We short change both the chasm of our failings and the grace of God when we limit the scope of our sins to doing bad things. Our sins are […]

Confession and Sin – March 12, 2023

Tagged With: confession, Lent, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans, Sin

Questions of Identity – March 5, 2023

March 5, 2023

Melissa preaching at Raleigh Mennonite in front of a quilted wall hanging.

On this second Sunday of Lent Melissa preached from Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, weaving in basketball with the ongoing theme of confession, along with talking about community and identity. What if our identity isn’t a story about heroics or world-changing? What if the only way to tell each other apart is that we forgive each other?

Questions of Identity – March 5, 2023

Tagged With: community, confession, Identity, Lent, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

Making God into Something Else – Feb. 26, 2023

February 27, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on Feb. 26, 2023 in front of a quilted wall hanging.

On this first Sunday of Lent, Melissa preached from Genesis 2:15-17 & 3:1-7 and Romans 5:12-19. During this season we are focusing our time and attention toward “confession.” We have varied experiences with confessions. Confession is when we come clean, when we tell the truth about who we are. We are not God!

Making God into Something Else – Feb. 26, 2023

Tagged With: Genesis, Lent, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

Shut up and Listen! – Feb. 19, 2023

February 20, 2023

Susan preaching at Raleigh Mennonite in front of a quilted background, Feb. 20, 2023.

Susan Scott spoke from Matthew 17:1-9, which shares the experience of Jesus and three of his disciples going up into a mountain where they meet Moses and Elijah. In that interchange Jesus’s divine nature is revealed, with God appearing in a cloud, claiming Jesus as God’s beloved Son, telling the disciples to listen to him. […]

Shut up and Listen! – Feb. 19, 2023

Tagged With: disciples, Gospel of Matthew, listening, Susan Scott, transfiguration

The heart of the matter – Feb. 12, 2023

February 13, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on Feb. 12, 2023

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-37 Today we’re listening to Jesus challenge our misconceptions about what this Jesus-centered life is that we have chosen to live. If you’re here because you’re trying to find a behavior modification program to make you more moral, this is not the right place. Jesus is actually interested in the heart of the […]

The heart of the matter – Feb. 12, 2023

Tagged With: Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler, new life, patriarchy, power

Salt & Light – Feb. 5, 2023

February 6, 2023

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-20 Melissa asked the congregation to help shape the sermon and interpret scripture together in this message about the oft-heard passage of the church being the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Salt & Light – Feb. 5, 2023

Tagged With: congregation, Gospel of Matthew, light, Melissa Florer-Bixler, salt, sharing

What’s it mean to be a Mennonite at RMC? – Jan. 23, 2023

January 23, 2023

Collage of four images: in the upper left a globe with cross in it, Karina in upper right, John in lower right and Christina in the lower left, each speaking at Raleigh Mennonite on Jan. 23, 2023

Scripture: Luke 18:35-43, I Peter 1:3-6 On this Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday Karina Gonzalez, John Frye and Christina Hershey each shared a bit of their journeys and what it means to them to be Mennonite and part of this community. John’s sharing included several slides.

What’s it mean to be a Mennonite at RMC? – Jan. 23, 2023

Tagged With: Anabaptism, Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday, Christina Hershey, community, John Frye, Karina Gonzalez, Mennonite

Three Doorways to the Holy Spirit – Jan. 15, 2023

January 15, 2023

Photos of two very different depictions of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.

Scripture: John 1:29-42 Melissa shares about Jesus’ baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit through three different encounters: two icon images and a video. The Holy Spirit is frequently an under-considered member of the trinity, an afterthought. Feel free to participate in this visio divina by studying the icons as you listen to the sermon […]

Three Doorways to the Holy Spirit – Jan. 15, 2023

Tagged With: baptism, Gospel of John, icons, images, John the Baptist, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Theophany, video, visio divina

Poetry & Song on Epiphany Sunday – Jan. 8, 2023

January 15, 2023

Nine member vocal ensemble singing at Raleigh Mennonite

The service on Epiphany Sunday was filled with poetry and singing. Featured in this recording:

Poetry & Song on Epiphany Sunday – Jan. 8, 2023

Tagged With: Epiphany, poetry, song

Jesus’ Early Life: God Incarnate – Jan. 1, 2023

January 1, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on Jan. 1, 2023

Matthew 2:13-23 Scripture doesn’t tell us a lot about Jesus’ early life, when God became a human baby. The story at the beginning of his life will form the whole rest of the story. It turns out that what it means to be God is actually what it means to be perfectly human, to love […]

Jesus’ Early Life: God Incarnate – Jan. 1, 2023

Tagged With: Christmas, Gospel of Matthew, human, incarnation, Jesus, Melissa Florer-Bixler

You shall name him Immanuel – Dec. 18, 2022

December 18, 2022

Melissa preaching from home via Zoom on Dec. 18, 2022

Scripture: Isaiah 7: 10-16, Matthew 1: 18-25 Melissa preached from home since she had a child with COVID. We continue to hear from the prophecies in Isaiah on this fourth Sunday of Advent. God rolls God’s eyes at Ahaz because of Ahaz’s reluctance to listen to God. And God sends a token that Ahaz doesn’t […]

You shall name him Immanuel – Dec. 18, 2022

Tagged With: Advent, Gospel of Matthew, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, prophecy

Pushing Beyond Utility to Beauty – Dec. 11, 2022

December 11, 2022

Melissa preaching at RMC on Dec. 11, 2022

Scriptures: Isaiah 35:1-10 and Matthew 11:2-11 How does one tie in excitement about the World Cup with the third Sunday of Advent? Leave it to Melissa!

Pushing Beyond Utility to Beauty – Dec. 11, 2022

Tagged With: ableism, Advent, beauty, disabilities, Expectations, Gospel of Matthew, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, restoration

Holding Out for Hope – Dec. 4, 2022

December 6, 2022

Susan preaching at RMC on Dec. 4, 2022

On this second Sunday of Advent, the anticipation of Christ’s arrival, Susan Scott provided the message based on Isaiah 11:1-10. Most of us have plenty of light, hope and joy in our lives, but certainly it can be a struggle at times. Where in your life do you need to hold on to hope?

Holding Out for Hope – Dec. 4, 2022

Tagged With: Advent, hope, Isaiah, Susan Scott

Ain’t Gonna Study War No More – Nov. 27, 2022

November 27, 2022

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5 Melissa began her sermon on this first Sunday of Advent by sharing a rendition of Down by the Riverside by Rosetta Tharpe. In the Isaiah passage, God paints a picture for Isaiah of a world where tools of war become obsolete. That is a pretty bold vision for people locked into a […]

Ain’t Gonna Study War No More – Nov. 27, 2022

Tagged With: Advent, Down by the riverside, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, spirituals, war

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Mailing Address
& Meeting Location

121 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-831-2969

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COVID-19 Update

We are worshipping in person at our downtown Raleigh location at Church of the Good Shepherd. While masks are not required, we ask everyone to be considerate of others’ COVID-related boundaries. We are continuing to provide the service via Zoom for those who are not able to join us in person. Please contact us if you'd like the Zoom connection information.

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