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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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Delighting in our Love, Understanding our Loneliness – Feb. 20, 2022

February 20, 2022

Susan Scott preaching at RMC on Feb. 20, 2022

Hearing a sermon from the sensuous passages found in the Song of Songs is pretty uncommon. Susan Scott provided an eloquent, humorous and insightful message on just that. What do the words in the Song of Songs teach us about God? For one, that God is not a prude. God is not squeamish or embarrassed […]

Delighting in our Love, Understanding our Loneliness – Feb. 20, 2022

Tagged With: Gospel of John, loneliness, longing, love, Song of Songs, Susan Scott

Yes, Look Up! – Feb. 13, 2022

February 13, 2022

Melissa preaching at RMC on Feb. 13, 2022

Today’s reading from Isaiah 16:1-5 opens us to a moment of a refugee crisis; we are reading about this massive disruption that happens across the Near East. Isaiah says “Like fluttering birds, like scattered nestlings, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.” Due in large part to climate change, so […]

Yes, Look Up! – Feb. 13, 2022

Tagged With: climate change, Don't Look Up, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Tuvalu

Everything God Created is Good – Feb. 6, 2022

February 6, 2022

Melissa preaching at RMC on Feb. 6, 2022

1 Timothy 4:4-5 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. We love family heirlooms not because they are wood or steel or gold but because they are given in love and carry love within them. Your body […]

Everything God Created is Good – Feb. 6, 2022

Tagged With: I Timothy, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Zephanaiah

Bringing relevance to Leviticus – Jan. 30, 2022

January 31, 2022

Rachel preaching at RMC on Jan. 30, 2022

Rachel preached from a passage not often preached about, Leviticus 12:1-8. Leviticus is sometimes a book of the Bible that we need to read multiple times and keep wrestling with. The book spells out in a very nuts and bolts sort of way what it meant for the ancient Israelites to love your neighbor as […]

Bringing relevance to Leviticus – Jan. 30, 2022

Tagged With: gender equity, Gospel of Luke, Leviticus, parental support, Rachel Taylor

The Work of Healing – Jan. 23, 2022

January 24, 2022

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Jan. 23, 2022

Melissa recounts stories of Mennonites in Java–doing harm and learning to do better–as we reflect on what it means to be part of the larger global Christian church on World Anabaptist Sunday. Healing and restoration is always ongoing. We engage in repentance, over and over again, recognizing that this is how the reign of God […]

The Work of Healing – Jan. 23, 2022

Tagged With: Anabaptism, communion, Gospel of Matthew, healing, Indonesia, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler

A Gift in my Father’s House – January 16, 2022

January 16, 2022

We are facing disagreements that are deep, so deep because they’re conflicts about the most important questions facing us, the most significant questions of our faith. And some of us have come to learn that the people we love, who raised us in care and gentleness, are not only absent from the fight against dehumanization […]

A Gift in my Father’s House – January 16, 2022

Christ through the eyes of a child and the poor – Jan 2, 2022

January 2, 2022

Micah decries prophets who cry peace when they have something to eat and declare war against those who put nothing in their mouth. Micah looks out at the justice system and announces his disgust: its rulers give judgments for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money. The mystery […]

Christ through the eyes of a child and the poor – Jan 2, 2022

Tagged With: Christmas, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Micah

Common Things are Made Holy – Dec 26, 2021

December 26, 2021

Melissa spoke of St Ephrem who lived at the start of the fourth century. He was the son of poor farmers, falsely accused and imprisoned. When exonerated he makes his way to a monastery seeking solitude and a life devoted to writing poetry. But during a devastating famine he feels God calling him back to […]

Common Things are Made Holy – Dec 26, 2021

Tagged With: Ephrem, Jesus, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Redeemed from sexism – Dec. 19, 2021

December 22, 2021

Melissa Florer-Bixler preaching Dec. 19, 2021 at RMC.

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, Melissa spoke from 1 Samuel 1:19-28 and Matthew 1:18-25. Both Hannah and Mary faced incredible oppression and ridicule given their situations. But Elkanah and Joseph bear that shame along their wives. Elkanah and Joseph must both transgress the boundaries of their culture. These men recognize the power vested in […]

Redeemed from sexism – Dec. 19, 2021

Tagged With: feminism, Gospel of Matthew, I Samuel, Melissa Florer-Bixler, men, patriarchy, sexism

Giving Voice to the Voiceless – Dec. 12, 2021

December 12, 2021

Brian Recker speaking at RMC on Dec. 12, 2021

Brian Recker provided the sermon on this third Sunday of Advent based on the scripture passages in Judges 13:2-7 and Luke 1:46-56. The writer of Luke doesn’t keep Mary in the margins. Not only do we hear her voice in this passage, this is actually the longest set of words spoken by a woman in […]

Giving Voice to the Voiceless – Dec. 12, 2021

Tagged With: Brian Recker, Gospel of Luke, Judges, marginalized, Mary, women in the Bible

Joyful Resistance – Dec. 5, 2021

December 5, 2021

Melissa exclaiming with a broad smile when preaching at Raleigh Mennonite on Dec. 5, 2021

Elizabeth, herself pregnant, welcomes Mary and offers Mary a blessing. A blessing of resistance to the powers that be. … Read More →

Joyful Resistance – Dec. 5, 2021

Tagged With: Genesis, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Joy, Melissa Florer-Bixler, resistance, women in the Bible, women's prison

The Gift of the Spirit through Baptism – Nov. 21, 2021

November 21, 2021

Melissa preaching at RMC on Nov. 21, 2021

In this final sermon in the fall series on gifts, Melissa preached from Matthew 3:13-17 and Acts 2:1-13. The holy spirit is somehow both a gift and a giver of gifts. One of the awkward parts about Jesus’ baptism is that Jesus does not need to be baptized. Jesus does not need to receive the […]

The Gift of the Spirit through Baptism – Nov. 21, 2021

Tagged With: Acts, baptism, gifts, Gospel of Matthew, Holy Spirit, Melissa Florer-Bixler, water

Gifts Of and For the Body – Nov. 14, 2021

November 14, 2021

Melissa preaching at RMC on Nov. 14, 2021

Melissa continues our fall series on gifts. The scripture from I Corinthians 12 focuses on the gifts that everyone brings to the benefit of the body of Christ. The things the world prizes as powerful–it’s easy to believe that we did that. That we worked hard. That we got that education. We built that skill […]

Gifts Of and For the Body – Nov. 14, 2021

Tagged With: Body of Christ, gifts, Henri Nouwen, I Corinthians, L'Arche, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Life’s gifts – Nov. 7, 2021

November 7, 2021

Melissa preaching on Nov. 7. 2021

Melissa continues the series on gifts, this time speaking from Exodus 16:1-21 and Matthew 6:24-34. Jesus tells us that our lives are more than food and our bodies are more than clothing. Almost the entirety of Jesus’ time on earth is spent fixing and feeding and holding and weeping and walking and exorcising. So do […]

Life’s gifts – Nov. 7, 2021

Tagged With: Exodus, gifts, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

All Saints Day – Oct. 31, 2021

October 31, 2021

Scripture readings; Mathew 1:1-16 and Mathew 22:23-33 Matthew 1:1-16 recites Jesus genealogy ad nauseum. How many begets does it take to tie Jesus to the promise of David and Abraham? If we look closer, Jesus’ lineage is spotty; some ancestors are extraordinarily holy and brave others extraordinarily awful. All shape Jesus and Christianity. The same […]

All Saints Day – Oct. 31, 2021

Tagged With: All Saints Day, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Acts of Love for Our Neighbors? – Oct. 24, 2021

October 24, 2021

Melissa preaching at Raleigh Mennonite, Oct. 24, 2021

Scripture – Luke 10:30-37 Those of us who grew up in the church have heard the story of the Good Samaritan many times. In this continuing series on gifts, Melissa draws fresh insights from the story.

Acts of Love for Our Neighbors? – Oct. 24, 2021

Tagged With: gifts, Good Samaritan, Gospel of Luke, Melissa Florer-Bixler, neighbors

The Gift of Three Stories – Oct. 17, 2021

October 18, 2021

Scripture: Luke 6:20-36 This Sunday we were privileged to hear unique and powerful stories of three different gifts received by individuals in our congregation. Elizabeth K. shared about the gift of a piano she received as a 17-year-old. Nina shared about the gift a foster family provided her when she was growing up–and the colander […]

The Gift of Three Stories – Oct. 17, 2021

Tagged With: Brenda NM, Chrys, Elizabeth K., gifts, Gospel of Luke, Nina, SJ

Is this the place? – Oct. 10, 2021

October 10, 2021

Melissa preaching on Oct. 3, at RMC.

The scripture today from Isaiah 1:1-20 is a prophecy or indictment of those who have much, of those who have excess. It speaks to those who have more than enough with not attending to the needs of the poorest among them. It’s no secret that our air, land and waters face a devastating century, and […]

Is this the place? – Oct. 10, 2021

Tagged With: anti-racism, climate change, gifts, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, sacrifice, Worship

The Giveaway – Oct. 3, 2021

October 5, 2021

Melissa preaching at CGS, Oct. 3, 2021

Scripture: Leviticus 1:1-9 and 14-17 The message begins with Rosene telling a story of a favorite gift she received. This first account of offerings in Leviticus is simply about being a gift, not something to clear feelings of guilt or forgive sins. Its only purpose is for the pleasure of and enjoyment of God. Melissa […]

The Giveaway – Oct. 3, 2021

Tagged With: gifts, Leviticus, Melissa Florer-Bixler, time, wasting time

A Gift or a Bribe? – Sept. 26, 2021

September 26, 2021

Melissa preaching at Shepherd's Hall on Sept. 26, 2021

Melissa continues the series on gifts with the story from Genesis 32 about Jacob meeting his brother Esau after battling with someone all night long. There are parallels between this story and that of Cain and Abel from a few weeks ago. Jacob is under the impression that he can buy anything he wants if […]

A Gift or a Bribe? – Sept. 26, 2021

Tagged With: Genesis, gifts, grace, Jacob, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Giving & Receiving in Disbelief – Sept. 19, 2021

September 25, 2021

Rachel preaching at Shepherd's Hall on Sept. 19, 2021

Rachel brought the message this morning from Genesis 18:1-15, the story of Abraham and Sarah receiving word that she would bear a child even though she was in her nineties. The story follows the arc of many fairy tales, with a few key differences. Isaac was a sheer gift in the midst of the messiness […]

Giving & Receiving in Disbelief – Sept. 19, 2021

Tagged With: Abraham, Genesis, gifts, Rachel Taylor, Sarah

Gifts that aren’t ours to give – Sept. 12, 2021

September 12, 2021

Melissa preaching, holding up one hand, making a point, Sept. 12, 2021

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-16 Cain and Abel gave gifts to God, but they were not gifts for them to give since all they have is already from God. When we hear that God had regard for Abel’s gift of animal parts, but no regard for Cain’s gift of fruit of the land we might ask ourselves, […]

Gifts that aren’t ours to give – Sept. 12, 2021

Tagged With: Genesis, gifts, goodness, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Creation’s Gift – Sept. 5, 2021

September 6, 2021

Melissa preaching on Sept. 5, 2021

Scripture: Genesis 1 & 2 Melissa began her message by sharing the video “Manoomin: Food That Grows on the Water” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eOz8CPW0m0]. The audio is included in this recording. For the Anishinaabe creation is a gift. But it’s also a gift that forms a bond not just between giver and receiver, but between creatures. The concept of […]

Creation’s Gift – Sept. 5, 2021

Tagged With: Creation, Genesis, gifts, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Jesus, the Perfect Gift – Aug. 29, 2021

August 29, 2021

Melissa preaching with arms outstretched and a big smile.

Scripture: John 1 This Sunday we launched a new series on Gifts. The recording starts with a reading from John 1 by Elizabeth and Jackie, then Melissa launches into a story from her early childhood. We want gifts to be unconditional, with no strings attached. But that’s almost impossible for us to accomplish. Human gifts […]

Jesus, the Perfect Gift – Aug. 29, 2021

Tagged With: gifts, Gospel of John, Jesus, Melissa Florer-Bixler

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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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