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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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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

The Offensiveness of Jesus – Aug. 22, 2021

August 22, 2021

Melissa preaching at Shepherd's Hall Aug. 22, 2021

Scripture: John 6:56-69 Melissa reminds us that a lot of what Jesus did during his ministry on earth pushed all sorts of boundaries. At times he was downright offensive. The people on the other side of Jesus’ offenses are those who had lost their bearing. Following Jesus is not an orderly set of rules. Rather, […]

The Offensiveness of Jesus – Aug. 22, 2021

Tagged With: chosen, disciples, Gospel of John, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, offensive

The Fleshiness of the Gospel – Aug. 15, 2021

August 16, 2021

Melissa preaching at RMC, Aug. 15, 2021, with her hands reaching out.

Scripture: John 6:51-58 Our English translation of the text for today’s sermon doesn’t quite get at the graphicness of the passage. “If you do not ‘gnaw on the body of Christ and drink his blood, you have no life in you,” is a more accurate translation from the Greek. Whatever spiritualizing we want to bring […]

The Fleshiness of the Gospel – Aug. 15, 2021

Tagged With: Bartolomé de Las Casas, communion, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

A New Space, A New Day – Aug. 8, 2021

August 9, 2021

Melissa Florer-Bixler preaching Aug. 8, 2021 at Shepherd's Hall.

Scripture: Psalm 66 This Sunday marked the first time meeting in person since March 2020, and the first time together at Shepherd’s Hall, where we are sharing space with Church of the Good Shepherd in downtown Raleigh. As people who are trying to follow the teachings of Jesus, we don’t have to make the kingdom […]

A New Space, A New Day – Aug. 8, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, hope, Joy, kingdom, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Psalm

Giving Voice to Bathsheba – July 25, 2021

July 25, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on July 25, 2021

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-12:13 Melissa tackles this difficult passage about the sexual violence carried out by a powerful king, the kind of king that God had warned the Israelites about when they had cried out for someone to rule over them. There’s something else for us to learn about the structure of sexual violence in […]

Giving Voice to Bathsheba – July 25, 2021

Tagged With: 2 Samuel, Bathsheba, David, Melissa Florer-Bixler, power, sexual assault

Jesus keeps showing up – July 18, 2021

July 18, 2021

Melissa preaching from home, July 18, 2021

Scripture: Mark 6:34-56 Melissa’s sermon recounts this passage from Mark in three parts, focusing on Jesus meeting the disciples on the lake as they were struggling to row against a strong headwind. Jesus repeatedly meets the disciples in the midst of their exhaustion. He repeatedly knew their needs before they themselves knew them. Just as […]

Jesus keeps showing up – July 18, 2021

Tagged With: good news, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, rest

Living a Little More Like John the Baptist – July 11, 2021

July 11, 2021

Alicia T. Crosby preaching to Raleigh Mennonite on July 11, 2021

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29 Our guest speaker this morning was Alicia T. Crosby. As Chrys noted in the introduction, Alicia was not able to be with us live in our Zoom worship, but nonetheless her recorded sermon resonated with those gathered. The same God who abided with John the Baptist in today’s scripture abides with you. […]

Living a Little More Like John the Baptist – July 11, 2021

Tagged With: Alicia T. Crosby, Gospel of Mark, John the Baptist

Faith & Fear – June 20, 2021

June 21, 2021

Daniel Crowe preaching on Zoom, June 20, 2021

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 Daniel Crowe provided this Sunday’s message. Making decisions can be difficult and involves a certain amount of risk. Things don’t always turn out the way we want them to. After calming the seas during a terrible storm, Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you have no faith?” Daniel […]

Faith & Fear – June 20, 2021

Tagged With: Daniel Crowe, faith, fear, Gospel of Mark, Les Miserables, uncertainty

Anointed to be heroes – June 13, 2021

June 13, 2021

Chalice Overy preaching on June 13, 2021 from Shepherd's Hall

Scripture: I Samuel 15:34-16:13 Rev. Chalice Overy, associate pastor at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, was our guest speaker this Sunday. The story of Samuel anointing David is a good hero story. However, it also points out our biases, or expectations, for who is fit for leadership. But most hero stories also miss something; all the […]

Anointed to be heroes – June 13, 2021

Tagged With: anointed, Chalice Overy, heroes, I Samuel

Jesus schools Nicodemus – May 30, 2021

June 4, 2021

John 3:3 “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” We’ve studied this passage and listened to sermons. We understand Jesus is telling Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit. That by accepting Jesus we are filled with the Holy Spirit and gain eternal life. But Nicodemus […]

Jesus schools Nicodemus – May 30, 2021

Tagged With: born again, Gospel of John, John, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Nicodemus

Spirit of the Hush Harbors – May 23, 2021

May 24, 2021

Melissa preaching from new worship space on May 23, 2021

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 On this Pentecost Sunday Melissa told a story about the sanctuaries in wooded areas called hush harbors where enslaved people would gather to worship in freedom, away from their enslavers and overseers. Pentecost is not a call to action. It’s a description of the Spirit’s work. What have we become as the […]

Spirit of the Hush Harbors – May 23, 2021

Tagged With: church, Holy Spirit, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Pentecost, sanctuary, slavery

Ascending Time – May 16, 2021

May 16, 2021

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 & I John 5:9-13 It’s Ascension Sunday though Jesus’ ascension is actually commemorated on a Thursday on the church calendar. Interestingly, that’s one of the few days of the year that Amish and Old Order Mennonites take time off from work. For them it’s a time to remember those who were left […]

Ascending Time – May 16, 2021

Tagged With: Ascension, COVID-19, I John, Melissa Florer-Bixler, time

God is Love – May 9, 2021

May 16, 2021

Melissa preaching from her office, May 9, 2021

Scripture: Psalm 27: 1-5 & 1 John 4: 7-21 When we depend on a set of rules to live our lives we see ourselves as creatures who can determine our own goodness, instead of what we actually are, which is recipients of grace. As creatures of grace we are confronted by our inability to love […]

God is Love – May 9, 2021

Tagged With: Bees, COVID-19, I John, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler

We believe with our bodies – April 25, 2021

April 25, 2021

Melissa preaching at CGS on Zoom, April 25, 2021

Scripture: I John 3:16-24 Melissa preached for the first time from our new meeting space at Church of the Good Shepherd in downtown Raleigh while most of us were still tuning in via Zoom. Following Jesus isn’t about fancy beliefs, personal piety or a checklist of beliefs. Whenever we have the ability to aid one […]

We believe with our bodies – April 25, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, George Floyd, I John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

A weighty love – April 18, 2021

April 18, 2021

Melissa preaching from her home via Zoom on April 18, 2021

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-7 This Sunday Melissa began a series on I John. Many people are leaving the institutional church. Why is it that we have difficulty identifying with the term “Christian” or have some anxiety about it? The gap is between who Jesus is and how Jesus’ followers act in the world. “This is […]

A weighty love – April 18, 2021

Tagged With: Christian, church, COVID-19, I John, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Holy Humor: Surprising with Joy – April 11, 2021

April 11, 2021

Hans in a gladiator helmet giving the homily on April 11, 2021

Scripture: John 20:19-31 On this “Holy Humor Sunday,” our Sermonator, aka Hans Linnartz, provided an explanation of different types of humor and read the story of Jesus appearing among the disciples after his resurrection from the “Implified Version” of the Gospel of John. The best humor is the best humor when it surprises us with […]

Holy Humor: Surprising with Joy – April 11, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, doubt, Gospel of John, Hans Linnartz, holy humor, miracles, Thomas

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Mailing Address
& Meeting Location

121 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-831-2969

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Masks are no longer required at in-person services and events. But we are mask-friendly and fully supportive of visitors, members and service leaders who choose to wear masks for their own personal protection. Those who can’t attend in person still have the option of attending by Zoom. Please contact us if you'd like the Zoom connection information.

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