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Raleigh Mennonite Church

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Advent

Guide Our Feet, Lord – Dec. 22, 2024

December 22, 2024

Emily Alexander preaches

Luke 6: 17-36 Our intern Emily Alexander preaches from the Gospel of Luke on the final week of Advent, as we ready ourselves to celebrate the good news of Christ’s kingdom arriving. In this passage, Jesus is trying to get his followers accustomed to a radically new kind of kingdom philosophy. He inverts the natural […]

Guide Our Feet, Lord – Dec. 22, 2024

Tagged With: Advent, Emily Alexander, Gospel of Luke, Kingdom living

Who I am not – Dec. 17, 2023

December 19, 2023

Black and white drawing of a candle with background illuminated by the flame.

John 1:6-8, 19-28 and Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 On this third Sunday of Advent, Melissa shared about a list of “I am nots” that she made this week. John the Baptist knew who he was not, and who he was. Think about (or make) your own lists of “I am nots.” How does that sentence end? […]

Who I am not – Dec. 17, 2023

Tagged With: Advent, Gospel of John, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Reorienting Time – Dec. 10, 2023

December 10, 2023

Melissa preaching with her hand raised outward. A star-patterned quilt is behind her.

Mark 1:1-8 and Isaiah 40:1-11 On this second Sunday of Advent, Melissa reflects on our relentless focus on time; our need for efficiency. Time is invented; we made it up. Advent invites us into a different pace of time, a pace we call “Waiting.” Time’s first purpose was to be loved by God.

Reorienting Time – Dec. 10, 2023

Tagged With: Advent, Gospel of Mark, Isaiah, L'Arche, Melissa Florer-Bixler, time, wasting time

Leaning into Fear – Dec. 3, 2023

December 3, 2023

Melissa, holding her hands out while preaching on Dec. 3, 2023.

Isaiah 64:1-9 On this first Sunday of Advent, Melissa acknowledged that there is so much in our lives, in our world, to be afraid of. We are not in control of the world. We are vulnerable beyond our imagining. Somehow though, God is at work in this Apocalypse. She told the story, among others, of […]

Leaning into Fear – Dec. 3, 2023

Tagged With: Advent, fear, Gospel of Mark, Isaiah, 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

Called Out – Dec. 13, 2020

December 14, 2020

Hans with a scarf over his head and candlesticks behind him.

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & John 1:6-8, 19-28 – On the Road to Restoration During Advent the sermon again began with a monologue. This Sunday Hans told the story of a person at the temple who witnessed the questioning of John the Baptist by the Sadducees and Pharisees. Melissa gave witness to activities taking place […]

Called Out – Dec. 13, 2020

Tagged With: Advent, COVID-19, Gospel of John, Hans Linnartz, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Prophet

Preparing for the Journey – Nov. 29, 2020

December 8, 2020

Janet Fields portraying a woman preparing for a journey in biblical times.

After the scripture was read from Isaiah 64:1-9 and Mark 13:24-37, Janet Fields provided a monologue for the first Sunday of Advent. Melissa followed that with a short homily and then invited congregants to participate in the sermon by sharing a story of a journey they prepared for. How do we get ready during this […]

Preparing for the Journey – Nov. 29, 2020

Tagged With: Advent, COVID-19, Gospel of Mark, Isaiah, journey, preparation

Mary: The Paper Doll Project

November 16, 2020

Three life-size depictions of Mary.

This Advent we are delighted to host Carole Baker’s art installation, Mary: The Paper Doll Project. Baker created four life-size Marys representing four Marian visitations from around the world. This exhibit is interactive as the outer garments are interchangeable. You’ll be able to change them, just like a giant paper doll. Baker created the exhibit to explore the universality and particularity of […]

Mary: The Paper Doll Project

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Advent, COVID-19, Mary, Paper Doll Project

Advent wreath making

November 9, 2020

A green wreath with berries and the words inside it, Advent wreath workshop

On Nov 22, from 2-5 we’ll have an Advent wreath making workshop.  We’ll use those wreaths as part of Zoom worship throughout Advent.  We’ll be outdoors, in the circle drive in front of Church of the Good Shepherd. We’ll have six tables each session. Each table can hold one group of 3+, or two smaller groups (couples or singles). Our […]

Advent wreath making

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Advent, COVID-19, workshop, wreath

Adoption – Dec. 22, 2019

January 5, 2020

Melissa preaching at RMC on Oct. 27, 2019

Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25 Even though Joseph is not Jesus’ biological father, Jesus becomes a part of Joseph’s story; the inheritor and adopted child of the whole line of God’s promises. Our story as Christians is also one of adoption. We were destined for adoption as God’s children through Jesus Christ.

Adoption – Dec. 22, 2019

Tagged With: adoption, Advent, Gospel of Matthew, Joseph, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Fulfilled – Filled Up – Dec. 8, 2019

December 8, 2019

Melissa preaching at RMC on Oct. 27, 2019

Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3:1-12 On this second Sunday of Advent, Melissa told us, “this is a season to be shaken up and shaken out.” Christians have a profound failure to live out the Gospel, but we’re also attuned to our failure. We require outside intervention and Jesus comes through an intervention of love. It’s […]

Fulfilled – Filled Up – Dec. 8, 2019

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

An Advent Story – Dec. 23, 2018

December 23, 2018

Rachel preaching July 15, 2018

Rachel tells the story of William Kamkwamba, a boy in Malawi whose family faced starvation due to extreme drought. Ultimately a story of resilience and hope, along with creativity and ingenuity, what makes this an Advent story is because of the faithfulness and trust in the midst of incredible adversity. We may be longing for […]

An Advent Story – Dec. 23, 2018

Tagged With: Advent, hunger, Luke, Micah, Rachel Taylor, William Kamkwamba

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Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-831-2969

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