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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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COVID-19

First Sunday Back Indoors In Person!

August 13, 2021

congregation sitting in chairs facing Melissa who is preaching at the front of the hall.

Just as the COVID-19 delta variant is picking up steam, we met in person for the first time at our new location, Shepherd’s Hall at Church of the Good Shepherd on August 8. We started sharing space with them this summer and Melissa has an office in their office suite. It was great to worship […]

First Sunday Back Indoors In Person!

Filed Under: Worship Tagged With: Church of the Good Shepherd, COVID-19, Shepherd's Hall, Worship, Zoom

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

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

Palms not Guns – March 28, 2021

March 31, 2021

Melissa holding up a jar during Zoom service March 28, 2021

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 Melissa reflected on the strange triumph and sorrow and hope mixed together that people in El Salvador might be feeling. Palm Sunday of 1980 was the funeral for Archbishop Oscar Romero. He died because he took the side of the poor during the conflict that lead up to the Salvadorans Civil War. […]

Palms not Guns – March 28, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, El Salvador, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Oscar Romero, Palm Sunday, power

Telling the Truth – March 21, 2021

March 21, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on March 21, 2021

Scripture: John 12:23-32, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12 God is in the midst of the messiness of human life. Rather than a prescription for how to live, the psalms provide a description of God’s presence in that messiness. Psalm 51 describes David telling the truth about his sin. There’s no getting out of the work of […]

Telling the Truth – March 21, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Psalm, truth

Eternal Life Begins Now – March 14, 2021

March 14, 2021

Tripp holding a croqueted replica of the Covid-19 virus while preaching.

Scripture passages: Numbers 21:4-9 & John 3:14-21 After Dave and Nina read the scripture passages, Tripp Helms provided the morning message during our Zoom service. Nicodemus came to Jesus to ask some questions and Jesus uses the example of the snake being lifted up in the wilderness by Moses to explain how he must also […]

Eternal Life Begins Now – March 14, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, eternal life, fear, Gospel of John, healing, Numbers, Tripp Helms

Resting with the Animals – Feb. 21, 2021

February 22, 2021

Rachel preaching via Zoom on Feb. 21, 2021

After Dennis and Kathy read the scripture passages from Genesis 9:3-17 and Mark 1:9-15, Rachel shared a story of the ark, reminding us that many of us have been isolating from others for well more than 40 days due to the pandemic. This year has felt like a year of living in the ark. But […]

Resting with the Animals – Feb. 21, 2021

Tagged With: animals, COVID-19, Genesis, Gospel of Mark, Noah, Rachel Taylor, rest

God is Beautiful – Feb. 14, 2021

February 14, 2021

Melissa preaching on Zoom, Feb. 14, 2021

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Mark 9:2-9 After the reading of the 2 Kings passage, we listened to Robert Robinson sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot. After the Mark passage Melissa shared a video performance of the theme from The Mission. Our world is chock full of beautiful things. Many things that are beautiful are unnecessary. The […]

God is Beautiful – Feb. 14, 2021

Tagged With: beauty, COVID-19, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, transfiguration

Destroying Domination – Jan. 31, 2021

January 31, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Jan. 31, 2021

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 & Mark 1:21-28 Melissa provided us with an alternative way of looking at this passage of Jesus in the synagogue and his encounter with the man with an unclean spirit. The language Mark uses throughout his gospel is that Jesus comes to “invade enemy territory.” Melissa ties this story in with the […]

Destroying Domination – Jan. 31, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, domination, Fanny Lou Hamer, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, racism, W.E.B. Du Bois

Grief & Hope – Dec. 27, 2020

December 29, 2020

Ann doing a monologue as Anna in the temple

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40 – On the Road to Rejoicing The prophet Anna–portrayed this morning by Ann–witnessed Jesus’ arrival at the temple and foretold about the hope that Jesus would bring. What a strange Advent season it has been. Mourning the loss of life through COVID-19 and the racial injustice we continue to see. What have […]

Grief & Hope – Dec. 27, 2020

Tagged With: Ann Roberston, Anna, COVID-19, Gospel of Luke, grief, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Zoom

Do Not be afraid – Dec 20, 2020

December 20, 2020

I Samuel 7:1-11, 16 & Luke 1:26-38 – On the Road to Revelation God selected Mary, a young woman to deliver the Lord Jesus in to the world. She was afraid and then heard a an angel’s voice “Greetings you who highly favored, the Lord is with you”. She heard the voice again “Don’t be […]

Do Not be afraid – Dec 20, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of Luke, I Samuel, Jackie Parker, Mary, Melissa Florer-Bixler, sermon

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

Prophets Among Us – Dec. 6, 2020

December 8, 2020

Steve Derthick portraying John the Baptist in front of a babbling creek.

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8 – On the Road to Repentance On this second Sunday of Advent Steve Derthick opened the sermon time with a monologue as John the Baptist. Melissa continued the invitation for all of us to participate in the sermon by asking us to share a time there was a person who […]

Prophets Among Us – Dec. 6, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of Mark, Isaiah, Jeremiah Wright, John the Baptist, 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

The Anti-Kingdom – Nov. 22, 2020

November 22, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom.

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, 26:6-13 Jesus comes to bring a new rein, a new order of creation, and to invite us into it. It is a new world, an inversion. It’s built not on scarcity or fear, not bound to the way things are, but this rein that has already come into being in the life, […]

The Anti-Kingdom – Nov. 22, 2020

Tagged With: Christ the King, COVID-19, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

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

Stay Awake – Nov. 8, 2020

November 8, 2020

Melissa speaking via Zoom on Nov. 8, 2020

Melissa speaks from Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the bridesmaids. While one would think the moral is about not letting your lamps run out of oil, rather it’s about staying awake. We are all facing the problem of coming unprepared and then falling asleep. It’s a warning to each of us about the lives we […]

Stay Awake – Nov. 8, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, election, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Singing together…virtually

November 7, 2020

Raleigh Mennonite Virtual Ensemble singing on YouTube

Raleigh Mennonite folks enjoy singing, though that’s hard to do during the pandemic while we meet on Sundays via Zoom. That hasn’t kept a few in the RMC Vocal Ensemble from making music. Thanks to the talents of David and Rosene, the ensemble has created videos of a number of songs, with each person recording […]

Singing together…virtually

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: COVID-19, four-part, harmony, songs

We are not alone – Nov. 1, 2020

November 5, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom, Nov. 1, 2020

Revelation 7:9-17 This Sunday is both All Saints Day, when we remember those who have gone on before us, and just days away from a presidential election that is a source of anxiety and fear for many. All of this and so much more centered in the midst of the storm of a virus that […]

We are not alone – Nov. 1, 2020

Tagged With: All Saints Day, COVID-19, death, fear, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Revelation

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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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