Today’s lesson from Genesis 39:1-23 about Joseph and Potiphar’s wife was particularly salient given the week’s current events. Melissa asks, “How is the empire we can’t help but be a part of controlling our lives? Where is our allegiance?” As Ta-Nehisi Coates has said, “You are called to struggle, not because it assures you victory but because it assures you an honorable and sane life.”
The service was also live-streamed and the video is available on RMC’s YouTube channel.
As a result of some last minute storm-related changes, Melissa and Hans provided a Bible study for today’s message based on Genesis 12:1-9 and Hebrews 11:8-16. Their interactive review, including a discussion of Abram’s blessings, was followed by Sri Mayasandra who shared about his life and current ministry as the Asia regional peace resource coordinator with Mennonite Central Committee.
The service was also live-streamed and the video is available on RMC’s YouTube channel.
Donna Coltrane Battle joined us this Sunday and provided a riveting message based on the story of Noah from Genesis 6-9. Covenants are birthed out of pain. Recovery, or salvation, requires sacrifice. On this side of the covenant, we must press for ongoing justice.
Dr. Battle currently serves as the chaplain at Meredith College.
This Sunday marks the beginning of a new study of Genesis. Prior to Melissa’s message from Genesis 1, Pam read a poem, “God’s Grandeur” by Gerald Manly Hopkins.
There is mystery in the creation story. Everything in the world is a pure gift, an unmerited pure act of God’s love that somehow has intersected with time. You are a sign of God’s love enfleshed.
Melissa preached from Genesis 27:1-29, 28:1-10, the story of Jacob stealing his father Isaac’s blessing from his twin brother Esau.
In this world there are the winners and losers. Those who have and those who are left behind. At the outset of the story, Jacob is out to be one of those who has, and his mother Rebekah is going to help make it happen.
Maybe the story of Jacob and Esau is a chance to see God’s sovereignty in a new way. God’s ability to move in the world can coexist with us being wrong. Maybe this story helps us to see that God’s sovereign work is not just to undo this wrong, but to undo us. Jacob then spends the rest of his life undoing what he’s done; returning the blessing he stole back to Esau. That’s how God works in world, setting things right.
Rachel brought the message on a very tough scripture, Genesis 21:1-2; 22:1-14, about God commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. The point of the story of Abraham and Isaac is not to draw people in to worship a God who would do this, but rather to help people who are already in to stay in relationship with the one true God even when their world is turned upside down. This is the story of being in the habit of being in conversation with God even when things don’t make sense. To illustrate her message, Rachel showed several pictures by famous artists depicting this story.
Using Genesis 1 – 2:4, Melissa shows that God has given us the earth to be its trustees, and we do not control God.
Using the Joseph story, Melissa shows that joining the dominant culture is not always a good idea.
Rachel spoke from Genesis 38, a passage not included in the lectionary readings and rarely included in sermons. It’s a difficult passage for us, particularly to understand in our current age.
While Tamar’s actions seem strange to us, you could say she was engaging in nonviolent direct action. Tamar took risks, exposed wrongs, invited repentance, changed hearts and bore new life.
This story shows us that even when it seems we have no options, even when it seems that injustice and inaction will win, we are invited to find a way to subvert the system itself.
How have you been tricked into being more righteous?
Using Genesis 28:10-19a , Melissa talks about Jacob’s and our wrestling with God.
The recording for this Sunday’s sermon had some noise issues, so we’re not able to post it. However, you can read Melissa’s transcript for her sermon based on the creation account. Before the message Hans read James Weldon Johnson’s poem The Creation and Angel read from Genesis 1:24-28. Melissa referred to Brian Doyle’s story, also an interesting read.
On this Trinity Sunday in the church calendar, our pastoral candidate Melissa Florer-Bixler spoke about the often erroneous or over-simplified explanations of the Trinity. She used the story from Genesis 18:1-15 of The Three visiting Abraham and Sarah as a way for us to delve into the mystery of the Trinity. Melissa referred to Russian artist Andrei Rublev’s Trinity, which was projected during the message.
God shows up in human lives, finding us and surprising us, like a guest or a friend when we least expect it. We know God not by observing from the outside, but from participating from the inside of God’s life, being folded into God’s life. God is mysterious and ever opening us up to new possibilities, to new surprises.
Duane, using Genesis 12, shows that life is a succession of stages, which involve changes. Some are abrupt, some are gradual.
Using Genesis 32:2233:10 and Matthew 18:2335, Duane talks about the importance of forgiveness, including the fact that sometimes we are not ready for this, so we can pray the prayer before the prayer. He also used other PowerPoint slides presented here.
For this first Sunday of Lent, Duane drew from both the story of Noah in Genesis 9:8-17 and Jesus’ baptism and the Spirit “driving” him into the desert from Mark 1:9-15.