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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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Gospel of John

Seeing & Not Believing – March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on March 19, 2023, with a quilt behind her and a plant and stalks of brown grass and wheat on a table in front of her.

On this fourth Sunday of Lent Melissa preached from John 9:1-41 and Romans 5:1-11. The story of Jesus healing the man who was born blind, and the subsequent questioning by the Pharisees illustrates the difference between being cured and being healed. After he gains his sight, he is repeatedly questioned by the people in power […]

Seeing & Not Believing – March 19, 2023

Tagged With: blind, Gospel of John, grace, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

Three Doorways to the Holy Spirit – Jan. 15, 2023

January 15, 2023

Photos of two very different depictions of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.

Scripture: John 1:29-42 Melissa shares about Jesus’ baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit through three different encounters: two icon images and a video. The Holy Spirit is frequently an under-considered member of the trinity, an afterthought. Feel free to participate in this visio divina by studying the icons as you listen to the sermon […]

Three Doorways to the Holy Spirit – Jan. 15, 2023

Tagged With: baptism, Gospel of John, icons, images, John the Baptist, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Theophany, video, visio divina

Come and have breakfast – May 1, 2022

May 2, 2022

Melissa preaching at RMC on May 1, 2022

Scripture: John 21:1-19 Jesus visits the disciples a third time after his resurrection, this time as some of them have been fishing. “Where is Melissa going with this sermon?” That’s what many were thinking as she started her sermon, telling us that our bodies are “an island of creatures.” The real body of Jesus joins […]

Come and have breakfast – May 1, 2022

Tagged With: communion, community, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler, microbiomes, resurrection

Creation is reborn – April 17, 2022

April 17, 2022

Congregation facing forward, while Melissa preaches, Zoom screen in the background. Easter Sunday, 2022

On this Easter Sunday we celebrate that creation is reborn, and we with it. The tomb opens and life is born from it. You can’t thwart it or destroy it. You can’t even unbelieve it, or overpower it. Because all that’s left to do here is to bear witness.

Creation is reborn – April 17, 2022

Tagged With: Creation, Easter, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Pouring out Scarcity – April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Melissa preaching at RMC on April 3, 2022

In this continuing series during Lent, today’s story is about Mary pouring out expensive perfume, washing Jesus’ feet with it and drying his feet with her hair. Rather than agreeing with Judas’ chastisement for wasting money on such extravagance, Jesus says, “She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my […]

Pouring out Scarcity – April 3, 2022

Tagged With: Gospel of John, Lent, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Pouring out, scarcity, trust

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

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

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

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

Water for Everyone – Jan. 24, 2021

January 24, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom Jan. 24, 2021

Scripture: John 4:1-42 In retelling the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, Melissa pointed out the history of bad blood between the Samaritans and the Jews. The woman is only able to see what Jesus offers once the conversation moves from competition to mutual flourishing. Jesus wants everyone to have access to this […]

Water for Everyone – Jan. 24, 2021

Tagged With: conflict, Gospel of John, Samaritan woman, transformation, World Fellowship Sunday

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

Being in the Way of Jesus – Oct. 25, 2020

October 25, 2020

Glen Guyton preaching as Pastor Melissa and Pastor Isaac look on via Zoom, Oct. 25, 2020

Raleigh Mennonite and Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship held a joint service online with Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, who brought the message from John 15. As followers of Jesus, there are expectations for us. There are things we are called to do. There needs to be fruit, something tangible that comes from […]

Being in the Way of Jesus – Oct. 25, 2020

Tagged With: called, CHMF, COVID-19, Glen Guyton, Gospel of John, planting, seeds

Jesus Calls Us Friends – Aug. 9, 2020

August 9, 2020

Ann speaking via Zoom on Aug. 9, 2020

John 15:14-15 & Acts 8:26-38 Ann Roberston shared two of the favorite songs of her father as our summer series continued. She spoke of learning from him how he loved the songs “In the Garden,” which many of us know better as “He Walks with Me and He Talks with Me,” and “What a Friends […]

Jesus Calls Us Friends – Aug. 9, 2020

Tagged With: Acts, Anabaptism, Ann Roberston, baptism, COVID-19, friendship, Gospel of John, songs

God of the Bible – Aug. 2, 2020

August 2, 2020

Leah speaking during the RMC service via Zoom, Aug. 20, 2020

John 1:1-5 Leah Weaver continued our summer series of sharing a song or scripture that has been particularly meaningful. Like for many of us, she notes that for her congregational singing at RMC is a particularly important aspect of our life together. The song “God of the Bible” is one of many favorite songs and […]

God of the Bible – Aug. 2, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of John, Leah Weaver, songs

Reflections on 45 years of ministry – July 12, 2020

July 15, 2020

Duane and Lois sharing via Zoom on July 12, 2020

John 15:1-17 [Note: there were a few technical glitches during Duane and Lois’s sharing via Zoom. These were edited out and as a result there are a couple of places that don’t completely flow together.] Duane uses the passage from John to reflect on the way Jesus was pruned for ministry. He shares about the […]

Reflections on 45 years of ministry – July 12, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Duane Beck, friendship, Gospel of John, Lois Beck, ministry, retirement, servanthood

I Have Come for YOU! – April 12, 2020

April 12, 2020

As we celebrated Easter Sunday together via Zoom, Melissa spoke from the Gospel of John’s account of Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples are huddled together, afraid the Roman soldiers will find them and they too will be killed as Jesus was. Every person in the story recounted in this gospel is alone, in the dark. Only […]

I Have Come for YOU! – April 12, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Easter, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Walking Toward Suffering

March 29, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom

Melissa Florer-BixlerSermon from March 29, 2020 worship service, held via ZoomJohn 11The spoken version of the message, without notes, is also available on the podcast. One of the parts of our faith that is most important to me is the affirmation that God has something to do with the world. And if God has something […]

Walking Toward Suffering

Filed Under: Worship Tagged With: Gospel of John, Lazarus, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, suffering

Walking Toward Suffering – March 29, 2020

March 29, 2020

On our third online worship service during the COVID-19 pandemic, Melissa had some technical challenges so presented her message without notes. The scripture was from John 11, the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. When Mary and Martha tell Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died,” Jesus doesn’t […]

Walking Toward Suffering – March 29, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of John, Lazarus, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, suffering

The Inability to See – March 22, 2020

March 28, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom

We all met from our homes via Zoom as the second week apart due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melissa preached from John 9:1-41. This is a time of anxiety and fear, but it’s also a time for us to sift through our own lives and for us to think about what it will be like […]

The Inability to See – March 22, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of John, listening, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Good News at the Margins – March 15, 2020

March 21, 2020

Melissa preaching at Fletcher to a Zoom audience

On this first Sunday we streamed our service rather than meet in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Melissa preached from John 4:5-42. A small group met at Fletcher to lead worship. “These are unusual and difficult times. But these are opportunities for us to both be and to receive good news. To let our […]

Good News at the Margins – March 15, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Samaritan woman

He Visited Me – March 8, 2020

March 8, 2020

Ronda preaching at RMC on March 8, 2020

John 3:1-17 We had the honor of having Ronda Singletary bring the message this morning. Ronda was recently released from the women’s prison and shared her powerful testimony, including poetry that she wrote. The recording starts with Sus Long leading the congregation in the song written by and for the women she has worked with, […]

He Visited Me – March 8, 2020

Tagged With: Gospel of John, Ronda Singletary, Sus Long

Bread as Life – Feb. 9, 2020

February 9, 2020

Melissa Florer-Bixler preaching at RMC service Feb. 2, 2020

John 6:25-40, I Corinthians 11:23-26, 12:12, 24-27 Melissa continued the series on communion, focusing today on the role of bread. How bread comes to be is significant, from the grains to the yeast that acts as leavening. In many ways, we are bread. How do we break ourselves open to be made whole?How do we […]

Bread as Life – Feb. 9, 2020

Tagged With: A Year at the Table, bread, communion, Gospel of John, I Corinthians, Melissa Florer-Bixler, table

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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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