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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

Doing the work to which we were called – May 21, 2023

May 25, 2023

Casey Stanton preaching at Raleigh Mennonite on May 21, 2023.

Scripture: John 17:1-11 We were privileged to have Casey Stanton provide the message this Sunday. Casey is co-director of Discerning Deacons, a project serving the Catholic Church through active discernment around women and the diaconate. Called to be active in promoting change within the Catholic Church, Casey called all of us to do the work […]

Doing the work to which we were called – May 21, 2023

Tagged With: called, Casey Stanton, Catholic, Discerning Deacons, Gospel of John

Abiding – May 14, 2023

May 16, 2023

Father Jemonde Taylor and Pastor Melissa prepare communion at St. Ambrose Church

This was a unique Sunday when Raleigh Mennonite joined St. Ambrose Episcopal for a joint worship service in St. Ambrose’s sanctuary. Father Jemonde Taylor and Pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler brought a dialogical sermon from the gospel reading in John 14:15-21. During Lent the choirs from both churches joined together to learn about and sing songs from […]

Abiding – May 14, 2023

Tagged With: abide, blackness, Gospel of John, Jemonde Taylor, Melissa Florer-Bixler, racism, trust, white supremacy

Marshmallow Prayers – May 7, 2023

May 8, 2023

Susan Scott preaching at RMC on May 8, 2023

Susan provided the message this Sunday from John 14:1-14 Jesus tells his disciples to, “Ask for anything in my name and I will give it.” That offer needs to be looked at in context!

Marshmallow Prayers – May 7, 2023

Tagged With: Gospel of John, prayer, Susan Scott

The Way Through – April 30, 2023

May 1, 2023

Our guest speaker this Sunday was Ian McPherson, from Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. Chrys introduced him before he spoke from the lectionary passage of John 10:1-10. We often hear of Jesus referred to as the good shepherd. But in this passage, Jesus first refers to himself twice as “the gate.” “Christ’s in-breaking into our world […]

The Way Through – April 30, 2023

Tagged With: Gospel of John, Ian McPherson, shepherd, the gate, together

While it was still dark – April 9, 2023

April 10, 2023

On this Easter morning Melissa preached from John 20:1-18. Early on the first morning, while it was still dark, there was sweat and adrenaline and weeping. It has been three days since the crucifixion. Three days since they took his body down from the cross, and sealed it inside a cave with a massive boulder. […]

While it was still dark – April 9, 2023

Tagged With: darkness, Easter, Gospel of John, light, Mary Magdalene, Melissa Florer-Bixler

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

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

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

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Raleigh Mennonite showed up Saturday at the State Raleigh Mennonite showed up Saturday at the State Capitol No Kings rally as part of the Mennonite Action Triangle contingent, while another group joined with Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship at the Durham rally. Joining our voices with so many others to demonstrate love of neighbors near and far.
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