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Raleigh Mennonite Church

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hope

Swimming Toward Sharks – May 25, 2025

May 25, 2025

Melissa preaching at RMC on May 25, 2025, with one hand extended.

Scripture: Isaiah 12:1-6 Melissa opened her sermon sharing about a man who helped rescue a friend who was attacked by a shark. He swam directly toward the injured swimmer, putting himself in direct vicinity with the shark. The backstory behind most people who show real bravery in the midst of danger is that they have […]

Swimming Toward Sharks – May 25, 2025

Tagged With: courage, Grant Bowser, hope, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, sharks, testimony, trust

Giving Up In Order To Win – April 27, 2025

April 29, 2025

Miquel Cruz - Giving Up In Order to Win

Jeremiah 17: 5-8 This week RMC’s Miguel Cruz preached the sermon in Spanish. The English voice you will hear is that of the live translator in the sanctuary. Due to the nature of the recording tech, there is some residual audio of Miguel’s voice in the background. ** Preaching from Jeremiah, Miguel asks us to […]

Giving Up In Order To Win – April 27, 2025

Tagged With: hope, idolatry, Jeremiah, Miguel Cruz, Relying on God

A Hope Big Enough For Everyone – Oct 20, 2024

October 21, 2024

Melissa F-B preaches at RMC

Isaiah 40: 1-8 This Sunday Melissa Florer-Bixler continued to move further into the words of the prophet Isaiah, when the Persian king Cyrus allowed God’s people to return to Israel, ushering in a time of comfort and hope. The prophet spoke of a highway being built from through hostile land between Babylon and Jerusalem, and […]

A Hope Big Enough For Everyone – Oct 20, 2024

Tagged With: aesthetics, Cyrus, hope, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler

We Are A People Who Remember – Oct.13, 2024

October 14, 2024

Melissa Florer Bixler preaches at RMC

Isaiah 46: 1-13 Melissa Florer-Bixler invites us to consider the question, “why do we come to church every Sunday?” as she preaches on Isaiah’s message about idols. Isaiah mocks the idols of Israel’s former conquerors, now laid low and unable to even help themselves from falling over. In last week’s sermon, Melissa stated that we […]

We Are A People Who Remember – Oct.13, 2024

Tagged With: hope, idols, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler

A Politics of Hope – Sept. 22, 2024

September 22, 2024

Melissa Florer-Bixler A Politics of Hope

Isaiah 9: 1-7 Merry Christmas everyone! We know it’s only September, but Raleigh Mennonite Church took a moment this Sunday to sing Christmas carols and reflect on the birth of Christ during a season far less busy and distracting than the end of December. Melissa Florer-Bixler’s sermon reminds us to take time and examine the […]

A Politics of Hope – Sept. 22, 2024

Tagged With: Christmas, hope, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Nicaragua, Politics

An Impossible Pocket of Peace & Hope – Sept. 15, 2024

September 15, 2024

Melissa preaching at RMC on Sept. 15, with her hands tapping her chest, in front of a colorful purple and yellow star-shaped quilt.

Scriptures: Isaiah 2:1-11, Matthew 5:1-12 Melissa continues her sermon series, Hope in a Time of Fear, focusing on the book of Isaiah. As we’re drawing closer to the election, what does hope look like for followers of Jesus? The people who heard Jesus’ sermon on the mount may have been thinking about Isaiah’s words when […]

An Impossible Pocket of Peace & Hope – Sept. 15, 2024

Tagged With: Beatitudes, Gospel of Matthew, hope, Hope in a Time of Fear, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, peace, Sermon on the Mount

Hope: The mandate for our community – Sept. 1, 2024

September 1, 2024

Melissa, in a white shirt, preaching in front of a quilt wall hanging.

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1-3, 11-20 Our world is not well. Our politics are not well. Our land and our oceans and our air is not well. We may be anxious. About the future, about elections, about what comes next for you and your family. So this series based on Isaiah will spend time with people who […]

Hope: The mandate for our community – Sept. 1, 2024

Tagged With: hope, Hope in a Time of Fear, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Staying Awake, Pouring Out Hope – Nov. 12, 2023

November 12, 2023

Melissa’s sermon this Sunday focused on the parable from Matthew 25:1-13 about the bridesmaids waiting for the long-delayed bridal party, with all of them falling asleep and half of them running out of lamp oil. Jackie and Trixie provided a reenactment of how things maybe could have gone better had they stayed awake. What might […]

Staying Awake, Pouring Out Hope – Nov. 12, 2023

Tagged With: darkness, Gospel of Matthew, hope, light, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Parable

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

What is Hope Now? – Sept. 25, 2022

September 25, 2022

Melissa and a friend in Palestine, both smiling broadly for this selfie.

Scripture: Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15 In the final sermon of the four Melissa preached reflecting on her sabbatical, she focuses on hope, even in the midst of incredibly trying times. Often times it’s difficult to see hope in current circumstances, but frequently it’s churning and breathing below the surface, even if we can’t see it. […]

What is Hope Now? – Sept. 25, 2022

Tagged With: hope, Jeremiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Pouring out Expectations – March 13, 2022

March 13, 2022

Brian Recker preaching at Raleigh Mennonite on March 13, 2022

On this second Sunday of Lent, Brian Recker provided our sermon based on the passage from Luke 9:28-36. The last two years have been tough. During that time we’ve had lots of expectations that have been thwarted. Whether they were expectations in our personal lives or in the world around us, the last few years […]

Pouring out Expectations – March 13, 2022

Tagged With: Brian Recker, Expectations, Gospel of Luke, hope, Lent, Pouring out, transfiguration

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

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

Eyes Fastened – April 26, 2020

April 26, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom on April 26, 2020

Acts 3:1-10 There’s something new in this familiar scene for Peter and John as they encounter a beggar in front of the temple gates. Unlike many times they have walked this way before, they stop and acknowledge this lame man. They really see him. With new eyes, through the Holy Spirit. It’s an invitation for […]

Eyes Fastened – April 26, 2020

Tagged With: Acts, COVID-19, Holy Spirit, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler, miracles

Hard to Find Humor – April 19, 2020

April 20, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Holy Humor Sunday

I Corinthians 15:1-26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. But death is roaring all around us these days in the midst of the pandemic. That makes “Holy Humor Sunday,” a tradition of RMC for the last few years, a lot more difficult right now. But in many ways, our times are much less […]

Hard to Find Humor – April 19, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Easter, holy humor, hope, humor, I Corinthians, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Here in this Place – Jan. 26, 2020

February 3, 2020

Melissa preaching, holding up hands, Jan. 26, 2020

Matthew 5:21-24 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-26 Melissa reflects on the place where we have worshiped since 1994 and how that has affected us as a community.

Here in this Place – Jan. 26, 2020

Tagged With: building, community, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Last day at Building for Hope…at least for now

February 1, 2020

Congregational singing led by Rosene and David on Jan. 26, 2020

Sunday, January 26, marked our last day worshiping at 1116 N. Blount St. for at least six months. Here are a few photos from the last service and the move out process that took place afterward. We will be meeting for worship at Fletcher Academy at 300 Cedarview Ct. while the building is being renovated. […]

Last day at Building for Hope…at least for now

Filed Under: Events, Service, Worship Tagged With: hope, move, Worship

The Story Isn’t Over – Nov. 24, 2019

December 7, 2019

Angie Hong

Amos 9:11-15 Guest speaker Angie Hong brought the message this morning. She compares her upbringing with the story from Amos. Even in the midst of destruction, we are never so far from love and grace that there isn’t room for hope.

The Story Isn’t Over – Nov. 24, 2019

Tagged With: Amos, Angie Hong, hope

Surprising Faith – Aug. 18, 2019

August 18, 2019

Melissa preaching at RMC on August 18, 2019

Hebrews 11:1-16 Melissa continued the series focused on Hebrews in this morning’s message. What is faith in the midst of political distress, in a government hellbent on terrorizing the vulnerable? It’s the failures of the people talked about in this Hebrews passage that animates our faith to continue on. They provide hope because of their […]

Surprising Faith – Aug. 18, 2019

Tagged With: faith, grace, Hebrews, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler

In Hope We are Saved – June 30, 2019

July 4, 2019

Melissa preaching at RMC on June 30, 2019

Romans 8:18-30 Hope seen through Arethra Franklin, the Holy Spirit, and our own congregation.

In Hope We are Saved – June 30, 2019

Tagged With: Aretha Franklin, hope, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

A Hopeful Peace – June 23, 2019

June 23, 2019

Meghan Florian preaching at RMC June 23, 2019

Isaiah 65:17-25 Our guest speaker this Sunday was Meghan Florian. Her message of hope shared of the power of planting and seeing gardens come to fruition, even in times of difficulty and depression. Sometimes what we sow, only with time will others harvest. What seeds of joy and hope are we planting today, as we […]

A Hopeful Peace – June 23, 2019

Tagged With: gardens, hope, Isaiah, Meghan Florian, peace, planting, seeds

Stand Up! – Dec. 2, 2018

December 2, 2018

Melissa preaching on October 21, 2018

Melissa spoke from Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21-25-36. Look around; the time is now. Stand up! Raise your heads. Don’t hide, don’t run away, don’t weep and gnash your teeth. Don’t numb yourself against this world, shutting it out with whatever distractions you can find. During this time of Advent, take hope. Hope is a […]

Stand Up! – Dec. 2, 2018

Tagged With: hope, Luke, Melissa Florer-Bixler

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