Melissa preaches from Matthew 6:7-21.
The Lord’s Prayer – Feb. 3, 2019
Melissa Florer-Bixler
Temptations of Jesus – January 20, 2019
Melissa recounts the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. It might be viewed as a test to see if Jesus is really who he claims to be. Jesus believes he is God’s beloved. We might not be able to pass the tests Jesus was faced with, but we also are God’s beloved. Matthew […]
Baptism of Jesus – January 13, 2019
In the second message in the series on Jesus’ life as told in Matthew, we come to Jesus’ baptism. Melissa provides a fresh perspective on this age-old story and invites those of us who have been baptized to reflect back on what it means. Matthew 3:1-17
Pondering – Dec. 30, 2018
Melissa preached from Matthew 1:17-25, the story of an incredibly creative act of God. The doctrine of the virgin birth becomes, as Karl Barth says, “The guard at the door of the mystery of Christmas.”
Love has found a way – Dec. 24, 2018
Melissa provided a Christmas Eve sermon. Our lives, as Jesus’ life begin in want. From the beginning they are bound up in gifts. In giving and receiving what is precious. Of sharing it with others.
Enemies – Dec. 16, 2018
We are being called out of enmity over and over again and into friendship with God. We are now called friends because of God’s love for us. It’s this same love we are to show our enemies. Luke 3:1-14
Stand Up! – Dec. 2, 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 […]
The Kin-dom of Christ – Nov. 25, 2018
In the 37 times that Jesus describes the reign of God in the Gospels, not once is the kingdom of God like a kingdom of earth. Each time, Jesus tells them stories. Over and over again he roots the liberation of God in ordinary life, in what happens around us, not in throne rooms with princes […]
Poeting the Word – Nov. 18, 2018
Doug Luginbill, Central District Conference minister, joined us this Sunday to ordain Melissa and install Rachel. This recording includes the ordination and installation, as well as Doug’s sermon from the lectionary reading of Isaiah 36:14; 13-20; 37:1-7; 2:1-4. Together pastors and congregations clarify the vision to which God is calling them. They discern the gifts […]
Confessions – Oct. 21, 2018
Melissa spoke from 2 Samuel 11:1-5, 26-27, 12:1-9 and Psalm 51. David makes a tragic and terrible decision and the results are heinous. When we see or hear of acts like this, we seek a confession from the wrongdoer, though David doesn’t come clean until he’s confronted by Nathan. Once we let the truth out, […]
Memory Keepers – Oct. 14, 2018
Telling and rewriting the story of Joshua from Joshua 24:1-15, Melissa shared about her experiences of visiting border communities in Arizona and Mexico to learn more about the current immigration situation.
Waiting for God – Sept. 30, 2018
Melissa brought the message from Exodus 14 about Moses and the Israelites being delivered out of the land of the Egyptians and crossing the sea.
Living in the Empire – Sept. 23, 2018
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 […]
Gifted, Called & Blessed – Sept. 16, 2018
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 […]
God’s Gift of Grandeur – Sept. 2, 2018
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 […]
Lineage – Aug. 26, 2018
Melissa finishes up her series on the book of, and the person, Ruth. But Ruth shows up another time, at the beginning of the New Testament. The genealogy listed in Matthew 1 mentions three very unique women, including Ruth. Remnants of Ruth show up in Jesus generations later. Ruth 4, Matthew 1, Matthew 9:20-38
Remade by Courage – Aug. 19, 2018
Melissa continues her series on Ruth, focusing this Sunday on Ruth 3:1-18. We join the message a few minutes in.
As It Happened – August 12, 2018
Melissa continues her series on Ruth, focusing on Ruth 2. Transcript
Ruth – July 29, 2018
Ruth leaves what she knows and follows Naomi back to Bethlehem. Ruth arrives in Bethlehem, a land she doesn’t know where they worship a God she doesn’t know. Ruth 1 Transcript
Factions in the Church – July 8. 2018
Using I John 2:7-15 Melissa shows that factions in the Church are nothing new. As the Church was starting, there were different understandings of the Gospel message. How do we handle this?
The 10th Commandment-Power, Coveting, Property – June 17, 2018
In the last sermon in her series on the 10 commandments, Melissa focuses on the tenth from Exodus 20:17. To help us understand the concept of “to covet” Melissa has the congregation participate in a little biblical exegesis. She uses 2 Samuel 11:1-13, the story of David and Bathsheba, to explain that coveting has to do […]
Freed to Follow Jesus – June 10, 2018
Melissa continues her series on what we generally call the ten commandments, found in Exodus 20:1-16. But she intertwines this Old Testament passage with the Gospel reading from Mark 10:17-31, what we typically refer to as the story of the rich young ruler. Jesus tells this man and the disciples–and us–that the commandments all along have been […]
The Ten Commandments as an Invitation to Freedom – May 27, 2018
Melissa kicked off a two-part series on the Ten Commandments, providing a fresh perspective on how to view them. Exodus 19:1-6 and Exodus 20:1-11.
RMC – Melissa – May 20, 2018
