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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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Melissa Florer-Bixler

Questions of Identity – March 5, 2023

March 5, 2023

Melissa preaching at Raleigh Mennonite in front of a quilted wall hanging.

On this second Sunday of Lent Melissa preached from Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, weaving in basketball with the ongoing theme of confession, along with talking about community and identity. What if our identity isn’t a story about heroics or world-changing? What if the only way to tell each other apart is that we forgive each other?

Questions of Identity – March 5, 2023

Tagged With: community, confession, Identity, Lent, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

Making God into Something Else – Feb. 26, 2023

February 27, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on Feb. 26, 2023 in front of a quilted wall hanging.

On this first Sunday of Lent, Melissa preached from Genesis 2:15-17 & 3:1-7 and Romans 5:12-19. During this season we are focusing our time and attention toward “confession.” We have varied experiences with confessions. Confession is when we come clean, when we tell the truth about who we are. We are not God!

Making God into Something Else – Feb. 26, 2023

Tagged With: Genesis, Lent, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Romans

The heart of the matter – Feb. 12, 2023

February 13, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on Feb. 12, 2023

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-37 Today we’re listening to Jesus challenge our misconceptions about what this Jesus-centered life is that we have chosen to live. If you’re here because you’re trying to find a behavior modification program to make you more moral, this is not the right place. Jesus is actually interested in the heart of the […]

The heart of the matter – Feb. 12, 2023

Tagged With: Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler, new life, patriarchy, power

Salt & Light – Feb. 5, 2023

February 6, 2023

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-20 Melissa asked the congregation to help shape the sermon and interpret scripture together in this message about the oft-heard passage of the church being the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Salt & Light – Feb. 5, 2023

Tagged With: congregation, Gospel of Matthew, light, Melissa Florer-Bixler, salt, sharing

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

Jesus’ Early Life: God Incarnate – Jan. 1, 2023

January 1, 2023

Melissa preaching at RMC on Jan. 1, 2023

Matthew 2:13-23 Scripture doesn’t tell us a lot about Jesus’ early life, when God became a human baby. The story at the beginning of his life will form the whole rest of the story. It turns out that what it means to be God is actually what it means to be perfectly human, to love […]

Jesus’ Early Life: God Incarnate – Jan. 1, 2023

Tagged With: Christmas, Gospel of Matthew, human, incarnation, Jesus, Melissa Florer-Bixler

You shall name him Immanuel – Dec. 18, 2022

December 18, 2022

Melissa preaching from home via Zoom on Dec. 18, 2022

Scripture: Isaiah 7: 10-16, Matthew 1: 18-25 Melissa preached from home since she had a child with COVID. We continue to hear from the prophecies in Isaiah on this fourth Sunday of Advent. God rolls God’s eyes at Ahaz because of Ahaz’s reluctance to listen to God. And God sends a token that Ahaz doesn’t […]

You shall name him Immanuel – Dec. 18, 2022

Tagged With: Advent, Gospel of Matthew, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, prophecy

Pushing Beyond Utility to Beauty – Dec. 11, 2022

December 11, 2022

Melissa preaching at RMC on Dec. 11, 2022

Scriptures: Isaiah 35:1-10 and Matthew 11:2-11 How does one tie in excitement about the World Cup with the third Sunday of Advent? Leave it to Melissa!

Pushing Beyond Utility to Beauty – Dec. 11, 2022

Tagged With: ableism, Advent, beauty, disabilities, Expectations, Gospel of Matthew, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, restoration

Ain’t Gonna Study War No More – Nov. 27, 2022

November 27, 2022

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5 Melissa began her sermon on this first Sunday of Advent by sharing a rendition of Down by the Riverside by Rosetta Tharpe. In the Isaiah passage, God paints a picture for Isaiah of a world where tools of war become obsolete. That is a pretty bold vision for people locked into a […]

Ain’t Gonna Study War No More – Nov. 27, 2022

Tagged With: Advent, Down by the riverside, Isaiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, spirituals, war

Alexamenos adores his god – Nov. 20, 2022

November 20, 2022

An ancient carving on a wall depicting a man raising his arm to a man with a donkey's head and the saying "Alexamenos adores his god."

Scripture: Luke 23: 33-43 On this Sunday celebrating the reign of Jesus, Melissa shared the image of some graffiti archaeologists uncovered depicting a man with his arm raised toward a man with a donkey’s head nailed to a cross. Under it bears the inscription “Alexamenos adores his god.” There are frequently two depictions of Jesus. […]

Alexamenos adores his god – Nov. 20, 2022

Tagged With: Alexamenos, Christ the King Sunday, crucified Christ, Gospel of Luke, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Reign of Jesus

Women of the Resurrection – Nov. 6, 2022

November 6, 2022

Melissa expressing herself with her hands while preaching on Nov. 6, 2022

Melissa reflects on and gives voice to the hypothetical woman who was married to seven brothers from the story in Luke 20:27-38. The Sadducees pose this question about the resurrection, but all along what Jesus wanted to tell the Sadducees, wanted to tell us, is that all women, all people, need good news. We need […]

Women of the Resurrection – Nov. 6, 2022

Tagged With: Gospel of Luke, Melissa Florer-Bixler, resurrection, Sadducees, women in the Bible

Ordinary Saints – Oct. 30, 2022

October 30, 2022

Melissa preaching on October 30, 2022 at Raleigh Mennonite Church

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-23 On this All Saints Day Melissa provided the message, explaining that saints are people who have lived in a way that help us believe that God is real. They are not necessarily the ones who are the best at believing stuff. Saints carry faith for one another and make make God credible […]

Ordinary Saints – Oct. 30, 2022

Tagged With: All Saints Day, Ephesians, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Saints

A Gift With No Strings Attached – Oct. 23, 2022

October 23, 2022

Melissa shared The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) in its original form and as it might play out right here at Raleigh Mennonite. This version as acted out had a Bishop, a philanthropist, an activist and a payday lender. The first three were smug in their righteousness and celebrated that […]

A Gift With No Strings Attached – Oct. 23, 2022

Tagged With: Melissa Florer-Bixler, sermon

Standing up for Justice – Oct. 16, 2022

October 17, 2022

Four photos combined with Melissa in the top left, David R in top right, RED in lower left and Elizabeth K-G in lower right

Melissa began the four-part message sharing the story of the widow who demanded justice from the judge in Luke 18:1-8. This was followed by three stories of RMCers who shared out of their calling to work for social justice in their varied roles: Rachel “RED” Davis, Elizabeth Korver-Glen and David Rohrer.

Standing up for Justice – Oct. 16, 2022

Tagged With: David Rohrer, Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, Gospel of Luke, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Rachel Davis, social justice

A blessing for the kids

September 25, 2022

Melissa talking with kids while sitting on the floor during an RMC church service.

A peak into a special part of the service for the youngest members of our community when Melissa shares with them how much God loves them. Take a listen!

A blessing for the kids

Filed Under: Audio, Worship Tagged With: blessings, Children, Melissa Florer-Bixler

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

Pay Attention! – Sept. 18, 2022

September 18, 2022

A dark ocean scape with craggy rocks in the foreground, clouds in the sky with the sun's rays shining out from behind a dark cloud.

In the midst of our busyness it’s easy to miss the beauty of God’s extravagant creation all around us. Through the poetry of Psalm 65 and several more modern authors, Melissa recounts more of her sabbatical journey and encourages us to stop and notice that we too are a part of the joyful abundance of […]

Pay Attention! – Sept. 18, 2022

Tagged With: beauty, Creation, Melissa Florer-Bixler, mindfulness, poetry, Psalms

A new heart for life – Sept. 11, 2022

September 16, 2022

Melissa preaching at RMC with one hand outstretched.

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 19-32 Melissa continued sharing about some of the experiences from her sabbatical, this time about Belfast and the historical divisions between Catholics and Protestants. Each of us is more than our past, more than our histories. More than the actions and illnesses of our parents in our nations and our communities. Your […]

A new heart for life – Sept. 11, 2022

Tagged With: Belfast, death, Ezekiel, life, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Northern Ireland

God as Metalworker – Sept. 4, 2022

September 4, 2022

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11, Luke 14:25-33 Melissa is back from her sabbatical and will use this month’s sermons to report on several aspects of her family’s travels and some of the learnings along the way. This Sunday she contrasted the work of Akram, a Palestinian craftsperson who recycles tear gas canisters into works of art, with […]

God as Metalworker – Sept. 4, 2022

Tagged With: Gospel of Luke, Jeremiah, Melissa Florer-Bixler, metalworker, Palestine, potter

We are a body – May 29, 2022

May 30, 2022

I Corinthians 12:12-26, Luke 24:44-53 On this last Sunday before Melissa and her family leave for a three-month sabbatical, it was also Ascension Sunday. It was also the Sunday following another deadly mass killing in a Texas school, and just a week after a mass shooting in a Taiwanese church in LA, and a day […]

We are a body – May 29, 2022

Tagged With: Body of Christ, Gospel of Luke, I Corinthians, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Team Jesus? – May 22, 2022

May 24, 2022

Quilt with RMC printed on the bottom and Community, Worship, Peace and Service in squares.

Colossians 2:6-18 It was our annual covenant renewal Sunday, plus the opportunity to welcome new members, plus baby dedication for two of our newest beloveds, along with communion. A full Sunday! In covenanting with others at Raleigh Mennonite, we’re deciding together to trust that a certain story is true, that we can trust that story […]

Team Jesus? – May 22, 2022

Tagged With: Colossians, community, covenant, good trouble, Melissa Florer-Bixler, pacifism

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

Being Tricksters – April 24, 2022

April 25, 2022

Melissa sitting on the floor telling a story to children who have their hands raised.

Melissa starts out with a story of Brer Rabbit for the children on this Holy Humor Sunday. She then recounts how those who had been enslaved in our country knew how to quietly and secretly assert their resistance, trickery, and humor. They would use ordinary means to confront power they could not fight openly. When […]

Being Tricksters – April 24, 2022

Tagged With: enslaved, holy humor, Jesus, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Psalms, trickery

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

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121 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-831-2969

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