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Raleigh Mennonite Church

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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

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

Giving Voice to Bathsheba – July 25, 2021

July 25, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on July 25, 2021

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-12:13 Melissa tackles this difficult passage about the sexual violence carried out by a powerful king, the kind of king that God had warned the Israelites about when they had cried out for someone to rule over them. There’s something else for us to learn about the structure of sexual violence in […]

Giving Voice to Bathsheba – July 25, 2021

Tagged With: 2 Samuel, Bathsheba, David, Melissa Florer-Bixler, power, sexual assault

Jesus keeps showing up – July 18, 2021

July 18, 2021

Melissa preaching from home, July 18, 2021

Scripture: Mark 6:34-56 Melissa’s sermon recounts this passage from Mark in three parts, focusing on Jesus meeting the disciples on the lake as they were struggling to row against a strong headwind. Jesus repeatedly meets the disciples in the midst of their exhaustion. He repeatedly knew their needs before they themselves knew them. Just as […]

Jesus keeps showing up – July 18, 2021

Tagged With: good news, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, rest

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

Spirit of the Hush Harbors – May 23, 2021

May 24, 2021

Melissa preaching from new worship space on May 23, 2021

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 On this Pentecost Sunday Melissa told a story about the sanctuaries in wooded areas called hush harbors where enslaved people would gather to worship in freedom, away from their enslavers and overseers. Pentecost is not a call to action. It’s a description of the Spirit’s work. What have we become as the […]

Spirit of the Hush Harbors – May 23, 2021

Tagged With: church, Holy Spirit, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Pentecost, sanctuary, slavery

Ascending Time – May 16, 2021

May 16, 2021

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 & I John 5:9-13 It’s Ascension Sunday though Jesus’ ascension is actually commemorated on a Thursday on the church calendar. Interestingly, that’s one of the few days of the year that Amish and Old Order Mennonites take time off from work. For them it’s a time to remember those who were left […]

Ascending Time – May 16, 2021

Tagged With: Ascension, COVID-19, I John, Melissa Florer-Bixler, time

God is Love – May 9, 2021

May 16, 2021

Melissa preaching from her office, May 9, 2021

Scripture: Psalm 27: 1-5 & 1 John 4: 7-21 When we depend on a set of rules to live our lives we see ourselves as creatures who can determine our own goodness, instead of what we actually are, which is recipients of grace. As creatures of grace we are confronted by our inability to love […]

God is Love – May 9, 2021

Tagged With: Bees, COVID-19, I John, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler

We believe with our bodies – April 25, 2021

April 25, 2021

Melissa preaching at CGS on Zoom, April 25, 2021

Scripture: I John 3:16-24 Melissa preached for the first time from our new meeting space at Church of the Good Shepherd in downtown Raleigh while most of us were still tuning in via Zoom. Following Jesus isn’t about fancy beliefs, personal piety or a checklist of beliefs. Whenever we have the ability to aid one […]

We believe with our bodies – April 25, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, George Floyd, I John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

A weighty love – April 18, 2021

April 18, 2021

Melissa preaching from her home via Zoom on April 18, 2021

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-7 This Sunday Melissa began a series on I John. Many people are leaving the institutional church. Why is it that we have difficulty identifying with the term “Christian” or have some anxiety about it? The gap is between who Jesus is and how Jesus’ followers act in the world. “This is […]

A weighty love – April 18, 2021

Tagged With: Christian, church, COVID-19, I John, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Palms not Guns – March 28, 2021

March 31, 2021

Melissa holding up a jar during Zoom service March 28, 2021

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 Melissa reflected on the strange triumph and sorrow and hope mixed together that people in El Salvador might be feeling. Palm Sunday of 1980 was the funeral for Archbishop Oscar Romero. He died because he took the side of the poor during the conflict that lead up to the Salvadorans Civil War. […]

Palms not Guns – March 28, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, El Salvador, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Oscar Romero, Palm Sunday, power

Telling the Truth – March 21, 2021

March 21, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on March 21, 2021

Scripture: John 12:23-32, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12 God is in the midst of the messiness of human life. Rather than a prescription for how to live, the psalms provide a description of God’s presence in that messiness. Psalm 51 describes David telling the truth about his sin. There’s no getting out of the work of […]

Telling the Truth – March 21, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Psalm, truth

No, you shut up! – Feb. 28, 2021

February 28, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Fevb. 28, 2021

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38 Today’s scripture talks about Peter rebuking Jesus, and Jesus in turn rebuking Peter right back. Melissa tells us that term could be interpreted today as, “Shut up!” The term is used elsewhere in the gospel four times, when Jesus silences violent and evil spirits. This passage illustrates two ways for the world […]

No, you shut up! – Feb. 28, 2021

Tagged With: baptism, evil, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, suffering

God is Beautiful – Feb. 14, 2021

February 14, 2021

Melissa preaching on Zoom, Feb. 14, 2021

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Mark 9:2-9 After the reading of the 2 Kings passage, we listened to Robert Robinson sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot. After the Mark passage Melissa shared a video performance of the theme from The Mission. Our world is chock full of beautiful things. Many things that are beautiful are unnecessary. The […]

God is Beautiful – Feb. 14, 2021

Tagged With: beauty, COVID-19, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, transfiguration

Destroying Domination – Jan. 31, 2021

January 31, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom on Jan. 31, 2021

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 & Mark 1:21-28 Melissa provided us with an alternative way of looking at this passage of Jesus in the synagogue and his encounter with the man with an unclean spirit. The language Mark uses throughout his gospel is that Jesus comes to “invade enemy territory.” Melissa ties this story in with the […]

Destroying Domination – Jan. 31, 2021

Tagged With: COVID-19, domination, Fanny Lou Hamer, Gospel of Mark, Melissa Florer-Bixler, racism, W.E.B. Du Bois

The Faith of our Baptism – Jan. 10, 2021

January 10, 2021

Melissa preaching via Zoom, with several participants shown in the gallery above her.

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11, Acts 19:1-7 To what baptism have you been baptized? The story in Acts talks about Jesus’ followers being baptized in the Holy Spirit. This baptism gave them, among other things, the power to stand up to powerful and dangerous interests. In baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit to enter into this life […]

The Faith of our Baptism – Jan. 10, 2021

Tagged With: Acts, baptism, good news, Gospel of Mark, Holy Spirit, Melissa Florer-Bixler, white supremacy

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

Do Not be afraid – Dec 20, 2020

December 20, 2020

I Samuel 7:1-11, 16 & Luke 1:26-38 – On the Road to Revelation God selected Mary, a young woman to deliver the Lord Jesus in to the world. She was afraid and then heard a an angel’s voice “Greetings you who highly favored, the Lord is with you”. She heard the voice again “Don’t be […]

Do Not be afraid – Dec 20, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, Gospel of Luke, I Samuel, Jackie Parker, Mary, Melissa Florer-Bixler, sermon

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

The Anti-Kingdom – Nov. 22, 2020

November 22, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom.

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, 26:6-13 Jesus comes to bring a new rein, a new order of creation, and to invite us into it. It is a new world, an inversion. It’s built not on scarcity or fear, not bound to the way things are, but this rein that has already come into being in the life, […]

The Anti-Kingdom – Nov. 22, 2020

Tagged With: Christ the King, COVID-19, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

Stay Awake – Nov. 8, 2020

November 8, 2020

Melissa speaking via Zoom on Nov. 8, 2020

Melissa speaks from Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the bridesmaids. While one would think the moral is about not letting your lamps run out of oil, rather it’s about staying awake. We are all facing the problem of coming unprepared and then falling asleep. It’s a warning to each of us about the lives we […]

Stay Awake – Nov. 8, 2020

Tagged With: COVID-19, election, Gospel of Matthew, Melissa Florer-Bixler

We are not alone – Nov. 1, 2020

November 5, 2020

Melissa preaching via Zoom, Nov. 1, 2020

Revelation 7:9-17 This Sunday is both All Saints Day, when we remember those who have gone on before us, and just days away from a presidential election that is a source of anxiety and fear for many. All of this and so much more centered in the midst of the storm of a virus that […]

We are not alone – Nov. 1, 2020

Tagged With: All Saints Day, COVID-19, death, fear, love, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Revelation

Turning the World Upside Down – Oct. 18, 2020

October 18, 2020

Melissa Florer-Bixler

A commitment to live without harming others, a commitment to shared life and eating around a common table regardless of class status. These are the ways the Thessalonians receive and live out God’s life in Jesus. With practices that sound harmless but change everything, threaten people in power and turn the world upside down. Despite […]

Turning the World Upside Down – Oct. 18, 2020

Tagged With: Melissa Florer-Bixler, sermon, Thessalonians

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121 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-831-2969

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