Isaiah 11: 1-9 Melissa Florer-Bixler preaches on Isaiah’s vision of the lion laying down with the lamb and reminds us, rather appropriately on World Communion Sunday, to consider more deeply in that context how we address the multitude of intractable conflicts occurring throughout the world. Naturally, we cannot rely on willpower alone to overcome the […]
peace
An Impossible Pocket of Peace & Hope – Sept. 15, 2024
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 […]
Spirit Empowered Community – May 28, 2023
Scripture: John 20:19-23; Acts 2:1-21 On this Pentecost Sunday we also celebrated the birthday of Raleigh Mennonite and the annual renewal of our covenant together. We take time to remember that we’ve said “yes” to showing up for one another. There’s no rule book for how to do this. The only tools we’re given to […]
Summer Peace Camp – June 16-17, 2023
On June 16-17, leaders and volunteers connected with Southeast Raleigh Table, Raleigh Mennonite, and St. Ambrose Episcopal are teaming up to offer a Friday evening/Saturday “Peace Camp” focused on anti-racism for elementary-aged children. Modeled after we-are’s proven curriculum for their summertime camps, Peace Camp’s vision is “to build a healthier and more racially just tomorrow, […]
Re-membering through song – Sept. 27, 2020
Philippians 2:1-13 Melissa began her sermon with a song dedicated to Breonna Taylor (https://youtu.be/M88jVX47BTc) from Porter’s Gate, a multi-racial song writing collective. Using songs and hymns through the ages helps us stay centered and find hope in the midst of all that is going on in our world. The passage in Philippians may well have […]
This Little Light of Mine – July 5, 2020
Matthew 5:14-16 Kathy Boos continued our summer series of sharing about a song or scripture passage that has been impactful. Melissa provided the scripture background from these verses from the Sermon on the Mount before Kathy shared her thoughts on the song. Kathy reflected on the importance of all kinds of music in her life, […]
What happens after communion?
by David Rohrer Throughout history communion has been wrought with conflict. Heated debate focused on: Who can participate? Who can officiate? What’s required to prepare for communion? What elements are used? What process occurs in those who partake? Is Christ in the host (bread) or only there with his “real presence?” Is communion necessary for […]
A Hopeful Peace – 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 […]
Facing Imprisonment for our Beliefs – April 22, 2018
Claire Unruh provided the sermon this Sunday based on the story of Paul and Silas’s imprisonment recounted in Acts 16:16-34. They were jailed after casting out a demon in a slave girl. Claire used the story as a springboard to recount other stories of people who have been imprisoned because of their beliefs as conscientious […]