by Melissa Kelly | Dec 11, 2022 | Advent, Megan Ramer, Sermons, Year W
Formation and Family Jesus’ formation began when he was still in utero, when his mama sang the revolutionary songs of her own foremamas, and when Joseph drew a circle of family around a child not his own. Years later when Jesus’ own ministry proclaimed a liberation of...
by Melissa Kelly | Dec 4, 2022 | Advent, Dustin Wilsor, Sermons, Year W
Blessed Are You Among Women! Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Who was the blessed woman, and what does it mean to be blessed in the first place? Dustin is an emerging Mariologist, and he walks...
by Melissa Kelly | Nov 27, 2022 | Advent, Amy Epp, Sermons, Year W
Annunciation and Story When Mary said yes to Gabriel’s invitation to be the bearer of Jesus, she did so as one in the long story of women partnering with God in creation. Each of us, like Mary, may be storytellers of God, helping to birth new things in our own...
by Melissa Kelly | Dec 12, 2021 | Advent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
A Great Feast Our final text in the Hebrew Bible, before arriving at the Gospel of John next week, is the beautiful poetry of Isaiah. We hear of God’s shalom vision: a great feast where thirst is sated and hunger no more; where none has need and we are shown that...
by Melissa Kelly | Dec 5, 2021 | Advent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
The Bonesiest of No Bones Days & The Practice of Hope Ezekiel is having a “No Bones Day” (check out the links re: Noodle the 13-year-old pug to understand this reference!), and his people are having a whole “No Bones” season. Surrounded by the bleak and very dead...
by Melissa Kelly | Nov 28, 2021 | Advent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
The Messy Middle Advent is all about the messy middle. Smack dab in the middle of exile, destruction, and the crumbling of a people’s sense of identity, Jeremiah pens a letter encouraging his kindred to live now, thrive now. Build homes, grow food, and create...
