by Melissa Kelly | Mar 27, 2022 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Belonging to a True Word The scene in Jerusalem during this time of Passover is fraught, and occupying imperial power is tenuous. Crowds travel all across the Judean landscape to convene in Jerusalem for an annual pilgrimage in which they retell a story of their...
by Melissa Kelly | Mar 20, 2022 | Guest Speaker, Lent, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial; 1st and 21st Centuries On our Lenten journey in John’s Gospel, Jesus is falsely arrested and accused for embodying truth that exposes the lies of powerful authorities, while Peter struggles with the call and cost of...
by Melissa Kelly | Mar 21, 2021 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
Saved by Belonging Jesus is always surprising the crowds around him with his attentions; sometimes offending with his attentions. To whom is Jesus drawn? How often Jesus walks his body to the edge of the crowd and speaks directly to the marginalized or stigmatized...
by Melissa Kelly | Mar 14, 2021 | Amy Epp, Lent, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
Gatekeepers and the Scramble for Crumbs Jesus keeps on telling stories about wealth and money. Pastor Amy preaches on the rich man and Lazarus and the way, like the rich man in the parable, we are gatekeepers with wealth and resources. Unlike the rich man, we still...
by Melissa Kelly | Mar 7, 2021 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
Bad at Math; Good at Parties Jesus’ parables contain an “excess of meaning” which makes preaching three of them on a single morning quite the challenge. What is one to do with the excess upon excess upon excess?? Instead of choosing just one sermon of the hundred...
by Melissa Kelly | Feb 28, 2021 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
Truth, Lament, and Healing Jesus tells the truth about the violence his people were both experiencing and perpetrating. That truth-telling leads to lament: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem… How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood...
