by Melissa Kelly | Nov 5, 2023 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 2, Sermons
Remember Much could be said of the exaggerated and hyperbolic showmanship of this contest Elijah sets up between himself and the prophets of Baal. But step back from the spectacle, and I want to know why the people remembered this story, told it over and over, and...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 29, 2023 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 2, Sermons
How NOT to be a Saint? Amidst political maneuvers, power grabs, conditional allegiances, threats, oppression, and terrible advice, a king is crowned and a kingdom divided. And precisely NOone comes out looking like a saint. We too live in violent and divided times,...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 22, 2023 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 2, Sermons
Praising God in a Time of Genocide? Is God a megalomaniac who needs our praise? Or do we praise God because WE need it? And what about those of us who struggle with “praise” given our religious histories? Or those of us who quite simply value being thoughtful,...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 8, 2023 | Narrative Lectionary - Year 2, Sermons
Gratitude and Blessing Christine Sine explores a variety of practices to increase our experience of gratitude. In this overstimulating, stressful world gratitude is an active way to push back on the negative and highlight the positive. This service ended in a St...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 1, 2023 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 2, Sermons
Ripples A whole bevy of women choose to creatively subvert the powers of death, risking their own lives, for the sake of choosing life. Shiprah and Puah – the midwives who bravely deliver life in defiance of the king, Jochabed – the mother and master...
by Melissa Kelly | Sep 24, 2023 | Narrative Lectionary - Year 2, Sermons
Wrestling Within and Without Rita and Vija explore what it meant for Jacob, and for the disciples in the storm, to wrestle. How have other people struggled with their consciences, and their internal and external obstacles? How do you wrestle? Audio Preacher Rita...