by Melissa Kelly | Mar 29, 2026 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Sermons
What’s in a Sign? Pilate’s sign, posted on Jesus’ cross, proves a source of consternation for the Jewish leaders. They exhort him to edit its message, but he definitively cuts off any hope of debate: “What I’ve written, I’ve written.” In a variety of settings, signs...
by Melissa Kelly | Mar 22, 2026 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Sermons
No King; But Kin Both the cruelty and wondrousness of humans transcends time and space. As we read this terrible story (with great care!), it’s imperative that we remember both of these things are true. May we remain eyes wide open about the complete betrayal of “We...
by Melissa Kelly | Feb 22, 2026 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
First Lines & Buried Seeds Not all is as MEH as it first appears when John embarks on the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Palm fronds and an ancient plea turned praise adorn the political street theatre of Jesus astride a baby donkey. It calls to mind the...
by Melissa Kelly | Feb 15, 2026 | Epiphany, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
Laughter, Outcasts, and Getting Things Wrong It’s another fraught healing story, so we say a few quiet parts out loud, e.g. OF COURSE SIN DOESN’T CAUSE DISABILITY! And then we notice a few key moments from the story of the man whose sight is restored by Jesus’ mud....
by Melissa Kelly | Feb 8, 2026 | Epiphany, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
Don’t Build a Ramp into the Empire’s Pool When the systems of the Empire fail, we may follow our impulse to reform them; to make them more just. But our salvation will never ultimately come from the systems of Empire. We may (and must!) also follow the...
by Melissa Kelly | Jan 25, 2026 | Epiphany, Megan Ramer, Sermons
Nighttime musings; Daytime wayfinding Nicodemus seeks Jesus under cover of dark, and Jesus challenges Nicodemus to follow an Empire-defying Way in the light of day. When we step away from complicity with a violent and death-dealing Empire, when we emerge from the...
