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...
by Melissa Kelly | Nov 14, 2021 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Justice First The prophets bring us beautiful poetry and powerful challenge. Amos is clear that justice must be established at the city gate, at the entry point, at the first. Everything else flows from that. Without justice at the start, God **can’t even** with our...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 31, 2021 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Given to Weeping and Laughter We remember our beloved saints who have passed on by reflecting on Jesus’ blessing, spoken to those who grieve: You shall laugh. And Jesus’ woe, delivered to those who laugh: You shall grieve. We are each one of us both, of course –...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 24, 2021 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Beloved & Gripped by the Spirit You are beloved and God’s Spirit is with you. Y’all are beloved and God’s Spirit is with y’all. We are beloved and God’s Spirit is with us. Sometimes the sermon is a mantra. With a couple of plump, plucked cherries atop. ...
