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. ...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 10, 2021 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Manna? Manna! Though we think of manna as the bread that God rained down on the wandering Israelite community in the wilderness, “manna” was first a question. “What is it?!” The Israelites draw near enough to the strange flaky substance on the ground to ask “Manna?”...
by Melissa Kelly | Oct 3, 2021 | Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
A Name In Motion Names can shape identity or character in powerful ways. When Moses asks God’s name, God responds with a verb: “I am becoming who I am becoming.” What does it mean, then and now, to be in relationship with a God who claims a name that is an action, a...
