by Melissa Kelly | Apr 18, 2021 | Easter, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
A Dispute Arose Acts tells us that as the community of disciples grew in number, “a dispute arose…” Not shocking for any of us who have ever been part of any human community: As numbers grow, disputes are surely to arise! This story of the early Jesus-following...
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 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...
by Melissa Kelly | Feb 21, 2021 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 3, Sermons
Plans & Unplans I make plans. I create checklists. Checking boxes on those checklists is one of my greatest joys. And I’m TOAST without my calendar and its checklists. But Luke’s gospel gives us two very familiar stories in a row (Jesus at the home of Martha...
by Megan Ramer | Feb 7, 2021 | Megan Ramer, Sermons
A Jesus Who Troubles We’ve got ourselves a BADnews – GOODnews situation with the pair of stories from Luke 7. Jesus is moved by a widow’s suffering to bring healing and a restoration of her wholeness in the community. Yet Jesus also brings healing to the...
