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 21, 2021 | Amy Epp, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Light is Complicated The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. But light is complicated. It can burn and glare. The familiar and beloved song from the prophet is about military conquest and might, a leader whose rule is absolute. Yet it still...
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 | Nov 7, 2021 | Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
God, You’re Muted We continue our journey through the Hebrew Bible and hear a story from 1 Kings of God speaking to the prophet Elijah. Listen to our preacher’s reflections on the nature of God, God’s voice, God’s silence, our experience of the pandemic, and how...
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. ...
