by Melissa Kelly | Jun 19, 2022 | Amy Epp, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Baptism: Political, Practical, Personal On this Sunday when we celebrate the baptism of two young adults in our congregation, Pastor Amy explores the way baptism blesses and call us. In Jesus baptism, he was pronounced his allegiance not to the emperors and kings who...
by Melissa Kelly | Apr 3, 2022 | Lent, Megan Ramer, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
The Carceral System Sucks We are in our third week in a row of Jesus’ trial, and the story is getting increasingly painful to endure. If we stick with it enough to actually take it in, to allow ourselves to feel all we feel, we might notice that – while horrific...
by Melissa Kelly | Mar 20, 2022 | Guest Speaker, Lent, Narrative Lectionary - Year 4, Sermons
Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial; 1st and 21st Centuries On our Lenten journey in John’s Gospel, Jesus is falsely arrested and accused for embodying truth that exposes the lies of powerful authorities, while Peter struggles with the call and cost of...
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 | 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...