Scripture: John 12:12-27, 19:16b-22

Ben Rudeen Kreider, pastor at Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship, provided the message on this Palm Sunday.

From the ubiquitous Buc-ee's billboards to the variety of incredibly creative signs seen at yesterday's No Kings rallies, signs are everywhere. A good sign grabs your attention in a short phrase with what a movement is about.

Palm branches waved while Jesus rides in on a donkey colt--both are symbols, or signs with meaning. Pilate had a sign for the world to see hung above Jesus when he was nailed to the cross: "King of the Jews." These words were meant to mock, deride and belittle. To send a message that anyone who dared cross or insinuate kingship was a threat to the Roman Empire. Yet we as followers of Jesus cling with faith to the truth of that sign posted above him.

The paradox of faith is that we believe that this man deserves all titles of honor and respect and admiration and gratitude, that he is indeed King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the very Son of God.

Scripture: John 19:1-16b

On this fifth Sunday of Lent, we continue the story of Jesus before Pontius Pilate. Through lots of questioning Jesus is mum. When Pilate gets quite frustrated and asks if Jesus is not aware that he has the power to release Jesus or to have him crucified, Jesus answers, "You have no power over me unless it has been given to you from above." Pilate can find no wrong in him, but the Jewish leaders and the people insist he must be crucified.

What made Jesus dangerous was his lack of fear. But Pilate is afraid for his role. When the Jewish leaders say they have no king but the emperor Caesar, Pilate is concerned for his own life.

There is such a contrast, such dissonance, between the apparently fearless Jesus and these deeply religious men speaking blasphemy. It can be difficult for us not to fall into the trap of relying on our government as our ruler, when instead we are called to rely on a higher power.

Scripture: John 18:28-40

There are so many points of reference for our lives today in this story of Jesus before Pilate that Susan spoke about on this fourth Sunday of Lent. Pilate was a politician, not a statesman, not a leader, but a politician. To Pilate, truth was something to manipulate.

The dissonance between Pilate and Jesus is stark. As relatable as Pilate is--we read about the likes of him in the newspaper everyday--so we understand his world, his priorities. But it's this other king, Jesus, who claims our allegiance, whose kingdom is not of this world. Jesus has gone before us and stood up to evil and power.

Scripture: John 18:12-27

Seth brought the message on this third Sunday of Lent. We find Peter, the beloved disciple of Jesus, at probably one of the worst times of his life, denying he knew Jesus when he swore he wouldn't.

But this story isn't so much about Peter as it is about us. We all, like Peter, have moments when we lose sight of our bravery, our integrity, our boldness, our loyalty. We all have deeds we look back on with shame; things that we hope we'll never have to answer for or even admit out loud.

We're admonished not to be consumed by the shame of our imperfection. Instead, to lean in to the beauty and the horror of the cross. To lean into the dissonance of our limitations and failures and the grace and truth of the one we follow, of the one who loves us.

(Apologies for the dropout of the audio at a couple places in Seth's sermon.)

Scripture: John 13:1-17

At the start of her sermon on this day after the US and Israel rained bombs on Iran, Susan admonished us to keep up the coordinated, persistent, non-violent pressure on the administration, and to keep up the prayer.

The way of Jesus is the way of love, and today's text is all about love. In it we read about Jesus washing his disciples' feet. This was completely unheard of for someone in authority--for their teacher--to be stooping to the point of washing the feet of someone "below" him in the caste system. The master takes on the role of a subordinate and pours out his love and devotion.

But then he goes a step further.

If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another's feet, for I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

To pass on the selfless, self-forgetful love of God, sometimes means letting others see you in a less than flattering light. What a radical countercultural way to behave because it means we have to take our eyes off ourselves, and focus on the other person.

What does it mean to serve others when self-forgetful, selfless service opportunities come your way? Especially when we're not particularly comfortable following through on those opportunities? What is God nudging each of us to do?

John 11: 1-44

The first Sunday of Lent Susan Scott delivered a shorter sermon than normal to allow time for a major church life meeting after the service. Lent is a season when we tend to lean more intentionally into engaging with the life and character of Jesus. The scripture was story of Lazarus' resurrection. We all know the outcome, so it is easy to forget all the pain, suffering, and disappointment that occurred during his death when they expected Jesus to be there and do something to save his friend. He isn't even there to offer comfort. People sent word to Jesus and he stayed put for two days. Forcing this tragedy so that he can perform a great miracle seems callous of Jesus. What his followers do not understand is that Jesus is preparing them for the anguish, doubt, and fear that will happen to them after he is crucified. Join Susan Scott as she uses her sermonette to explore this seldom considered part of the Lazarus story and what lesson we can take from it for our own faith journeys.

Exodus 24: 12-17 Matthew 17: 1-8

This is Trey Ferguson's (our pastoral candidate) first sermon here at RMC. How we imagine God shapes how we interact with others, our pursuits, ethics, and mores. Which means that when our understanding of God shifts there is the potential for us to transform along with it. The children of Israel saw God's glory as a consuming fire (from God's appearance on top of Mt. Sinai) and they applied that understanding in the bloody conquest of Canaan. Jesus, however, provided an entirely different view of God's glory to the disciples. Jesus was not consumed by the fire of God's presence--he was transformed. This begs the question, did God's glory change or did the perspective of the witnesses to God's glory change? RMC invites you to join Trey Ferguson as he uses the Transfiguration of Jesus to explore how our perception of God fundamentally affects our faith journey and our community of faith.

Matthew 4:12-23

Nina Balmaceda provided the sermon for this morning's service which was held via Zoom due to the inclement weather.

Jesus was not from the center of power. He began his ministry near Mount Tabor. Not a majestic mountain, but more of a hill, far away from Jerusalem's power. It was close to everyday, ordinary people of mixed ancestry. He began his ministry in a place that religious leaders considered marginal, mixed and overlooked.

Jesus is on the side of the oppressed. Christ's first proclamation, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near," is not a threat. It's not a scream creating shame, but a voice of consolation for those who have suffered deeply.

God's kingdom takes root in places that feel far from the center. God's light still rises in unexpected places.