We are celebrating Epiphany on the Sunday before the official holy day this year, and it just happens to also fall on the very first day of a new year as well as a Sunday where we receive holy communion. How beautiful and hopeful! This Sunday each year, we examine the story of the “magi” who visit Jesus; wise and generous strangers from other cultures (and likely other religions) who somehow understand the Christmas story better than the rest of the world, at least early on. But still—ARE we as open as these magi to following new paths? New stars? What guides our journeys and where do we seek our light? Perhaps this new year is a new chance for a fresh relationship with God and each other! Christmas is a season, friends, and its life-changing story of Incarnation still has gifts to give us.

Link to readable sermon PDF

In this virtual service, we celebrate Christmas Day by considering what it was like for the shepherds to return home. When the presents are unwrapped and the Christmas feasts have been eaten and dishes washed…what now? How do we live out the Good News of Christmas beyond the magical moment of Christmas Day? Also prayerfully consider these words by Howard Thurman…

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.

Link to readable sermon PDF

This Christmas Eve, in the spirit of our Advent sermon series about the African American spirituals, we consider God’s repeated command in the scriptures (ex: Psalm 96/Psalm 98 / Psalm 149/ Isaiah 40 / Revelation 5) to SING A NEW SONG. What could this mean during a season all about comforting rituals and precious traditions? What areas of life is God inviting us to make new and how did God do something new in our cherished Christmas story?

Link to readable sermon PDF

This Sunday is a favorite of each church year, bringing together people from our Contemporary Band, our Sanctuary Choir, our music staff and other special guests. This year’s cantata comes from the vision of COA Director of Music, Diana Martin. It is called “Good News” A Cantata of American Music including Early American, Appalachian, Spiritual and Gospel. The music IS the sermon this Sunday! It is meant to serve as a finale to our short Advent sermon series focused on the African American spirituals and their lessons for us in going deeper this Advent with the story of God’s Incarnation. Enjoy this special presentation!

What is the song in your heart this Advent season? How does it make your heart feel? Does it make you want to sing and shout or curl up and hide? What message is good enough that you would want to tell the whole world? This week, we explore Mary’s Magnificat (her song of response to being pregnant with God’s own Son, celebrating how His presence in the world would overturn the status quo and bring liberation for those most in need), and we lay it alongside the African American spiritual “Go Tell it on the Mountain”. Both of these songs came from people who thirsted for justice and revolution. Maybe Christmas was never as sentimental as we thought. What else could it be about? Maybe this good news can be Good News for us too this Advent, such that we will never be the same.

Link to readable sermon PDF