In this second week of our summer sermon series (Great Questions of the Bible), we turn from a question that God asks us to a question that we ask God. It is a pivotal question that every one of us faces multiple times on our journey, particularly in times of struggle. IS THE LORD AMONG US OR NOT?

Is God really present? Does God care? What is God doing in my life? These are all ways of asking the same thing: where is God in all of this? Times of waiting or sadness or fear or dryness can all provoke such questions. What do we do with this question, and how does God respond to it? Using the story of Israel wandering in the wilderness, we will explore this question and its power in our lives.

Link to readable sermon PDF

This week, we start a new sermon series that will carry us through the rest of the summer. This week, we begin with God’s very first question to human beings: “where are you?” When do we hide from God and why? How does God seek us out? Learn and grow with us as we journey through these questions!

Link to readable sermon PDF

This week, we finish our our opening summer mini-series focused on our new banner challenging us to love our neighbor through all the differences that divide us in these times. And we have the privilege of hearing from our own Clerk of Session and leader in every church arena, Lawrie Gardner. She will give us her take on these issues, particularly focusing on religious and political differences, and how we continue to be called to bridge those divides with sincerity and love. This is meant to spark ongoing conversation, so we hope that it leads to some thoughtful prayer and discussion with those in your life; maybe even the creation of new relationships!

Link to readable sermon PDF

We continue on in our summer mini-series “Love Your Neighbor Who…”, using our wonderful new banner outside our sanctuary entrance to more deeply examine how much we are keeping this greatest commandment. There are six lines; six examples of neighbors who maybe our divided nation finds it hard to love. So in three weeks time, we are exploring these more in depth.

This week we come to loving our neighbor who does not love like us or speak like us: two of the most hot-button issues that we have experienced as so divisive:

who we love (sexuality/orientation/gender identity)

how we speak (how much we are accepted as belonging into the “normal” American identity/immigration)

We are not too afraid to tackle these issues because we believe that God created this diversity that we struggle with. God made us all so different, and what we do with those differences is up to us. We can do better. Let’s explore this more together.

Link to readable sermon PDF

This is the first Sunday of summer (aka in church world: “ordinary time”), and during this time, our church typically dives into a couple of series. Our first mini-series is below, and this week, we focus on how we are challenged by the parable of the Good Samaritan to love those who do not look like us or think like us. In a time of such intense polarization, this is a radical and countercultural witness with power! It may seem impossible, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are challenged to “go and do likewise”.

Link to readable sermon PDF

MINI-SERIES (June4-June 18): Love Your Neighbor Who……?

This series will draw the church’s attention to something new on our property: a banner right outside our sanctuary entryway doors that says “Love your neighbor who doesn’t look like you / think like you / love like you / speak like you / pray like you / vote like you. Love your neighbor. No Exceptions” . I believe that this is actually a perfect encapsulation of the goal of Christian community, embodied however imperfectly by THIS community of COA. How can each one of us follow Jesus more closely in the challenging call to love our neighbor with no exceptions?

Note: There is no recording of this service due to equipment malfunction.  We apologize for this inconvenience.