Last week we heard from Rev. Tim Hughes about how he reconciled his identity as a pastor and an LGBT person beloved by God. This week, we hear from Rev. Jose Lopez Chapa about how living with a dual identity (American citizen and child of immigrants) helped him come to a nuanced theology of difference. More than ever, we need to hear from alternative voices in this time; voices that challenge us to question God’s movement in this divided world and our place in it. Enjoy these conversations! I pray you would be as challenged and enriched as I was! –Pastor Jessie

COA presents: CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

We give many, many thanks to Butch Rodak, who was the creative mastermind that arranged the music and even composed his own original song for this production. We also thank Mike Jarjoura for organizing the recording of all the various singers and instrumentalists and Anna Latta for a gorgeous job with video and editing everything to make it one beautiful masterpiece that we can enjoy for many Christmases to come.

This last week of this short sermon series, we explore Joseph’s role in the life of Jesus and in our Christmas story. This week, we fast forward to Jesus moving into his adult ministry. We find that the people who know Jesus best from His hometown do not know how to accept who He really is. They call Him the “carpenter’s son”, and He winds up not being able to accomplish anything with them. Where also do we find that we think we know who God is and how we expect to encounter God?

Link to readable sermon PDF

Video Link to a story of someone helped by the Christmas Joy Offering (PCUSA)—to give, click Give Now button on our website