This sermon dives into Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church and offers us a reminder that being Christians does not magically make us nice people who get along. So how do we deal with that? What power does faith have to overcome our divisions—in our families, neighborhoods, culture and churches?

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FUN-Day School for this scripture lesson led by COA Christian Educator, Debbie Barbour

Presented by Diana Martin, vocalist, and Mike Jarjoura, pianist.

Today’s sermon is based on Acts 20:7-12—the little known (and seldom-preached) story of Eutychus, the youth who fell asleep during a long sermon by the Apostle Paul. Why was this story included in the grand stories of the early church, and what message might it have for us today?

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A lesson on The Church at Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9 and 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10) for children of all ages.

Worship Offering recorded by Fernando Ortega / Presented by Mike Jarjoura, Molly Fullerton, Chip Grounds, & Rob Werntz

This sermon continues on in the book of Acts, exploring what the very first church looked like when it was just a gathering of scared and hopeful people making something out of nothing. It also considers how it has the potential for healing for every one of us today.

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Sung by Diana Martin, with instruments by Mike Jarjoura When We Face an Unknown Future

BEACH SPRING 8.7.8.7 D (“God Whose Giving Knows No Ending”)

Tune: The Sacred Harp, 1844; attributed to Benjamin Franklin White

Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.

Email: carolynshymns@gmail.com

New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com

Churches are given permission for free use of this hymn, including in live streaming and posting it online.

This sermon takes a closer look at the story of Jesus’ Ascension—when He is taken up to Heaven forty days after His resurrection. His disciples are left staring at the sky, not sure what to do next. They are still scared and unsure and probably ashamed of everything they had been through. Yet still, they were called to be witnesses. How too could we hold tensions together of not being who we want to be, but also somehow gifted by God to help others in a special way?

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FUN-Day School Lesson for ages 4 and up

Video of COA Contemporary Worship Team member Kyra singing “I Will Praise You” written by Jonathan Lee, Rebecca St. James, Fred Williams. It was released as the second single on 18 June 2011 in Australia. It has so far peaked at No. 30 on the TRAA Contemporary Top 30 chart. It is from the studio album I Will Praise You and is the ninth studio album by Christian pop singer Rebecca St. James.

This sermon focuses on the cliffhanger Easter story found in the Gospel of Mark. What does it mean that this story of the resurrection ends with the first witnesses running away in fear, planning to tell no one? What does it mean to have an Easter whose hope is unresolved? We need this story these days more than ever!

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