Community Pres. Church of Ben Avon - CPCBA

09/07/2026

Who tells the story can change how we understand everything that happens within it.

In her sermon “Who Tells the Story,” Rev. Heather Schoenewolf looks at the conclusion of Esther and the importance of seeing this story through the eyes of a people who knew displacement, oppression, and uncertainty.

Even though God is never named in Esther, its message is one of hope: God is a deliverer, at work even when God’s presence is hidden.

In a world still marked by suffering, injustice, and division, Heather reminds us that we are not only part of the story of the world’s wounds—we are part of God’s story, too.

Watch the sermon from Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon and consider where God might be at work in the ordinary and unexpected places of life.

Rev. Heather Schoenewolf shares the sermon “Who Tells the Story” du...

09/06/2026

Livestream worship

09/02/2026

What might change if we approached people with curiosity instead of judgment?

In “Be Curious, Not Judgmental,” Rev. Ralph Lowe reflects on Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1–10 and Samuel’s search for Israel’s next king in 1 Samuel 16:1–13. Both stories remind us how easily we rely on appearances, assumptions, and labels—while God sees something deeper.

Through humor and a moving story about confronting his own quick judgment of a stranger, Ralph invites us to “trade the label and judgment for the story” and make room for relationship, grace, and understanding.

“When the crowd looked at Zacchaeus, they saw a label. When Jesus looked up in the sycamore tree, he saw a person.”

Watch the sermon from Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon.

Rev. Ralph Lowe shares the sermon “Be Curious, Not Judgmental” duri...

09/01/2026

Remembering Dolly Parton through her music. ❤️

Director of Music Tim Heavner performs Dolly Parton’s “God’s Coloring Book” during worship at Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon on August 30, 2026.

Written by Parton and released in 1977, this beautiful song looks to the colors and wonder of the natural world as expressions of God’s creation. In light of Parton’s recent passing, Tim’s performance offers a particularly meaningful remembrance of an artist whose music, faith, and Appalachian roots touched generations.

Director of Music Tim Heavner of Community Presbyterian Church of B...

08/28/2026

Our very first episode of “This or That?” features Tim Miller, who has been a member of CPCBA for almost 30 years. Tim says his favorite thing about the church is that it’s a loving, welcoming place; WE say he just have had a hand in creating that welcoming culture, since he’s among the folks who have been here longest. ❤️

08/26/2026

On Sunday Cassie, our Director of Faith Formation, taught the kiddos (and all of us) one last lesson: that goodbye originally meant “God be with you.” Although she and her sweet family will be dearly missed, we are so very grateful for all the ways she blessed us in her time here; she leaves CPCBA a kinder, more thoughtful, and more courageous place than she found it. God be with you, Semmler family!