By Carlo Sosa-Ortiz I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:1-3 Faith and doubt, grace
Read more
In eighth grade Dad left albondigas in the fridge.In the pot were meatballsseasoned with shavings of garlic,meat laced with rice grains, tanned to hard leather.Served in faded bowls, chipped from use –Mom, brother, sister.Heads down,our last supper faces gazing inward.Candles wasted to stubs,wearing our best faces.Each belly cried, hidden by held hands,lingering, moments away from grace. Carlo Sosa-Ortiz is Associate
Read more
By Carlo Sosa-Ortiz I know the modest language of my cat.Her eyes, her twirling whiskers, her flinching tail.Dark evenings, she waits by the door,rolling at each greeting, paws up, waving me in.Her body dances. Her purr an old Ford motor,a pulsing power line. Love speaks in simple gestures.No need for superfluous prattle,words of promise or prestige.Her familiar chorus sings to
Read more
By Carlo Sosa-Ortiz The mind of a child is truly wonderful. This is something that went through my mind after finishing up our kids’ program one Sunday evening. One of our kindergarteners in our group has autism. This child is constantly moving, has difficulty making eye contact, and does not always respond back when he’s asked questions. He’s a very
Read moreBy Carlo Sosa-Ortiz I remember taking a preaching class during my time in seminary, and all of us were fretting over our manuscripts. We were a classroom of aspiring preachers, and some of us had more experience than others when it came to proclaiming the Word. Needless to say, many of us wanted to leave some sort of mark on
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?” For a young couple who had just been ordained as ministers in the Presbyterian Church, these words from the refrain of “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky,” were especially meaningful. Sunday afternoon, July 16, members of First Central Presbyterian Church, family, and friends, affirmed the calling of Carlo
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON Two familiar faces at First Central Presbyterian Church gained special status Sunday, June 11, when they were named associate pastors. Carlo Sosa-Ortiz and Grace Sosa, a husband and wife team, already were serving positions at the church, but following the vote of the congregation on June 11, they will be ordained as ministers in the Presbyterian Church
Read more
Editor’s Note: Sept. 15-Oct. 15 is celebrated each year as Hispanic Heritage Month. Carlo Sosa-Ortiz, a pastoral assistant at First Central Presbyterian Church, wrote the following article on a 17th century Mexican nun named Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz in honor the month. By CARLO SOSA-ORTIZ A young girl is invited to the home of a prominent Mexican family. At
Read more
By CARLO SOSA-ORTIZ In James K.A. Smith’s book, You Are What You Love, he tells us that humans are created by God to be lovers, not thinkers. All our hearts desire after something, whether we know it or not. Just as liturgies in our worship services – prayers, hymns, and sermons – can help us love God more fully, there
Read more
Spirit Of Abilene 