Carmichael Presbyterian Church (CPC) was founded in 1923. It was the first church to be established in the Northern California farming community of Carmichael Colony. Now an inner-ring suburb of Sacramento, Carmichael still has pockets of citrus and olive groves, horse properties, and beautiful views of the American River. It is also an urbanized area where many struggle with food and housing insecurity. The social mission of CPC has been the main theme in its story from the very beginning, and today the church dedicates much of its energy on food and hospitality-related ministries.
Stories of Faith is a follow-up to Heritage of Faith: A 75-Year History of Carmichael Presbyterian Church, which was published in 1998. As such, this book emphasizes the most recent twenty-five years in the church's history (1998-2023). It also reaches back farther, when needed, to show how various features of the church today are connected to important threads of its longer history. The chapter structure follows the church's mission statement: "Responding to God's love through Jesus Christ, we welcome all, nurture relationships, grow in faith together, and connect with and serve our community and the world."
Readers of this book are invited to reflect on the story of their own faith community, whether CPC or another congregation, and ponder what they find most worthy of celebration. They are also challenged to identify areas where they feel called to pray, discern, or deepen their own commitment.
