City of Light Church Aurora: Recent Episodes
City of Light Church Aurora
We are a new church in Aurora finding a new day in Jesus.
We want to help everyone experience the radiant light and grace of God, find a safe home in the church, and shine the light of Jesus by loving our neighbors and neighborhoods in the city of Aurora.
City of Light is a church that is fully evangelical, fully sacramental, and full of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the power of Jesus to transform our lives, families, and communities through his church.
Notes:https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/17lxs8rnh5574yu5ug55a/Daily-Office-Workshop.pdf?rlkey=o99yjbcnp7yidswx8iffx4fu8&dl=0Simplified Daily Office Booklet:https://www.cityoflightaurora.org/pages/fall-sermon-series-2025
9/28 Daily Rhythm of Prayer & ScriptureSCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:4-9 “And the God of peace will be with you.”DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Have you thought that because you are a follower of Jesus, your life would be easier, more blessed, or have less suffering or worry? Where does that belief come from? How does Jesus address that in John 16:33? What anxieties did Paul face in his ministry? Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. What does Paul say is the pressure he feels above all? Paul says at the end of v. 5 that, “The Lord is near.” Do you think he is quoting Psalm 145.18? How does Paul’s reminder of the nearness of the Lord relate to his encouragement to rejoice and give thanks (v. 4) and to not be anxious (v. 6)? Think of the worries and concerns that you are facing. Which ones are of people you see in person in your life? Which ones come primarily through technology, screens, and social media? How does technology impact your anxiety levels? Think of a time you have experienced God’s peace with you. What did it feel like? Paul says it is peace that transcends understanding. In John 14:27 Jesus says his peace is not as the world gives. How have you experienced God’s peace in that way? What does Paul mean when he says that the peace of God will “guard your hearts and your minds”? We use that phrase from Scripture each week when the priest prays the blessing at the end of the service. How do you participate in that blessing? What does it mean to you? How might the rhythm of the Daily Office & Lectionary help you get out of anxious rhythms and into the rhythms of Jesus and his peace?Bible scholar Gordon Fee says, “Even though the experience of God’s peace happens first of all at the individual level…for Paul peace is primarily a community matter.” What would it look like to be a household or church full of peace in the midst of our anxious world? PRAYER PRACTICE: Pick a time this week to try the daily office and lectionary on your own or with a friend. Ask Jesus for his peace as you pray. Turn Philippians 4:4-6 into a prayer: Lord, I am anxious. Help me not be anxious about anything, but in this situation_________, help me pray and ask for what I need from you: here are my requests____________. God, thank you for these good things I can see in my life _________. Fill me with your peace, God, which transcends all my understanding, and guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.
9/21 In Rhythm with JesusSCRIPTURE: Matthew 11:25-30 “Come unto me”DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were villages close to Nazareth where Jesus grew up and the places where he performed the most miracles. What do you make of Jesus’ pronouncing a “woe” to them? Why would Jesus be that intense? 2Jesus says that the Father has revealed “these things to infants” (see 1 Cor. 1:18 - 2:2 for a similar teaching from St. Paul). What is it that the religious leaders don’t get that little children do? In light of that context, how should we understand Jesus’ invitation to “come” to him? 3A “yoke” is a wooden frame joining two animals, usually oxen, for pulling loads. How does Jesus describe his “yoke”? How can we come to Jesus and learn from him? (See 1 John 5:2-4 for another description of the yoke of Jesus.)4How does Jesus describe himself in this passage? How is that the same or different from common conceptions of who Jesus is? Does that differ from your instinctual or kneejerk response about who Jesus is? (See Philippians 2:6-8 for another description of Jesus’ character.) If someone who doesn’t know Jesus asked you about Jesus, how would you describe His gentle and lowly character?5What burdens are you carrying right now (or from the Sunday message, what destructive rhythms are you stuck in)? How is Jesus inviting you to find rest for your weariness? 6Eugene Peterson describes the yoke of Jesus as the “unforced rhythms of grace”. What rhythms of grace is Jesus inviting you into this fall? How might you learn to experience his presence, peace, and healing in rhythm with him? PRAYER PRACTICE: 1Turn Matthew 11:28-30 into a prayer asking Jesus for his rest and healing. Jesus, I want to come to you, I’m weary and burdened, please give me your rest. I want to take your yoke on me and I want to learn from you. I know and trust and have experienced that you are gentle and humble in heart: please help me find rest for my soul in you. Give me your easy yoke and light burden. Amen.COMMENTARY:“Jesus alarmed them when he used every possible means to reclaim them to repentance.” John Chrysostom, The Gospel of Matthew Homilies 37.4“He doesn’t warn those who need conversion; he warns those who think they already have it. These people have Jesus’ presence and power right in front of them but it doesn’t change them. They don’t repent. They don’t obey him or even take him seriously.” — The Gospel of Matthew: God with Us by Matt Woodley, IVP, 2011; pg 130. “Babes see because sacred truths are revealed to them, and not otherwise. They are weak and inexperienced. They are simple and unsophisticated. They can cling, and trust, and cry, and love; and to such the Lord opens up the treasures of wisdom. Lord, let me be one among them! The truths of the heavenly kingdom are hid, by a judicial act of God, from men who, in their own esteem, are “the wise and prudent.” They cannot see, because they trust their own dim light, and will not accept the light of God” — Spurgeon’s Popular Exposition of Matthew, Charles Spurgeon, 1983, pg. 82. “The cumulative testimony of the four gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it.” Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund, pg 30.
Some Updates to Our Sunday LiturgyDear City of Light, I want to let you know about some small updates to our Sunday morning liturgy. I was delighted that earlier this year the Anglican Church in North America completed its Spanish translation of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. We now have copies in English and Spanish available at our Welcome Table or online here. We had been using Spanish translations found in other places or translated ourselves. Now we can update our bulletin and prayers to align with Spanish speakers throughout the province. There will be a few differences, such as:We will now say “El Señor esté con ustedes” instead of “El Señor sea con ustedes.”We will now say “Cristo vendrá de nuevo” instead of “Cristo volverá.”While we update the Spanish, we’re also going to update a few differences in English between our Sunday bulletin and the 2019 prayer book.When something changes in the liturgy, it may feel strange or awkward, we may not prefer it at first, and we will make mistakes and say the old words out of habit. This can remind us of several things:that it’s not first about what we like or prefer, but about our entire church praying togetherthat worship is not about getting all the words right, it’s about offering our lives to Jesusthat we and our kids have internalized these liturgies more than we realized and that’s goodAnd that the point is that our liturgies draw us to Jesus who is the living word behind all of our words and who is teaching us how to talk with him. The several main changes will be:And with your spiritBoth of the responses “And also with you” and “And with your spirit” have long traditions. The ACNA returned to the “And with your spirit” as the primary one for its emphasis on reminding us that we are both physical and spiritual beings, and when we come together in worship we are engaging all of who we are, body and spirit. This is what we have been saying when we do the response in Spanish, “y con tu espíritu.” Making this change will also bring us more in “common” with the rest of the Diocese and Province. We lift them up to the Lord. At the beginning of communion when the celebrant says, “Lift up your hearts” the older liturgy had us saying, “we lift them to the Lord” but the newer liturgy says, “we lift them up to the Lord.” The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-13 and Lk 11:2-4)The BCP2019 has two options for the Lord’s Prayer. If you have been praying the daily offices from the prayerbook then you are familiar with these versions. We had been praying a translation that is a hybrid of the two. The biggest difference for us in the new version is that it translates “lead us not into temptation” as “save us from the time of trial.” I share more about this change and what we mean when we pray it in the podcast, so take a listen here. I’m eager to begin praying these prayers with you! Peace,Father Trevor
The Weight of Sin, the Glory of the Sin Bearer, and the Power of Forgiveness (Good Friday) — Pastor Matt Woodley by
View slides here: https://shorturl.at/SJkt6Contents:0:00 Opening Prayer (Karla Ferrer Torres)1:30 Parish Council Nominees (Kaitlin Cooper, Katrina Kessler, Ryan Kurtz)10:45 Gathering and Giving (John Wallbaum)13:00 Facility Team Update (Hillary Cobden)29:15 Neighborhood Presence (Abby Arnold)34:00 Diocese Update (Trevor McMaken)38:40 McMaken Sabbatical Update (Anne Hirstein)43:30 Closing Prayer (Sue Omanson)
1 John 3:11-2411 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[b] if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1 John 3:1-2See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Ephesians 4:15-1615 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
1 Corinthians 15:1-31Knowing Christ Today by Dallas Willardhttps://dwillard.org/books/knowing-christ-todayA. N. Wilson's Return to Faithhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169145/Religion-hatred-Why-longer-cowed-secular-zealots.htmlhttps://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2009/04/conversion-experience-atheism
Psalm 8 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 24 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Psalm 33 the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 95 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. O come let us worship and bow down and kneel before the Lord our maker.
Psalm 104 24 O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. 25 Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.
Psalm 121 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 139 Fearfully and wonderfully made
The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.
And for all this, nature is never spent; There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And though the last lights off the black West went Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs — Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
1 Pet 3:8-18Ps 148:7-14John 15:1-11O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Asking from Abiding is:—Admitting our need for Jesus—Aligning our heart with Jesus'—Applying his kingdom to our daily lives—Assigning the credit to him
What is Holy Week? Why does it matter? What are the different services and actions of Holy Week? What will our first Maundy Thursday service at City of Light be like? How do we get ready for Holy Week? How do we shepherd children, set expectations, navigate our normal responsibilities, rest after Holy Week, and more!
1 Timothy 4:1-2, 7-10The handout Father Trevor refers to: https://cityoflightanglican.org/uploads/images/Digital-Decluttering-Fasting-Ideas.pdf
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Greeting: Leader: Our King and Savior now draws near.All: O come, let us adore him!Light Four CandlesSong: O come, O Come, EmmanuelAnd ransom captive IsraelThat mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appearRejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall comes to thee O Israel.Scriptures: Isaiah 7:10-17Psalm 24Romans 1:1-7Matthew 1:18-25PRAYER:Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Greeting: Leader: Our King and Savior now draws near.All: O come, let us adore him!Light three CandlesSong: O come, O Come, EmmanuelAnd ransom captive IsraelThat mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appearRejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall comes to thee O Israel.Scriptures: Isaiah 35:1-10Psalm 146James 5:7-20Matthew 11:2-19PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Second Week of AdventGreeting: Leader: Our King and Savior now draws near.All: O come, let us adore him!Light two CandlesSong: O come, O Come, EmmanuelAnd ransom captive IsraelThat mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appearRejoice! Rejoice! EmmanuelShall comes to thee O Israel.Scriptures:Isaiah 11:1-10Psalm 72:1-19Romans 15:1-13Matthew 3:1-12PRAYER:Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.https://cityoflightanglican.org/events/advent
The First Week of Advent
GREETING: Leader: Our King and Savior now draws near. All: O come, let us adore him!
Light One Purple Candle
SONG: O come, O Come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall comes to thee O Israel.
SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 24:29-44
PRAYER: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
You can find notes here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/np2szei0xmr976z/2022%20Advent%20Church%20Year%20Workshop.pdf?dl=0
You can download the Advent Worship Guide for 2022 here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k1laj874cd4ue0e/2022%20Advent%20Worship%20Guide%20%28draft%2002%29.pdf?dl=0
You can find out more about Advent at City of Light here:
https://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/advent
Find the notes here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LQW4f8bLVsACSdBoLypiBkKSFagFSgGBm71W42cRqTc/edit?usp=sharing
"Be baptized in Jesus; let the death and resurrection of Jesus be the means by which you are reconciled to God and we are reconciled to one another." – Pastor Casey Solgos
"Are you living as the owner of the vineyard of your life, or are you living as the tenant of the vineyard of your life?" – Pastor Matt Woodley
"The good news for those who ask is that in prayer we find a God who listens to us. The one thing that we can't afford to do is to remain silent." – Mark Meyers
Luke 11:1-13
"Jesus has already done the act of giving his life, and we can hide ourselves in him." – Pastor Margie Fawcett
"Jesus invites us to be good neighbors like He is the good neighbor." – Pastor Trevor McMaken
"May we be a church that is marked by that receiving and proclaiming of Jesus's never ending good news."
Lucas 24:44-53 | Luke 24:44-53
Art: "Ascension: Men of Galilee" by Chris Cook (Atlanta, GA)
Rev. 19: 1-9 (Marriage Supper of the Lamb)
The woman of Babylon was clothed in expensive garments and jewelry gained through the sacrifice of the people she enslaved for her own power but the bride is clothed in righteousness gained through the sacrifice of her groom who gave his life for her!
Prayed by Pastor Bonnie McMaken and Rachel Wassink.
A PRAYER FOR EVERY WOMAN ON MOTHER’S DAY
For every woman filled with joy or sorrow or both this Mother’s Day, we as the church bless you and your essential vocation as a woman in the Kingdom of God. For a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised and honored in all the city for all that her hands have done.
For every woman who has lost a child, For every woman who has said “yes” to life and given up a child for adoption, For every woman who welcomes a child she didn’t grow in her own body, For every woman who has never had a child but longs for one, We bless you.
For every woman who has never known her mother, For every woman who has lost her mother, For every woman whose mother wasn’t safe, We bless you.
For every woman who is raising a child on her own, For every woman who partners with her husband to raise children in the Kingdom of God, For every woman who grieves a prodigal child, We bless you.
For every woman who lives under the shadow of the generational curse of dishonoring women, For every woman who was never empowered to use her gifts in the church or the world, For every woman who was demeaned, abused, trafficked, objectified, or belittled, We bless you.
For every woman who manages a household, a business, a classroom, or a ministry, For every woman who brings forth life, justice, healing, and industry by the works of her hands or the sweat of her brow, For every woman who protects and fights and nurtures and loves fiercely, We bless you.
For every mother and grandmother and aunt and cousin who loved and loves so well, For the spiritual mamas, neighbor mamas, birth mamas, adoptive mamas, sister mamas, grandmamas, god mamas, friend mamas, and pastor mamas. For every woman, and for every little girl learning to love, lead, laugh, and live from her church of mamas,
We love you. We honor you. We rise up and call you blessed.
May you be clothed in strength and dignity, able to laugh at what is to come. May you know the blessing of God the Father who, when he made you, said that you were very good.
May you know the honor of Jesus, born of a woman, who dignified and cared for his mother Mary, and all women.
May you know the safety and nurture of the church your mother, where you are born of water and the Spirit into the family of God.
And may you, as a woman, be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to bear the image of God Almighty, and to give the gift of spiritual motherhood to the world around you.
Amen.
Written by Trevor & Bonnie McMaken for City of Light Anglican Church, 2016.
Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 Psalm 23
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
If you are new to Lent, or wondering how to practice it this year, I hope this podcast will help you enter into this beautiful season of new beginnings and closeness with Jesus.
What is Lent? Why should I practice it? Where did it come from? How do I decide what to do during Lent? How do I fast? How do I pray?
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/lent
Thanks to TJ Hill for the beautiful music. Find him at https://www.tjhmusic.com.
Jesus takes our most bitter experiences and through the tree of the cross turns them into the sweetness of his healing.
Hey Brothers and Sisters of City of Light,
Here is a quick message from me about celebrating Epiphany this Sunday, Epiphany House blessings, and new CDC Covid-19 best practices. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Peace, Trevor
QUICK LINKS Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WhQhaaDgO0
Sign up for Epiphany House Blessing: https://cityoflightanglican.org/events
New CDC Guidelines for shorter 5 day isolation: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html
The season of Advent is here! Father Trevor and City of Light member Rachel Wassink talk about following the church calendar, the meaning of the season of Advent, and how to practice it in our households with family, roommates, or on our own.
Find more Advent resources at http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/advent
Tambourines and Tabernacles: The Artists of Exodus (Exodus 29, 35, 40) — Pastor Bonnie McMaken by
Hear teaching from Rachel Fruin and Trevor McMaken and participate in prayer practices of silence and praying for others. After each practice, the participants share their experiences.
El Tabernáculo del Señor | The Lord's Tent (Bilingual Message) – Deacon Eduardo Davila by
"When we face wilderness challenges in our lives, is our first response to trust God or test God?"
Exodus 17
We make false assumptions about who God is and what he is doing. In the story of Exodus, God reveals his true character, he comes close and gets involved.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/exodus
Exodus 2:1-22 Psalm 92:1-4 Mark 4:26-29
"Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by your providence; and that your Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Exodus 1:8-22 Mark 3:20-35 Psalm 130
Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep us, we pray, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with free hearts those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
"I've been so blessed at City of Light to be able to bring my whole self into worship and fellowship in this community, and to be asked to serve by using my gifts as a part of that. So thank you so much, City of Light, for welcoming me in as part of your family."
John 6:1-14
"Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
Acts 2:1-11
"Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Acts 1:1-11 Luke 24:44-53
"O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen."
John 21: 1-14 1 John 4:13-21
"O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
John 14:15-21 1 John 3:18-24
"Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Father Trevor discusses some updates to our COVID-19 practices for our Sunday gatherings based on new recommendations by the Illinois Department of Public Health and our values of caring caring for one another, caring for our community, caring for our witness, caring for our holistic health (emotional, spiritual, relational, and physical), and caring for our fears and anxieties.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/news/spring-covid-19-update
Psalm 23 John 10
"God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice, we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Luke 24:13-35 Acts 4:5-14
"O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
2 Corinthians 5:16-20 John 20:19-31
"Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Mark 16:1-8
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:26 - 2:2 John 19: 1-37
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Mark 11:1-11a Philippians 2:5-11 Mark (14:32-72) 15:1-39 (40-47)
"Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Pastor Bonnie and Mark sit down to discuss the vision and process. of building a new cross for our worship gatherings, the meaning behind it, and how to incorporate the cross into our life of worship and discipleship to Jesus.
"Behold the wood of the cross, On which was hung the world's salvation. Come, let us adore him."
Everything you need to know to journey with Jesus this year!
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/holy-week
Psalm 51 John 12:20-33 (34-36)
"Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
Psalm 122 John 6:1-15
"Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
Exodus 3:7-10 John 2:13-22
"Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Psalm 16 Mark 8:31-38
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 25:1-7 John 3:22-30
"Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
Joel 2:12-13
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Peter 1:13-19 Mark 9:2-9
"O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Pray through the Liturgy and Scripture passages from the Ash Wednesday service and the Great Litany this Lent as we find refuge in Jesus and his church.
READERS: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 (Deb Baddorf) Isaiah 58:1-12 (John Riddle) Psalm 103 (Sarah Galarza) 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (Katie Easley) Mathew 6:1-6, 16-21 (Hillary Cobden) Psalm 51 (Yomardy Lacruz) The Lord’s Prayer (Brandon Anderson)
Follow along in your Book of Common prayer or download the Ash Wednesday and Great Litany prayers here:
http://bcp2019.anglicanchurch.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/49-Ash-Wednesday.docx http://bcp2019.anglicanchurch.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/12-Great-Litany.docx
Oremos juntos usando las oraciones y escrituras dado a nostros para el Miércoles de Cenizas para refugiarnos en el Señor esta Cuaresma.
Lectores: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 (Yomardy Lacruz, City of Light) Psalm 103 (Jesus Mendez, City of Light) 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (Ruth Velazquez, Cornerstone Bridgeport) Mathew 6:1-6, 16-21 (Sergio Canon, Aviva Church) Psalm 51 (Mimi Guiracocha-Bloomer, Cornerstone Bridgeport)
Encuentre la liturgia para acompañarnos aquí: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f3a5qey1621ufy0/Miercoles%20de%20Ceniza%20%2879%29.pdf?dl=0
Mark 1:16-20
Bishop Stewart invites us into Lent Together in our Diocese to find refuge in the Lord and also to be ready for the harvest that is coming this summer.
Genesis 12:1-4 Matthew 28:16-20
Almighty God, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Psalm 139 Mark 1
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Acts 10:34-38 Mark 1:7-11
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/epiphany
Pastor Trevor talks with one of City of Light’s group leaders, Rachel Wassink, about her new podcast Recollect, a weekly podcast reflecting on the Collect of the day to take our Sunday prayers into our weeks. Then enjoy the latest episode of Recollect featuring the collect that we will read this coming Sunday.
Subscribe to Recollect on Apple, Google, Soundcloud, or Sticher. Follow @recollectpodcast on Facebook and Instagram.
Our collect this week is from the First Sunday of Epiphany:
Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove: Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Isaiah 60:1-9 Matthew 2:1-12
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
John 1
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A City of Light arrangement of the ancient Advent/Christmas hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten," based on the Latin poem "Corde natus" describing the wonder and mystery of the Incarnation, the God who comes to dwell with us.
Vocals: Bonnie McMaken Background vocals: Mark Meyers Cello: Jonathan Wiest Viola: Christine Wiest Violin: David Yeager Guitar: Trevor McMaken Engineering & Production: Todd Hiller Arrangement: Trevor McMaken
Recorded at Bureau Gravity (Aurora IL)
Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, Evermore and evermore!
This is He whom Heaven-taught singers Sang of old with one accord; Whom the Scriptures of the prophets Promised in their faithful word. Now He shines, the Long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord Evermore and evermore.
Christ, to Thee, with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unending praises be, Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory Evermore and evermore Evermore and evermore Evermore and evermore Evermore and evermore Evermore and evermore Evermore and evermore Evermore and evermore
Luke 1:26-38 Isaiah 7:13-16
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
¡Feliz Navidad! ¿Estás en busca de la sanidad y paz de Dios esta Navidad? La historia navideña significa que Dios te a escuchado, se ofrece en relación, y te invita a una vida eterna y bella!
City of Light es una iglesia en Aurora y ¡nos encantaría conocerte! Tenemos servicios bilingües y estudios bíblicos en español cada semana, y estamos aquí por cualquier necesidad que tengas.
John 1:19-28 Isaiah 65:17-25
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Mark 1:1-8; Isaiah 40:1-5
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Mark 13:24-27, 32-37 Isaiah 64:1-8
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Psalm 100 Luke 19:1-10
Christian gratitude is not simply positive thinking or a happier perspective. It's a connection to God’s goodness that transforms us, replacing isolation with relationship and bitterness with joy.
We can pray, "God, where did I see your goodness today?"
HEBREWS 13:1-8, 14–16 Psalm 67 Luke 20:45 - 21:4
A person who gives thanks is a person who gives.
Gratitude connects us to God’s goodness and invites us into his generosity. When we experience the good gifts of God given to us, we begin to more deeply trust his generosity. When we experience his generosity, we can participate in his generosity.
But generosity is not only the response to God’s goodness, it can be a way in to God’s goodness. Just like practicing gratitude teaches us to see God’s good gifts. Practicing generosity teaches us to see God’s good gifts. When we risk to live generously, we put ourselves in a place of relying on the goodness of God.
Colossians 3:12–17 Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26 Luke 17:11-19
"Gratitude is a gateway to the goodness of God. In the midst of our day to day lives, the practice of giving thanks shapes us to see and receive the goodness of God our loving father."
11/22 WK10: A Spirit-filled Kingdom SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 5:16-28 SUMMARY: Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks in the midst of suffering fills us with the Spirit and transform us into people of heaven. DISCUSSION: In the midst of the many challenges of 2020, what can you thank the Lord for? What are the gifts large and small that he has given you this year? How can you continue to pray throughout your days, asking the Lord for what you need and interceding for others? Rejoicing in the Lord rehearses the good news that Jesus is healing our hurts. How can you rehearse the story of the kingdom of heaven this week?
11/15 WK9: A Kingdom Built Up SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 5:11-22 SUMMARY: The culture of the kingdom is built up through love, encouragement, care, and patience. DISCUSSION: Who are the faint-hearted in your life and how could you encourage them in their life in God? Are there ways that you have been idle in your spiritual life or the life of the church? How is the Lord admonishing you to re-engage? With so many challenges, how can you “give thanks in all circumstances” this week? As you spend time in the Bible and prayer this week, ask the Spirit, “Lord, who needs encouraged in the Lord right now?”
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/kingdom-people
Bishop Stewart and Mama Katherine's opening teaching from Revive 2020 about who we are as a church during the challenges of the pandemic.
Find all the Revive teaching audios here: https://soundcloud.com/midwestanglican/sets/2020-revive-a-house-on-the-move
And full video of the services here:
http://revive.midwestanglican.org/live
11/8 WK8: A Kingdom That Is Here SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 5:1-11
SUMMARY: The church today is called to live the culture of heaven in the midst of the cultures of earth. We are children of the day, staying awake to the day when Jesus will return to bring heaven to earth and living in that future day today.
DISCUSSION: Are you eagerly awaiting the coming of Jesus? Why or why not? Paul encourages us to not fall asleep or get drunk. What are ways in your life that you can fall asleep to the reality of the kingdom of heaven? Where are places in our world or our church where we need more of the culture of heaven to heal our cultures?
11/1 WK7(All Saints Sunday): A Kingdom That Is Coming SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 4:13-18 SUMMARY: King Jesus will return and all those who follow him will live in his kingdom forever. DISCUSSION: There are many details about Jesus’ return that we do not know and that Jesus tells us in Acts 1:7-8 that we do not need to know. What are the main things that Paul wants the Thessalonians and us to know? According to v. 13 and 18, why does he want us to know this? How has the Resurrection provided hope for you in times of grief? How could it offer hope during this pandemic? Paul writes so that we do not grieve as those who have no hope, but not that we don’t grieve at all since we are also called to “grieve with those we grieve” in Romans 12:15. How are you grieving well and with others during the pandemic?
This is a demo version of the "Sanctus" (a piece of liturgical music sung during the celebration of the Eucharist)sung in Spanish.
Written and performed by Mark Meyers, Bonnie McMaken, and Eduardo Dávila.
Find the lead sheet, lyrics, and chart here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t8noemij9xmdfp1/AAC1O3KbXyt-cyoKA8HHWTXTa?dl=0
Copyright © 2019 City of Light Church Aurora
Note: Due to technical difficulties, the audio quality for the first three minutes is poor, but improves shortly thereafter.
Anuncio: Por causa de dificultades técnicas, la calidad del audio al comienzo es mala, pero mejora después de tres minutos.
THE MESTIZO CHURCH | LA IGLESIA MESTIZA Lucas | Luke 10:25-37 Hechos | Acts 2:1-12
In such divisive times, the church can look to mestizos, those whose very lives embody multi-ethnicity or multiculturalism, for guidance for cultural healing and reconciliation. In this sermon, Deacon Eduardo (City of Light Aurora) celebrates how the church has always been a mestizo church, and is the only place that offers cultural healing and hospitality to the world.
The sermon is delivered in Spanish and translated live by Mimi Guiracocha, and directed to a culturally mixed audience for our annual diocesan gathering, Revive.
En tiempos tan divisivos, la iglesia puede encontrar guía en los mestizos (aquellos cuyas vidas encarnan la multietnicidad y multiculturalismo) para la sanidad y la reconciliación cultural. En este sermón, Pastor Eduardo (City of Light Aurora) celebra que la iglesia siempre ha sido una iglesia mestiza, y es el único lugar que ofrece sanidad cultural y hospitalidad al mundo. El sermón es en español y traducido por Mimi Guiracocha, y dirigido a una audiencia culturalmente mixta para nuestra reunión diocesana anual, Revive. Culmina un día entero dedicado a explorar lo bello y lo quebrantado en North Lawndale y La Villita.
http://midwestanglican.org/
10/25 WK6: A Culture of Sexual Holiness SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 4:1-8 SUMMARY: Following King Jesus teaches us what is truly loving and empowers us to live in holiness. DISCUSSION: Find all of the mentions of the word “holy” or “holiness” in this section. What is holiness? In v. 3, Paul says that Jesus instructs us to avoid all sexual immorality. Have you seen how sexual sin has hurt you or hurt others? What would it mean for you to believe and obey that in your life? What happens in v. 6 when we do not follow God’s way of holiness? How can we stay more connected to the Holy Spirit so that we can live a more holy life?
10/18 WK5:A Hard-working Kingdom SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 4:9-12 SUMMARY: In the culture of the church, we work hard at being generous. DISCUSSION: In the ancient world and in many cultures today, large extended families share their home, their resources, their food, their work, their lives. How do we normally think about the church as a the family of God in our culture? How is the Spirit inviting us into a deeper relationship as brothers and sisters in his household? How does the broader culture think about work and money differently than the Kingdom of God culture? How could you take a step of Kingdom generosity in your financial life? What’s holding you back?
Matthew 22:15-22
How should Christians vote? What are our Kingdom politics?
Not only does Jesus avoid the trap set for him in this malicious public debate, he gives us a diagnostic question for where we have placed our own allegiance.
10/11 WK4: A Culture of Closeness SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 3:1-12 SUMMARY: In the kingdom, we grow closer together when we suffer together. DISCUSSION: How would you feel if someone at church use words as affectionate as Paul does for the Thessalonians? Why? How can we intentionally show our affection to one another during this pandemic? In Acts 16:19-26 Paul and Silas are beaten, thrown into prison, and then spend the night singing hymns out loud. Paul references this in 1 Thessalonians 2:2. How would going through that affect Paul and Silas’ relationship? Can you think of a time when you suffered and someone was there with you in it? What did that mean for your relationship? How can we grow closer to one another during this season?
10/4 WK3: A Kingdom Leader SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 2:5-12 SUMMARY: Kingdom leaders lead like a loving mother and father. DISCUSSION: Have you followed trustworthy leaders? Have you been hurt by untrustworthy leaders? Are there ways that your relationship with earthly parents has impacted your relationship with God? With the church? In your own life, how might the Lord be inviting you into leadership that is more humble, more loving, more like a parent? Paul said that he was “encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.” Where do you need encouragement, comfort, or urging today? How might you encourage, comfort, and urge those you are leading to live lives worthy of God?
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/kingdom-people
9/27 WK2: A Kingdom Culture SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 1:8 - 2:4 SUMMARY: Following King Jesus means turning from following other kingdoms. DISCUSSION: What are idols in our culture that are also in your life? That are also in the life of the church? How is the culture of the Kingdom of God different in that area? What would turning from those idols look like in your life in God? In our church? Are there brothers and sisters in the Lord in your life from a different culture? How does their life in God look the same as yours? How does it look different? What might they have to teach us through the way the Kingdom of God is being shaped in their culture and lives? How might their life in God expose the idols in our lives and culture?
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/kingdom-people
9/20 WK1: A Resilient Kingdom
SCRIPTURE: Thessalonians 1:1-7
SUMMARY: Followers of King Jesus persevere through hardship like Jesus did.
DISCUSSION: Where have you needed endurance over the last 6 months? How could the hope of Jesus strengthen you in your labor of love? (v. 3 ) How did the message of the Gospel come to you? Have you received it? When? (v. 5)
PRACTICE: Review your Rule of Life for the fall. What is the Lord inviting you into this year to persevere and share the hope of Jesus with others?
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/kingdom-people
Hebrews 10:19-25 We meet the Lord as we set aside Sunday for him, hear his Word read and preached with ears to obey, receive from his body and blood at the table, and give and receive to one another as the body of Jesus. No digital media can substitute for the embodied presence of God in his Word, at his Table, and in his Body gathered.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/dios-esta-aqui-1
The Spirit is the participant in every conversation. You’re never talking with just another person—God is with us! How do we invite him into our every conversation? Ask the Lord, "What do you want to do here?" The Spirit is working. We listen, obey, join the conversation, ask questions, speak the Gospel, and baptize.
Would you ask the Spirit, "Lord, would you send me someone I can lead to the Lord? That I can see baptized?"
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/dios-esta-aqui-1
Mark 1:35-39 Many times God feels absent in our lives because all of the other things present in our lives crowd him out. We can practice the absence of other things so we can practice the presence of Jesus in silence and sabbath.
Father Trevor talks about the protocols we will be practicing so that we can gather together in person to worship the Lord and encourage one another while also caring for the physical health of our church and city, including those more vulnerable to illness.
Father Trevor also talks about how our Disciple-making Groups are connected to Sunday Gatherings and how our Sunday Gatherings will be more bilingual as we continue to become a a church of many people from many backgrounds becoming one family with one Father.
As we have made this decision to have weekly in person gatherings with the Parish Council and Staff, we’ve talked about 5 values:
— Care for our people; we don’t want anyone to be exposed to COVID-19, we especially want to create a safe place for those who are more vulnerable to its effects. — Care for our community; we don’t want to spread to vulnerable in our community — Care for our witness; we want our neighbors to see us being responsible and know that we care for them. — Care for us holistically: we are concerned for emotional and spiritual well-being as well as physical. — Care for fears and anxieties: we want to be wise and cautious but not to give in to a culture of fear.
Questions? Ask our re-gathering team at regathering@cityoflightanglican.org.
Acts 16:11-15 Our lives are shaped most not by momentous events or life-changing decisions, but by the daily rhythms that help us see that God is here or that obscure his presence in our lives. A 400 year old monk and cook named Brother Lawrence and Lydia the seller of purple from Acts 16 will help us practice the presence of the Lord in the ordinary moments of our lives.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/dios-esta-aqui-1
Practicing the Presence of God Through Prayer in the Morning
Lamentations 3:17-27
God is here to bring a new day in Jesus. No matter what we are going through, where we are from, or what we have done, he promises his saving presence. His mercies are new every morning.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/dios-esta-aqui-1
AUGUST 16: Rescuing the Prophet from the Pit (37:11-38:13) “They pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern.”
SUMMARY: Fulfilling God’s call on our life includes setbacks and rejection. Sometimes good leaders are punished for their integrity. Yet because of God’s faithful character, working through his courageous people, he will vindicate his leaders and his message.
DISCUSSION: How does this story illustrate the challenges of pursuing God’s call on your life? How do you feel when you face rejection or setback because of your obedience to God? What does this story teach us about God’s character, especially when we face setbacks in pursuit of his call? Does Jeremiah’s experience resonate with you or your current circumstances? How can you pray in these moments of setback? How can you support leaders in your church or your community when they face rejection or misunderstanding in their pursuit of obedience or integrity?
PRAYER: Faithful God, look upon your servants who daily who face trial or rejection in their pursuit of your call, even as Christ was despised and rejected that your will might be done; vindicate them, Lord, in your mercy, that they may faithfully proclaim your Word and live according to your commandments, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRACTICE: Review your rule of life one more time, carefully thinking through what practices of discipleship and habits of life will best fortify and refresh you in God’s presence, so that you can face the trials and setbacks that come your way with faithfulness and wisdom.
http://cityoflightanglican.org/events/jeremiah
The Return of the Shepherd-King (33:12-26) “In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.”
SUMMARY: Jesus is a Shepherd-King after God’s heart, who has returned to fulfill all of the promises in Jeremiah. Under his rule, we can flourish and learn to lead in his way.
DISCUSSION: What importance did the arrival of the Shepherd-King hold for the Israelites? What proof does God provide that he will keep his promise? What does the promise of the Davidic king tell you about the importance of righteous and just leadership? How does the New Testament show that Jesus fulfills this identity? How has the kingship of Jesus changed your life? How does his kingship change our response to the evils and crises of our time?
PRAYER: Good Shepherd, in your infinite love you lead us besides still waters to restore our souls. Free us from the tyranny of fear and grant us the security of knowing that even when we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, you are still with us and your right hand guides us into everlasting life. Amen.
PRACTICE: Practice the daily examen again this week and add the following questions to your reflections: What aspects of Jesus’ kingship am I most grateful for today? How have I served as a servant of his kingdom? How can I promote his kingdom in my neighborhood tomorrow?
God calls us to seek the long-term shalom of the people and places where we’d rather not be. Our exile is an opportunity to reject the short cuts promised by false prophets and contend for God’s purposes.
Our future in God is so good that we can anticipate it with joyful song and dance. Because of Jesus, our weeping will give way to joy.
Invest in God’s future! Even when things seem bleak, bank on his promises. At God’s command, buy the field and plant a garden in it. God’s judgment and promises will reward your faith in the end.
JULY 5: A Fruitful Tree in the Desert (17:1-13) “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.”
SUMMARY: Even in spiritually arid conditions, the people of God can bear fruit by sending their roots down into the underground streams of God’s vitalizing presence. We can thrive in exile, whether due to quarantine, personal rejection or cultural resistance to the Gospel.
DISCUSSION: What are the key differences between the person described in verses 5-6 and the person described in verses 7-8? What is the source of each person’s strength and how do they access it? Where are those decisions leading them? What are the challenges in your life right now that undermine a life of fulfillment and fruitfulness in the Lord? What are ways that you can ground yourself more deeply and sustainably in your life with God? What fruit do hope this kind of rootedness will bear in your own life and your life with others? How does that lead you to pray?
PRAYER: Merciful God, whose presence brings us hope in the season of weariness and confidence in times of trial, so root our lives in your Spirit that we, being nourished for every good work, may bear fruit in the parched places of our homes and neighborhoods and be preserved through all adversity, to the glory of your name. Amen.
PRACTICE: Revisit your rule of life in order to clarify which rhythms are helping you root yourself in the Lord. What is working? What is not working? How can you change or recraft your rule to help you become like a fruitful tree?
When you plant your feet When you take your seat Heed not the counsel of the wicked
The way is blessed He knows your steps You are not lost within the thicket
For your delight is in the law of the Lord Day and night it is the meditation of your heart
Abide in me; revive your withered leaves Come weary one, rest under shade A thriving tree by the side of the living stream In the cool of the day I will walk in your glade
Those who laugh He blows like chaff They will not stand against the pilgrim
So put down your roots And wait for fruit Your boughs will bear it in its season
Words and music by David Yeager, 2020.
Suffering and upheaval provide us with a remarkable opportunity: to be reshaped by the Lord himself into the people he originally called us to become.
JUNE 28: Scarecrows in a Cucumber Patch (10:1-18) “But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.”
SUMMARY: The “way of the nations” which seem secure and powerful are actually pathetic. That’s the truth behind Jeremiah’s image of a scarecrow in a cucumber patch. These ungodly ways are not to be feared or imitated. In comparison, the Living God is to be feared, adored, and obeyed.
DISCUSSION: This passage addresses our fears by contrasting God and idols. What fears do you imagine the people of Israel had in their day (see 10:2, 5)? What differences does Jeremiah highlight between the idols and the God of Israel? Compare the “way of the nations” of Jeremiah’s time with our day: When have you seen our cultural idols and worthless practices on display? What implications do you see that God’s kingship has on our idols, habits, and practices? What encouragement does God give us to not fear? How can we respond to God’s kingship over our neighborhood?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you founded the world and spread the heavens with matchless power and unimaginable glory. Grant that we, being encouraged by your creative power, may boldly and compassionately call all things into the loving obedience of your perfect ways. Amen.
PRACTICE: Write down some of the aspects of our nation and community that work against the ways of God. Take your list, along with the prayer of lament or the collects for social justice on a prophetic prayer walk and pray prophetically against all evils in our community.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/jeremiah
JUNE 21: A Broken Cistern (2:1-13) “They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
SUMMARY: Our spiritual adultery with God is more serious than we care to admit. From God’s perspective, we are attempting to drink water out of a broken cistern which can never satisfy. Meanwhile, we are neglecting the True Fountain of Living Water. God wants us back.
DISCUSSION: Verses 2-3 begin with an affirmation of God’s remembrance of us. What do verses 5-8 teach us about the relationship between idolatry and our remembrance of God? What are some ways that you have forgotten God or his past mercies to you? What habits or practices can remind you of who God is and what he has done? In verses 9-11 we learn that “[God’s] people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols” (2:11). Do you find God glorious? When have you experienced the glory and beauty of God in your life? How did it affect you? Are there things in your life that you find more beautiful than God? Verse 13 says that God is “the spring of living water” (2:13). Where do you find yourself returning to when you are “spiritually thirsty”? What habits or practices keep you close to the Holy Spirit, the eternally satisfying spring (Jn 4:14)?
PRAYER: Glorious God, forgive us for when we have exchanged your life-giving presence for worthless idols that do not satisfy. Renew in us the devotion of our youth, that we may drink deeply of your Holy Spirit and find eternal satisfaction in you. Amen.
PRACTICE: Attune your soul to the presence and work of God in your life by practicing the daily examen. Ask God everyday to reveal any idols in your heart to which you have turned for false comfort and to give you a renewed sense of satisfaction in him.
June 14 — “A Small Kid Gets a Big Job” (1:1-12)
God’s calling on our life exceeds our human capacities. He gives us assignments that are more difficult, adventurous & tedious than we expect at first. Living faithfully and courageously through this crisis is one calling we all share. The power to fulfill his calling on us comes directly from him.
Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 John 14:15-21
"We were made for loving union because the Father, Son, and Spirit are loving union and we are made in God's image
We can take the light of Christ, and shine it like a beacon into our history and unearth the darkness of division and cast it out so we can be reformed in loving union.
We have been deformed in division; now we are being reformed into reunion by the holy trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit, the three who are one.
Prayer's of Lament and Repentance for our divisions from the Pentecost service yesterday.
A Letter Concerning the Death of George Floyd and So Many Others https://www.churchrez.org/a-letter-concerning-the-death-of-george-floyd-and-so-many-others
A PRAYER OF LAMENT FOR DIVISION O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, Have mercy upon us. Oh Dios el Hijo, Redentor del mundo/God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Ten piedad de nosotros/Have mercy upon us. O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful, Have mercy upon us. Oh santo, bendito, y gloriosa Trinidad, un Dios/holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God, Ten piedad de nosotros. Remember not, Lord Jesus, our sins, nor the sins of our fathers and mothers; neither reward us according to our sins. Deliver us, good Lord, deliver your people, whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood, and by your mercy preserve us for ever. Have mercy upon us. Deliver us, oh Lord, from the oppressive heritage and legacy of slavery and the ongoing sin of racism in our nation, Ten piedad de nosotros. From the oppressive institutions and systems that result in continued racial injustice in which we too often share, Have mercy upon us. From oppression or injustice within our own workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and churches that cause us suffering and pain and divide us from one another, Ten piedad de nosotros. From oppression and injustice that drive refugees and immigrants from their homeland and often leave them unwelcome in their new land, Have mercy upon us. Forgive us, oh Lord, for the sin of division that keeps us from living as brothers and sisters in your family, Ten piedad de nosotros. For when we fail to welcome and love brother and sister Christians because they were born in a different country, Have mercy upon us. For when we fail to welcome and love brother and sister Christians because they speak a different language, Ten piedad de nosotros. For when we fail to welcome and love brother and sister Christians because they come from a different culture, Have mercy upon us. For when we fail to welcome and love brother and sister Christians because they make a different amount of money, Ten piedad de nosotros. For when we fail to welcome and love a sister in Christ with the love of Christ because they are a woman or a brother in Christ because they are a man, Have mercy upon us. (Personal prayers of lament and confession may be included here.) We confess and lament our many unhappy divisions and we humbly ask you, good Lord, by the power of your cross to do what you have promised; to put to death our hostility, to destroy the dividing wall, to heal our divisions, to reconcile us to one another in Christ, to bring peace to those who are near and those who are far, to make us no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens together as God’s people and members of his household. Amen. Lord, build us up together in love on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone, and raise us up together into a holy temple in the Lord, the dwelling place of the Father and his family. Amen. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! AMEN.
Acts 1
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Ephesians 1:15-23 Psalm 47 Luke 24:44-53
Almighty God, whose only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven: May our hearts and minds also there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
"The sufferings we experience in this life are not unique to us. Jesus endured them. They don't have to dominate our life and rule how we react. Look to Jesus; he responded in love. They aren't pointless. Jesus himself was refined by them and they were a place where God revealed his glory in the midst of them. And they aren't the last word. God raised Jesus, and he will raise us as well."
John 15
"Our God is a master gardener, and he does not call it quits when there's a garden in disarray! He rolls up his sleeves and gets his hands dirty. He prunes and he weeds and waters and he sweats and he stays. He stays until the garden is healthy and begins producing the fruit that it was made to produce. He simply asks that we stay close. He will nurture and heal."
"Yes, there may be days when the pruning hurts. There may come a time when it feels impossible to hold out hope that fruit will ever come, that the flower will ever blossom. But our gardener does not despair."
John 10:1-18
Good Shepherd Sunday
We can embrace our identity as sheep when we embrace our Good Shepherd. As sheep we are vulnerable, but our shepherd cares for us!
I was so encouraged by the story last Sunday from Luke 24 of Jesus joining us on our weary walk. He spent his Easter Sunday, his first day back, teaching us how to recognize and abide in his resurrection presence in our daily lives.
I want to invite you to intentionally arrange your day to abide in Jesus using a Rule of Life. It's not a rule like, “You’re in trouble you broke a rule." The idea of the word rule actually comes from the word trellis—something that helps the vine grow up and bear fruit. It’s a rhythm of intentionality in abiding in Jesus.
We have another month of sheltering at home. Let's not just get by; let's grow in the Lord. We need him and there are people around us who need him. Let's arrange our lives to abide in him.
Download the Rule of Life. You can go through it on your own, but it's even better to go through with others who can encourage and pray for you. Our groups will be going through it next week (see the schedule) and I'll be leading an extra group session on crafting a Rule of Life on Wednesday, May 6, 8pm.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/news/rule-of-life
Luke 24:13-35
Jesus spends his Easter day, his first day back to life, showing us where to find the resurrection in our lives. He shows us what will sustain us. He shows us where our food for the journey is. He shows us how to see him and recognize that he is with us on the weary walk, in our grief, fear, and uncertainty, in our homes, and at our tables.
One week later, the Resurrection is still real! And because Jesus has risen, there is power and authority for those who believe.
John 20:19-31 1 Peter 1:3-9
"For so long I thought I was totally alone. Never have I been so thankful that I was wrong...that God is real!" — Karime
If Jesus is alive, then there is God, God loves me, and God offers his saving help as a free gift.
This Easter Sunday as we celebrate in our homes, let Jesus' resurrection change everything! Do not go back to normal. Make your lives about the resurrection of Jesus! Obey all that he has commanded. Go and tell others that he is alive.
In the last three weeks we have all become experts on the spread of viruses. Go become an expert on how to spread the gospel!
John 19
"If you stay long enough at the cross, you will see that it is Jesus who bears your sin not you. You will see that it is Jesus who heals and forgives, not your addictions and compulsions. You will see that it is Jesus who has loved you to the bitter end."
Psalm 78:15-26 Luke 22:7-19 John 13:1-15
Tonight we name the things in our world that have been shaken so we can take hold of a kingdom that is unshakable! We grieve what we have lost so we can hold fast to what can never be taken away: the family Jesus has placed us in, the feast he has prepared for us, the future he has planned for us!
Isaiah 45:18-25
We cry, "Hosanna, God help us." And God's promises to do so are public And their fulfillment is sure. He secured his promises to redeem all things with the most dramatic evidence. He entered into our suffering and death and ultimately the resurrection that we ourselves will one day experience. Our hope is in the Lord and we will not be disappointed.
Sickness and death in our world are scary—they are our enemy. But Jesus our friend loves us, grieves what grieves us, hates what hurts us, and fights to free us. Do not be afraid. In this world we will have trouble. But take heart! Jesus has overcome the world!
John 9:1-13, 28 -38
The Why of Suffering, the Way of Healing, and the Work of God.
"How may Jesus be inviting you deeper into healing and closeness with him through this situation?"
"Jesus heals us so we can be sent out to tell other people, it was Jesus who healed me."
Matthew 7:7-11
In times when we have a hard time feeling and believing that God is good, a simple and daily practice of gratitude is the door to the Father's heart. A couple weeks ago, I preached at a sister church on how giving thanks connects us to the goodness of God. When we give thanks, we receive God's good gifts, his presence with us, and his loving care.
You can practice "God, thank you for _______" prayers in your evening devotions. We've also created a guided prayer time for an end of day Gratitude Examen you can find below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bdq0EOrLXMv5Kw1lrKQEGkqYk1PPeewxnn3dwGg9w0A/edit?usp=sharing
Psalm 46
In response to COVID-19, our diocese gathered online for a sermon from Bishop Stewart and prayers of intercession from Mama Katherine.
The audio has an echo for the first 2 minutes and then clears up.
You can find the text of the Ruch’s Neighbor Note here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yfB8ya34DLdY6i9w1fG5b5oFa7_A-u5LRRf7ivLFCpM/edit?usp=sharing
You can watch the message here: https://vimeo.com/397653009
WK6: Loving One Another (Ephesians 4:17-32) “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
SUMMARY: Unity requires transformation––the kind of transformation that occurs when we are united to Christ in his death and resurrection. Through Christ, we die to our former selves and the practices that divide (bitterness, gossip, slander, etc.), and come alive our new life in Christ and the practices that bring unity (encouragement, kindness, forgiveness, etc.).
DISCUSSION: Are there habits of your “old self” that you find yourself continually returning to? How have these habits contributed to the wall of hostility (Eph 2:14)? Are there any habits of sin you need to confess today? What are corresponding practices of the “new self” that lead to transformation in Christ? How has Christ demonstrated those practices to us? What are some ways in which you can integrate those practices into your life?
WK6: Loving One Another (Ephesians 4:17-32) “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
SUMMARY: Unity requires transformation––the kind of transformation that occurs when we are united to Christ in his death and resurrection. Through Christ, we die to our former selves and the practices that divide (bitterness, gossip, slander, etc.), and come alive our new life in Christ and the practices that bring unity (encouragement, kindness, forgiveness, etc.).
DISCUSSION: Are there habits of your “old self” that you find yourself continually returning to? How have these habits contributed to the wall of hostility (Eph 2:14)? Are there any habits of sin you need to confess today? What are corresponding practices of the “new self” that lead to transformation in Christ? How has Christ demonstrated those practices to us? What are some ways in which you can integrate those practices into your life?
2 Corinthians 5:17 - 6:10
God is working for your reconciliation. And God calls his church to the ministry of reconciliation.
Ephesians 2:19-20
As Christians, we read the Bible by ourselves, but we are never meant to read the Bible alone. We read the Bible as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven and as sons and daughters of the church. We read the Bible as part of a global and ancient family filled with the stories of God.
Ephesians 3:1-21
The mystery of the gospel is that it unites all peoples in God’s house by grace as siblings with him as our Father. We know the breadth of God’s love when we glimpse the breadth of his family. Because we can’t imagine reconciliation like that, Paul asks the Spirit to enlarge our imaginations to dream the dream of God. Revelation 7 is one picture of that future fulfillment.
Ephesians 2:11-22 “But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
SUMMARY: Through the blood of Christ, God has torn down the dividing wall of hostility between peoples and nations––Christ himself is the source of peace between those who were formerly at war with one another. In Christ, we have reconciliation with God and with one another.
DISCUSSION: Are there divisions between groups of people in your community, your neighborhood, your city? What is the source of the enmity between them? What emotions do these divisions invoke in you? How do you think God feels about them? How does the reconciliation of Christ speak to those divisions? Is there a concrete way in which God might be calling you to be an instrument of his peace? What commitment can you make right now to Jesus to foster reconciliation in your community?
Ephesians 2:1-10
- We were dead in sin; but now we are alive in Christ
- We were following the broken society; but now we are following a loving Father
- We were enslaved by satan, but now we are adopted by God
“To be in Christ is to be personally and vitally united to Christ, as branches are to the vine and members to the body, and thereby also to Christ’s people. For it is impossible to be part of the Body without being related to both the Head and the members...to be a Christian is in essence to be ‘in Christ’, one with him and with his people.” Stott 22-23
God exists as three persons in loving union so deep they are one person. Division goes against the very nature of who God is—Father, Son, and Spirit.
"I am in my father, and you in me, and I in you." John 14:20
Join Pastors Trevor, Eduardo, and Grace for an introduction to Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. They discuss the main themes, outline, and background of the letter as well as how we will be studying it during our Una Familia series.
Find more resources for study at http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/una-familia
What does it mean to be adopted into the family of God? What type of Father is this? Why would he offer adoption to us?
"The Father invites all people to be adopted as sons and daughters so that we can know his love and kindness for eternity!"
If God our Father adopts us into his family, then we are called to adopt. Not everyone is called to adopt, but what if the question changed from, “Lord are you calling us to adopt,” to “Lord, is there any reason that we shouldn’t?”
Henri Nouwen in Bread for the Journey writes, "Sons have to become fathers; daughters have to become mothers. Being children of God involves growing up and becoming like God."
Our union as family comes from our union with our Father in Christ. The only thing that prevents sibling rivalry and division is a deep security in our identity as children of the Father.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Deacon Casey shares from Ephesians 6 as we are called to "intercede for all the saints."
"The armor of God works best in community."
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/day-of-prayer-1
The message of Ephesians is that many peoples are reunited as one family with one God and Father over all.
We believe God is inviting us into this study to give us a deeper vision for unity, diversity, and maturity in our church.
Chapters 1 - 3 Receiving Union with God and Union with One Another Chapters 4- 6 Living Union with God and Union with One Another
In the family of God, we live lives of union not division. Maturity is living in unity like our Father and Jesus our brother. Unity is a sign of maturity and unity is impossible without maturity.
This is not a new destination, but a new part of the journey. It’s somewhere that we haven’t been but it’s where we have been going. We’re bringing clarity to that.
Why are we focusing on diversity? 1. Because everyone is invited to be adopted into the family of God 2. Because everyone in the family of God is a brother or sister 3. Because unity in diversity brings a sacramental gospel witness. 4. Because the Holy Spirit has been leading us in this way for years.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/una-familia
The Letter to the Ephesians/Epistola a los Efesios
Many Peoples, One Family, One God and Father of all./Muchos Pueblos, Una Familia, Un Solo Dios y Padre de Todos.
Sundays, 10am, January 19 - March 31 Hill Elementary School, 724 Pennsylvania Ave. Aurora
Domingo, 10am, 19 de enero - 31 de marzo Hill Elementary School, 724 Pennsylvania Ave. Aurora
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/una-familia
God came and was like you and me in every part of being born and being human so that he could save us and make us like him. He was born into the living room of a human family so that we could be reborn into the living room of his family.
As you go home into your living room with your Christmas tree, remember, that Jesus made his home in our homes with us, so we could make our home in his home with him.
For further study see Kenneth Bailey “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” Chapter 1: The Story of Jesus’ Birth. Read online here:
https://books.google.com/books?id=mjQAAebtAmEC&lpg=PA3&pg=PA25#v=twopage&q&f=false
Joseph didn’t choose for Mary to be pregnant and for the baby to not be his. But he did choose to be a father. He chose the public shame of raising a child that everyone else would call illegitimate to do exactly what the Lord had told him. And from this righteous man's costly obedience, Jesus learns what it means to say, "Not my will, but yours be done."
Art Credit: "Joseph the Carpenter" by Georges de La Tour created circa 1642.
John 1:1-14
The light of Jesus was shining in creation, it was shining in his incarnation, it was shining in his resurrection, it will shine in the end when all things will be set right, and it is shining today.
Isaiah 11 Psalm 3 Matthew 3
Do you feel like a spiritual stump, cut off from God? Know that there is a living tree. The darkness distorts reality, but Jesus the Messiah comes to bring new life and light.
On the first Sunday of Advent we celebrate a new church year, counting down the days until Christmas, but even more, counting down the days until Jesus comes again to bring a new day.
In the midst of the experience, I wrote this: At our weakest point we have experienced the greatest care by our church and family. We have not been able to attend services for weeks, but the church has come to us. Our pastor came to bless Mahalia and to pray for my healing, our prayer ministry leader came to serve communion and pray for us, families looked after our kids as I was taken to important doctors’ appointments, my small group came over to hold the baby so we could rest, and many of you brought us meals.
It is an overwhelming sense of gratitude that wells up within me as I recall all of God’s kindness lavished upon us through these loving acts. It’s almost as if He brought us to that valley in order to show us the true character of this body of believers.
This is a story of gratitude — how the Lord has blessed us through the rhythms of his church and through his church family. Two years ago, almost to the day, near the beginning of Advent 2017, we began to sense the Lord calling us to adopt.
"I had never stopped believing that the Lord was good, but I had stopped believing in the breadth and depth of his goodness. But through this season, I have truly come to believe that there is no good thing apart from the Lord, and I want to live the adventure of thankfulness for his constant goodness for all my days."
"Remember your future—that you will be part of the great multitude offering great worship and receiving great reward. Receive as grace this future, when we will join with the saints and the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven who sing, 'Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever, amen!'"
2 Samuel 6:14-22
Every bit of openness toward the Lord brings us closer to his heart and enables our heart to receive him more.
Dear City of Light,
On Sunday I was overjoyed to announce that Deacon Eduardo Dávila has accepted a full-time position at City of Light as our Pastor of Latino and Neighborhood Ministry. We also announced that we are supporting Sebastian and Daniela Vargas and their family as missionaries from Chile to our diocese!
Please listen to the full announcement from Sunday by clicking here as I share the testimony of how God has been miraculously answering our prayers.
For years, we have been praying for more relationships in our neighborhood, for partners in Latino and multi-cultural ministry, and for a Latino leader to join our staff team. As we have taken risks to be open to and follow the leading of the Lord, he has been working to connect us more deeply to Iglesia de la Resurrección, to our neighborhood through ESL, and to the Lord’s heart for a church of many tribes and tongues and nations. He’s also reconnected us with Father Jonathan Kindberg and his work through ¡Caminemos Juntos! to equip Latino ministry throughout our hemisphere.
Join us this Sunday as Pastor Eduardo and Ashley celebrate All Saints with us. Deacon Eduardo will be preaching, we’ll celebrate two baptisms, and receive six new households as members. And stay after the service for a Parish Lunch. Sign up here.
Please be praying for the Dávilas and Vargas family as they prepare for these transitions, for Iglesia and ¡Caminemos Juntos! as they grieve the loss of dear leaders and new leaders joining the team, and for all of us as we unite even more closely for the sake of the gospel of reconciliation.
Peace, Father Trevor
Ruth 2:4-14
"God invites us to be open to others, not merely so that we can be fed, but so that we can feed. Sometimes we are called to feed the others in our midst, and sometimes God calls to be humble enough to allow the outsider to come in and teach us."
1 Kings 19:1-18
Our emotions were created by God as a way to connect with him and others, but in our brokenness, can sometimes divide us from God and others. When Elijah is depressed, he turns his emotional pain into prayer and experiences the intimate love and care of God restoring his connection to God and his connection to the people of God.
We can be open to God in our emotions by turning our emotions into conversations with God where we hear the intimate whisper of his loving Word.
Visit https://www.jennaperrine.com/ for a free step by step resource to write your own biblical lament.
2 Kings 22:3, 8-11, 23:1-7
To open our hearts to God is to open our hearts to his word. When we’re open to God in his word we read that we are cherished. When we’re open to God in his word we realized that we are nourished. When we’re open to God in his word we relearn how we can flourish.
God opens the heavens so that we can open our hearts
We open our hearts on the Sabbath by trusting that God has already done the work for us. God’s got this really unique deal for us: If we stop on the Sabbath, he will provide what we need. He will take care of everything else. He’s gone and is going before us, even now, to provide what we need to meet with him and open our lives to him..
Question #1: When do I do it? Question #2: What do I do on the Sabbath? Question #3: What do I not do on the Sabbath?
1 Samuel 3
"Prayer is cultivating the conversation with the Lord, being on intimate terms with him, relating to him as a real person with whom we speak and who speaks to us."
We have to protect ourselves in this world. We need appropriate boundaries, and I often help people talk and pray through creating those healthy boundaries. But we never need walls with God. We were made to live life wide open to him!
Matthew 6
Prayer and fasting go together, because true vulnerability leads to true intimacy. We enter into the intimacy of prayer through the vulnerability of fasting. We take off our masks and go into the secret place; and we receive from the Lord with open hands.
Join us on September 11 for our Fall Day of Prayer and Fasting: http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/day-of-prayer
In the center of the book of Acts is the Jerusalem Council, where a dispute in the early church becomes an opportunity not only to clarify the truth of the Gospel, but also to set up a pattern for the unity of the Gospel.
Not only does the church answer the question, “How are we invited to the table?” but she also answers, “How can we be united at the table?"
"We are a sent people, sent by God to others: sent to our families, our co-workers, our neighbors. No matter how inadequate you may feel or how many false prophets stand in your way, God's promise is that he will never send you to do something without giving you the power to do it." — Father Trevor McMaken
Father Trevor and Pastor Bonnie McMaken share about their summer sabbath and how in saying no to many things and feeling so limited, they experienced our limitless God.
"We all have those "until moments"—"everything was going great, until..." So how do we as the church approach those "until moments"? We pray, we pray together, with urgency, and tenacity, knowing that in response to the prayers of the church the power of God overcomes the power of evil, even in the face of setbacks or our fragile faith." — Chad Magnuson
"God's plan has always been to bless all peoples of the earth by giving us his very spirit to live with us and to give us power to live in the way Jesus lives." — Lindsey and David Goetz
"We all need a real, physical encounter with the resurrected Jesus. We don't all get to meet Jesus like Saul did on the road to Damascus, but we can encounter the resurrected Jesus here in the Church through the Sacraments of Baptism, and Holy Communion." — Deacon Casey Solgos
"The call for Philip and the Ethiopian came for them while they were both in transit—the seemingly unimportant time in between destinations. How often do we get impatient with God, wishing he would just take us where we need to go, when in fact he's calling us to something that's right in front of us. God doesn't need you to arrive at some grand destination before he can begin working in you and through you." — Pastor Kevin Sheehan
"Surrender yourself afresh to Jesus who is among us as one who serves and who will stand to welcome you with open arms into that place he is preparing for you." — Deacon Val McIntyre
"A church that is radically oriented to Christ is a church radically oriented to one another. It's the resurrection that gives us hope that what is to come is far greater than anything we could experience on this earth. We have the freedom to give whatever we need to give, sacrifice whatever we need to sacrifice, endure whatever we need to endure, because we are awaiting the return of Jesus."— Father Brett Crull
"How often, when we pray, do we ask for safety or that circumstances would change? We can follow the example of this church in Acts and pray "Lord, see what is happening, give me courage." That he might stretch out his hand, heal, bless, forgive, and restore." — Deacon Margie Fawcett
"All healings on this earth are either partial, or temporary. But they are also a promise, a promise of a complete and permanent healing—called Resurrection." — Deacon Casey Solgos
"Understanding the Trinity is not just understanding what God looks like, understanding the Trinity means knowing what God is doing. God is on mission for the world." — Father Alex Wilgus
What does the coming of the Holy Spirit have to do with the love of God? "Jesus has already decided that he loves you. He went to the cross because he loves you. He ascended so that he could fill you with his love, so that your hearts could be overflowing with his presence. Receive the love of God. Receive the love of Jesus this Pentecost!" –Father Nate Beasley
Ever wonder what the Ascension is all about, and why we celebrate it? "The Ascension is good news, a promise of Jesus' power, a promise of his prayer, and of his presence." — Pastor Will Chester
"No matter how dark the darkness in our life we celebrate the reality that the light of Christ will always scatter the darkness." — Grace Kircher
"The resurrection of Jesus reconciles us to God and to one another. Through the resurrection, the dividing wall of hostility is brought down and we are freed to live into our identity as the household of God." —Father Jonathan Kindberg
This summer we will be reading and studying the book of Acts. Father Trevor and Pastor Bonnie talk about why they chose it, what the book of Acts is about, who wrote it and why, and give some further resources for studying it. They also share some of their favorite moments and memories from the book.
Join us on Sundays at 10am this summer, June 2 - August 25, as we devote ourselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, the prayers, and the breaking of bread.
http://cityoflightanglican.org/events/acts
Baptism is not magical, but it's not mundane. It's a miracle and a mystery where we are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection.
Because Jesus is alive, we see him on Sundays, in Scripture, and in his Supper. Sunday is not an ordinary day, the Bible is not an ordinary book, and communion is not an ordinary meal.
Jesus' table is not magical, but it's also not mundane. A miracle happens—the Resurrected Jesus is with us! And a sacramental mystery happens—his spiritual life fills us through the physical bread and wine.
2 Timothy 1:3-12 Timothy has the faith legacy of his mother Eunace and grandmother Lois.
We leave a Lois legacy when we serve sons and daughters and when we suffer for the gospel for the next generations.
1 Corinthians 15
If the resurrection is not real, then following after Jesus is wasting your life. If the resurrection is real, then following after anything else is wasting your life. And if you’re halfway following Jesus, and halfway not, you don’t win either way, you lose your life either way.
But christ has indeed raised from the dead! He is risen and so shall we!
Jesus' endures his suffering so that you're never alone in your suffering, so that you can give your suffering to him, so that you can receive his restoration, so that your suffering has meaning.
We share in his suffering and we share in his glory.
When our natural response is rejection, Jesus’ natural response is restoration—full and beautiful and glorious. God brings restoration by letting himself be rejected—by the crowds, by his followers, by you and by me. God experiences all of that rejection so that no matter how much rejection we experience in this world, we will never have to experience rejection from him. We may reject God. He will never reject us.
Philippians 3:4-11
We enter into the suffering but we don't simply enter into it, we pass through, because our real destination is resurrection, is easter, is life with Jesus!
"How does the father respond to the insult and rejection from his two lost sons? Is he furious? Does he punish them? Does he force them to obey? No. He loves his sons enough to allow himself to be rejected by them. He allows them to be lost. But he also loves them enough to keep looking, running, and searching after them until they allow themselves to be found again so he can rejoice."
Exodus 2:23 - 3:15
Have you ever felt forgotten by God? When the people of Israel cry out to God in their slavery and suffering, God hears them and comes to save them. And when we cry out to the Lord, he has already heard us and come in the person of Jesus to rescue us.
Cry out to the Lord. He has not forgotten you in the wilderness. He is already working to bring about your rescue.
Waiting can be frustrating, inconvenient, it can feel like it has no purpose, but waiting for the Lord is not like that. Waiting is no longer an inconvenience, it’s an encounter. It’s not frustration, it’s salvation. When we wait for the Lord, we wait with the Lord.
In Psalm 27, David waits on the Lord because he knows the reality of God as bigger than the reality of his circumstances. In the presence of his enemies, he remembers being in the presence of God. When it’s easy to imagine his own defeat, he imagines the Lord’s victory.
Jesus went into the wilderness to transform it into a place where poverty can become provision, where that which is barren can become beautiful, where desperation becomes dependency on a loving God, and where isolation can become intimacy.
Tonight with ashes on our heads we remember that we are marked by sin and death, but even more we remember that we are marked by the cross of Jesus where our sin is met with forgiveness and freedom, where our death is met with resurrection. For those who die in Christ, death is a door to eternal life, the healing of our bodies, everlasting freedom from death and sin. And that resurrection life begins now as we repent and believe the gospel.
Luke 9:28-36
Jesus shows us his gory on the mountain so that we can follow him into and out of the wilderness.
Ephesians 3:14-21
If it's true that you can have a relationship with God, what kind of relationship would you want?
Following the tragic shooting in Aurora, Father Trevor asks the question, "When Psalm 46 says that the Lord is our refuge and our strength, that he is ever present in our times of trouble, is that just a comforting idea or is that really true? Can we build our lives and face our deaths trusting that God is with us?"
In the Bible, we read a story we can live in, we meet a God we can know, and we experience a healing that changes our lives.
I'm sorry that we who claim the name of Christ don't always live in Christ and that we sometimes build our own walls sin brick by sin brick to separate us from one another and make it more difficult to enter into the household of God. But Jesus did not come to keep people out. He came to invite all people into the household of God through him.
He did not create a world with suffering. When suffering entered the world he made a plan to enter into our suffering. On the cross, God ends suffering so that at the end there will be no suffering and the world will be healed. Where is God when we're suffering? He’s not sleeping, he’s weeping. God carries the weight of our suffering so that he can give us the weight of his glory.
Is it true that there is a God who made us? Or is it true that the world has just happened to happen? Is there something meaningful out there outside of ourselves that we can be a part of, or do we have to find and manufacture meaning ourselves?
On most Sundays I tend to sit in the very, ‘way’ back of the room and that gives me a pretty unique perspective week in and week out. It’s a beautiful picture of the church, of this home that we have here at city of light. From the joyful celebrations to our brokenness and our hurts, but to also see the healing and restoration that God brings to us and to our church family here in this home He has given us.
Eternal God, you have promised your salvation to all peoples, and have given us a vision of a great multitude around your throne, from all nations and tribes and languages: Help us to bring this vision into our time and place; banish from us all prejudices and false presumptions; and enable us to hear and to speak new words of hope and praise; through Jesus Christ, the living Word. Amen.
In Acts 10, we see that God opens the doors of his household to every household and all nations.
It was in that painful season that I realized I belonged within the community of City of Light. It was then that I recognized that God had been weaving me into the family tapestry. At the first worship night at the the Parish house this fall, I remember listening to everyone singing and thinking “This is my family.”
Kings and princes fall to their knees Lay their incense, spices and gold at his feet For his temple humble home Bid him welcome in your own
The Christ, the Christ, we behold him The Christ, the Christ, angels extol him Robed in our shame, crowned with our sorrows he reigns
Do you not perceive him? He stands at the door Will you not receive him? Oil and wine he will pour You who hunger come and taste You who slumber come awake
The Christ, the Christ, we behold him The Christ, the Christ, angels extol him Robed in our shame, crowned with our sorrows he reigns
(Crowned with our sorrows you reign)
You who hunger, come and taste Find forgiveness in his gaze credits released January 6, 2019 written by David Yeager produced and mixed by John Pudar
David Yeager: guitar, violin, vocals John Featheringham: piano, organ John Pudar: guitar, bass, percussion license all rights reserved
Find more of David's music at https://davidyeagerband.bandcamp.com/music
God builds his household through our households.
As he blesses us, he blesses others through us. As he is present to us, he is present through us. As he shines his light to our hearts, he shines his light to others hearts.
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live here with the gift of your love; and grant that they may manifest your love [to each other and] to all whose lives they touch. May they grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen them; and preserve them in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever.
Let’s begin this year by offering our households to him to shine his light through us as he shines his light to us.
The Bible says in the gospel of John that God became a person and moved into the neighborhood. God became our neighbor.
And then we kicked him out.
At Christmas, we remember that even though we didn’t want Jesus to be our neighbor, he always wants to be our neighbor. He was rejected by us as our neighbor so that we would never have to be rejected by him as his neighbor.
Luke 1:39 - 55
John, Elizabeth, and Mary all respond with joy and celebration that God's promises are coming true.
Mary's song receives God's promises not just generally, but personally.
God's promises turn our minds from the regrets of the past and they lift our eyes from the constraints of the presents to set our hearts on the hope of the future that is determined not by our circumstances but by the love of God.
God is with us, God delights in us, God sings over us.
Zephaniah 3:14-20 Psalm 85 Luke 3:7-18
God has given us an incredible promise, that he will come again to wipe away every tear and right every wrong. In the middle of that improbable promise it seems impossible.
But we can hope in God’s future promise because he kept his promise in the past. We believe in the second coming because of the first.
He made his promise for you. He will keep it for you. We can be children of the promise.
Lesson - Zechariah 14:4-9 (NVI) Psalm - Psalm 50:1-6 (NIV) Gospel - Luke 21:25-36 (NIV)
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
“The greatest healing we will ever experience is called “resurrection.” after our bodies die, Jesus will heal us from death, our bodies will come alive, we will never die again.”
—Father Trevor McMaken
Shame comes to hide and divide but Jesus comes to find and dignify. Shame wants to separate us from God but God wants to separate us from shame.
Shame sets in early, but it's not the way it was supposed to be and it's not the way it will be. In the Garden (Genesis 3) God comes to find Adam and Eve hiding in their shame. At the well (John 4) Jesus comes to find the woman hiding in her shame. God comes to us in our shame to show us that he knows everything about us and still loves us.
Philippians 4:4-9 Psalm 46 John 14:18-27
How do we invite Jesus to be with us in our anxiety?
In Revelation 7 we see a picture of the church from every people group and language made whole. On All Saints Sunday we celebrate that we are united with the saints through the world and throughout history.
Art by Laura James
The foundational healing is receiving forgiveness for our sin and being freed from our past by the grace of God. God's grace also gives us the strength to forgive others who have sinned against us and bring us freedom from their sin.
What is your name? Who decides who you are?
Our cultures send us messages about who gets to name us and how we find an identity. In Romans 6, the Apostle Paul reminds us who we are and how we became who we are.
We find a new name in the Father, Son, and Spirit. You can find freedom from of any old false names others have given you, and names you’ve tried to give yourself, so that you can receive a new true name from the Lord.
Hebrews 12:1-3, 12-13, 22-24 (NIV) Psalm 27 (NIV) Mark 10:46-52 (NVI)
We long for wholeness. Our world is not whole. We are not whole. In a world of despair, we set our hope for wholeness on Jesus, who has come to make us whole.
The journey to wholeness is a process, has cycles, but doesn't go in circles. It is a journey upwards and a journey downwards — an ascension and an excavation.
In the journey downwards we dig deeply into the sin and the pain that it has caused to allow Jesus to bring his healing. In the journey upwards, we keep our eyes fixed on the wholeness that Jesus promises to bring.
Wherever you are in your healing journey, in the digging down and rising up, in the pain of the excavation and in the joy of the ascension, God is there.
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.—Psalm 139
In his hand are the caverns of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him —Psalm 95
We live in a broken world, in broken families, in broken systems. But what if there’s a better way, a way of hope instead of despair? When we become children of God, Jesus takes us on a journey of healing that points to who he’s created us to be and who he’s making us to be.
Join us for this seven-week series as we journey toward wholeness. Sundays, 10am, Hill Elementary.
10/14 The Journey Toward Wholeness — Father Trevor McMaken 10/21 Hope for Who I Am — Father Trevor McMaken 10/28 Hope for Our Past — Father Brett Crull 11/4 Hope for the Lonely (All Saints) — Father Trevor McMaken 11/11 Hope for the Ashamed — Pastor Bonnie McMaken 11/18 Hope for the Anxious— Father Trevor McMaken 11/25 Hope for Our Bodies (Family Service) — Father Trevor McMaken
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/whole
Jesus teaches us what love is by washing our feet. In the household of God, we roll up our sleeves to serve and we roll up our pant legs to receive.
John 13
Money has meaning. What does money mean to you? Does money mean safety, fear, power, control, security, worth, belonging, ease?
In church life, we handle money with a Father who has all things and gives all things and a family who shares a mission and share in care of those in need.
1 Thessalonians 5:11-24
In the house of God, we build one another up, we don’t tear one another down. We’ve all experienced someone in our life who tears us down. If you’re fortunate, you’ve experienced someone who builds you up. We want to be a church filled with people like that, we want to be people like that.
What is the church? What does church life look like? Throughout the Bible the church is described as the household of God, sons and daughters adopted into his family.
"“What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father...“Father” is the Christian name for God.” Knowing God, J. I. Packer, pg. 200
“Whenever we seek to define it simply in terms of what it is, we go astray. One might express the truth in a rather violently paradoxical way by saying that the Church is not what it is because it exists by the mercy of God who calls the things that are not as though they were. The Church is not merely a historical reality but also an eschatological one.” The Household of God, Lesslie Newbegin, page 153.
We finished up the summer Mark Bible study this Sunday with a message from Casey Solgos.
Mark 8:22-26 "Jesus didn’t ask the blind man where he wanted the healing to happen, how he wanted it to happen. We don’t order salvation like we order a burrito at Chipotle, choosing each option. We order it like we order at the fanciest restaurant when we say, 'I’d like the chef’s special.' We trust the chef to do something so remarkable and wonderful that we'd never even think to order it."
When we face the wind against us, when every inch of progress is painful, how do we respond?
We all experience those "I can't do this anymore" moments. Do our hearts harden like the disciples, or can we learn to trust and surrender that Jesus sees us, is with us, and will speak his peace to us?
"When Jesus says "just believe", he is not asking us to make believe with some abstract, imaginary, disembodied hope. This is not wishful thinking. Jesus invited us to believe in him, the fact of his bodily resurrection, and the beginning of the Kingdom of God." -- Casey Solgos
What is the riskiest thing you have ever done? The woman in this story takes a huge risk and Jesus rewards her risk-taking faith.
The woman is in a desperate situation; she's been sick for 12 years, out of money, an outsider in society, no advocate, no hope. Do we believe that Jesus can meet our desperate need? She has the faith to reach out and touch Jesus.
May we have faith like her, and may have the faith to risk to be like the garment of Jesus carrying the healing power of the Lord to others who need him.
In this passage, we see Jesus waging war on evil in order to deliver us from evil. The spiritual world has an impact on the physical world. We can recognize the deliverance of Jesus in our lives and the lives of others, and we can recognize the evil works of our enemy.
We don't forget that there are evil spirits, we don't feed them by rejecting God, and we don't fear them because of the power of Jesus.
"The enemy wants to bring darkness and destruction. Jesus comes so that we can experience not the presence of evil in us and around us, but the presence of a good and loving God in and around us. Jesus comes not to steal, kill, and destroy, but to give, to resurrect, and to restore." —Fr. Trevor
When we are kids, we put our hands over someone's eyes from behind and say, "Guess who!" The Gospel of Mark is kind of like that, Mark tells a story of Jesus healing and says, "Guess who Jesus is, the healer." He tells a story about Jesus forgiving sins and says, "Guess who Jesus is, the forgiver."
Jesus wants us to know him and recoginize who he is!
In the story of Jesus calming the storm, the wind and the waves recognize Jesus's voice. He says to the wind and waves, “Guess who!” and they say, “That’s our maker!
When the disciples are afraid of the storm they don't recognize Jesus. They say, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" They don't recognize that Jesus is the one who created them and cares for them.
Often in our lives, we do not recognize who Jesus is, but he is always there, saying, "Guess who," so that we can know that he creates us and cares for us.
Jesus goes up the mountain as a new Moses to appoint the apostles as a new Israel. In these short two sentences in the Gospel of Mark, we see the beginning of the church. Jesus gives the apostles three instructions, be with me, preach the gospel, and have authority.
Jesus' plan for disciples is to be with him. How can we be with Jesus? Who can we imitate that is imitating Jesus? Who can we invite to imitate us?
Find out more about the new Cornerstone Chicago West Loop campus launching this fall!
www.cornerstonechicago.com/launchwestloop
Jesus is not the Messiah that we expect, but he is the Messiah we need.
The paralyzed man cannot get up to come close to the Messiah. He was willing to be carried by his friends, hauled up to the roof, lowered down to the feet of Jesus with everyone watching to be at the feet of the healer. He says, "I don't care what people say. I don't care what they think. I don't care how I get there, I just need to get there."
Jesus heals because he is the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus doesn't heal the leper or the man with the unclean spirit because he had anything to prove. His ministry was not about proving he was the Messiah, it was just being the Messiah.
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who comes to heal our bodies and souls. Will we recognize our need of the Messiah and do whatever it takes to come close so that he can heal us? Will we let our friends carry us to the roof and lower us down even if that means letting everyone else see how limited we are. Will we accept the gifts Jesus has to offer, even if it's a lot harder than we expected?
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/mark
"Each episode in the Gospel of Mark asks the question, "Who is Jesus?" Each episode ends with a cliffhanger that asks us to respond. As you read each reading, ask your yourself 'what does Jesus do? Who does he do it for? How will I respond to Jesus?'" —Casey Solgos
The Lord longs to gather us into the refuge of his wings of provision, redemption, and healing. He provides for Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi but he also provides for the entire nation of Israel and for us!
God calls his church to be his wings of refuge for the vulnerable. As we receive his wings of refuge, he provides refuge for others through us.
"If we don’t need him to provide for us, how will we learn to trust his provision? If we don't expect him to provide for us, we won't expect him to provide for others. We'll try to fix things on our own, but we can't redeem and restore. To be the wings of God's provision for others, we practice our need for God's provision for us." — Fr. Trevor
At the heart of the story of the book of Ruth we see Ruth and Boaz doing what it is right. The follow Jesus' teaching to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and it is beautiful.
What happens when a woman is in a vulnerable situation and a man is in a position of power? In the stories of Lot and Judah, they abdicate and take advantage. They refuse to use their strength to care for and provide for the vulnerable. We see that same story playing out in our lives and in the news. But here is Boaz, when no one is watching, when maybe no one else would know or care what he did to this vulnerable immigrant woman—Boaz responds with righteousness. He does not look the other way. He does not take advantage. He responds to Ruth’s righteousness with righteousness. He takes action to care for and provide for Ruth like she has for Naomi.
Ruth and Boaz are not an unattainable picture of who we should be; they are who we will be in Jesus!
In chapter one of the story of Ruth, we see the despair of Naomi after the tragedy of famine, death, and infertility in her family. But while she is still hopeless, God is already visiting her to provide in unbelievable ways.
Download the study guide here:
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/ruth
"Ruth and Naomi both suffered, but where Naomi is hopeless, Ruth hopes on her behalf. The more Naomi, in her bitterness, pushes Ruth away the more loyally and fiercely Ruth clings to her. The more that Naomi blames God, the more that Ruth risks everything on the provision of God. In her pain, Naomi cannot see or feel the hand of God, but as Ruth clings to her, she’s holding it, and God’s holding her." —Fr. Trevor
Ruth is an ancient story of a courageous woman who chooses to be faithful in the face of losing everything. Join us for this four-week study as we read about a widowed immigrant who bears the hope of the Lord in her generation and for generations to come.
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/events/ruth http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/connect/groups
Exodus 3:1-6, Psalm 93, John 3:1-16
"What does it mean that God is holy? It means that he is always coming to the unholy to invite them into his holiness. The holiness of God does not mean that he is unreachable. It means that he is always reaching. God is the great God of the universe so that he can be the God of you."
"The Holy God in the burning bush is the Holy Spirit of the fire of Pentecost that consumes, but not to destroy, to create—to transform us into burning bushes, made holy by the presence of God to draw the unholy to him."
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 33
John 20:19-23
The Holy Spirit gathers us into a body, revives us with his breath, and ignites us into his movement.
As the Spirit gathered the waters of creation to bring forth new life, so he gathers us into the waters of baptism to bring us resurrection life.
“We believe that the most significant thing that happens or can happen is that we are no longer dismembered but are remembered into the resurrection body of Christ.” Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles
Allow yourself to be gathered by God. Receive the breath and fire of the spirit, let yourself be gathered into the body of Jesus, filled with the reviving breath, and ignited into a the movement of the love of Jesus.
Acts 1:1-11 NIV; Psalm 47 NIV; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:49-53 NIV “To what place are we to follow Christ if not where he has already gone? We know that he has risen and ascended into heaven: there, then, we must follow him.” —Caesarius of Arles
Into our lonely lives bursts the reality of the proximity of the trinity. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit makes his home in and us and invites us into his home. We no longer have to live in a world of loneliness, but in the fellowship of the Trinity.
We believe we can lead ourselves, but everyone of us is being led. Who is leading us?
In John 10, Jesus invites us to follow him because he knows his sheep when other leaders don't, he lays down his life for his sheep when other leaders run, and he leads his sheep to life when others leaders lead to destruction.
We follow Jesus by experiencing the comfort of his staff and rod through his word and his body.
Luke 24:13-35
"Jesus draws near to all who have left to help them to return. He walks the streets looking for those who will invite him in so that he can reveal himself to them." — Deacon Margie Fawcett
We search for meaning in happiness and pleasure, but what we are really looking for is joy. More than just wanting to feel good, we long to be part of something that is good. More than just wanting to be happy, we long to be healed.
In the resurrection we find the source of joy; because Jesus is alive we can be made alive and our whole world can come alive!
The sign and symbol of joy is dancing—believing in our bodies that the resurrection is real in the midst of death.
Genesis 22:1-18, Psalm 22:1-11, Hebrews 10:19-25, John 19:1-37
On the cross, when the world stood in crisis, when each of our lives hung in the balance, God showed up. He gave his life. He saved us. The cross is his testimony of trustworthiness. It’s the proof that he can be trusted.
God delivered Abraham. God delivered Isaac. God delivered his son to suffering and death and then delivered him from death so that he deliver us.
We can trust God by renouncing other authorities where we've misplaced our trust, by mistrusting our mistrust, and by trusting one another.
Where have you given authority to someone or something other than God? Where have you trusted your mistrust more than God's trustworthiness? Where is God inviting you to trust the church in a deeper way?
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus taught us what it means to serve. This Maundy Thursday we worshipped with our sending church and cathedral, Church of the Resurrection, and Bishop Stewart preached on Jesus' ministry as the servant of all.
Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 78:14-20, 23-25 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
"Note the new Hosanna in Revelation 7:9-10's picture of eternity. It is not a request to save us, but a celebration that he did save us. This is the hope for all who leave the jeering crowd and enter the great multitude waving palms in worship." — Casey Solgos
Scripture: Mt 9:35 - 10:1, 7-8; 1 Timothy, Psalm 78
Key idea: Following Jesus means inviting others to follow Jesus. A disciple of Jesus is someone who makes disciples. At City of Light, we want to know who our partner is, who we are praying for, and how we are planting Gospel invitations to come and see, come and follow, and come and die.
Practices: Disciple-making -Pray: give me your heart, show me who, pray for them by name, show me how -Make list of who you are praying for
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16
Key idea: Every follower of Jesus is called to be a priest of the kingdom of heaven, to extend the table of the kingdom into our homes and neighborhoods.
Conversation: What is your parish? What is your ministry? How is your day job for the glory of God? How are you engaging in the work of the ministry of the saints? How are your financial resources aimed toward kingdom of heaven generosity?
Practices: Disciple-making pt2
-Write a mission statement for yourself as a disciple-maker, for your marriage, or for your family -Make a generosity plan to take a step in giving this year
"I am so incredibly grateful for my family here at City of Light. They welcomed me and showed me how to use my God-given gifts for something important, and because of that, I have been able to grow so much closer to my church and to God."
Session 4—Worship Scripture: Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18
Key Idea: Worship, on Sunday and in our households, brings us into the presence of Jesus to transform us to be more like him from one degree of glory to another.
Conversation: What is a meaningful part of the service for you, where you encounter the presence of Jesus? How can you take that with you into the week to practice in your household and in your neighborhood?
Practices: Household Worship pt 2 Reflect on your household worship plan Practice telling your gospel story
"I had never spent that much time in the Psalms before and I have found it incredibly enriching...I've just kept going with it...In the Book of Common Prayer they have headings that divide the book into morning psalms and evening psalms for 30 days of the month. I've found that that is just the perfect bite sized amount of scripture for daily consumption in my life right now."
Scripture: Acts 2:41-47 Key Idea: The church is fully Scriptural, fully Sacramental, full of the Holy Spirit, free to sacrifice, and sees the fruit of salvation. The church is a she, not an it; and we can devote ourselves to her.
Conversation: Which ‘S’ are you more comfortable with? Which ‘S’ do you think the Lord is inviting you to grow in? How can you practice that?
Practices: Unity If there is something holding you back from loving the church, could you talk with the Lord or someone you trust about that? If there is an unreconciled relationship between you and another believer or church? What could you do to begin a process of freely sharing in unity? From last week: practice sharing your story with someone in your group or with your whole group. How would you share your story with someone who doesn’t know the Lord?
Study: Acts 2 chiasm diagram Bishop Stewart preaching on the 5 S’s of Acts 2 City of Light Leaders Unity Commitment
www.cityoflightanglican.org/connect/membership
Confession is a gift and not a burden. There is freedom and joy that comes from finally acknowledging that we are redeemed sinners who are becoming but who are not yet perfected...We all sin but we hate to admit it, so we go through life burdened by the shame and consequences of our sins...God longs to set us free from our sin and shame.
Session 1—Gospel Message: February 11 Scripture: Acts 2:14a, 22-24, 32-33, 36-39 Key Idea: “The Gospel is the good news of God loving and saving lost mankind through the ministry in word and deed of his Son, Jesus Christ” (from Anglican Catechism, pg 12). It has a shape: Fashioned, Fallen, Forgiven, Formed, Fully Restored.
Conversation: What is your faith story? Which part of the gospel story connects the most with you right now?
Practices: Spend 5 minutes thinking about how you would write out your story. Share that story with someone in your group or with your whole group.
Study: How to share your testimony from CRU. An article on the Anglican movement’s desire to keep the gospel central by being mere Christians. “The Gospel is the good news of God loving and saving lost mankind through the ministry in word and deed of his Son, Jesus Christ” —from Anglican Catechism, pg 12 (Click here)
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/connect/membership
"This was an affirmation from the Lord that he answers prayer, he heard my not-super-persistent prayer and answered it in this amazing way. But the passage itself has become a prayer for me, specifically the words, "Do you see anything?" I've tried to make that background prayer...We don't always see people clearly and sometimes miss those opportunities...We need Jesus to restore our sight again and again and allow him to ask us, "Do you see anything?"
Session 2—Prayer Scripture: John 10:1-18 (Listen here) Key Idea: In prayer, God speaks to us and we speak to God. We can practice his presence with us. In prayer, God speaks to us for others and we speak to God for others. We can practice his presence in our conversations with others. Conversation: How have you experienced the Lord speaking to you in prayer? How do you speak to the Lord in prayer?
Practices: Household Worship Make a plan for your household prayer. See the study resources below for different prayer practices. Practice laying hands on one another in prayer as a group.
Study: Bcp devotionals for individuals and families (click here) Daily examen (click here) Prayer walking (click here) Prayer for those far from God (click here) Sabbath-keeping (click here)
http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/connect/membership
I think my favorite part about City of Light is what’s still to come.
I’m excited to become a member of a local church for the first time ever. I am excited to continue to find new ways to serve. I’m excited to host more Super Bowl parties and to join more family dinners. There are more faces to get to know, more family members to meet. I love getting to be part of a church where we all get to dream together about what God might do here next. And I can’t wait to see what that is with this new family.
In the midst of a hard year, Cory shares that he "was reminded about the special community we have here and that we belong to each other and the family that we provide for each other. My discipleship group gave me this target to look forward to every week where we could read the Bible and pray together. While I wanted to hole up in my house, my community here checked in and gave me permission to share struggles and sadness and prayed for me and with me."
In the church, everyone is on the team. Everyone gets to play. In a culture fearing commitment and in a crisis of trust, St. Paul reminds us that we who are many members are part of one body—the body of Jesus. Because of God's commitment to us, we can commit to one another.
Message: Partner (from February 4) Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Key idea: We are members of the body of Christ, joined and working together by the Spirit in unity as the sacrament of Jesus’ presence in the world.
Conversation: What is your next step in your life at COLA? Is there a Baptism or renewal of baptism? Membership? Team? Giving? Group? Apprenticeship? Leadership? Do you love the church? Is there something holding you back? Have you been hurt by a church? How could you find a new home in the church?
Study: Membership Letter from Fr. Trevor (Click here) Jerusalem declaration (Click here)
For more study resources, visit: bit.ly/2nKXRdE
Daniel shares his story of coming without any expectations and being surprised by a joy he didn't know he was missing.
"I had gone through some difficult times in a church and had survived on obligation and duty for long enough that I didn’t really grasp what I was missing...I didn’t know that I should ask my Lord to experience the joy of a new life. Yet he chose to release me from this bad experience and to bless me with joy because it is his nature to do this."
In a crisis, we often ask for what we need, but in our daily lives, we often don't want to need. For us to grow and flourish for others, we need the Lord. And so before we act, we ask. When we pray, we're asking a Father who delights in us, guides us, and empowers us. The Lord has an invitation to you and to us as a church in this season to come away with him in prayer and Scripture, to come into the garden, to make it our custom, to form the inner life of prayer to fuel the outer life of mission.
Abby shares her family's story of finding a home in the church, of discovering more of what it means that their home is a church, and of being a part of 'the fellowship of the burning heart.'
"It reminds me after a service we went to where Justin and I were just like this is just so wonderful and intense, what is this feeling that we’re feeling? And it reminded me of A. W. Tozer. He would talk about this thing, the “fellowship of the burning heart...Men and woman who love the Savior until adoration has become the new word and they don’t have to be amused or entertained. Those who love God until he is the sweetheart of the soul.”
And when I look at all of us it’s not that we’ve figured it all out or arrived spiritually. It’s more that all of us know what it means and feels like to struggle or to feel alone or to be hurt or misunderstood, and to realize we desperately need Jesus—need his help in our lives and to find our all in all in him.
And that’s a wonderful place to be. I’m glad to be there with all of you."
Psalm 92 pictures the people of God as a tree planted in his house and flourishing for generations. Mark 4 pictures the people of God as a tree growing out its branches for others to make a nest in. At City of Light, we are asking the Lord to grow and flourish us so that those around us can find a new day in Jesus, new home in his church, and new heart for our neighbors. As we partner, pray, and party together for others we become co-planters with the Lord. As we rest in him, he does the work that only God can do—he brings growth and flourishing in him.
Amy shares her story of finding a new home at City of Light after a season of not being a part of a church.
The Church is one of the places in which God intends to reveal more of himself to you. This year, what experiences and practices will bring more light into your life and reveal where God is already working there?
At Christmas, we celebrate that God became like us so that he could be with us and save us.
Elizabeth and Mary teach us the practice of a waiting that is not hopeless or passive, one that is full of faith and active—it brings forth life: receiving the Spirit of God in them, carrying God, and bringing God forth into the world. We wait like women giving birth. This story is here to teach us to be childbearers.
In this season of the year, we’re tempted to gloss over the sad and dark to try and feel merry and bright. God himself is born into our darkness though and transforms our tragedies into wonder.
Simeon and Anna had been waiting in hope so that when Jesus came into the Temple that day they were ready to recognize and receive him. The promise that they had been waiting for all of their lives they were able to see with great joy.
Being ready does not mean our lives are completely in order, it means out hearts are with the groom. Five of the bridesmaids' hearts were with the bride and groom and five weren't. When we wait with hope for the coming of the Lord in the future, we learn to welcome him in our lives today. What is your heart's response to waiting? Does it increase your hope in the one who is coming? We can feed our hope. We can ask the Lord to kindle hope in our hearts.
The good news of the kingdom of heaven is that it is a generous kingdom with a generous king. God invites everyone to come so that he can pour out his generosity on them not based on what we earn, but on what he will provide. His love is not based on our work, but on our need. If we think that we have earned everything we have, we will think we can keep it. But if we receive everything we have as a gift from a generous father, we can give it away in generosity.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, there is much at stake, and so we, the church, have much responsibility.
On All Saints Sunday, Meghan Beese renewed her baptismal commitment, giving her life to following Jesus!
In the kingdom of heaven, its highest value is that lost sheep are found, lone sheep find a flock, and flocks find the heart of the shepherd for the lost.
Every time someone finds a new day in Jesus. Every time someone finds a new home in the church. Every time someone finds a new heart for their neighbors we rejoice! Because that is what the kingdom of heaven is about.
This story of Jesus begins with a king who settles his accounts (Matthew 18:21-33). But once again the kingdom of heaven doesn’t work the way that other kingdoms work. Forgiveness in this kingdom is not for those who deserve it, it is for those who receive it.
Who is your ultimate authority? Jesus establishes an authority that is completely different than the authority of the government and state. Jesus says, “come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Jesus deserves all our worship and authority.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a wedding feast. The invitation is expansive because the Lord of the feast wants the wedding hall filled.
Jesus has come to invite us into the kingdom of heaven, to be shaped by its values, practices, relationships into people whose first culture is a kingdom of heaven culture. The kingdom is here now and it’s worth giving everything we have to enter into it.
Jesus’ stories and the Jesus story open a doorway into the life of God; we can walk through the door and live our lives inside of God’s world.
What do we do with the Psalms that curse, with the imprecatory Psalms? Remembering that Christ became a curse for us, we boldly pray these prayers as spiritual warfare, trusting that God will judge and destroy evil in our world.
Psalm 136 gives us a litany of thanksgiving, the Eucharist gives us a liturgy of thanksgiving, so that we can live a life of thanksgiving. God welcomes our litanies of complaints and the Psalms include more laments than any other type of Psalm. But the Psalms end the way the world ends — with all of our hardest questions answered, our deepest pains healed, our sufferings somehow, incredibly redeemed with meaning, our conflicts reconciled in peace, evil defeated and eradicated, our deaths resurrected.
Stories from Abby Arnold, Casey Solgos, and a message from Fr. Trevor.
We are invited to be good ground. Jesus, give me your heart for your Word. We are invited to sow good seed. Jesus, give me your heart for the world. We can run on the field, stick our gloves in the air, and let the Holy Spirit bear fruit in and through us.
Matthew 13
Everyone gets to decide who gives them directions. In Psalm 119, we discover that we can obey God's way in our life and in our sexual practice. Because God is a good God with a good way, following him in our sexual practice is good news, even when it is challenging.
Children are often treated as a distraction; Jesus calls them an icon. Bringing children to Jesus brings us to Jesus. He's not skeptical of their faith, he's skeptical of the disciples' faith. He calls his followers to give their lives for the next generation of disciples. Being present with kids is hard work where we have to lead them into the kingdom, but then all of a sudden we experience a moment of wonder where they lead us into the kingdom.
At City of Light, we believe the wonder is worth the work.
The parable from Psalm 78: Think Generationally The parable from Matthew 18: Teaching Kids Teaches Us The practice of City of Light: Worshiping with Children
Beauty is a bold proclamation of hope in the face of an ugly world. Beauty isn't just pretty; beauty is a person—the person of Jesus. We meet a beautiful savior who makes us into his beautiful people.
When we place our hearts in heaven, we receive a heavenly joy and a heavenly job. In the house of the Lord, we experience the joy of the Lord, the feast of heaven, and the celebration of our salvation. As priests called to stay awake in the night, we minister the joy of the Lord in the midst of the despair of this world. We lift holy hands to bless the Lord and ask for his bless on the world.
In keeping the sabbath, we practice being still and knowing that he is God. In Sabbath-keeping we learn to hear his voice above the roar of waters and wars. In Sabbath-keeping we learn to see him working for our salvation. Keeping the sabbath trains us to trust.
For more on how to keep the sabbath, visit: http://www.cityoflightanglican.org/news/how-to-kee-the-sabbath
How do we experience a confidence and supernatural peace in hard times? Psalm 62 is a declaration that supernatural peace comes from trusting in our powerful and loving God, alone and always.
We are all characters in the story of God's redemption— in the midst of being desperately needy, God redeems us. Psalm 107 teaches us to declare stories of God's redemption in our own story.
Psalm 95:6 teaches us that we can tell Jesus we love him with our bodies. When we bow down, we say that Jesus is our king. When we bend our knew, we pause to thank Jesus for being with us. When we kneel before the Lord, we surrender our lives to Jesus.
Psalm 89 teaches us to speak what we feel and what we ought to say by recalling God's steadfast love of us, crying out to him, wrestling with him, and praising him forever.
How good and pleasant it is when God's people live in unity. And how terrible it is when they live in division. 1. The pain of division 2. The practice of reconciliation 3. The power of unity When we are reconciled to God in Christ and learn to reconcile with one another in the Church, we become ministers of reconciliation in our world.
Jesus is with us in our darkest times. As Psalm 77 describe the disorienting reality of depression in all of its forms. It also orients us to the reality of who God is. Though we experience the crushing waters of destruction, God promises to bring us through Jesus into the cleansing waters of baptism.
In the Psalms we find our words. We find a voice to bring the true experiences and sufferings we are living to the true and living God. And in the Psalms we find ourselves in God's word. We don't hide ourselves from God; we hide ourselves in him. We don't fit him into our experiences and pain; we fit ourselves in him. We find in the Psalms a pathway of Prayer because in Jesus, he has once again made the prayers of people the prayers of God. As Jesus hangs on the cross, he prays the Psalms and finds in the Psalms words for his own suffering— Why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22). And in the Psalms he finds himself safe in God—Into your hands I commend my spirit (Psalm 31).
At the heart of our lives and of the universe is this truth—God is love. Love requires a subject and an object, and God in his relationship with Godself is both the lover and the beloved. He invites us into the fullness of his love, to both be loved and to love.
As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, we celebrate God pouring out his never ending love for us, pouring out his presence in the Holy Spirit, and pouring out his church for the world. God has poured himself into us so that we can pour ourselves out for others.
Jesus ascends to heaven as king so that we can be with him in heaven and he can be with us on earth until the kingdom of heaven fully comes and heals the kingdom of earth. Because Jesus is king, we have a kingdom family, a kingdom inheritance, and a kingdom mission.
We were made to find a home in God but so often choose to wander away from that home. In John 15, Jesus invites us to make our home in him and remain in his love by being branches connected to the vine, by being obedient to God's Word and his leading, and by bearing fruit.
Jesus says "I am the way," not as an exclusive claim, but as an inclusive invitation into a relationship with his Father. God wants to bring all of his kids into his house, so he sends his first-born Son to make a way.
There Is a Place for Us with the Father. Jesus Provides for Us the Way to the Father Jesus Empowers Us to Do the Works of the Father
What would it look like if we were so filled with the love of the Father that we were a church who did the works of the Father?
John 14:1-14
We all have experiences of being unshepherded — when the person who is supposed to be responsible for guiding and protecting us doesn't show up emotionally, spiritually, or physically. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” He wants to teach us that life in him is a shepherded life, that submitting to him doesn't mean we give up freedom, but that we gain it, that it is good to be shepherded by a good shepherd.
He teaches us to listen to the shepherd's voice, be defended and disciplined by the shepherd's staff, led in the shepherd's way to the gate, and a part of the shepherd's flock.
We don't have to live a life of disappointment because we live a life with with Jesus, where he draws near to us through his Word and Table. When we gather on Sundays, we encounter Christ himself and learn to live out a liturgy of knowing Jesus during the week.
The life of faith is believing that we can share in the life of Jesus. God became human to reunite us to God so that we can have our life in him and he in us. The life of faith is not about how well we perform or what we think or experience; the life of faith is about our lives being shaped by God's life.
In the midst of the hard moments marked by death, Jesus brings us life. Because he is alive, we can have life. Because he gave his life for us, so that we can give our lives to him. He can live his life in us and we can live our lives in him.
On the cross, Jesus is victorious in the battle with sin, death, and the devil and he shares his victory with all who have been united in his death. We are no longer slaves to sin. We no longer have to fear death. We no longer are held captive by the devil. There is nothing more powerful in this world or the world to come than the cross of Jesus.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus announces that he is the king. He challenges the authority of Rome and of the Jewish religious leaders and he challenges us. We need saved from our sins and he comes to cleanse and heal us through his cross.
Here on the threshold of Holy Week, the church gives us the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead to remind us that we need to be raised from the dead, but especially to see Jesus and a preview of his passion. As Jesus is moved and weeps with his friends and calls Lazarus out of death, we see that Jesus loves us, hates what hurts us, and will fight for us.
God's power is for those who are powerless and know it. The story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17 teaches us to ask where in our lives we are a widow and how the Word of God sustains us. God moves us to places of powerlessness, where we experience his power while in his presence.
In Lent, we are reminded that we are a thirsty people that need the grace of Jesus. Jesus shows grace to the Samaritan woman at the well by challenging our mindsets and breaking boundaries, satisfying our deepest longings for living water, and propelling us into a life of mission. Jesus became thirsty so that we can become satisfied.
Jesus invites us to receive the kingdom of heaven by being born from above—by being born of water and the Spirit.
In the wilderness, we trust the Lord to provide for our physical and spiritual hunger. Jesus becomes both the Word of the Lord that we live by and the Bread of heaven that we eat. He sets a feast before us in the midst of the wilderness.
On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our need of Jesus and that God's grace is stronger than all our sin. Through confession to the Lord, confession as a people, and confession one to another, we receive the forgiveness and love of the Lord. In vulnerability, we are known and loved by God.
As we transition from the season of Epiphany to Lent, the Church gives us the story of Jesus' transfiguration to invite us to take up our cross and follow him. We aren't ready to see Jesus and need to turn our eyes toward him by turning away from disobedience and distractions.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches us what kingdom of God agriculture looks like. We see that God is in charge of growth and we are not, that we are called to scatter seeds, and that seed is the Word of God.
City of Light is a church that wants to follow Jesus' call to make disciples. We partner together as a disciple making team, praying for those that we can plant seeds of invitation to come and see, come and follow, and come and die. In Matthew 10, Jesus sends out his 12 disciples into the harvest field with these seven encouragements: 1. We speak of the Kingdom of heaven (vs. 7). 2. We bring healing for the hurting (vs. 8). 3. We are given the words to say (vs. 19-20) 4. We can count the cost of persecution and rejection (vs. 16-19). 5. We don't have to take rejection personally (vs. 34-39) 6. We do what Jesus did (vs. 24-25). 7. We are with Jesus in the harvest field (vs. 29-31).
Jesus' heart is for the harrassed and helpless, for the sheep without a shepherd. Jesus wants to give us his heart so that we can love others and give ourselves for others the way he does.
The work of disciple-making is not meant to be done alone— we all need disciple-making partners to join with us. Jesus shows us through his partnerships that partnering with others in kingdom work reaps a greater return. Disciple-making partners are people who build you up into the Lord. Who are you partnering with in making disciples?
The church is a family, a place where generations of disciples are raised and parented by spiritual fathers and mothers. For those raising children to follow Jesus in their home, their family is a domestic church where Dad and Mom's first work is to raise disciple-makers. For all who have been invited to follow Jesus, who have been spiritually parented in the faith, will we be that for the next generation?
Jesus invites us to come and see, come and follow, and come and die. He continues to invite us deeper into making his life mission of making disciples our life mission. To follow Jesus is to invite others to follow Jesus. Will you join us in praying, "Jesus, teach me to make disciples?"
From his infancy, Jesus calls all peoples from all nations to follow him. That means that each of us are invited to personally follow him as King and God and Sacrifice. When we follow Jesus the bright and morning star, he leads us into light and makes us stars that invite others to follow him.
Jesus puts on our humanity so that we can put on his righteousness. He becomes like us so that we can become like him. He takes our muddy clothes, washes them by his sacrifice on the cross, and gives us clothes of white.
Jesus and Santa are different. They wear different clothes. Santa has 8 reindeer. Jesus has 12 disciples. But the biggest difference is that to get presents from Santa, you have to earn them by being good enough. Jesus gives us the gift of himself not because we're good enough, but because we could never be. He carries the sin of the whole world so that he can move us from the naughty list to the forgiven list. This Christmas, don't try to earn love by being good, receive the goodness of Jesus poured into you because of his love.
When you face a need, who do you want there with you? In Isaiah 7, we read about a king named Ahaz who does not want God with him and a king named Immanuel who will be God with us. Immanuel is God coming to be with us now in our need. Who are you trusting to be with you in your need?
We are all in exile and cannot find our way home to God. In Isaiah 35, we see that God provides that way home by the advent of Jesus. Jesus is the safe highway that brings us back home to Zion, and as we wait, the Spirit dwells in us to guide us.
In Isaiah 11, we see that a little shoot from the stump of Jesse is the hope of the world, and Jesus is that hope. When Jesus comes, he brings his perfect wisdom, perfect integrity, and perfect justice to show us a glimpse of the the better world to come.
As we begin a new church year, we place our story inside the story of God. In Advent, we remember Jesus' first coming and anticipate his coming again. In between those two arrivals, we hold onto the hope that though we are surrounded by war, God is bringing his way of peace, transforming weapons of death into works of life.
The poor widow who gives all that she has teaches us what it means to follow Jesus. The religious people want to look like good, strong people who have it all together, but the widow admits that she is weak and then gives all of who weakness to the Lord. We want to be a church of inner poverty by admitting that we are like that poor widow, meeting our smallness without embarrassment because God takes our weakness and bring new life. Jesus' offering on the cross was small, foolish, and weak, but God uses weakness to save. As it was for Christ, so it is for his church; so it is for us.
When we relate our work to God's work, our work is redeemed. God designed work but it has been distorted so that it is frustrating instead of fulfilling. In Isaiah 6 and Luke 5, we see God redeeming our work when we see him and turn to him and inviting us to be part of his kingdom work
Today was All Saints Sunday, but what is a saint? In our creed we say each week that we believe in the communion of saints, but what is that? And what difference does this make in our lives? God sets us apart as saints in baptism and brings us together in communion to make us the finger of God in the world.
“The way that God relates to us in friendship teaches us how to be friends. In John 15:12-17, God calls us and chooses us for friendship, he reveals himself to us, and sacrifices himself for us as friends. Jesus asks us to love others as he has loved us, and therefore we are to be “first-befrienders”, truth-telling friends, and sacrificial friends.
Forgiveness releases love for God and the love of God releases forgiveness. The sinful woman who comes to Jesus in Luke 7 experiences a combination of joy and sorrow, the love of Jesus accepting her in her vulnerability. We have been forgiven by a God who deals gently with us into a lifestyle of forgiveness as a church.
Words have the power to hurt or to heal. Words come from the overflow of our hearts and extend to the work of our hands. When the Word of God that saves is planted in our heart, it grows a good tree with good fruit. When the word of the world that pollutes is planted in our heart, it grows a bad tree with bad fruit. When you hear evil words out there in the world, don’t be deceived; evil words come from an evil tree. When you speak words that hurt, don’t be deceived; your heart has been polluted. But there is good news, the word of God can be planted in you to purify your heart and bring forth good if you will humble yourself and receive it.
Because God relates to us, we can relate to him. God is not an unknowable force, he is a person, so he comes to us incarnationally as the person of Jesus to rescue us. He does away with evil without doing away with us, but by inviting us into a relationship with him.
Christian marriage is a place of grace for everyone—a sacramental sneak peak of the love of God in Christ for his people the church. It is a place of grace for those who are married because they need grace when they find out that they are more selfish and sinful than they realized. It is a place of grace for the world when husbands and wives enter into the mission of God to bring new kingdom of God life into the world. It is grace because while we love imperfectly, God showed his love to us on the cross.
Whether you have biological kids, adopted kids, whether you’re married or single, if you’re a 20something or a 50something, you are a spiritual parent, you are a disciple-maker, you are the celebrant of a liturgy.
- Every man is a father, every woman a mother. Sometimes biologically; always spiritually.
- As spiritual parents we make disciples who make disciples for generations.
- We are all celebrants of a liturgy, leading into habits that teach us what to love.
So write down your mission as a Father or Mother to generations, ask the Lord who he is calling you to disciple and how you can read the Bible and pray together, and start and stack habits in the morning, evening, at meals, on sabbath day, traveling, and in your home.
Our families pass on blessings and curses, good things and bad things. But in the family of God, he gives a blessing that breaks the curses. Through Jesus, he defeats the power of the curse and brings us again into his blessing. We can invite his blessing by bringing our generation curses into the light where the story changes from shame to grace. We can invite his blessing by rejecting the curse, not the person, and receiving the blessing.
We often feel a longing for deeper relationships and the hurt of broken relationships. In a divided world, the Bible teaches us that God is the perfect and loving relationship of Father, Son, and Spirit. He creates us to share in his relationship, and even when that relationship is broken he will stop at nothing to reconcile us back to himself and bring healing to all our relationships. We can put our hope for better relationships in the Lord, and those who hope in the Lord are never disappointed.
As citizens of Heaven, we all have the same job; we are priests. With Jesus as our high priest, we are a kingdom of priests called to obey God and bring the goodness of Jesus to our cities here. Because Jesus connects us to God, we are called to connect others to God through Jesus, our great high priest.
The life of heaven is a life of self-giving love. In the midst of a culture of dividing walls, we live lives of open doors. In the midst of a culture of self-preservation, we live lives of self-giving. Because God has given himself to us through the sacrifice of Jesus, our lives are marked by sacrifice of self-giving generosity and hospitality to others.
As we gathered to begin our fall in prayer, we studied Jesus' process of making disciples who make disciples—inviting others to come and see, come and follow, and come and die. As a church of disciple-makers, we want to make disciples who plant churches that make disciples that plant churches.
How can I grow as a disciple-maker? Who can I invite to come and see? Who can I invite to be a disciple-maker?
God invites us to train for life in the heavenly city by trusting our father, obeying his way, and following Jesus. God's way is hard, but it leads to our healing. The world's way promises to be easy, but leads to suffering. Hebrews gives us the example of sexual sin to show us how God invites us into his way out of compassion, not condemnation. He invites us into suffering that leads to healing if we will obey.
In worship together, a sacred journey up the mountain of God, we become citizens of heaven. In our procession up Mount Zion to the heavenly city, we join with angels and the saints, we experience a glimpse of our future in the kingdom of all things made new, and we learn to live the culture of heaven. Jesus is the one who makes a way for us to join in the worship celebration and transforms us into citizens of heaven.
As citizens of heaven, we live out the culture of the city of heaven within the cities of this earth. We are refugees of heaven so we don't conform to the world and we are sent so we do not abandon. That means that like Jesus, the king of heaven, being a citizen of heaven means loving our city on earth. The church is a heavenly city within the earthly city. (Hebrews 11:1-16)
Jesus invites us out of our worries into a fuller life with him, where generosity and selfless service are the antidotes to greed and worry. He invites us to live so generously that we have fewer things to worry about.
The father invites us to ask as sons as daughters, to ask boldly, to ask with the authority of Jesus, and to ask together. He is not a grumpy neighbor, but a good father who delights in giving us the kingdom.
If we want to learn to love like Jesus loves, we have to sit at his feet and become his student. Jesus invites everyone to learn from him—anyone can sit at his feet and worship him. We become who we behold. We will all sit at someone or something's feet and begin to become like that person or thing. If we want to love the world like Jesus does, we have to sit at Jesus' feet to become like him.
Instead of asking who is my neighbor, ask am I neighbor? Instead of asking, "what kind of person do I have to love?" Jesus teaches us to ask, "am I the kind of person who loves?" To be a neighbor, we love people in a context, with compassion, and at great cost.
Jesus came to preach good news to the poor, and he calls his church to preach good news to the poor. What is good news to the poor? We proclaim good news to the poor when we say, "you're invited." We proclaim good news to the poor when we say, "you can contribute."
There is a cost to following Jesus, but it is not one that is burdensome. Jesus invites us to surrender the comfort of cultural conformity and relinquish the security of worldly attachments so that we can have life more abundantly.
When we feel empty, Satan tempts us to fill ourselves with good things, but we are called to worship God alone. Worship is orienting ourselves outside ourselves, orienting ourselves to the presence of God.
The story of the sinful woman and Simon the Pharisee reminds us that Jesus' forgiveness is for those who need it, see it, and accept it. "The Gospel is for both the morally-bankrupt and the morally-upright and everyone in between."
What is the kingdom of God like? Not a sequoia. Not a Cedar of Lebanon. A mustard seed. In Luke 13:18-21, Jesus teaches us that the power of the small, the reality of the invisible, and the unstoppable advance of the kingdom of God. So pursue smallness, set your eyes on the invisible, and sow seeds of the Gospel.
It is impossible to separate life in God from life in God's Word. The Holy Spirit teaches us to know God by knowing God’s Word. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love God by obeying God’s Word. The Holy Spirit teaches us to live in God by living in God’s Word.
In Joshua 4, the Lord tells Joshua to make a memorial, a physical reminder of what God has done for them. Today we look back at what God has done in our first year and who he is calling us to be as a City of Light.
The gift that the Lord gives on Pentecost is the gift of himself—his presence in the Holy Spirit. We are to drink in the Holy Spirit, be watered by the Holy Spirit, and be baptized into the Holy Spirit. The life and love of God is a river rushing through us as we pray "Come, Holy Spirit."
Icon from the Rabula Gospels, an illuminated Syriac Gospel Book completed in 586 at the Monastery of St. John of Zagba outside of Antioch.
Jesus goes for our own good. He leaves so that he can be with us as our Redeemer, Pioneer, King, and Head. He is in heaven for us so that we are on earth for him, sharing in his Resurrection life and sharing Resurrection life with others.
Icon from the Rabula Gospels, an illuminated Syriac Gospel Book completed in 586 at the Monastery of St. John of Zagba outside of Antioch.
Jesus is always inviting and including others so that we can practice resurrection friendship with him and with others. "In Jesus, we have more in common to unite us than we have in contrast to divide us."
Because of the Fall, our work is cursed, but God can transform our work from an idol to an icon. Jesus wants to show up in your work and give you a new job description—joining with him in cultivating new resurrection life in your work.
When we practice keeping the Sabbath, we reorient our lives to be able to receive the resurrection. The Sabbath is a chance to stop what we are doing and respond to what God is doing.
Jesus invites us into his resurrected life through meals with him as the host. We can practice the resurrection by inviting Jesus to transform our table into his table.
We can practice the resurrection by living baptismal lives—hearing the voice of God and saying yes to him. The waters of baptism are both our entrance and our everyday life in Christ.
Because Jesus is alive, we can live the resurrection now. We may have lost our sense of wonder, but God has not. He delights in filling us with resurrection wonder. Includes a testimony from Erika Solgos.
When Jesus is lifted up on the cross, he draws all people to himself to meet the God who suffers. We have wandered away and been wounded, but God in his plan of love and forgiveness willingly is crucified so that by his wounds we can be healed.
On Palm Sunday, we proclaim that Jesus is king and also recognize that we have turned from him. Though we have all turned from him, he will never turn from us.
"The Savior invites us to come, to move toward him, in his strength and by his spirit, as we endeavor to lay hold of him who first lay hold of us and thereby demonstrate our maturing faith."
The story of the prodigal son is the story of the lost sons. To be found with God is the greatest gift because the gift of the Father is the Father himself.
We all experience rivalry in lives. In the book of Philippians, Paul encourages us to leave behind rivalry and imitate Jesus. Rivalry says, “I want to be better than you,” but imitation says, “I want to be like you.” Instead of grasping for power, Jesus emptied himself and became like us so that we could become like him.
As the apostle Paul reflects on the possibility of his execution, he urges the Philippians toward a Gospel perspective that focuses in life and in death on one thing: knowing Jesus. In his Passion, Jesus shows us the one thing that is the focus of his life: knowing us.
We were made to need food and water, but even more fundamental to our existence is our connection to the Lord. We cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. This Lent, may we know our need for Jesus. May we come to the Bible hungry to read and feed on him, the Living Word.
The ashes on our forehead remind us that we are marked by death, but the cross on our forehead reminds us that we are marked by our Savior. His death means that when we return to the Lord, we are met with his love and forgiveness.
We were joined this morning by guest preacher and worship leaders Scott and Marissa Cunningham.
Scott teaches on our need to see the face of Jesus in order to be transformed—to see the layers of the world peeled back and to peer into Jesus' glory. This changes ordinary experiences of the Bible, Communion, and Church into extraordinary, life-changing encounters with the presence of Jesus.
Paul teaches us what the family of God is like—we're a loving family. In a world filled with fake love, Paul describes the true love that the Father has lavished upon us, that he sent his son Jesus to make us sons and daughters.
Every member of the family of God has a mother and a mission. With God as our Father, he gives us the church as our Mother. The church births us, nourishes us, and raises us to be members of the family of God and play our part in the mission of God.
God gives us marriage as a symbol of his desire to have communion with us. As Jesus turns the water into wine at the wedding of Cana, he points forward to the great wedding feast of the lamb to come.
It matters who your father is, and whether your earthly father has been great or not so great, your heavenly father wants to bring you into his family through baptism so that he can pour his favor on you as his adopted son or daughter.
Pastor Matt Woodley of Church of the Resurrection joins us for Epiphany Sunday and begins our year by preaching on one of City of Light's key passages, Isaiah 60.
God calls us at this time and in this place to shine his light to the world.
Our hearts are covered in darkness, but Jesus comes to be the light. These candles remind us that we can receive the light of Jesus this Christmas.
In Acts 2:42-47, Luke paints a vidid portrait of the life of the church. Bishop Stewart describes 5 marks of that life: Fully Scriptural, Fully Sacramental, Full of the Spirit, Freely Sharing, and the Fullness of Salvation.
John the Baptist calls us to prepare a highway for the Lord to come, but there are obstacles in the way: treacherous mountains, jagged valleys, and crooked paths. How do we overcome them?
We can't, but Jesus did. The only way way we can prepare is through repentance. The Lord is coming. Repentance invites him in.
The First Sunday of Advent Just as he came at Christmas many years ago, Jesus will come again to bring redemption. In Luke 21, he tells us to be waiting, working, and watching for his return.
Artwork by Laura James, 2007, "The Holy Family at Nativity" used by permission.
The Holy Spirit brings a new generosity that gives sacrificially in this life because it trusts Jesus' resurrection in the next life.
The Holy Spirit brings us a new confidence based not in ourselves, but in the Spirit. Basing our confidence in ourselves and our performance keeps us from the love of the Lord and from experiencing the signs and wonders that the Holy Spirit wants to bring.
The Holy Spirit creates a new community of people finding a new day in Jesus. This new community devotes itself to believing, worshipping, sharing, and witnessing in the Resurrection of Jesus. It is beautiful because the beauty of Jesus' Resurrection power shines through her.
The Holy Spirit brings power, but not for just anything. He brings power to witness to the Resurrection of Jesus. He is wind that is blowing and drawing and sending us in a direction, to join in his mission.
And while it's not power for just anything, it is power for anyone—young, old, rich, poor, male, female, of every nation, language—anyone who will say they need to be made whole.
Because Jesus is alive and active, he can bring us a new day and a new purpose. God made us on purpose for a purpose: to share his Resurrection life.
Week 1: Finding a New Day in Jesus We can find a new day in Jesus because he is alive and active.
When we meet Jesus face-to-face, we are transformed to look more like him. Luke 24, 2 Corinthians 3:18
We become children of light through adoption and we walk in the light through confession.
God is calling us out of the darkness and into the light of Jesus, which overcomes the darkness of our sin, our society, and our spiritual enemy.