City Of Light Anglican Churchaurora, Illinois

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

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 demonstrate

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 demonstrate

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?