City Of Light Anglican Churchaurora, Illinois

"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

Party — Pastor Bonnie McMaken by

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 o

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!