City Of Light Anglican Churchaurora, Illinois

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