As we finish 2017, we've collected 10 of the most meaningful messages preached at City of Light this year. These were messages by our preaching team that touched on key themes for our life together, resonated with many of us, and represent the seven different series of messages this year.
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Which messages were the most meaningful to you this year? Send us a note and let us know! Email stories@cityoflightanglican.org.
Holy Week Fr. Trevor McMaken
This is definitely the longest message of the year! It is a meditation on the power of the cross and the victory that Jesus won for us over sin, death, and the devil. In our daily lives, we can feel so powerless, but on Good Friday we remember that the victory has been won in Jesus' death and resurrection.
Epiphany: Follow Me Fr. Trevor McMaken
We began our year with this Epiphany series on our call to follow Jesus by inviting others to follow Jesus. We continue to see fruit from this important season as we partner together in praying for others in our lives that do not yet know the Lord. Who has the Lord brought into your life that needs spiritual parenting?
Summer: Praying the Psalms Pastor Bonnie McMaken
One of several on the list from our summer series in the Psalms, this message from Pastor Bonnie is an invitation into a deeper life of worship of Jesus. His beauty transforms us into a beautiful people.
Epiphany: Follow Me Pastor Scott Cunningham
This was a pivotal series in our life as a church, launching our disciple-making groups and practice. It was a joy to have Scott preaching in 2016 - 2017. In October we co-sent Scott and Marissa and their two boys to Madison to plant a church there in 2018. You can find out more here: churchrez.org/madison.
Advent Fr. Trevor McMaken
This less often read story of Christmas is a beautiful picture of our waiting for redemption as we watch Mary and Elizabeth wait for the birth of Jesus. This year instead of using the liturgical color of purple for Advent, we used the less often used option of blue, which is often associated with Mary. The feminine focus this Advent on Anna, Elizabeth, Mary, and Eve was a powerful way to prepare our hearts for Jesus.
Lent: Our Need of Him Erick Ewaskowitz
In the season of Lent, we gave thanks for all of the ways we need the Lord and he provides for us. In this message by Erick, we looked at the story of the Woman at the Well and Jesus’ forgiveness. In June, we sent Erick and his wife Bekki—along with their three boys—to be the senior pastor and worship pastor a Dearborn Free Methodist church. Check out their messages here.
Summer: Praying the Psalms Fr. Trevor McMaken
We all come to this new church plant with various experiences of conflict, hurt, and disunity in our lives and sometimes in previous churches. How can we continue to pray and work toward unity and reconciliation for the sake of the church and the world?
Summer: Praying the Psalms Casey Solgos
One of several on this list from our Psalms series, this message from Casey describes the journey from night to a new day that the redemption of the Lord brings. What is your redemption story of finding a new day in Jesus?
Fall: The Parables
Fr. Trevor McMaken
This fall we studied the kingdom of heaven as Jesus described it in his parables. City of Light has been marked by the generosity of the Lord to us and the fruit of giving to others in many different ways. What have you received from the Lord this year?
Eastertide: Life in Jesus Fr. Trevor McMaken
In the season after Easter, we studied lectionary passages from the gospel of John. The Lord’s shepherding of us as his children and as a church has been a key theme for our year together. How have you experienced the Lord’s shepherding of you recently?