City Church

This Sunday, at the start of a new year, we will dive headlong into the New Testament book of Hebrews. Why Hebrews – and why now?

Christians today face a problem. But the source of that problem doesn’t originate out in the world. Rather, it can be found within the church. The issue pertains to a gradual but persistent erosion of belief in the power, presence, and authority of Christ. A consequence of this loss of faith is a corresponding deterioration in Christians’ convictions about the truth, necessity, and sufficiency of God’s Word.

Into this reality, the author of Hebrews preaches the good news of King Jesus. The Book of Hebrews is a word of encouragement for Christians whose faith may be faltering. The book of Hebrews reads like a sermon meant to be delivered – a beautiful exhortation for Christians to fix their eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Hebrews exalts Christ, pronounces His supremacy, and establishes His covenant faithfulness within the sweeping history of God’s redemptive work. It’s a grand, far-reaching sermon which, in the words of John Calvin, “rightly deserves to have the place and honor of an invaluable treasure in the Church.”

We do hope you’ll join us on this journey that will take us through the end of May. We hope to see you on Sunday mornings – Sunday School @ 9 (beginning 1/8) and Corporate Worship @ 10:15.

Many thx to Ashleigh Blevins for this beautiful artwork for the series.

We would love for you to join us Saturday, December 24th for our Christmas Eve Service. It begins at 5 pm and will end in candlelight as we celebrate the Savior’s birth.

On this Fourth Week of Advent, we bring you this Call to Worship: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -

“[[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. [11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
[13] So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

This season we are pairing the Advent reading & Calls to Worship with art that God has blessed our teenage City Church congregants. This piece was created Judah Zide, titled “Love”:

“For the theme of Love, I placed a heart in a golden field that symbolizes the star announcing Jesus’ birth and suggests the shape of a cross. The gold never dulls. In the bottom right a cup is overflowing with love as God’s love for us overflows and never ends. In the bottom left two figures hug, offering comfort to symbolize God comforting us with love.”

On this Third Sunday of Advent, we bring you this Call to Worship: 1 Chronicles 16:28-34 -

“[28] Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! [29] Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; [30] tremble before Him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. [31] Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” [32] Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! [33] Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. [34] Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!”

This season we are pairing the Advent reading & Calls to Worship with art that God has blessed our teenage City Church congregants. This piece was created Marlie Duggan, titled “Joy”:

“This week’s advent theme is joy. In the beginning I struggled with how to represent joy on a canvas because there is no universal symbol for joy. But joy is a complex idea and there is no one concrete thing that can represent it. Joy bursts out, even in the darkest of times. Joy, unlike happiness, is not circumstantial. Our joy in Christ comes when we focus on the eternal, not our temporary circumstances. The joy of heaven and the joy that came with the birth of Jesus can never be taken away or subdued. I chose to paint florals bursting out of the darkness because Joy grows everywhere.”

On this Second week of Advent, we bring you this Call to Worship: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 -

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”

This season we are pairing the Advent reading & Calls to Worship with art that God has blessed our teenage City Church congregants. This piece was created with pencil, ink and acrylic on canvas by Soren Zide, titled “Peace Sandwich”

“Each ingredient represents something people might disagree on. The people at the bottom are working together peacefully to make one big sandwich. They might still disagree on things, but they have set aside their disagreements to work together to make something good.”

On this First Sunday of Advent, we bring you this Call to Worship: Isaiah 8:11–17 -

“For the LORD spoke thus to me with His strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: [12] “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. [13] But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. [14] And He will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. [15] And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

[16] Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. [17] I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in Him.”

This season we are pairing the Advent Calls to Worship with art that God has blessed our teenage City Church congregants. This piece was created by Lunden E. Werkheiser, titled “Hope”

“For the Advent theme of hope, I painted a candle in the midst of darkness to symbolize the prophet’s words in Isaiah 9:2, ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.’
I chose a black background to represent deep darkness. The white of the candle symbolizes the purity of Jesus and how the light He gives is good and trustworthy. The sparks of colors emanating from the flame symbolizes how He gives hope to all kinds of different people throughout the world.
Currently, as we serve as foster providers, I want to be able to offer hope to vulnerable kids and families for whom we are in a position to help.”

‘Tis the season of good tidings, it is said. We often hear about ‘the Christmas spirit’ as being one of kindness, joy, and generosity. Whereas those are fine ideals, are they the deepest, truest reasons why Christ was sent to this world to put on flesh? No. The point of Christ’s coming was to defeat sin and death.

Traditionally, Christmas is celebrated by exchanging gifts. Jesus Himself was given gold, frankincense, and myrrh as expressions of adoration and reverence. Among the many blessings wrought by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, perhaps the greatest is the Spirit. It is the Spirit who calls us into faith, who convicts us of our sin, who fuels our repentance, who regenerates us, who redeems our hearts, and who renews our minds. The most wondrous gift Jesus ever gave us is the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Join us this Advent as we study the 8th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Romans is thought to possess some of the brightest gems of theology in all of Scripture. And Romans 8, specifically, is considered the crown jewel. As we traverse the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, Paul’s meditation on the Spirit in Romans 8 will be our guide as we celebrate the coming King this Christmas.

Church starts at 10:15. See you Sunday.

((many thx to Ashleigh Blevins for the beautiful Advent artwork!))

We look forward to seeing you Saturday, December 3rd! This family event is for parents/caregivers and children. Please know adults are responsible for staying with the children in their care for this event. REGISTER NOW!

Just a friendly reminder that Daylight Savings Time ends this tonight (at 2 a.m. Sunday morning if you want to be precise about it). Make sure to set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed this evening.

City Church will be meeting at our normal time, 10:15 AM Central Standard Time. Of course, if you forget to set your clocks back and show up an hour early, we'd love to see you at Sunday School!

Join us in making a joyful noise this Advent Season! The choir is assembling and practice begins this Monday evening. Ages 6 and above are welcome to join! Sign up at www.citychurchstl.org/announcements

We’re at it again! Sunday School kicked off this past week and THIS SUNDAY after church, we’re having a picnic! We’ll bring the hot dogs & hamburgers - you bring your chairs and beverages and a side to share! See you on Sunday, fam!

There was an upright man who had a large family and owned a significant farming operation. In a matter of days, it was all gone. All of his livestock – dead. All of his employees – dead. All ten of his children – dead. What is more, the man became very sick. Terrible sores appeared over every inch of his skin – painful, itchy, loathsome sores. To add insult to injury, the man’s three friends compounded his woes with bad advice and chastising critique. Even so, the man didn’t interrogate God… at first. But eventually, his sad travails led the man to question the point of his own existence. What began as principled humility (“Shall we receive good from God and not evil?” – Job 2:10) became snide doubt (“What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we get if we pray to Him?” – Job 21:15).

Even so, the man never lost his faith. What is more, the man never ceased taking his questions, confusion, and calamity directly to God.

The book of Job is one of the most fascinating, difficult, confounding, and helpful stories in the entire Bible. It has mesmerized Biblical scholars for centuries. It tackles human suffering, divine sovereignty, and many of the most fundamental questions that have weighed on the conscience of all humanity for millennia.

Starting this Sunday, join us at City Church at 10:15AM as we begin unpacking the book of Job.

This Sunday we’ll be kicking off a summer sermon series in the book of Proverbs called Day by Day: the Wisdom of God. We’ll be approaching the book topically as we cover subjects including, but not limited to: money, politics, sexuality, discipline, marriage/family, speech, laziness, and more. One of the primary goals of a godly life that honors Christ is to live according to biblical wisdom. And wisdom that comes from God adorns life in the covenant amidst the practical details of everyday situations and relationships. As we settle into this new study, it would be a good practice to begin reading through Proverbs – perhaps a chapter each day – as a way to familiarize yourself with the material and grow in wisdom.

Parents, if you’d like a practical guide for family devotions with your kids, see Marty Machowski’s “Wise Up: Ten-Minute Family Devotions in Proverbs.” We hope to see you on Sunday mornings at 10:15AM.

THIS SUNDAY! We’ve got the hamburgers, hot dogs, water and juice. YOU BRING THE SIDES TO SHARE! We’ll see you there, family!

The lure of materialism, worldly achievement, comfort, and security pull strongly at Christians today, particularly those who have some education, are gainfully-employed, and enjoy a measure of autonomy in carving out a life for themselves. As such, even for genuine, Jesus-loving Christians, it is not difficult to find ourselves practicing a kind of modified faith, one in which our beliefs and theology have become tailored to accommodate our worldly appetites in subtle, but dangerous ways.

We need to be reminded who we are and why we’re here.

Join us this Sunday for the start of a 7-week sermon series on the first two chapters of the book of Acts as we refresh our minds and hearts regarding the nature and purpose of the church. Day by Day: the Acts of God will serve as a precursor to our summer series: Day by Day: the Wisdom of God (looking at the book of Proverbs).

We look forward to seeing you! 1908 Lafayette Avenue, 63104 @ 10:15AM

CITY CHURCH LENT CHALLENGE 2022

Lent is the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. It is a beautiful season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. The Family Ministry Committee at City Church wants to CHALLENGE and help prepare our hearts during this time.


CHALLENGE 6 - PRAY (April 10th): After a long winter of cold days and piercing wind, we HOPE for new life. Hope in Christ is what grounds us when our souls experience seasons of cold/darkness. Take a moment - rain or shine - and go outside to observe and celebrate signs of new life. As you do, pray for those you love, your neighbors, and our city. Pray that God would breathe new life into lost souls and broken hearts. All of creation cries out to him! Easter is coming!

Check out www.citychurchstl.org/lentchallenge2022 for the full challenge schedule. Feel free to tag us for any of your challenges at

CITY CHURCH LENT CHALLENGE 2022

Lent is the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. It is a beautiful season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. The Family Ministry Committee at City Church wants to CHALLENGE and help prepare our hearts during this time.


CHALLENGE 5 - SHARE (April 3rd): The good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection must be shared. In Christ, we all are called to be evangelists. Pick one person (family, friend, classmate, co-worker, etc.) with whom you will either share the Gospel personally or invite to the Easter Sunday service at City Church on April 17.

Check out www.citychurchstl.org/lentchallenge2022 for the full challenge schedule. Feel free to tag us for any of your challenges at

CITY CHURCH LENT CHALLENGE 2022

Lent is the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. It is a beautiful season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. The Family Ministry Committee at City Church wants to CHALLENGE and help prepare our hearts during this time.


CHALLENGE 4 - SERVE (March 27th): Mathew 20:28 says, “The Son of God did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.” Think and pray for opportunities in the next several weeks to serve a member of your family, a friend, a neighbor, or a classmate. Bring a meal, clean the house for someone who is ill or pregnant, clean up trash at a park, or encourage your local service people with a note or gift. Be intentional to serve beyond what is comfortable.

Check out www.citychurchstl.org/lentchallenge2022 for the full challenge schedule. Feel free to tag us for any of your challenges at

CITY CHURCH LENT CHALLENGE 2022

Lent is the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. It is a beautiful season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. The Family Ministry Committee at City Church wants to CHALLENGE and help prepare our hearts during this time.


CHALLENGE 3 - FAST (March 20th): Take one day each week (starting now and through the end of Lent) and fast from something you love. Fasting is a spiritual practice that helps us discipline our flesh in order to focus on God. We discipline our bodies to eliminate distractions and to make time to connect with God in the Scriptures and prayer. Typically, fasting involves abstaining from food, but not always! You can fast from watching TV, playing video games, coffee or even the snooze button!:

Check out www.citychurchstl.org/lentchallenge2022 for the full challenge schedule. Feel free to tag us for any of your challenges at

CITY CHURCH LENT CHALLENGE 2022

Lent is the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. It is a beautiful season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. The Family Ministry Committee at City Church wants to CHALLENGE and help prepare our hearts during this time.

CHALLENGE 2 - GIVE (March 13th)

During this time of Lent, we invite you to give! One Heart Family Ministries (ohfm.org) is an organization that recruits, assists in training, and supports Christian families for children in Missouri State foster care. This March, we will be collecting items on Sunday morning for their Foster Closet, which provides items to children impacted by the foster care system. They request donations of NEW items that include pajamas (2T+), bottles, diapers (any size), sandals (with straps), and swimsuits (7-16). Other requested items can be found on the website.

Check out www.citychurchstl.org/lentchallenge2022 for the full challenge schedule. Feel free to tag us for any of your challenges at

Sleep in a little this Sunday and wear your PJs to Sunday School! Donuts will be provided for breakfast in the PreK thru Adult classes. See you at 9 AM - March 13th!

CITY CHURCH LENT CHALLENGE 2022

Lent is the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. It is a beautiful season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. The Family Ministry Committee at City Church wants to CHALLENGE and help prepare our hearts during this time.



CHALLENGE 1-MEMORIZE (March 6th): Throughout the whole Lenten season commit the Apostles’ Creed to memory. If you like music, check out The Apostles’ Creed by The Village Church on Spotify or YouTube Music.

Check out www.citychurchstl.org/lentchallenge2022 for the full challenge schedule. Feel free to tag us for any of your challenges at

CITY CHURCH LENT CHALLENGE 2022

Lent is the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday. It is a beautiful season to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. The Family Ministry Committee at City Church wants to CHALLENGE and help prepare our hearts during this time.


ASH WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE:
Ash Wednesday marks the Lent season and helps to focus our hearts on repentance and prayer. The ashes on our foreheads remind us of our own mortality. Your first challenge is to attend the Ash Wednesday service at City Church at 5:30 pm. This week, go the extra mile and gather with friends or family for dinner. Create a simple meal (perhaps meatless) by candlelight, and before dinner recite the following confession as your prayer before you eat:

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In Your mercy forgive our sins, and grow us in Your grace as Your covenant people, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your holy name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

EXTRA CHALLENGE: Say this confession every night before dinner and commit it to memory this Lent.

Check out www.citychurchstl.org/lentchallenge2022 for the full challenge schedule. Feel free to tag us for any of your challenges at

Join us THIS WEDNESDAY for our first Ash Wednesday service at City Church. Service starts at 5:30 pm and will be brief.

At a time in world affairs in which so much is competing for our attention and priority, the book of Colossians reminds us of what is most important. If the book of Romans highlights the doctrine of justification, Ephesians celebrates the mystery of Christ and His Church, and Philippians bathes in the joy that Christ brings, then Colossians emphasizes the total supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the Lord of all creation and of the Church. As such, our study of Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae this winter will lift our eyes and raise our thoughts to higher heights of glory and deeper depths of meaning. Join us each Sunday at 10:15AM for “The Hope of Glory” which will take us to Easter. (And don’t forget, Sunday School for all ages begins at 9AM!)

Do you have plans for Christmas Eve? We’d love to see you for our evening service at 5 pm on Friday. No reservations are needed - we look forward to seeing our City Church family (& their families) together.

Join us at City Church this Advent season as we encounter the coming Christ in the Gospel of Matthew. It is our tradition to highlight the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love as we celebrate the arrival of King Jesus. The series is called The Promised Son and it will aim to highlight the different ways that Jesus Christ is the perfect answer to humanity’s plight and the world’s predicament. Only in the promised Son will our longing be satisfied, our strife mended, our sorrow quelled, and our indifference cured. We hope to see you each Sunday for Sunday School at 9AM and gathered worship at 10:15AM.

Today is the day! City Church Sunday School is INSIDE! City Church Worship Service is OUTSIDE! See you at 10:15 for church!

We are beginning a new sermon series this Sunday called Sword & Trowel: Resistance and Restoration in the Kingdom of God. This series will last for 11 weeks, taking us up to Advent. In it we will consider scenes from the early church (via Paul’s letters to Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, and more) as we grapple with the church’s dual purpose – to resist the darkness and to cultivate the light. We will explore those areas in which we are called to fight (agents of truth and justice) – and those areas in which we are called to build (agents of reconciliation and hope). Join us this Sunday as we begin our study by looking at the context in which we must first frame our thinking – the fall of the first Adam and the triumph of the second Adam (Romans 5:12-21). We hope to see you this Sunday OUTSIDE @ 10:15AM.

(Props to Adam Simpson for the graphics.)