Who is The City of the Lord?

The City of the Lord is a Catholic, charismatic, lay community whose members are called to a covenant relationship with God and one another.

Covenant communities such as City of the Lord are recognized by the Catholic Church as a work of the Holy Spirit and a legitimate expression of renewal, welcomed and encouraged by Pope John Paul II and the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The City of the Lord came into being in response to the great outpouring of grace that occurred in the Catholic Church in the 1960's, when many Catholics experienced a renewal in the Holy Spirit. We received a new awareness of the reality and presence of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and a release of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Why do you exist?

God has called us to a personal relationship with Him, both as individuals and as a people, as expressed in these three terms:

  • To live a life together
  • To live in the power of the Holy Spirit
  • To live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ

A Life Together

We are called to be a community. By living a life together based on commitment rather than convenience and service rather than self-centeredness, we bear witness to the character of God. We want to live in faithfulness to our covenant with God and one another, treasuring and protecting our love for one another, speaking and acting in a way that honors others. As stated in our covenant, we "agree to love, honor, support, and serve one another as brothers and sisters in the Lord."

In the Power of the Holy Spirit

We are fully and unapologetically charismatic, and believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit that have been poured out so abundantly on the Church are valid - indeed, vital - for living a fruitful and vibrant Christian life. The Holy Spirit is active and alive in our life, both corporately and individually. Our community worship, our personal prayer times (to which every community member is committed), and our ministry is characterized and energized by openness to God's Spirit and obedience to His leading.

Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ

We are called to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus, not only by sharing the gospel, but also through personal formation and catechesis. Put simply, our call is to be and to raise saints, both in our families and in society at large. God has called us to be obedient to the Great Commission, seeking to make disciples and lead others to obey Jesus as Lord. Our call is to reflect the character of Jesus Christ in how we pray, how we share the gospel, and especially in how we love one another (John 13:34).

How do I find out more?

We would love to meet you! The fact that you are on this web site at all and have read this far indicates that the Lord may well be stirring up in you a desire to know Him more fully, to love Him more deeply, and to serve Him more fruitfully. If we can be a means through which that can happen, we would be very honored.

Here are three ways you can get to know us more:

  • Call our office during business hours; our friendly receptionist will be glad to tell you about upcoming events that you'd be welcome to attend.
  • Send an email to the info@cityofthelord.org and tell us a bit about yourself; someone from our community will contact you to see how we can serve you.
  • Just show up! We have a prayer meeting at our community center in Tempe two Sundays a month (see our calendar for specifics). You can be assured of a warm welcome!

Thanks for taking the time to learn about us! May God bless you on your journey to become the saint that He has called you to be!