Three Ways to Take a Step of Faith // M-Note 7.18.2026

The Gathering only grows when you are willing to take a step forward in your own faith. Our church is in a season of change, development, and growth, and that means opportunities for all of you to grow with us! Here are three specific invitations I hope you’ll consider right now in the life of our church.

1. This weekend, our West County site is having a preview worship service. It will be their first one led by our new site pastor Roxy DeLong. Some of you have tried the site in the past or maybe have been intending to check it out. This is the Sunday I hope you will be there. You will have a chance to experience our newest site, meet Roxy, and help create a space for new people to experience our church. If you live anywhere in west or St. Charles county, please plan to come this weekend and invite someone to come with you. You can find out more here or join us at 10am at The Reverie in Chesterfield.
2. Next weekend, July 26, we will have a church-wide open baptism Sunday. If you have never experienced one, it is powerful, and I want you to be there! At the service, I will invite any of you that want to be baptized to come forward. If you have never been baptized, I hope you will make that decision to receive Christ’s love and respond to that love by committing to follow him. For all of the rest of you, there will be an opportunity for you to come forward as well. If you were baptized a long time ago, don’t remember it, have drifted away from the church, or just want to recommit to following Jesus, you can remember and recommit to your baptism. We will have the baptism pools for those wanting to be immersed as well as the bowl for those who want water over their head. And, if you want to become a member of The Gathering, there will be an opportunity to do that as well. If you are interested in baptism or membership, let us know here or you can just respond in the moment. I hope all of you will plan to be in worship ready to get in the water!
3. People come to our church because someone invites them. They come back to our church because they enjoyed worship. But people stay at our church because they form relationships and get into a group. Many of you have experienced the significance of a CoreGroup or Wellness Group here at The Gathering. And the very best thing about our 100+ groups is that they are all led by people just like you. If you are trying to find a group, feeling the nudge to start a group, or want to learn more about leading a group, please plan to come this Sunday to the Start a New Group Lunch & Learn. It is happening this Sunday after the (second) worship service at the McCausland, Metro East, and West County sites. You will get a chance to learn how easy it is lead a group, and explore opportunities to start new groups. Learn more or let us know you are coming here.

This weekend I am continuing our series Heaven on Earth: A Study of the Sermon on the Mount. I appreciate the feedback and response to last week’s message. If you missed week one on the Beatitudes, check it out or share it here.

Someone last week casually said to me, “Matt, let me know if there is anything I can do for the church.” In addition to the above, I always say, the very first way you can bless the church and make a difference is by showing up in worship for one another. Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you this Sunday.

Peace,

Matt