It is a season of transition. There are obvious transitions, as evidenced by the many graduation invitations I am receiving in the mail. Spring is a top time for buying and selling homes and several among us are moving. Some are preparing to go to new places to pursue new opportunities. There are also transitions of different sorts. Weddings, divorces, grieving the loss of someone close, watching kids go off to college, or having kids move back in after! As spring marks a time of transition in nature, so it does in our lives. Transitions cannot be stopped – they are part of what it means to be alive. They can be exciting, nerve-wracking, scary, hopeful, and most of all – uncertain. Transition marks the end of a known thing, and the beginning of an unknown thing. Transitions begin with an end and end with a beginning. For that reason, while we often pursue them, we also resist them. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, wandering halfway between the old and new thing, many of us will want to turn and run back to a safe and familiar place. But our God is a God of transitions, of new starts, and of hopeful futures (remember Easter?). So for all of you going through transitions of any sort right now, I am praying for you and I encourage you to press ahead.

Text Message: This weekend I will begin a new series called Text Message. In this three week series I will answer questions about what the Bible is, what it contains, what we believe about and how to read it. Those of you with serious questions about the Bible will learn a lot and those of you intimidated by the Bible will have some practical tools to begin reading it. Also, for the first time at our church, I will be answering your questions live during the sermon. Consistent with our theme, we will have a phone number for you to text questions to during the sermon. For the last five minutes or so, I will take some of those questions and discuss them. So for once, bring your phones fully charged and on vibrate – you get to use them during church! If you own a Bible, I invite you to bring it to church with you. If you don’t have one, we will have free Bibles available (generously paid for by one of our members). If you have friends who are skeptical or just curious about the Bible, this is a great time to invite them to our church.

New Family Ministry Director: For those of you who haven’t heard, on Monday, Leslie Damann will be starting as our new Family Ministry Director. We have been searching for a person that can lead us to having a compelling and excellent ministry for all of our children and youth. This is an area of ministry that we will be focusing on in the coming year. We want to be known as a church for kids and youth, and we believe that Leslie can help lead us there. I am thrilled that she will be joining us. This week, as she begins, I ask you to pray for her and her family. They are making the transition to a new church and preparing to meet a lot of new people. Also, pray for our kids and family ministries. Lastly, shoot Leslie a note here, welcoming her to our church.

New Opportunities: I know that many of you have been attending The Gathering for a few months, and may be looking for way to meet others. Each month, there are one-time opportunities to learn more about our community. Gathering 101 is an orientation to our church and ministries. Coffee With Matt is a chance to meet with me and hear the story of how The Gathering began. Methodism class is a chance to learn more about the history and unique perspective of the United Methodist Church. This summer, we will also have many short term classes and interest sessions. These opportunities are also great for people who have been attending a while. In addition to learning and growing, it will allow you to meet some of our newer people. Check out the Sunday handout or the newsletter and plan to attend some of these events this summer. It is a great way to meet some other people and grow in your faith.

Series Archives Online: With our new website, we have all of our past sermon series archived and online for you to share with your friends. The Point is up and complete. Wilderness: Life in Transition is a series from last year that is perfect for those going through change right now in their life. I invite you to check out the archive here and share the messages with your friends and family.

Clayton Celebration: Our Clayton site continues to grow and thrive. Last Sunday, we had a new high for attendance at the 10:45 service, 150 people. That is exciting news and I want to thank all of you that are inviting new people into life with Christ through this new site. Keep up the awesome work. If you haven’t visited yet, do so. It is cool to see something new take shape and grow.

Enjoy the great weather this weekend and join me for our new series on Sunday. See you then. Thank you for being such a great church!

Peace,
Matt+

Well yesterday was Mother’s Day. Thank all of you who reminded me to call my mom. I was able to call her yesterday afternoon. She was grateful and got the opportunity to rub it in that the family was sharing fresh blackberry cobbler without me! I hope you were able to Mother’s Day in a meaningful way.

As you know we concluded our sermon series “The Point” last Sunday. This week I left feeling both excited and challenged by Matt’s sermon that the point is to respond to God with gratitude. This is a simple, yet profound concept. I don’t know about you but I am a doer and I like to respond to things with action. A response of gratitude is an acknowledgement that in light of God’s action for us our actions are inconsequential. So as we begin this week by trying to respond to God’s grace and mercy with gratitude, I’m reminded of Colossians 3:16 which says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Here are a few things I want to share as we start the week.

Text Message-This week is the start of a new sermon series. As I said Sunday, I am excited about this sermon series for many reasons. When I meet with people and talk with them about our faith, a common question that comes up is “What about the Bible?” Well this sermon series is going to address that question. We are going to look at what it is and what we believe about it. My Core Group has been discussing issues around the Bible and I’m excited for the conversation that this sermon series will begin.

Stratton’s this Sunday-Along with Site Bites, once a month we are going to go to lunch at Stratton’s after the 10:45 service. This coming Sunday I hope you plan to come and get to know some new people at the Clayton site as we enjoy lunch together at Stratton’s in Clayton. It’s only a few blocks from the Clayton site. Check it out here. The address is 176 Carondelet Plaza.

Record Sunday-I realize that last week I wrote about all the ways that you as a community provide reasons to brag, but this week I have to share one more. This past Sunday the 10:45 service topped 150 in worship! This is a great milestone and we should celebrate it! I continue to be humbled and grateful for what God is doing in our community. Thank you for all you do and the commitment you have to reaching new people.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and for lunch after church.

Peace,

Matt Fulmer
Clayton Site Pastor- The Gathering

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. If you have yet to remember, or do something for your mom, I have a suggestion. Get on it. Last year I shared one of my favorite poems about Mothers. It is The Lanyard by Billy Collins. Here are a few things I want to share as we head into the weekend.

The Point – This week will be the last in our sermon series The Point: What it is and why we miss it. Many of us, especially in the church, think the point of life is to be a good person. But sometimes in our quest to be a good person, we can miss the whole point of why Jesus came. Jesus didn’t come to teach us to be a good person. Join me Sunday as we talk about why Jesus came, and why trying to be a good person can get in the way of knowing Jesus. In preparation for Sunday, you can read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, especially Eph. 2:4-9.

Text Message – Beginning May 20, I am starting a 3 week series entitled Text Message. We will explore the Bible, what it is and what we believe about it. Some people take the Bible literally, others think it has no application to everyday life, and many of us avoid it for fear we will not understand it. But scripture is a gift God gives to His people. This will be a great series to invite new people or friends who have real doubts about the Bible.

Reading Ahead – Many of you have thanked me for including the scripture I will be preaching on in my weekly M-Note. I am glad to get the feedback. One of my hopes for our church is that we as individuals will read scripture more. As a start, make it a habit to read the passage I list each week in my M-Note. Then, read what comes before and after it, to try to get a sense of the content. It is okay if you do not understand it all. If you are in a CoreGroup, I hope that you do not breeze over scripture to talk about your personal opinions about a topic, question or sermon. Read the scripture together and let it challenge you or interject something new into the conversation. Many of you have told me you do not own a Bible and don’t know which one to get. In preparation for our next series especially, I encourage you to buy a Bible. I recommend either the New Revised Standard Version or the Common English Version.

Clayton Site – I want to celebrate what is happening at our new Clayton site. As most of you know, weekly worship began in late January. The past 6 weeks there has been growth and many new people that have started attending the Clayton site. The 10:45 am service is now has an average of over 120 people, a great sign for a new church. When I started The Gathering 5 years ago, I was told that my goal ought to be to have 120 people attending after 3 years. It was commonly believed that it took 120 people for a community to be self-sustaining, to have enough critical mass to begin to grow, and have enough people to make a real impact in a community. I want to celebrate that in three months, our new Clayton site has reached that milestone! If you have yet to worship there, I encourage you to give it a try. To all the people who have made that site their primary one, I thank you for your commitment to our ministry of reaching new people. Keep up the amazing work.

I hope to see you and your mother in church on Sunday! It will be a great way to celebrate a special day.

Peace,
Matt+

Registration is open for two mission trips. Mission trips provide opportunities for spiritual growth, building relationships with people whose life experiences are different than yours, and to stretch your understanding of how you are to live as a follower of Christ. We hope you will prayerfully consider registering for one of these trips.

July 22-28 we’re sending a team to Tree of Life Ministry on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. The tasks given to the mission team members will be based on their abilities and interests. Kelly White is leading the team. Click HERE for more information.

March 1-17, 2013, we’re sending another group to Mozambique to do some construction and help out at an orphanage. Whitney Thompson and Jen Dotson are team leaders. Click HERE for more information.

Serve Close to Home

Our focus on Kingdom House as a place to direct resources for mission and service is producing wonderful results. Our Easter and Christmas giving means the Family Center continues to provide childcare for families under stress or in need of last-minute service. Among the people who have been served by the Family Center is Sabra, a single mother of 5 children, the youngest only 3 months old now. She has had difficulty finding work or friends in the US because she does not speak English well. She was feeling very stressed, isolated and alone. A neighbor told her about the Family Center and the English as a Second Language class at Kingdom House. She brings the children 3 days a week while she attends classes. She is under a lot less stress now and sees a brighter future for herself and her children. To learn how you can volunteer at Kingdom House, contact Kenneth Pruitt.

Serve for a Day

How much of a difference you can make in just a day? Our last Day of Service once again showed the myriad of ways acts of service can lend a hand—and develop faith. Over 75 people turned out the last Saturday of April to serve in a wide variety of ways. One group of volunteers was told “they were a miracle of God.” Another developed a new relationship with a community organizer in the city. New friendships began and other relationships were strengthened. Because they served, one homeowner cleared a city code violation and will be able to avoid further scrutiny and stress. Communities will harvest fresh vegetables later this summer. Women living in a shelter have access to new, clean lockers. Adolescents aging out of the foster care system were given a respite from the stress of their lives. A group of women traveled just a few blocks to enjoy a morning of green space and the vivid colors of nature at the Botanical Garden. All of this happened under the umbrella of “making an offering to God.” We believe that people’s faith in God through Jesus Christ was strengthened and we know that some people saw God’s love in action that day. Our next Day Of Service is Saturday, September 8. If you would like to be a part of creating the means for great things to happen in the span of one day, contact Pastor Linda Gastreich.

Where to Serve

Frequently we learn of particular needs among a variety of service agencies in our area. For example, Kingdom House is currently looking for people who can help write curriculum or provide child care one morning a month. When we learn of a particular need, we post it on The City — our social network for people connected to The Gathering. Just last week, someone from The Gathering was able to help a food pantry sort a large shipment of donated food. If you would like the latest news from the Mission and Service Team, The City is your best venue. Join at Gatheringnow.onthecity.org and watch The City Plaza for news.

You could probably guess it, but wherever I go people are curious how the Clayton site is going. From friends and family back in Arkansas to my old co-workers at Wash U and people at the McCausland site, everyone I know seems to be interested in how we are doing at Clayton. And I love it! I love because it gives me the chance to brag on all of you and the way God is moving in our community. This Sunday I saw this in a tangible way and I want to share just a few ways I saw God moving.

I left the church yesterday feeling both energized and excited to see what God has done in our community and what God has in store for us. I hope you had a similar experience. I am proud of all of you and thankful to be your pastor. Please continue to be in prayer for Clayton and The Gathering.

Here are a few things going on at Clayton that I hope you put on your calendar.

I hope you have a good week and I can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

Peace,
Matt Fulmer
Clayton Site Pastor- The Gathering

As I write this I am preparing for my last day of General Conference. I have been here since Tuesday April 24 (yes 11 days) helping our denomination to make important decisions about our future together. The days are long, beginning at 8 am and ending usually somewhere past 9:30 pm. We have tackled big issues, some sensational, some not. To give you a sense, here are some of the topics that we worked on: church’s stance on homosexuality, the ending of guaranteed appointments for clergy, how do we address the decline of The United Methodist Church in the US, what will we do to develop young leaders, will we radically restructure the denominational structure for greater effectiveness, cutting benefits and pensions for clergy, divesting from companies that profit from Israel’s occupation of parts of Palestine. Just writing all that is overwhelming – and there was more. When I return, I will write a blog post unpacking what this experience is like. Right now I am ready to come home, see my family, and be at The Gathering on Sunday. My time here has allowed me to meet some tremendous leaders – people that I follow and admire, but have never gotten the chance to talk with. Being here has allowed me to reflect on The Gathering, where we have been, and where I believe God is taking us. Being here has also allowed me to see just how unique and important our church is. The Holy Spirit is doing a very interesting thing on a little stretch of McCausland, and a corner of downtown Clayton. I am ready to return, and get to work on what God is doing at The Gathering. In that vein, it will be an great weekend at our church. Here are a few things to think about:

1. The Point: This week I will continue our series, The Point, and talk about happiness. Many of us think the point of life is to be happy. We tell our kids this, we seek after it ourselves, and we get frustrated if we cannot achieve it. Sunday I will talk about happiness, and how new life in Jesus changes our perspective on what it means to be happy. In preparation, you can read Ecclesiastes 2.1-11 and Mark 10:39.

2. Invitations: There is no secret to how people come to a relationship with Christ and find a church. They do so because we invite them. Spring brings a lot of natural transitions in the lives of people. I hope that you will pray for those you know who aren’t involved in a church, and ask them to join you Sunday as I talk about happiness.

3. Twitter: I have fully embraced Twitter here at General Conference. If you aren’t following me, you can do so here. I want to thank all of you that have written me notes of support on Twitter and Facebook. Your prayers, questions, and comments have helped me while I am here. They make me feel more connected to you while I am away doing work that at time feels distant from what we deal with day in and day out. Thanks to all of you that have followed along and participated.

4. Text Message: Looking ahead, after The Point I will be starting a new message series entitled Text Message. In it, we will be talking about the Bible, what it is, how we got it and what we believe about it. Some of you may not own a Bible. I encourage you to buy one in preparation for the series. There are many translations available. I suggest buying a NRSV (New Revised Standard Translation) or for one that is in modern day language, try the Common English Bible.

Okay, I am off to my LAST day of meetings and then I fly home tomorrow. I cannot wait to see you on Sunday.

Peace,
Matt+

Today in my devotional time I came across one of my favorite verses. It is located at the end of Matthew 11. I’ve been using The Message Translation lately in my own devotional time and I encourage any of you looking to start reading the Bible to use the Message because it is accessible and in modern language. The verse goes like this.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burn out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

It’s interesting to me that Jesus defines “real rest” not as sitting down or avoiding work. Instead “real rest” involves walking and work. Not many of us would define rest this way. But the key here is that we do them alongside of and in relationship with Jesus. So it is in walking, working, and being in relationship with Jesus that we find “real rest” and understand the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

My prayer today is that we experience this as a community and that The Gathering continues to be a community that pursues and explores this type of rest. Here are a few opportunities in our community that I hope you take advantage of that provide some “real rest.”

Site Bite. Living life together with others on the same faith journey is important in finding “real rest.” I’m glad The Gathering in Clayton has stepped up and provided some opportunities for us to continue building a strong faith community. Our second Clayton Site Bite is THIS Sunday, May 6 after the 10:45 service. I hope you make plans to stay around, have some food, and meet someone new.
“The Point” Also this Sunday we are going to continue “The Point” sermon series. We are going to look at what the author or Ecclesiastes and Jesus have to say about happiness and its role in us finding meaning in life.
I can’t wait to see you all on Sunday.

Peace,
Matt Fulmer
Clayton Site Pastor- The Gathering

Last Tuesday I traveled to Tampa for the quadrennial (that’s every four years) General Conference of The United Methodist Church. It is an intense 11 days of meeting, worship and dialogue about some of the most pressing issues facing our churches in the 21st century. There are thousands of people here, though only 988 are elected delegates with a vote. I am 1 of 7 clergy delegates from Missouri (there are also 7 lay persons). It is has been an honor for me to be chosen by my colleagues for this task. I am tweeting here and posting to Facebook about my experience. I welcome your comments, questions and most of all your prayers. Someone asked me why I would want to do this! The reason is simple. I believe deeply in the church and the power of Christ to change people. We have seen the power of the Spirit at The Gathering. My desire is that the church be compelling for new generations of people, leading them to life in Christ. I want to do my part to urge the church onward in bold and courageous change so that it can more effectively engage people. As I head into the weekend, here are some thoughts I want to share with you.

1. The Point: What it is and Why We Miss It. Last week I began our new series by setting up the case for new life in Christ. It is never fun to look at the problem. I have seen evidence of that here in Tampa. Two nights ago someone gave a presentation outlining the decline in The United Methodist Church. He got criticized for being negative, using fear and scaring people to hope. But what he said was true – plain and simple. Just because the current reality is hard though, doesn’t mean there is not hope. Indeed it sets up the case for why hope is needed. Similarly, last Sunday we talked about the way the author of Ecclesiastes sets up the problem in finding meaning in life. He sets up the case for the need for the new life that Jesus offers. This week though, we will move on to hope, and talk about how Jesus helps us see life differently. Specifically, Sunday we will contrast the anxiety many of us feel about the future, and the regrets we have about the past, with Jesus’ call to live and find joy in the present. To prepare, I encourage you to read Ecclesiastes 3 and Matthew 6:25-34.

2. Family Ministry News: I am thrilled to announce that The Gathering has hired a new Director of Family Ministry – Leslie Damann. Leslie currently lives in Millstadt, IL with her husband of 16 years, Chris, and their three children, Madison (10), Megan (8), and Zechariah (3). Leslie holds a BA in Religion from Missouri Baptist University and is currently pursuing her Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary. Leslie has a heart for building relationships with families and spiritually investing in the lives if their children. We will be introducing Leslie more fully in next week’s newsletter but I couldn’t wait to share the news. Her first Sunday at The Gathering will be May 27.

3. General Conference: If my tweets and Facebook posts aren’t enough, you can learn a lot more about the General Conference of the United Methodist Church here. On the site there is an explanation of General Conference, a chance to see the kinds of changes and legislation we are discussing and even a live stream to the plenary sessions (in case it’s a bad tv night).

4. New Guests: Last week’s worship was awesome at both sites. We had great attendance and many, many new people. For all of you that have been attending a while, I encourage you to look around on a Sunday and meet someone new. It is easy to get into a familiar routine and talk to people we already know. It takes intentionality to welcome a new person, and get to know them. I ask that you consider this small act of hospitality on Sundays. Most of all, keep sharing the news of the church with your friends. This series will continue for four weeks and is a great opportunity to invite those you think would benefit from the message. You can also view and share past sermons here.

Ok, it is 6 am, I’ve already worked out, written and prayed for you all and now I am off to legislate. Pray for me!

Peace,
Matt+

As many of you know, I was out of town this week celebrating my birthday with my family in Arkansas. I love going back to Arkansas to visit my family because it usually affords me the opportunity to pause and reflect. I can get away from my usual routine, which makes me sit up and pay a little more attention than normal. Here are a few of my thoughts and reflections that I had this weekend while away.
Growth takes time AND effort. My dad has a couple of vegetable gardens. Those of you familiar with gardening know that vegetable gardens take a lot of time and effort. There is all the dirt work, from plowing to weeding. Then there is planting and watering and general care of the plants. And this isn’t easy work. In fact, it can be back breaking work. But in the end, you literally see the fruits (or vegetables) of you labor. Almost every time I see a garden I can’t help but think our spiritual lives are like gardens. Our hearts are often like hard soil that are not going to naturally produce fruit. It takes work. We have to till the earth, water and tend the plants, and then we grow. Sometimes this process is painful, but it produces a fruitful life. And fruit isn’t going to appear overnight.
Community is both being known as an individual and being a part of something bigger than ourselves. The main reason I went to Arkansas was to attend a Tom Petty concert. While I was home my parents also planned a birthday dinner for me. During both of these experiences (the concert and the dinner) I couldn’t help but think about how I enjoy being a part of something bigger than myself and in close community with others. It was a spiritual experience to sing with 30,000 other people, even if it was a Tom Petty song. And it was meaningful to be surrounded by people who love and know me at a birthday dinner. I think we are all like this to some extent. We are hardwired as communal beings, to be known on an individual level and at the same time be part of something bigger than ourselves. I couldn’t help but be excited to think that this is the promise that Jesus gives us…the new life he promises. That Jesus knows us intimately and at the same time calls us to be a part of a community that is making a difference in the world.
The Gathering continues to surprise me. I was sorry I was gone during the first “Site Bite,” but I heard it was a huge success! When planning for the event, we decided to overcompensate and have food for 80 people but were confident less than 80 would come. Well, the first text I got from the event was that over 80 people showed up in the first few minutes! I thank God and you for this. I’m glad that so many of you came out and connected with one another. It makes me very proud to be a part of a community that is committed to one another and what God is doing here. But I’m not just thankful for the number of people who came, but that so many of you are becoming leaders and active participants in the Clayton site and not simply spectators. This demonstrates that God is working in our community and in your lives, which is something I’m very thankful for. Our next “Site Bite” will be May 6 after the 10:45 service. More details will be coming but mark it in your calendars.
As you begin your week, I hope that you make time to stop and reflect on how God is working around and through you. I’m excited to be back with you this Sunday.

Peace,
Matt Fulmer
Clayton Site Pastor- The Gathering

I hope you all are having a good week. I missed many of you last Sunday. I took a post-Easter day off to support my wife as she ran her first marathon. I saw many of you running as well so congratulations to everyone who ran. As I watched, I was reminded of the difference between a spectator and a runner. Watching is fun, but the real reward comes from running the race. I thought about the parallels to our spiritual life (remember, I am always a pastor)! Jesus asks us to be disciples. Discipleship means apprenticeship, an active worship and following of Christ. Running takes a lot more work than watching. Daily training, intentional habits, reprioritizing of time, and sacrifice are all part of running the race. Watching is easier! But only the runners get to experience the transformation, the joy, the highs and lows of the race – and only the runners get the medal! So my reflection question for the week has been, when it comes to Jesus, am I running the race or am I just a spectator? God is not interested in spectators – He asks us to run the race. In light of that, I hope you are ready for an exciting spring at The Gathering, including the beginning of a new series this weekend!

Welcome: I want to welcome those of you who are just beginning to receive this m-Note. I know many of you were here for the first time on Easter Sunday. Thank you so much for worshipping with us. Every Friday, I send out a note to the congregation. It is my way to be in touch with each of you. I share thoughts about our church, devotions for us to consider and preview the upcoming message along with scriptures for you to look at in advance. I also highlight ways to get more involved. I hope you enjoy reading it and most of all, I hope that you will continue to join us for worship. Do not hesitate to email the staff or me if you have any questions. All addresses are on our website.

The Point: This Sunday we are beginning our new post-Easter series, The Point: What it is and how we miss it. I have really enjoyed the research and study that has gone into it and am looking forward to worship. We all ask big questions about our life – what is the purpose, what difference do I make, how will I be remembered? Scripture has a lot to say about these questions and how we so easily can miss the answers. This weekend, I will start with the problem of life’s big questions, and how Jesus offers us a different way to answer them. In preparation, I invite you to read to scriptures. First, read Ecclesiastes 1. This is allegedly King Solomon’s reflection late in life on the futility of trying to figure out life’s meaning. Then read 2 Corinthians 5:17, Jesus’ promise that this futile way of seeing things can be changed. I think this is going to be a really interesting series so I look forward to seeing you and your friends this Sunday. Don’t forget our video online. Share it on Facebook and invite others.

General Conference: As many of you know, I was elected as a delegate from the Missouri Conference to attend the 2012 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. The General Conference is an international body of of nearly 1,000 delegates that meets every four years. Each Annual Conference elects clergy and laity to represent them at this gathering. General Conference is the only body that can set official policy and speak for the United Methodist Church. During General Conference, delegates discuss and vote on petitions and resolutions, worship together, and learn from one another. Seven clergy and seven lay people will be representing Missouri. I am honored to be elected and will leave on Tuesday for Tampa. At 12 days, it is a long conference and many important decisions have to be made. The work that happens at the conference really is critical for the future direction of our church. I ask that you all hold all the delegates and me in your prayers. For those of you interested in hearing what I have to say about it, I will be regularly posting notes to Facebook and tweeting. You can find me on Facebook here or follow me on Twitter @mmiofsky. For more information about General Conference, check out the official website.

Clayton Site: Last night I saw one of our Clayton site worshippers. We had a chance to talk about the excitement and challenges of starting a new community from scratch. It was great to connect and hear about how the site is going. I want all of you who attend Clayton to know that I pray for you daily. It is easy after a couple of months, when the novelty wears off, to wonder why we begin new things! I want you to know that you are making a tremendous difference. I got to meet several new people at Easter that would not be here if it were not for Clayton. Your willingness to step out and do the hard work of starting a new community is what helps the church connect with new people. I hope that you will find ways to connect at Clayton, begin serving, and most importantly, invite new people to join you. I intend to visit the site very soon (in May) and I will look forward to seeing you. If any of you have not yet worshipped at the Clayton site, please considering doing so for this next series. Most of all, know that I am grateful for the work you are doing to create a new community in Clayton.

I am excited about this spring and the ways God will work in each of us. Please continue to reach out and invite others to join you, especially as we begin a new series. See you on Sunday!

Peace,
Matt+

The Easter story begins with fear, something which the disciples felt immensely when Jesus died. This story, one they were not ready to have end, was suddenly canceled, over. That is, until 3 days later when suddenly it wasn’t. Jesus’ resurrection and gift of the Spirit means that stories we thought were done, over are not. They have a next chapter, they can take a new turn, and the ending is still unknown.

DAY OF SERVICE:For our biannual Day Of Service, The Gathering will go out to serve together as a church. Together we can live out a faith that is willing to go to work!

WHO // The Gathering UMC, in cooperation with local organizations such as Kingdom House, Shalom House, Epworth, Operation Brightside, SHED, and YOU, of course!
WHAT // Some of the projects will mean getting dirty, others will be more tame, but all of them will mean serving God in fresh ways.
WHEN // SAT / APRIL 28 / 8AM-1PM
WHERE // Start at the McCausland site at 8:00 AM and then head out to serve throughout the community.
WHY // The work that we do to serve others is one of the ways we show our faith. To find out more, visit the “Serve” page of our website.

To sign up for one of the service projects, click on one of the links below:

OPERATION BRIGHTSIDE // TEAM 1
OPERATION BRIGHTSIDE // TEAM 2
OPERATION BRIGHTSIDE // TEAM 3
SHALOM HOUSE
KINGDOM HOUSE
SHED
G-FORCE KIDS FOR SHALOM HOUSE
G-FORCE KIDS FOR EPWORTH

MAUNDY THURSDAY // 7PM, McCausland Site

This will be a time for us all to gather and celebrate the Church’s first communion together. Bring pillows and blankets with you and recline around the table as Rev. Matt Miofsky explores what it really means to share in this meal together as Christ implores.

GOOD FRIDAY // 7PM, Clayton Site

Gather at the Clayton Site as we approach the cross together. Rev. Linda Gastreich will guide us as we and reflect upon Christ’s work through word, art, and song. Childcare is provided. 


EASTER | LIVE @ THE PAGEANT // 9AM + 10:45AM, The Pageant on Delmar

The Gathering comes together at The Pageant in the U-City Loop to celebrate the new life we all share in Christ’s resurrection!. Offering collected at both services goes to benefit Kingdom House (kingdomhouse.org). Childcare provided for ages 3 and under. Parking available in lot behind venue

easter egg hunts

Invite your friends for the 3RD ANNUAL GATHERING EASTER EGG HUNT on Saturday, March 31 at Deer Creek “Rocket” Park. Registration and crafts begin at 10:30 am. Egg hunting season opens at 11:15. The event is free and for children 5th grade and under. Bring your own basket.



THE GATHERING ADULT EASTER EGG HUNT is Sunday, April 1 at 7:30 pm, same location. Although we’re in the same location as the kids hunt the day before, this is NOT your kid’s Easter egg hunt! Join us for this fun evening of food, music, great prizes and hunting for eggs in the dark. Adults of all ages are welcome.

An Ash Wednesday service will be held on February 22 at 7:00 pm at the McCausland Site. Please join us as we mark the beginning of our Lenten journey. Childcare will be provided. There will also be a ten minute service of the Imposition of Ashes at 7:30 am and noon on February 22 at the Clayton Site.

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We’ve all heard the saying “Money can’t buy you happiness”, but is that really true? What if the way we spend our money really could make us happier? Join us as we look at what scripture says about the connection between wealth, generosity, and joy, and how we can leverage our money towards a better world, and a happier life.

It is not often that I write a special letter to the whole congregation, but this week is different. I could not wait to share this news. We just finished processing our Christmas Eve offering and it totaled over $110,000! That is nearly 50% higher than last year and is an amazing testament to the generosity of our church and our potential to impact others through missions. Just as last year, this offering will be divided between our projects at Kingdom House and safe water projects in Mozambique. Because of some designated giving, about $65,000 will go to fund wells next year in Mozambique and nearly $45,000 will support our Family Center at Kingdom House. You can learn more about the projects by watching this video…

As I said in our newsletter earlier in the week, Christmas Eve was a celebration of “firsts” at The Gathering. The first time we had over 1250 in worship, the first time we worshipped at our new Clayton site, the first time I preached five times in one day, and now the first time we have ever collected over $100,000 in a single day’s worship. I cannot express through words how proud I am of our congregation. By celebrating Christmas differently, our worship of God will result in lives being saved, families finding hope, and kids being nurtured and supported. This is better than a few more gifts under the tree. It is a way of celebrating that is counter-cultural, and worthy of the Jesus we follow, serve and worship. Thank you Gathering. God is using you in powerful ways and I look forward to that impact growing in 2012.

Peace+
Matt Miofsky

I want to thank all of you that volunteered and served at one of the services this Christmas Eve. I know that meant juggling schedules a bit, but I thank you. What is cool is every year the people who serve tell me that volunteering at one of our worship services is one of the most meaningful things they could do on this night. I also want to thank everyone who came to one of our worship services and brought friends and family. It is an honor that The Gathering is a church you want to invite others you love to experience. If any of you are reading this for the first time, I am glad that you worshiped with us. I have been praying for you this week, especially that Christmas Eve may be a turning point in your journey. For all of you, I want to invite you back.

I hope that as 2011 closes, and a new year begins, you will join me for worship regularly. We have a chance, through this church, to create something lasting and meaningful in St. Louis. As we grow, and invite others, our power to shape and bring positive change to the city increases. In the new year, I will begin a series called A Complicated Life: The Story of David. It is about how God used King David for great purposes, despite his flaws and shortcomings. I am confident that God can also use each of us, no matter what baggage we may be carrying. Thank you again for your commitment to our church and I look forward to seeing you in January.

Peace+
Matt Miofsky

•••
The path from here to there is messy. It often doesn’t go quite as planned. Our lives can get like that, sometimes – complicated and screwed-up. We tend to think that that somehow disqualifies us from God’s plan – that God only uses people who have their act together. But God lifts up unlikely people for a greater purpose, even if their flaws make for a messy journey along the way. This was true of King David, a deeply flawed man that God used in amazing ways. Join us as we look at what God did with David’s life, and discover what He can also do with ours.

1. Last Sunday, we had record attendance at The Gathering. 677 people worshipped with us! That number is important. Why? Because it represents people, friends, coworkers, neighbors that are connecting with God through our ministry. Just this Sunday, many of you emailed me notes to let me know how much this Christmas Dismantled series means to you. I hope all of you will continue to make those invitations. It is the simplest way we can make an impact in the life of another. We know that makes parking and logistics a bit tricky as we grow but it is also a sign that the Spirit is moving in our church. The second site, coming in January, will help provide more space so keep inviting your friends to see what is happening at our church.

2. Christmas Eve is only a week and a half away. With a service early in the week and five on Christmas Eve, there will be plenty of space for you and your family. I hope you are making plans to worship with us and participate in our Christmas Eve offering (100% of which will go to missions). Note that the 2 & 11 pm services are at the Clayton site, which is wheelchair accessible. Plenty of parking is available in the library lot next door and the post office lot across the street.

3. Tonight at 6:30 pm at the Clayton site, there will be a meet & greet with Matt Fulmer, the new site pastor for Clayton. He and Matt Miofsky will be there to meet folks and talk a bit about the new site. We invite all who have committed to being part of the site or those just interested to attend.

4. The Gathering has been in the news a lot this past week. Check out our Facebook page to see the interviews and read the stories about our church.

Peace+
Matt Miofsky

1. Will worship be different and who will preach?
Worship at the Clayton site will be the same style as the McCausland site. There will be a live band, a mixture of old hymns and newer music, and communion every week. There will be a dedicated site pastor present weekly for prayers, announcements, communion, membership and baptisms. The site pastor will also be available for pastoral meetings and care. Matt will preach most weeks, live via video from the McCausland site with occasional live preaching from the pastoral staff and site pastor. Oh, and yes, there will still be coffee!

2. Will there be kid’s ministry?
Once again, the kid’s ministry will be the same as the McCausland site. We will have an infant and toddler nursery, and age-appropriate ministry through 5th grade. In 2012, we want to aggressively develop more robust ministries for middle school and high school students that will include youth from both sites.

3. I am really supportive but still want to worship at McCausland, is that bad?
No, that is not bad. While I hope that everyone will consider this opportunity, do not let guilt be the driving factor. We want people to worship at Clayton who are ready for the adventure of starting something new, enjoy being on the ground level, and have a desire to see new people find a meaningful church. If you choose to stay at McCausland, there will be plenty of opportunities to become more involved. We will need more greeters, hospitality people (for coffee and food), and people working in our kid’s ministry. My hope is that wherever you worship, you will consider more involvement.

4. I am just not sure about the screen and watching the sermon.
We understand. It is new and different for most of us. It certainly won’t be for everyone. At the same time, we hope that you will give it a chance. You may be surprised to find that it isn’t as big of a deal as you thought. There will be other tangible benefits to the Clayton site – more space, easier to get to know others and the site pastor, and a chance to be more involved right from the start. Overall, it also is a fiscally important decision. This kind of expansion helps us put more of our money towards people, mission and ministry, and not big new facilities.

Peace+
Matt Miofsky

Throughout the gospels, Jesus often calls the question with his disciples, asking them to demonstrate greater faith, live out their commitments at a higher level, or step out in scary and uncertain ways. “Sell everything and follow me?”, he asks the rich young ruler. “Who do you say that I am?” he asks the disciples. And to Peter he point blankly asks, “Do you really love me?” In these moments, Jesus calls his disciples to make a choice, to articulate their faith and what it means. They easily could have said no, or walked away after being challenged – but they didn’t.

This past Sunday, I challenged our church and asked a risky question. How many of you will commit to worshiping at the Clayton site? We have talked a lot about our second site, why we are doing it, how we think it fits into our vision. But until Sunday, I had not actually called the question by asking you – will you go? You could have said no. You could have walked away. But you didn’t!

I am amazed and overwhelmed to announce that 87 adults made the commitment to worship at the Clayton site! I know some of you were not there or needed more time to think, so I expect that number will grow. Additionally, over 50 adults made the commitment to stay at McCausland but serve in some new way! To say that I am proud and excited wouldn’t even get at it. I give God great thanks for the faith and commitment of this church. If you were one that signed a card, you will hear from one of our leaders this week. If you didn’t fill one out, it isn’t too late.
You can send me an email or do it this Sunday. As we enter this Christmas season, pray for the vision of our church, and all the commitments that were made to follow Christ more fully.

Peace+
Matt Miofsky