Dear Gathering,
As a parent of three kids, August always marks a shift in seasons. Summertime is still here, but school is around the corner. The heat is wearing on me (especially as I write this), and I am ready for something new. Spiritually, something similar is true. I have been away for a few weeks now, taking a small sabbatical to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God and my family. It was great. I am so glad I did it. Now, I am ready for something new! Collectively, it feels like we are all in that place. It has been a year and a half of COVID, masks, distancing, no masks, vaccinations, and now back to masks. I think we are all ready for something new.
If that is you, then here is some good news. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God is always doing a new thing. The only problem is that sometimes we aren’t looking for it, we aren’t expecting it, so we don’t see it. The past three months have been so promising at The Gathering. As we have returned to in-person worship, I have met so many of you that are new to The Gathering. Even in the past 18 months, God was connecting new people to our church, and I am grateful for it. Now, I am thrilled to announce that we are launching even more worship times beginning this weekend.
Starting Sunday, The Gathering will have two worship services 9 and 10:30am at both our Clayton and McCausland sites. Webster will continue to have one worship service at 10am. This means that we will have more times, more space, more options so that we can safely welcome more people.
Coinciding with the launch of a new service, I will begin a new series called Fire & Brimstone: The Book of Revelation. This book has long fascinated Christians and non-believers alike. It is undoubtedly one of the weirdest books of the Bible. What you may not know, is that it is also one of the most hopeful. With a new series and new times, this is a perfect day to invite a friend who may be interested to join you for worship. You can share the new series with a video here.
Before I let you go, in accordance with the new mask mandate from St. Louis City and County, we will once again be requiring everyone to wear a mask in worship beginning this weekend. We will have masks available at the door in case you forget yours. We are hoping this doesn’t last for long. To accomplish that though, we need more people to get vaccinated. If you have not yet gotten the vaccine, I urge you to do so. The vaccines have proven to be safe and highly effective even against the Delta variant of COVID. There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding the vaccines, so make sure you are consulting reliable sources like your doctor when it comes to the vaccine. I deeply believe that getting vaccinated is not only a responsible and wise choice for your health, but it is a way to love and serve other people, especially the kids and the most vulnerable among us. 100% of The Gathering’s staff is vaccinated, and I am hoping everyone in our church who is eligible will get the vaccine as well.
Thank you so much for being the church that you are. I am encouraged by your notes of support, your commitment to our ministry, and your prayers. I can’t wait to begin a new month of worship, a new series, and new worship times. God is indeed doing a new thing at The Gathering. Don’t miss it! Stay cool, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
As a parent of three kids, August always marks a shift in seasons. Summertime is still here, but school is around the corner. The heat is wearing on me (especially as I write this), and I am ready for something new. Spiritually, something similar is true. I have been away for a few weeks now, taking a small sabbatical to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God and my family. It was great. I am so glad I did it. Now, I am ready for something new! Collectively, it feels like we are all in that place. It has been a year and a half of COVID, masks, distancing, no masks, vaccinations, and now back to masks. I think we are all ready for something new.
If that is you, then here is some good news. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God is always doing a new thing. The only problem is that sometimes we aren’t looking for it, we aren’t expecting it, so we don’t see it. The past three months have been so promising at The Gathering. As we have returned to in-person worship, I have met so many of you that are new to The Gathering. Even in the past 18 months, God was connecting new people to our church, and I am grateful for it. Now, I am thrilled to announce that we are launching even more worship times beginning this weekend.
Starting Sunday, The Gathering will have two worship services 9 and 10:30am at both our Clayton and McCausland sites. Webster will continue to have one worship service at 10am. This means that we will have more times, more space, more options so that we can safely welcome more people.
Coinciding with the launch of a new service, I will begin a new series called Fire & Brimstone: The Book of Revelation. This book has long fascinated Christians and non-believers alike. It is undoubtedly one of the weirdest books of the Bible. What you may not know, is that it is also one of the most hopeful. With a new series and new times, this is a perfect day to invite a friend who may be interested to join you for worship. You can share the new series with a video here.
Before I let you go, in accordance with the new mask mandate from St. Louis City and County, we will once again be requiring everyone to wear a mask in worship beginning this weekend. We will have masks available at the door in case you forget yours. We are hoping this doesn’t last for long. To accomplish that though, we need more people to get vaccinated. If you have not yet gotten the vaccine, I urge you to do so. The vaccines have proven to be safe and highly effective even against the Delta variant of COVID. There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding the vaccines, so make sure you are consulting reliable sources like your doctor when it comes to the vaccine. I deeply believe that getting vaccinated is not only a responsible and wise choice for your health, but it is a way to love and serve other people, especially the kids and the most vulnerable among us. 100% of The Gathering’s staff is vaccinated, and I am hoping everyone in our church who is eligible will get the vaccine as well.
Thank you so much for being the church that you are. I am encouraged by your notes of support, your commitment to our ministry, and your prayers. I can’t wait to begin a new month of worship, a new series, and new worship times. God is indeed doing a new thing at The Gathering. Don’t miss it! Stay cool, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
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2022
January
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March
M-Note 3.1.22Lenten Devotional // Day 1Lenten Devotional // Day 2Luke: The Gospel For Rebels Week 5Lenten Devotional // Day 3Lenten Devotional // Day 4Lenten Devotional // First SundayLenten Devotional // Day 5Lenten Devotional // Day 6Lenten Devotional // Day 7Lenten Devotional // Day 8Lenten Devotional // Day 9Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 1Lenten Devotional // Day 10Some Assembly RequiredLenten Devotional // Second SundayLenten Devotional // Day 11Lenten Devotional // Day 12Lenten Devotional // Day 13Lenten Devotional // Day 14Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 2Lenten Devotional // Day 15Lenten Devotional // Day 16M-Note 3.20.22Lenten Devotional // Third SundayLenten Devotional // Day 17Lenten Devotional // Day 185 Benefits to Embracing Your Uncertainty of GodLenten Devotional // Day 19Lenten Devotional // Day 20M-Note 3.24.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 21Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 3Lenten Devotional // Day 22Lenten Devotional // Fourth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 23Lenten Devotional // Day 24Lenten Devotional // Day 25Lenten Devotional // Day 26
April
Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 4M-Note 4.1.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 273 Implications of God's Humanity on YoursLenten Devotional // Day 28Lenten Devotional // Fifth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 29Lenten Devotional // Day 30Lenten Devotional // Day 31Lenten Devotional // Day 32Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 53 Misunderstandings of Easter that Impact YouLenten Devotional // Day 33Lenten Devotional // Day 34Lenten Devotional // Palm SundayLenten Devotional // Day 35Lenten Devotional // Day 36Lenten Devotional // Day 37M-Note 4.14.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 38 Maundy ThusdayLenten Devotional // Day 39 Good FridayLenten Devotional // Day 40 Holy SaturdayLenten Devotional // EasterMysterious You: How your union with God makes you divineM-Note 4.20.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 14 Ways Embracing Your Sin Serves the WorldM-Note 4.28.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 2
May
3 Reasons You Should Embrace Your WeirdnessM-Note 5.5.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 3Identify Your Purpose and Empower Your FutureM-Note 5.12.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 4Confidently Approach Life as a Second ChanceLearning to Enjoy LIFE by Eliminating DistractionsUncomplicating the “God” Question to Simplify Spirituality
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