January 12th, 2022
by Mike DePope
by Mike DePope
Celebrating the Generosity of our Christmas Eve Offering
By Matt Miofsky

Seeing is believing. I think most of us carry around this idea. It is hard to believe in something you can’t quite see or that you don’t have evidence for. The church is sometimes hard to believe in. We literally see churches on every corner, but people struggle to see the church really living into its call. We want to believe the church is a community that welcomes all people, is generous to those outside its walls, is active in the lives of people, and is a voice of hope and good news. Too often the church is experienced as close-minded, judgmental, hypocritical, or self-centered.
At The Gathering, we began a tradition over a decade ago to commit 100% of our Christmas Eve offering (the largest of the year) to dig wells for clean water in Mozambique. The idea is simple. We want to be a church that really lives into its calling. A place that is generous, that works outside its walls, that is committed to the good of the larger community and world (and not merely its own institutional survival). That is who we strive to be.
But, seeing is believing. It is one thing to say that, but it is another thing to actually do it. This Christmas, we once again committed to this practice and the results were miraculous. The Christmas Eve offering was over $343,000, shattering a record here at the church (for context, prior to the pandemic two years ago, our offering was $275,000). All of this money will fund wells for clean water in Mozambique. We estimate that we will be able to dig at least 20 wells with this money (many of them in refugee camps), impacting the lives of about 150,000 people. It is truly a gift that will make a difference, both in our lives and in the lives of our friends in Mozambique.
I want to thank all of you that participated in the offering. You give me hope, you encourage me, and you keep me pressing on in believing that the church can be what we say it should be. In this difficult time with resurging COVID, it is hard to sometimes see the church at work. Many of us are worshiping online, it is harder to gather with others in groups, and certain activities are postponed or modified. Yet, this offering reminds me that the church is not only alive but thriving, growing, and continuing to respond to the work of God in the world. The offering is a sign that Jesus is alive and at work, even when it is hard to see. So Gathering, thank you – for your generosity, your commitment to the church, and for hanging on in the midst of this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who worshiped with us on Christmas Eve in person or online. Most of all, thank you for helping me and so many others see the church. I couldn't be prouder or more honored to be your pastor.
Peace,
At The Gathering, we began a tradition over a decade ago to commit 100% of our Christmas Eve offering (the largest of the year) to dig wells for clean water in Mozambique. The idea is simple. We want to be a church that really lives into its calling. A place that is generous, that works outside its walls, that is committed to the good of the larger community and world (and not merely its own institutional survival). That is who we strive to be.
But, seeing is believing. It is one thing to say that, but it is another thing to actually do it. This Christmas, we once again committed to this practice and the results were miraculous. The Christmas Eve offering was over $343,000, shattering a record here at the church (for context, prior to the pandemic two years ago, our offering was $275,000). All of this money will fund wells for clean water in Mozambique. We estimate that we will be able to dig at least 20 wells with this money (many of them in refugee camps), impacting the lives of about 150,000 people. It is truly a gift that will make a difference, both in our lives and in the lives of our friends in Mozambique.
I want to thank all of you that participated in the offering. You give me hope, you encourage me, and you keep me pressing on in believing that the church can be what we say it should be. In this difficult time with resurging COVID, it is hard to sometimes see the church at work. Many of us are worshiping online, it is harder to gather with others in groups, and certain activities are postponed or modified. Yet, this offering reminds me that the church is not only alive but thriving, growing, and continuing to respond to the work of God in the world. The offering is a sign that Jesus is alive and at work, even when it is hard to see. So Gathering, thank you – for your generosity, your commitment to the church, and for hanging on in the midst of this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who worshiped with us on Christmas Eve in person or online. Most of all, thank you for helping me and so many others see the church. I couldn't be prouder or more honored to be your pastor.
Peace,

P.S. Last week, I started a new series, Loving People You Don’t Like. If you missed part 1, you can listen to it below. Join me this weekend in person or online as I continue talking about how we deal with difficult people in our life.
Posted in M-Note
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12The Loneliness of Fear | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 13Not Through With You Yet | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 14Clinging to Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 15Bring It To The King | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 16Pray When Unsteady | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 17Courage to Stand for Faith | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 18Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 3A Holy Rage | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 19Focus on What is Holy | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 20Fast for Justice and Kindness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 21The World is Harsh and Beautiful | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 22I Feel Sorry for Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 23Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 4i flipped a table once | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 24Ain’t Got Nothin’ | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 25Spring Forward in Faith // M-Note 3.29.25Visio Divina | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 26Everlasting Joy Sealed in Your Heart | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 27
April
Sometimes Joy is Simply Doing Your Best | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 28An Unexpected Gift of Spring | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 29When Joy Flows Freely | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 30Easter Challenge // M-Note 4.5.25Joy Even When It Rains | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 31Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 5Joy Entwined with Loss | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 32When Betrayal is Part of the Plan | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 33Healing From Disappointment | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 34Betraying Others is Betraying Yourself | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 35A Sarcastic Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 36Have Compassion for Yourself | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 37Another Easter Challenge // M-Note 4.12.25A Disappointing Disciple | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 38When We Disappoint Others | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 39Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 6The Belief of Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 40The Value of Praise | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 41Through the Eyes of Those Who Knew Him | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 42Feeling Called Out | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 43Where Was Judas? | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Maundy ThursdayEaster Discussion GuideEasterSTL @The Factory Pro-Tips // M-Note 4.18.25Today is Not the End of the Story | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Good FridayThe Burning Pain of Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Holy SaturdayHe is Risen | 2025 Lenten Devotional | EasterMuch to Celebrate Post-Easter // M-Note 4.26.25CoreGroup Guide | We Just Click - Part 1
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
No Comments