July 7th, 2023
by Amy Sanders
by Amy Sanders
I’m back! The past few weeks I have been out of the office and not preaching, but this weekend I will be back and starting a new series. I am grateful for some time off, and it was packed with activity. I started the month of June speaking at a conference for pastors in Wisconsin, I took my daughter Carly on some college visits, our family spent time together on a vacation, and I spent about 10 days writing to finish a book project that I have been working on. And yes, I got some down time to relax in there, as well.
As I reenter the office and dig through my email this week, there are two things that I am mindful of. It is a blessing to love your work and to be excited to do it. I love being the pastor of The Gathering. It is a great congregation doing exciting work. I love leading in a place that is constantly changing, growing, and asking new questions about how to best serve God and others. It is a blessing to love your work, and I love mine. Secondly, no matter how much you love your work, intentional breaks from your typical rhythm are healthy and give you fresh perspective on that work. This is true in almost anything we do, including parenting, marriage, jobs, caring for loved ones, etc. Breaking up my typical rhythm gives me fresh perspective, helps me see what I’ve been missing, offers me distance to tackle problems differently, rejuvenates my energy, and stokes my creativity. The disruption of my normal rhythm creates space in which I can grow and gain valuable insight into my life.
No matter what you spend your time doing, I hope that you look for ways to break your normal rhythm – at work, at home, in your relationships, or in the ways that you care for others. It isn’t always easy to get or find the time to do it. So whether it is a day, a weekend, or a whole week, I hope you try it. No matter how much you love (or don’t) the things you do, breaking the normal rhythm will hopefully give you new insight, fresh perspective, and maybe even a new appreciation for what you have in life.
This weekend, I will be starting a new sermon series called #blessed. This is going to be a great time to be in church for two reasons. First, I am going to talk about the power of serving and how God wants to use each of us to make a difference in the lives of others. Secondly, The Gathering is going to be celebrating some local organizations that do incredible work on behalf of God in St. Louis. If you have felt a nudge to get involved in our city or find a way to serve, this is a perfect time to be in church. Additionally, we are going to bless each of these organizations with a gift that I know you will want to be a part of. It is going to be a fun month of worship.
I hope you are having a good summer. Enjoy your weekend, and I can’t wait to see you in worship on Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
As I reenter the office and dig through my email this week, there are two things that I am mindful of. It is a blessing to love your work and to be excited to do it. I love being the pastor of The Gathering. It is a great congregation doing exciting work. I love leading in a place that is constantly changing, growing, and asking new questions about how to best serve God and others. It is a blessing to love your work, and I love mine. Secondly, no matter how much you love your work, intentional breaks from your typical rhythm are healthy and give you fresh perspective on that work. This is true in almost anything we do, including parenting, marriage, jobs, caring for loved ones, etc. Breaking up my typical rhythm gives me fresh perspective, helps me see what I’ve been missing, offers me distance to tackle problems differently, rejuvenates my energy, and stokes my creativity. The disruption of my normal rhythm creates space in which I can grow and gain valuable insight into my life.
No matter what you spend your time doing, I hope that you look for ways to break your normal rhythm – at work, at home, in your relationships, or in the ways that you care for others. It isn’t always easy to get or find the time to do it. So whether it is a day, a weekend, or a whole week, I hope you try it. No matter how much you love (or don’t) the things you do, breaking the normal rhythm will hopefully give you new insight, fresh perspective, and maybe even a new appreciation for what you have in life.
This weekend, I will be starting a new sermon series called #blessed. This is going to be a great time to be in church for two reasons. First, I am going to talk about the power of serving and how God wants to use each of us to make a difference in the lives of others. Secondly, The Gathering is going to be celebrating some local organizations that do incredible work on behalf of God in St. Louis. If you have felt a nudge to get involved in our city or find a way to serve, this is a perfect time to be in church. Additionally, we are going to bless each of these organizations with a gift that I know you will want to be a part of. It is going to be a fun month of worship.
I hope you are having a good summer. Enjoy your weekend, and I can’t wait to see you in worship on Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
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Archive
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
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March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
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Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25Lent Devotional Day 26Lent Devotional Day 27Lent Devotional Day 28Lent Devotional Day 29Lent Devotional Day 30The Power of Easter and Invitation // M-Note 3.24.23Lent Devotional Day 31Who Is Jesus: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 32Lent Devotional Day 33Lent Devotional Day 34Lent Devotional Day 35Lent Devotional Day 36Lent Devotional Day 37
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