Presence is Powerful // M-Note 11.16.24

Recently, I was talking to a person who was working their way through the grief of losing someone they love. We were talking about what has helped them the most and they said, “people just showing up to hang out with me.” It reminded me that presence is powerful.
 
This fall, we have been studying the book of Job at The Gathering. Most of the book is about Job’s friends trying to make him feel better with banal sentiments, insensitive explanations, and occasionally frustrated accusations. Unsurprisingly, none of this helps Job! But the friends weren’t all bad. Before they started trying to fix Job’s grief, the book said that they just sat with Job.
 
They sat with Job on the ground seven days and seven nights, not speaking a word to him, for they saw that he was in excruciating pain. (Job 2.13)
 
The story said that their very presence was a comfort and consolation. Presence is powerful.
 
Here at The Gathering, one of our goals is that you never have to go through something in your life alone. Whether you are going through a tough transition, dealing with grief, anxious about an upcoming surgery, dealing with a divorce, wrestling through an addiction, or just trying to make sense of life, we are here to walk alongside you through things like Wellness Groups and our Care Ministry.
 
Our Care Ministry can connect you to a pastor or a care minister for prayer, conversation, support, or a visit. If you have something happening in your life, and you want to connect quickly with one of our pastors, we have some new ways for you to do it. Download our App and fill out the Request Care form under the CONNECT tab, fill out the same form through our website, or simply call 314.252.8134, and one of our pastors will contact you quickly. Of course you can always still reach out to your site pastor. If you have any questions about Care Ministry, want to connect, or if you are interested in volunteering, reach out to Pastor Tim.
 
This weekend, I will continue our series on Job called Why Do Bad Things Happen? If you want to check out the series, listen, or share a message with someone, you can find them all on our YouTube Channel. If you haven’t done it, take a second to subscribe to our channel and like the sermon. It makes a big difference in helping others to see these messages.
 
This weekend, we are decorating for Christmas after worship at all our sites. Stay and help if you can! You can let us know you if you plan to stay! It is a great time to be back in church and a perfect time to offer an invitation to someone else. Many people want to try church, but do not want to do it alone. So, share an invitation for them to join you. After all, there is power in presence, and not being alone.
 
Peace,
 
Matt