Why Do We Fast? Friday, February 19Deuteronomy 8:2-3, Matthew 6:16-18Fasting, going without food and sometimes without water, is an ancient practice observed the world over. It is used for both religious and nonreligious purposes. The principle of fasting is mentioned about thirty times in the Bible. We inherited the practice from our Jewish siblings. And for most of church history, fasting has be...  Read More

What is Lent?Thursday, February 18Isaiah 43:19I grew up mostly watching Lent from the sidelines. I attended the local Presbyterian church with my family, but in our small town there was a large Catholic church. Many of my friends were a part of the parish, attended weekly fish frys, and gave up something for Lent each year.Giving up chocolate was popular. Some gave up television, though I suspecte...  Read More

Ash WednesdayJoel 2:12-17, Psalm 23I always feel a little self-conscious on Ash Wednesday. In years past I have had ashes in the shape of a cross smudged on my forehead. Typically, I would receive ashes in the morning and then go about my day. Going to work, running errands, last year I even had a doctor’s appointment and a book club meeting.Then someone asks, “so, uh, what do the ashes mean?”You ...  Read More

Next week is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. For some of you, this season means Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday always precedes Ash Wednesday and has religious roots). For St. Louisans, Lent marks the beginning of fish fry season. For others, it is a vaguely familiar time when some people come to work with those weird smudges on their forehead. But for Christians, Ash Wednesday is a time to remem...  Read More

This morning, I met a friend for coffee. Normally, this sort of thing would happen over Zoom, but he is moving away, so this was my last chance to see him and say goodbye. He and his wife have been instrumental to The Gathering from the very beginning, supporting our ministry with their time, energy, wisdom, and money. From the launch of the church 14 years ago, to the beginning of our safe water ...  Read More

Gathering,Writer Annie Dillard once said, “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Considering that the average person spends a third of their adult life at work - some 90,000 hours - your job can in large part define your life. That is why work is such a source of stress, discernment, and struggle. Loving what you do, or finding deep meaning in your work, can feel like an el...  Read More