Accountability, Not Justice // M-Note 4.23.2021
by Mike DePope on April 23rd, 2021
“This is accountability, not justice” In one form or another, this quote was spoken by many politicians, leaders, and activists following the guilty verdict on Tuesday in the Derek Chauvin trial. The Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison explained by adding, “I would not call today’s verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration”. This quote captures the tension in what hap... Read More
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Something Worth Celebrating // M-Note 4.16.2021
by Mike DePope on April 16th, 2021
April 16, 2021I am a big believer in celebrating wins in our life. We are often moving so fast that we don’t take time to stop, look around, express gratitude, and celebrate what is good. There is a lot to celebrate at The Gathering right now. On Easter, we celebrated Jesus’ victory over death and the new life that it brings. Last week, The Gathering got to experience the beginning of a new season... Read More
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New Beginnings // M-Note 4.10.2021
by Dave Merrill on April 10th, 2021
Easter always has me thinking about beginnings and endings. You’ve heard the now cliché, “when one door closes another one opens”. It may be overused, but it is the essence of Easter. That the death of something can lead to something powerfully new. Jesus put it this way: I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears... Read More
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Good Friday // M-Note 4.2.2021
by Amy Sanders on April 2nd, 2021
God can wring life from even the darkest tomb. It is strange to call a day when Jesus died good. But, today is Good Friday. Why? Because through Jesus’ unjust suffering and death, God began a work of forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption for all of us. Easter stands as the ultimate example of God’s power. Jesus’ resurrection declares to the creation that while death is real, it isn’t final. ... Read More
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Day 38
by Denee Bowers on April 1st, 2021
Thursday, April1Mark 14:12-72I distinctly remember the last carefree meal I had before the heaviness of COVID hit. After an incredible week in Mozambique, our team from The Gathering took a day to process our experiences on the Island of Mozambique. Though we had seen the headlines declaring a global pandemic, the gravity of the situation and its life-changing implications hadn’t yet settled in. T... Read More
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Day 37
by Denee Bowers on March 31st, 2021
Wednesday, March 31Mark 14:3-11We are getting closer to the cross, friends.In 1999 I preached my first sermon. I did not know the full weight nor joy of being a woman in ministry. Today I am honored to serve in the line of women who’ve gone before me. Even, this unnamed woman who anoints Jesus. She is unnamed like too many women in scripture, however she performs a meaningful act. Blessing Jesus ... Read More
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Recent
Time to Tear Down | Lent Devotional Day 27
March 16th, 2026
CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 1 Copy
March 15th, 2026
Feminist Atonement Theory | Lent Devotional Day 26
March 15th, 2026
Christ’s Death Frees Us So His Reconciling Life Can Flow Through Us | Lent Devotional Day 24 Copy
March 14th, 2026
Ready to Receive an Invitation // M-Note 3.14.2026
March 13th, 2026
Archive
2026
January
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 1Three Reasons to Worship This Weekend // M-Note 1.10.2026A Mix of Celebrations and Bittersweet News // M-Note 1.17.2026CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 2CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 3Spread the Word: Online Only Worship on January 25 // M-Note 1.24.2026A Hard Lesson to Learn...Life's Not Always Fair // M-Note 1.31.2026
February
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 4CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 1CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 2Ash Wednesday - The Party's Over | Lent Devotional Day 1Led Into the Wildnerness | Lent Devotional Day 2Take a Step Back to Grow Closer to God // M-Note 2.21.2026Celebrating Lent - An Oxymoron? | Lent Devotional Day 3CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 3Let's Journey With Openness | Lent Devotional Day 4What we Mean by "Penal Substitution" | Lent Devotional Day 5The Cross - Sin and Nearness | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 6The God Who Doesn't Look Away | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 7Worthy of Belonging | Lent Devotional Day 8Confession Without Self-Hatred | Lent Devotional Day 9The Repairer | Lent Devotional Day 10The Lamb of God | Lent Devotional Day 11Why Did Jesus Have to Die? // M-Note 2.28.2026
March
Turning the Lights On | Lent Devotional Day 12CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 1Love That Leads to Change | Lent Devotional Day 13Like Ads for Love | Lent Devotional Day 14Who are You…Really? | Lent Devotional Day 15Nothing Between Us | Lent Devotional Day 16Let It Rip | Lent Devotional Day 17Christ + Nothing | Lent Devotional Day 18An Unjustifiable War // M-Note 3.7.2026CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 2A Queer Atonement | Lent Devotional Day 19In Christ Was Life, the Light For All People | Lent Devotional Day 20Failure and the Invitation To New Imagination | Lent Devotional Day 21Jesus & Queerness: Entertaining Angels | Lent Devotional Day 22The Least of These | Lent Devotional Day 23The Good News For All Creation - and the Strange Wonder of God’s People | Lent Devotional Day 24Ready to Receive an Invitation // M-Note 3.14.2026Christ’s Death Frees Us So His Reconciling Life Can Flow Through Us | Lent Devotional Day 24 CopyCoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 1 CopyFeminist Atonement Theory | Lent Devotional Day 26Time to Tear Down | Lent Devotional Day 27
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