People try a church because someone invites them. People come back because they like worship. People stay because of relationships. And relationships happen when we get into a group. Most of us know this. It is easy to come to worship and leave without really meeting other people. That is one of the reasons why we urge people to join a CoreGroup. Groups are where we make friends. Groups are where ...  Read More

Part of The Gathering’s commitment is to influence the larger United Methodist Church. I am so grateful that I get to serve the greater church through teaching, preaching, and writing. I especially love working with, and helping to develop, younger pastors. Two days ago, I left for England where along with Pastor Adam Hamilton from Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, I get to help lead a gr...  Read More

I grew up in a small United Methodist Church in Washington, MO. As was the tradition in a lot of churches, when I was in 4th grade my friends and I were called up to the front of the church and given our very own adult Bible. Inside we were asked to write our name as the pastor told us about all the benefits of reading it. I went home that day, stuck the book on a shelf, and didn’t think much abou...  Read More

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Why don’t they get it?”—whether “they” are your parents, your kids, your coworkers, or the people sitting across the aisle at church?You're not alone.More and more, it feels like the generations are speaking different languages. One group laments that, "nobody goes to church anymore," while another wonders if the church even cares about the questions they’r...  Read More

Last weekend, I arrived at The Gathering’s McCausland site early to run through the worship. Afterwards, all the people serving at the 9am service gather in a circle to pray. We start by celebrating people who are serving for the first time and sharing where we have seen God this past week. That is when I heard this story: David sings in the band at McCausland and recently moved to a new neighborh...  Read More

Gathering,In June, The Gathering celebrated in worship four non-profit mission organizations that we support. In a culture that is increasingly self-focused and self-centered, Jesus’ call for his followers to serve and give is radical and significant. At The Gathering, we want to be that kind of community in a visible way. Every week last month, we highlighted the work of a St. Louis non-profit or...  Read More