The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10
by Charity Goodwin on March 14th, 2025
Melancholy, a sculpture created by Albert Gyorgy, portrays the void that grief leaves us with. The sculpture depicts a figure made of copper sitting on a bench slumped over, with a giant hole in the center of it. This hole represents the massive void that we all feel when we lose someone dear to us, and many people have expressed their appreciation for this sculpture for it portraying the exact em... Read More
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Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9
by Laura Forster-Reuther on March 13th, 2025
In November of 2022 we lost our oldest son Jakob at the young age of 28. He was a beautiful light in this world. He had disabilities and despite that was the happiest kid! When he died, I knew that I wanted to honor him with a tattoo. This is so special to me because I believe that butterflies and cardinals signify that your loved one is near. Jakob’s siblings, Emily & Lukas wanted the song “I Mus... Read More
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Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8
by Charity Goodwin on March 12th, 2025
Tombstones // Jacob Lawrence From: https://whitney.org/collection/works/1192 Characteristic of Jacob Lawrence’s work in the 1940s are subjects drawn from the streets and interiors of Harlem. Although he believed that you cannot “tell a story in a single painting,” Lawrence occasionally worked outside the series structure for which he is best known. In uninflected areas of bold color, Tombstones pi... Read More
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Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7
by Gabriel Rosario on March 11th, 2025
A painting by the Gabriel Rosario (son of Pastor Charity Goodwin). This painting was about shadows and light and created by Gabriel Rosario, 13 years old. His the son of Pastor Charity and is on the autism spectrum with emerging language, yet his art speaks. Perhaps grief is similar to lurking in the shadows. John 11: 17-3717 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb f... Read More
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When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6
by Jenny Huffman on March 10th, 2025
A water color painting by the daughter of Jenny Huffman. My daughter experienced a lot of medical trauma when she was younger. Eventually we started seeing a therapist together to work through some of the Big Feelings her body held from that time, even though her mind could not remember. This is a water color painting she made in therapy when she was 8 years old. On this particular day the Sadness... Read More
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Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5
by Adam Baker on March 9th, 2025
A drawing from Pastor Adam Baker on the sorrow of Jesus. Jesus wept because Jesus mourned.When his dear friend died and he arrived too late to stop it, Jesus’ tears flowed freely, joining those of Lazarus’ sisters and other friends. Although he would be known as ‘the water of life,’ Jesus still experienced death as any other human being often does: starkly, with the weight of grief and loss weighi... Read More
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Recent
An Unexpected Gift of Spring | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 29
April 2nd, 2025
Sometimes Joy is Simply Doing Your Best | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 28
April 1st, 2025
Everlasting Joy Sealed in Your Heart | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 27
March 31st, 2025
Visio Divina | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 26
March 30th, 2025
Spring Forward in Faith // M-Note 3.29.25
March 29th, 2025
Archive
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
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
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
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
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4