The Gathering

Tired. Busy. Drained. Fried. We've all been there. It feels like weekends aren’t enough, vacations don’t help and self-care isn’t working. God didn’t intend for us to live this way. He provides biblical wisdom for going dark and taking time to renew our body, mind, and spirit.

When we think Christmas, we think music. We start the season by listening to non-stop coverage of festive tunes on radio stations, we gather around to listen to carolers who march door to door and we hold our candles high on Christmas Eve. The magic and the meaning of Christmas is found in its melodies. In this series, we will explore the power of Christmas through some of the most popular songs we sing about it. 

Most of us have grown up with a set of beliefs about who or what God is – we may have been taught to believe without question. Now, as adults, we often find ourselves in a season questioning everything we once believed to be true. When we unravel or untether ourselves from what we were taught to believe, we are stepping into the unknown. But there is a freedom in floating that allows God to speak to us and move us toward a more powerful and mature 'construction' of our faith. In this series, we’ll explore the act of deconstruction, talk about its importance, and offer ways of grounding as you move into a faith beyond.

If we are honest we all long for a life of adventure and excitement – a life marked by growth and depth. Instead, our lives and our faith seem far from adventurous and can feel boring, tired, and even predictable. Ensnared by our past, lost in our questions, and perhaps unable to get out of our own way – Jesus invites us to make our mark on the world – to be brave, to surprise even ourselves, and awaken to a world that is more than we imagined.

In December of 2021 many of you committed to being a part of a two-year journey called OPEN. Together, we’ve been praying and dreaming about new ways of introducing people to Jesus, and as you just heard, what we’ve been imagining together is becoming real! The Gathering has always been a church that is creative, flexible, and open to the new things that God is doing, and what’s happening here is really exciting. New generations of people are growing in their faith, and it’s because you have been OPEN to giving generously. Thank you for giving to The Gathering - you’re helping to make these kinds of stories possible!If you are new to The Gathering or you’ve just begun to take part in the Gathering, you can be a part of OPEN, too. Visit Gatheringnow.org/open for more information.

Figuring out who you are is hard. We live in a world where others are constantly labeling us. Our identity is defined by our work, our roles in life, what others tell us about ourselves, and even what we think to ourselves when we look in the mirror. Often, this leads to a distorted self-image. But God has some things to say about who YOU REALLY are, and we think you’ll love what you see. So grab your family and friends and join us.

Jesus said a lot of things. But perhaps no commandment is quite as memorable as these three words, Love Your Enemies. Easy to say, tough to do. In our current culture, we are bombarded daily with people we disagree with. We have to work with people we don’t like. We even have family members we don’t want to be around. But instead of avoiding these people, demonizing them, or sticking to people who think like us, Jesus challenges us to learn to love our enemies. In this series, we will learn how to actually do it.

What is the best possible news you could receive right now? What could be given to you today that would make you happier than anything else in the world? The angel declared that Christmas, the birth of Jesus is that. It is good news of great joy. And it isn’t just for some people - religious people, good people, people with great families - it is for all people. The good news of Christmas is different for each of us, but it is a gift Christ offers to every one of us. This Christmas, discover what Jesus’ good news is for you.