March 9th, 2024
by Matt Miofsky
by Matt Miofsky
Here is a sobering statistic – in 2022 over 70% of United Methodist Churches had no new baptisms, confirmands, or members. That means there were no new babies being welcomed in, no students getting confirmed, and no new people deciding to get baptized or become members. There are lots of reasons for this - cultural disinterest in religion, declining church participation, reluctance to invite friends, and aging congregations just to name a few.
Against this backdrop, I want to celebrate with you that last Sunday afternoon 160 people gathered at our Webster site to see 20 students get confirmed, and two get baptized. As part of confirmation all of these students committed to be members of The Gathering. These students spent the last couple of months meeting, learning, wrestling with their own faith, and what it means to claim it for themselves. I showed the students a picture of my own confirmation. We talked about belief and doubts, the way Jesus continues to teach us more about our faith over a lifetime, and the importance of knowing that though we may drift from faith, God always is waiting and welcomes us back. It was fun to be with the students, meet their extended families, and be part of them taking a step forward in their own faith.
God is doing something unique in and through this church. I never want us to take that for granted. I hope that you are encouraged by this, and inspired to take a step in your own commitment – to faith, to worship, and to the church. The Gathering is what it is because so many of you are committed to showing up, inviting your friends, volunteering, being generous with your money, and sharing your own excitement for what our church is about. I hope you will continue to do that. Remember that every time you make a decision to be a part of this church, you are helping to create a unique community where others are finding faith for themselves.
I want to thank everyone who is reading The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer as a devotional. All money from book sales this Lent is going to The Gathering’s Literacy Project, along with our entire Easter Offering. If you didn’t get a book or the cost is prohibitive, just ask your site pastor, and they will give you one. This weekend we’re continuing our sermon series Entourage: Characters in Jesus’ Crew. We’re going to meet two lesser known, but fascinating, characters - Simon of Cyrene and Joseph of Arimathea. Their example of serving Jesus even when it was dangerous has a lot to teach us about our own faith. I hope you’ll invite someone to join you.
Have a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. Easter at The Factory is just about three weeks away and I hope you’ve already extended some invitations to friends and family. We also need a lot of volunteers. We’ve been joking that, because we have two service times, you can “Serve One, Sit One!” Simply meaning that you’re free to fully participate in worship during the service at which you’re not serving. So, please consider volunteering.
Against this backdrop, I want to celebrate with you that last Sunday afternoon 160 people gathered at our Webster site to see 20 students get confirmed, and two get baptized. As part of confirmation all of these students committed to be members of The Gathering. These students spent the last couple of months meeting, learning, wrestling with their own faith, and what it means to claim it for themselves. I showed the students a picture of my own confirmation. We talked about belief and doubts, the way Jesus continues to teach us more about our faith over a lifetime, and the importance of knowing that though we may drift from faith, God always is waiting and welcomes us back. It was fun to be with the students, meet their extended families, and be part of them taking a step forward in their own faith.
God is doing something unique in and through this church. I never want us to take that for granted. I hope that you are encouraged by this, and inspired to take a step in your own commitment – to faith, to worship, and to the church. The Gathering is what it is because so many of you are committed to showing up, inviting your friends, volunteering, being generous with your money, and sharing your own excitement for what our church is about. I hope you will continue to do that. Remember that every time you make a decision to be a part of this church, you are helping to create a unique community where others are finding faith for themselves.
I want to thank everyone who is reading The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer as a devotional. All money from book sales this Lent is going to The Gathering’s Literacy Project, along with our entire Easter Offering. If you didn’t get a book or the cost is prohibitive, just ask your site pastor, and they will give you one. This weekend we’re continuing our sermon series Entourage: Characters in Jesus’ Crew. We’re going to meet two lesser known, but fascinating, characters - Simon of Cyrene and Joseph of Arimathea. Their example of serving Jesus even when it was dangerous has a lot to teach us about our own faith. I hope you’ll invite someone to join you.
Have a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. Easter at The Factory is just about three weeks away and I hope you’ve already extended some invitations to friends and family. We also need a lot of volunteers. We’ve been joking that, because we have two service times, you can “Serve One, Sit One!” Simply meaning that you’re free to fully participate in worship during the service at which you’re not serving. So, please consider volunteering.
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Archive
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
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25Lent Devotional Day 26Lent Devotional Day 27Lent Devotional Day 28Lent Devotional Day 29Lent Devotional Day 30The Power of Easter and Invitation // M-Note 3.24.23Lent Devotional Day 31Who Is Jesus: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 32Lent Devotional Day 33Lent Devotional Day 34Lent Devotional Day 35Lent Devotional Day 36Lent Devotional Day 37You Can't Miss This Part // M-Note 4.1.23Lent Devotional Day 38
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