June 21st, 2024
by Matt Miofsky
by Matt Miofsky
Last week, I ran into a retired pastor who recognized me (and I confess, I didn’t recognize her). She remembered me because her church and my childhood church would team up for student mission trips each summer. Way back when I was in high school, I went on several of those trips. We talked, swapped a few memories, and talked about what those trips meant to us. At the end, I thanked her for being the kind of adult that invested in youth. I told her that those high school mission trips were a significant part of my call to ministry. I wouldn’t be a pastor if it weren’t for my childhood church investing in, and caring about, students.
This week, both The Gathering high school and middle school students have been in Cleveland and Milwaukee respectively on mission trips.
The high schoolers helped a homeowner prep her house for new siding, worked in a food bank, transported historical documents from one museum to another, built shelving, strolled along Lake Erie, and got to hang out at Cedar Point. The middle schoolers walked in Milwaukee’s Juneteenth parade, cleaned community gardens and parks, visited seniors and special needs respite centers, and spent a night worshipping beside Lake Michigan (and it sounds like a few even dove in!).
The work matters, but it is the relationships that matter more. During this week, they will build relationships with those they are serving, with adults who care about them, and with one another.
I know that our students will come back with stories to share, mishaps that occurred, memorable experiences, profound encounters with other people and meaningful moments that they will never forget. I also know that through all of this, God will speak to them in a new way. It may be through the challenges they overcome, the belonging they feel, or the fun they have. It may be in the adults who invest in them, the people they meet while serving, the new friends they make, or the relationships that get strengthened during the week away. It may be that God shows up in worship, time around a circle sharing, or unstructured conversation at the end of the day. But I am certain God will show up in ways that these students will remember for decades.
When a church invests in young people – it matters. When a church spends time, energy, and resources to invest in the faith and life of students, they remember it. Because of so many of you, The Gathering is a church that is investing in new generations of students. This week’s trips are just a few small examples of the incredible ministry that is happening here in the church, ministry that some of you may not get to see or even know about. Thank you for being the kind of church that cares about this work, and you never know, maybe one of these students will be your next pastor!
Worship has been incredible and I look forward to keeping up the momentum. This weekend in our series Why Do We Do That?, I will be talking about the meaning and purpose behind communion. It will impact the way you experience this part of worship that we do each week. Have a great weekend, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. For many of us, traversing the second half of life and faith can be tricky. How do we talk to our adult children about Jesus once they leave the nest? What happens when we find ourselves single or alone as an older adult? How do we navigate our social groups as friends move or pass away? What is our role in mentoring the next generation of Christians and sustaining the church? I’m going to be digging into these questions at the Second Act breakfast next month, on Tuesday, July 2, at 8:30am at the McCausland Site, and I hope you’ll join me. We’re loosely saying it’s for those 55+, but if you’re in a stage of life that has you wrestling with any of these questions, the morning is for you. You can register here.
This week, both The Gathering high school and middle school students have been in Cleveland and Milwaukee respectively on mission trips.
The high schoolers helped a homeowner prep her house for new siding, worked in a food bank, transported historical documents from one museum to another, built shelving, strolled along Lake Erie, and got to hang out at Cedar Point. The middle schoolers walked in Milwaukee’s Juneteenth parade, cleaned community gardens and parks, visited seniors and special needs respite centers, and spent a night worshipping beside Lake Michigan (and it sounds like a few even dove in!).
The work matters, but it is the relationships that matter more. During this week, they will build relationships with those they are serving, with adults who care about them, and with one another.
I know that our students will come back with stories to share, mishaps that occurred, memorable experiences, profound encounters with other people and meaningful moments that they will never forget. I also know that through all of this, God will speak to them in a new way. It may be through the challenges they overcome, the belonging they feel, or the fun they have. It may be in the adults who invest in them, the people they meet while serving, the new friends they make, or the relationships that get strengthened during the week away. It may be that God shows up in worship, time around a circle sharing, or unstructured conversation at the end of the day. But I am certain God will show up in ways that these students will remember for decades.
When a church invests in young people – it matters. When a church spends time, energy, and resources to invest in the faith and life of students, they remember it. Because of so many of you, The Gathering is a church that is investing in new generations of students. This week’s trips are just a few small examples of the incredible ministry that is happening here in the church, ministry that some of you may not get to see or even know about. Thank you for being the kind of church that cares about this work, and you never know, maybe one of these students will be your next pastor!
Worship has been incredible and I look forward to keeping up the momentum. This weekend in our series Why Do We Do That?, I will be talking about the meaning and purpose behind communion. It will impact the way you experience this part of worship that we do each week. Have a great weekend, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. For many of us, traversing the second half of life and faith can be tricky. How do we talk to our adult children about Jesus once they leave the nest? What happens when we find ourselves single or alone as an older adult? How do we navigate our social groups as friends move or pass away? What is our role in mentoring the next generation of Christians and sustaining the church? I’m going to be digging into these questions at the Second Act breakfast next month, on Tuesday, July 2, at 8:30am at the McCausland Site, and I hope you’ll join me. We’re loosely saying it’s for those 55+, but if you’re in a stage of life that has you wrestling with any of these questions, the morning is for you. You can register here.
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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
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
October
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2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 4Explore - Week 3God 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 GuideSENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23Lent 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
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