August 23rd, 2024
by Matt Miofsky
by Matt Miofsky
This July was a busy one for my family. I took a couple of weeks off to spend time with my family before we moved Carly into her dorm last weekend for her freshman year in college. This meant that while I got to worship online, I was not present for in-person worship for three weeks in a row. For me, this is rare! I grew up in a family that went to church and have worked in churches as a pastor since I was 22 years old, so weekly worship is part of the rhythm of my life. And yet, I will admit, after taking just three weeks off, it was a little hard to get up for church last Sunday!
Weekly worship is the most basic of Christian practices. And yet, like most practices, it is something that is so hard to establish and so easy to fall out of the habit of doing. Many of us want worship to be a priority in our life, but life gets in the way. Kids activities, sleeping-in, brunch, out of town trips, and much needed down time all work against prioritizing weekly worship in our lives. I get it. And yet, my parents instilling in me the rhythm of weekly worship has been the greatest gift in my spiritual life.
This weekend is going to be an important one at The Gathering. I am asking a favor of all of you that call The Gathering your church -- please be in worship this Sunday. If you live in the St. Louis area, come to one of our three sites in person. If you live out of the area, or are traveling, please worship online. We are going to finish our series Faith in Practice: How to Follow Jesus by talking about the gift of weekly worship.
I hope that this fall is a season where we commit or recommit to making worship part of our weekly rhythm of life. If you have never really made church a priority, maybe this is a time to start it. For all of us who have drifted from this practice, there is never a better time than now to make it part of our life again. It is going to be an important day for The Gathering, so I hope you will be there.
Have a great weekend, and I will see you in church.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. Our CoreGroups and Wellness Groups are starting soon, and now is the time to sign up. I hope all of you will be in a Group (or Groups) this Fall. Finding one is as easy as checking out the App or website, and searching based on the day, type, or area of town you prefer, then clicking the "Request to Join" button. However, if that feels overwhelming, stop by the Groups Launch Party THIS SUNDAY at the McCausland Site to meet some leaders face to face, ask questions, and get personalized help finding a Group that is right for you.
Weekly worship is the most basic of Christian practices. And yet, like most practices, it is something that is so hard to establish and so easy to fall out of the habit of doing. Many of us want worship to be a priority in our life, but life gets in the way. Kids activities, sleeping-in, brunch, out of town trips, and much needed down time all work against prioritizing weekly worship in our lives. I get it. And yet, my parents instilling in me the rhythm of weekly worship has been the greatest gift in my spiritual life.
This weekend is going to be an important one at The Gathering. I am asking a favor of all of you that call The Gathering your church -- please be in worship this Sunday. If you live in the St. Louis area, come to one of our three sites in person. If you live out of the area, or are traveling, please worship online. We are going to finish our series Faith in Practice: How to Follow Jesus by talking about the gift of weekly worship.
I hope that this fall is a season where we commit or recommit to making worship part of our weekly rhythm of life. If you have never really made church a priority, maybe this is a time to start it. For all of us who have drifted from this practice, there is never a better time than now to make it part of our life again. It is going to be an important day for The Gathering, so I hope you will be there.
Have a great weekend, and I will see you in church.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. Our CoreGroups and Wellness Groups are starting soon, and now is the time to sign up. I hope all of you will be in a Group (or Groups) this Fall. Finding one is as easy as checking out the App or website, and searching based on the day, type, or area of town you prefer, then clicking the "Request to Join" button. However, if that feels overwhelming, stop by the Groups Launch Party THIS SUNDAY at the McCausland Site to meet some leaders face to face, ask questions, and get personalized help finding a Group that is right for you.
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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
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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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