Three Reasons to Worship This Weekend // M-Note 1.10.2026

There are three big reasons that you will want to be in worship this weekend!

1. We’ll celebrate Christmas Eve. Thanks to all of you that attended Christmas Eve in person or watched online. We had an incredible evening together — with moving music, warm candlelight, and the chance to reflect on coming home to Jesus. This weekend in worship, we’ll celebrate a few highlights from that night and announce the total raised through the Christmas Eve offering to build the Women’s & Children’s Health Center in Mozambique. Trust me, you won’t want to miss hearing this news live!

2. We’re launching our Metro East site (and previewing our West County site)! After months of planning, previewing, and bringing together a community of invested people, we’re launching our brand new Metro East site. God is already at work there, and I hope you’ll help us celebrate, support, and maybe even invite someone who lives nearby. You can join us at 10am at the Dogwood Social House (1206 Central Park Dr. O'Fallon, IL 62269) for the very first official worship service, or support the team from afar with a special blessing at all of our worship services. We will also host another preview service for our West County site at 10am at the Reverie (17089 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63005). This marks the first time ever that all five of our sites will be worshiping together at the same time!

3. We’re starting a new series: Shift Happens. Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. Plans change — jobs shift, health changes, relationships are complicated, dreams get detoured. Which is why we’re starting a new sermon series this new year called Shift Happens. Over the next few weeks we’ll explore what scripture says about what to do when life doesn’t go as planned. If you’ve ever felt blindsided by a turn in life, this series is for you.

I always ask you to invite others to join you at The Gathering. But this week I especially want you to remember that life isn’t easy. Whether it is things happening in our country and world or struggles closer to home, there are a lot of people around you that need some light amidst the darkness. It is always my hope that The Gathering is a community that forms us, sustains us, and equips us to navigate whatever life brings. And we always have room for one more. So please invite someone who could use a place like this, and I will see you Sunday.

Peace,

Matt

P.S. Learning together in groups is a great way to center ourselves when life shifts unexpectedly. CoreGroups will restart for the second semester on Sunday, January 18, so now is the perfect time to find one that’s right for you, especially if you’ve never tried one. And, we have a full slate of Spring Wellness Groups starting the week of February 2, now open for registration.