Welcome“Are you ready for Christmas?” I have been asked that question at least three times this week.  And the answer is, “Getting there.” Both question and answer have referenced the cleaning and the decorating and the shopping for the physical celebration, but without any thought given to my spiritual preparation. It is good to have this time to focus on what we have done and still need to do as...  Read More

Even though December 24 is over a week away, Christmas Eve festivities start next week at The Gathering! On Wednesday, December 18, we will have our first early Christmas Eve service for those of you who are heading out of town. It will be the same message and music as Christmas Eve (including candlelit “Silent Night”), just a few days early. It will also include a chance to give to the Christmas ...  Read More

WelcomeHello everyone and welcome to week two of our current series called Advent: Getting Ready for Christmas. In the first week we discussed cleaning our spaces in order to focus our hearts and minds towards peace and, more importantly, on our relationship with God. This week we will be talking about the decorations we use, or that we enjoy, over the holiday season that add depth to this special...  Read More

When I moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University I met a friend named Seren on the first day of class. By the end of class, she invited me and Jess to check out the small United methodist Church she attended. We didn’t have a church yet, so we went with her. The rest was history. We got connected, made great friends, got involved, and I ended up serving on the staff for 2 years. And it all start...  Read More

WelcomeWelcome to the Advent series – Getting Ready for Christmas. We all want Christmas to be special – something more than a series of shopping trips, seasonal music, food, and family gatherings. We want more than a few familiar carols and a nativity scene. But too easily Christmas can come and go and we are left with the thought that we have survived Christmas again. This series seeks to break ...  Read More

Gratitude is like penicillin for the soul. Gratitude is linked to everything from better sleep to lower blood pressure, stronger relationships to better self-esteem. Creating a habit of giving thanks literally and spiritually improves your life. I think that is why Paul writes,Rejoice always. Pray continually. 18 Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  (...  Read More