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 frien...  Read More

If you haven’t been to the Clayton site lately, there is A LOT of exciting stuff happening. As one church that meets in three locations – no matter which site you attend – I want to celebrate each of our sites together, especially when good things are happening.Just recently, Ellie Sanazaro joined the Clayton team as the new Gathering Kids Site Leader! She and her family have been attending The Ga...  Read More

Written by Parker Patton and Dan Hutti WelcomeThis week during our sermon series Entourage, we will continue to explore the stories of the people who surrounded Jesus during his final days before the crucifixion. We now focus on one of the most infamous characters in the Bible, and certainly the most infamous of the disciples: Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus. Opening PrayerHey God, than...  Read More

CoreGroup Guide | Entourage - Week OneWritten by Dan Hutti and Parker PattonWelcomeThis sermon series focuses on key people in Jesus' entourage. None of the people discussed in this sermon series are perfect, but they can all teach us something and help us in our pursuit of Jesus. This week we will focus on Mary and Martha, how they served Jesus, and what we can learn from their relationship with ...  Read More

This week I got to travel to be with pastors from some of the leading United Methodist Churches from around the country. I had the opportunity to speak to the group, learn from so many others, and hang out with creative and innovative leaders. It was good for my soul. Ministry can be isolating work and it has always been important for me to surround myself with people that I can learn from. I thin...  Read More

Part of our work here at the church is to do funeral services. There is something sobering and powerful about standing up and offering words to celebrate someone’s life. After every funeral I do, I can’t help but think, “What will they say about me?” That might sound strange, but I think it is a question we all wonder about. What will people remember about you? What will they say when they gather ...  Read More