EXPERIENCE
The Gathering has existed since June, 2022.
But that opening was only a part of the start here in Springfield.
It's clear in the Book of Acts that the first church not only met in the home, but it also met in the temple (Acts 2:46, 5:42). While the primary location for growing in the understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus seemed to be the home, it's clear that there was a commitment to the corporate worship of Jesus as well. In those gatherings, we see evidence that they examined the Scripture (Acts 2:42), heard a sermon on the Scripture (Acts 3:12-26), and shared the stories of what God was doing in people's lives (Acts 15:12). There's also solid evidence that they observed silence and sung together, especially as they tried to follow what the Scriptures they had taught them (silence - Psalm 37:7, Zechariah 2:3; song - Isaiah 42:10, Matthew 26:30). Later on, the Apostle Paul actually commanded that songs be part of a collective worship gathering (see Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16).
These elements (Scripture, sermon, story, silence, and song) should form our collective worship in The Gathering, too.
WHERE?
The Gathering meets weekly on the 12th floor of the LaQuinta Inn and Suites, located at 100 Congress Street in downtown Springfield. We meet at 10am, but gather for morning prayer at 9:30. Coffee is regularly provided (and we will occasionally have some donuts available as well.)
When you enter the hotel, signs will tell you where to go to find the elevator that will take you to the 12th floor. Once on the 12th floor, additional signs will point you to where we're meeting, as well as give you instructions about how to check in your kids. For more on this, see the kids section below.
WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US!
What to expect
SCRIPTURE
We've noticed an undeniable trend: people who do what Scriptures tell us to do have a better life.
This is why we'll talk about the Bible a LOT in our public gathering.
Regardless of how you feel about the Bible, we hope you'll come with an open mind, and prepare to be challenged by the Scriptures.
SONG
Songs are everywhere - our phones, our televisions, our movies...they are a primary means of human expression. Music and song lets us feel like few other things. This is why we sing. God wants us to know Him, and that includes feeling his presence.
No one will ask you to stand up and sing a solo. But we will ask you to sing along, as we sing to a God who's always present.
SILENCE
The world is so...loud, right? Getting even a few seconds of silence seems so hard. Everything seems to be clamoring for our attention someway or another. One of the things we'll always do is try to give God space to speak in the silence (see Psalm 37:7, Zechariah 2:3). We won't sit there for hours on end like a bunch of monks, but we will give God space to speak.
SERMON
One of the primary reasons for a worship gathering that we see in the Scripture was so that the Bible could be explained. It's not that we think you can't read it for yourself and figure it out, but there is something incredible that happens when the Holy Spirit gives insight through a voice speaking the Scripture in a group. The goal isn't to inspire or entertain you, though we don't mind that. What we really want, however, is to speak God's truth and love into your heart so that you can live a life with God that you're proud of.
STORY
An often underutilized part of a worship gathering today is the telling of what God is doing in the lives of the people around us. A quick glance at the early church, and it's not hard to see that people were constantly telling what God was doing in them and around them. At The Gathering, we will regularly utilize our worship gathering to tell the stories of what God is doing right among us. It will not only confirm that God is present, but that he's working.
SACRAMENT
Don't let the word scare you. "Sacrament" is latin, meaning sacred. These days, it's come to mean all the things you've gotta do in a church. But to reclaim the word is to go back to what Jesus did. He embraced only two "sacraments": communion (aka "The Lord's Supper") and baptism. At The Gathering, we'll do both, but not every week. (Communion is offered weekly, but not baptism.)
What about kids?
Kids ministry isn't childcare. It's not entertainment.
It's making young followers of Jesus Christ (and having a blast doing it!!!)
We think kids have a unique capability to learn about Jesus - to love him and live for him.
At The Gathering, kids are asked to remain with their parents for the singing portion of our weekly gathering, after which they can head over to be part of a fun, exciting learning time that parallels what parents/guardians are being taught as well.
Parents are asked to fill out information for our check-in system before a service begins, and they will be asked to present corresponding identification for their child at the end of the gathering.