Gather Church

06/02/2026

Devotion - Morality and Power

We all want to live in a flourishing society, where kindness, compassion, and justice are the norm. We want to be people who seek the highest good for one another, who know how to love well, and we want others to do the same. We often assume that everyone sees good and bad, right and wrong, the same way we do and we are shocked when we come across people who are working from a different set of values than we are.

Morality is the set of standards we use to decide if something is good or bad, right or wrong. These standards are both personal and cultural. Most people see particular behaviors as inherently right or good, or inherently wrong or bad. If we could all agree on those behaviors and agree to engage in the good ones and avoid the bad ones, imagine what kind of society we would have.

Unfortunately, morality often is discarded in favor of power. Many people will do whatever they feel they have to do to obtain and maintain power. The idea that what is best for all of us should take precedence over what is best for me falls by the wayside when people gain power that benefits themselves. We don’t have to look far to see the corruption and abuses of power that come when morality takes a backseat.

This is not a new problem. Throughout the Old Testament, we see kings who fail to obey the most basic command to care for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. We see Herod, who feels so threatened by the birth of a potential king that he orders the slaughter of baby boys. We see king Ahaz who engages with one enemy to defeat another enemy rather than relying on God to save him and his people. His way is unsuccessful in the end. Even from the beginning, we see Adam and Eve going against what they know to be good and right in order to gain power for themselves, and we see one of their children killing the other one for the sake of his own success.

This battle between morality and power is the battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world, within us. Living in the kingdom of God means living in the power of love, grace, mercy, and justice. Living in the kingdom of this world means living in the power of wealth, domination, corruption, and empire.

It may seem right to us to try to defeat power with more power, but that is not the way of Jesus. Jesus defeated power with humility, with mercy, and with justice. He did not try to overpower the powerful. Instead, he pointed out what is good and right and called people to follow him in his way rather than in the way of empire.

We are still called to lives of humility and mercy and justice, lives that show the love of God and what it means to empower people from below rather than lording power from above. This is not the obvious path through our world today, but it is the right one.

Prayer - God, sometimes I look around and I can’t help but feel powerless. I want to do what is good and right, always, but it feels so small and so insignificant sometimes. Remind me that nothing done in your name and in your way is ever insignificant. Continue to inspire me to do what is right, loving, and just, even in the face of the opposite. Amen.

05/31/2026

5-30-26 service

05/31/2026

Worship Service 5/30/26

05/29/2026

Devotion - Old and New

Most people, at some point in their lives, have had a favorite piece of clothing or pair of shoes. These favorites often become threadbare or stretched out or full of holes because they are worn so often, and they are worn so often because they are comfortable. When we want to be comfortable, we put on things that are familiar, things that fit us just right.

These clothes and shoes that are so loved can become so overused that they no longer fit their purpose. When the tops of the shoes disconnect from the soles or the seams on the pants separate or the holes in the sweatshirt become larger than the cloth that is left, it is time to retire the item. This often requires prompting from someone else who either suggests it be thrown away, or who throws it away without saying anything.

Things that are old might be comfortable, but sometimes it can be harmful to stick to the old. As the world changes, people need to be willing to change as well, when the change is for the better. Old prejudices, old biases, old perspectives, and old ways need to be abandoned when they are doing more harm than good. There was a time when many in our country were turning from the old ways of racism, sexism, and homophobia toward new ways of equality and valuing each individual. These ways of the past were recognized as contrary to the way of Christ and many people were working to recognize their own biases and outdated perspectives.

Jesus told a parable about old wineskins and new wine. He said that no one puts new wine into old wine skins because the wineskins will burst. As he said this, he was looking at the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. These religious people believed in the old ways and believed everyone should follow the old ways. They were focused on rules and laws rather than justice and mercy. Jesus came to bring new wine, the way of the kingdom of God. This way of grace and mercy and justice did not fit the ways of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.

The law said not to work on the Sabbath, but grace says to do good every day. As Jesus was healing on the Sabbath, breaking the laws of the old way, he was pointing out how the old way was hurting people rather than helping them. The Pharisees would not accept the new wine of Jesus into their old wineskins of law.

Think about your comfort today. Where are you comfortable with the old ways? Are the old ways hurting people or helping them? If Jesus lived your life, what way would he choose? The new way is not always better than the old way, so discernment is required. Ask for discernment and trust that God will help you.

Prayer - God, I like to be comfortable. I like to do things the way I’ve always done them because that means things are predictable. But it doesn’t always mean they are right. Convict me and show me where my old ways are harmful to myself or others. Invite me into something new and give me the courage to step out of what is comfortable. I want to follow you, even into my own discomfort. Amen.

05/26/2026

Devotion - W**ds

Spring is the time for gardening, which means spring is the time for w**d removal. Some w**ds are easy to pull up because they don’t have long roots and probably haven’t been there very long. Other w**ds are much more difficult because they have been there for a long time or there are many of them clustered together. Pulling w**ds like this is labor intensive and time-consuming, so many people opt for one of two techniques: w**d eater or w**d spray.

Those who use a w**d eater are more concerned with appearances than with getting rid of the w**ds themselves. The goal is to get rid of the unsightly things, not to keep them away. The job done by a w**d eater can look good at the end of the day, but the w**ds will grow back, sometimes more prolific and more difficult to remove.

W**d spray seems to make no difference whatsoever in the moment. It takes time for the appearance of the w**ds to change and for them to disappear altogether. Waiting can be difficult for those who just want their yard to look good. Ultimately, however, the w**d spray will finish the job of killing the w**d to the root so it will stay gone, or at least that is the hope.

Anyone with a lawn or a garden has experienced actual w**ds and has tried one or more methods to get rid of them. Every one of us experiences our own metaphorical w**ds on a regular basis.

In the gardens of our souls, there are w**ds. These are traits or characteristics or behaviors that are not in keeping with the way of Jesus. When we take the time to examine our gardens, we may find w**ds of anger, pride, jealousy, greed, or hate, to name a few. These w**ds grow in silence, and the more they are fed, expressed by us and rewarded in some way, the more they grow.

Some people work very hard to hide their w**ds from view, using a metaphorical w**d eater to cut them down, so no one will see them. This method requires becoming aware of the w**ds and then using the power of self-control to keep them hidden. Self-control is good, but no one has enough self-control to keep the w**ds hidden forever. When anger is controlled by sheer force of will, it comes out in some other way at the wrong time and toward the wrong person. This is also true for w**ds like jealousy and hate. It is impossible for us in our own power to control the w**ds in our garden.

Thankfully, we have a gracious God who has given us a way to deal with those w**ds. The Holy Spirit within us not only shows us where the w**ds are but helps us to travel clear to their root and works with us to make them go away. The goodness in us cannot grow when it is choked by the w**ds of pride or anger or greed or hate or jealousy. We need help, power beyond our own, to get rid of what is holding us back. When we allow the Holy Spirit to transform the gardens of our souls, to literally root out the w**ds within them, we become flourishing people. This process takes time and is difficult for those who are impatient, but worth it to those who wait.

Ask God to show you the w**ds in your own garden today. It can be difficult to see what we do not want to see and to commit to getting rid of what we find. Know that God is patient and the Holy Spirit is thorough. Be willing to wait because the best is yet to come.

Prayer - Holy Spirit, sometimes I’m afraid to look in the garden of my soul because I know it has been neglected and there will be w**ds. I also know that you are gentle and kind and you only show me what I am ready to see. Take me into my garden today and show me what we need to root out together. I trust you to be the gardener and I will follow where you lead. I’m ready to be transformed and to grow. Amen.

05/24/2026

5/23/2026 service

05/22/2026

Devotion - Struggles

Many people are struggling right now. The fact that people struggle isn’t new, but the number of people who are struggling and the struggles themselves seem more than at most other times. People are certainly struggling financially, unable to make ends meet with rising prices. People are also struggling physically with bodies that don’t do what they used to do, or that are battling a disease. These are both very real struggles for many people, but the struggle that seems to be most pervasive, but least recognized, is the internal struggle to find hope, belonging, and significance.

We all need hope. It is the thing that pulls us forward when it would be easier to just stay where we are. Hope is scary sometimes, because we know that putting our hope in something risks being disappointed. Hope is hard to find in a world that focuses on what is wrong and not on what could be right. When we lose hope, we lose ourselves and our desire to try to make things better for us as individuals and for the greater community.

In addition to hope, we all need to belong. Unfortunately, belonging is such a strong need in us that we can stay with abusers, join cults, and attack other people who don’t believe our way just to feel a sense of belonging. Our desire to belong can override our rational thought processes and leave us in a terrible situation. In the good sense, our need to belong can bring us together in ways that can meet that need and also meet needs beyond what any one of us could do alone.

Deep down, each of us also desires to be significant. Significance comes in a variety of ways and does not always mean being wealthy or powerful or famous. We want to know that our life matters to someone. We want to know that our words and actions make a difference. We want to know that we have a place in the life of someone else.

With so many people struggling to find hope and belonging and significance, it can seem overwhelming when we look at individuals and see how many there are. The best thing we can do to help these struggling folks is to share what we have. If you are hopeful right now, share that hope with one another and hold hope for those who can’t find it today. If you know you belong, bring others in. Find other people who need to belong and bring them in to belonging, not because they follow a particular leader or ideology or program, but because they are fellow humans created by God who draws everyone in. And for significance, tell the people in your life that they are significant to you. Be an encourager. Be appreciative. Recognize the ways your life is better because of other people and then share those ways with those people.

Be a bringer of light to a world of struggle.

Prayer - God, as people often say, the struggle is real. This is a difficult time, and sometimes it’s hard to see the light in the darkness of my own struggles. Lift my eyes to you, so I can see where my hope comes from, where my help comes from, where my strength comes from. Lead me to people who will hold hope for me and show me that I belong. Help me to remember to encourage and lift up the people in my life who make my life better, in so many ways. Thank you for giving me the strength to persevere in times of struggle, and the assurance that things do not have to stay this way. Amen.

05/19/2026

Devotion - See

When interacting with one another, there is something that holds true for all of us. We most often see what we are looking for.

This can be a positive thing if we choose to look for the good in other people. When we commit ourselves to seeing what is good and praiseworthy in another person, we set ourselves the task of finding what we expect to see. This searching for the good in other people lifts our eyes away from things that are frustrating or disappointing to us, and instead puts them on what is right and true.

The reverse is also true. When we look for flaws or things that frustrate us, we see them. We spend our time focused on the negative aspects of the other person, or at least the aspects that seem negative to us. Unfortunately, this colors the entire relationship and makes it more difficult to experience genuine love for that person.

We all have people in our lives who make it easy to see the good in them. These people are compassionate, kind, empathetic, and gracious. They bring joy, peace, and comfort to us. They often remind us of the best parts of ourselves, or at least of the people we aspire to be.

However, there are other people in our lives who are difficult to see in that way. These people may challenge us in ways that are difficult. They might be on the opposite side of an issue or a situation or a relationship. They could even be actively working against the thing we are actively working for. For these people, we need special vision, the kind of vision that only comes from a heart that has been renewed by the Holy Spirit. Only God can do what seems impossible for us, but God CAN do what seems impossible for us.

Is there someone who is difficult for you to see? If so, picture that person in your mind and ask God to show you what is good. There is good in all people, and sometimes we need to be shown what it is. Look for the good, actively look for it in everyone you see, no matter how you feel about them. The more you practice looking for the good, the more of it you will see.

Prayer - Gracious and merciful God, I’m sorry for judging people as good or bad based on what I see. Forgive me for doing to others what you would never do to me. Cultivate in me a desire to see what is good in every person and to celebrate that goodness. Help me to grow and to mature so that I practice looking for the good every day. I want to see people the way you see them. Open my eyes. Amen.

05/17/2026

Saturday Service
May 16th, 2026

05/15/2026

Devotion - Humility

In any list of characteristics of a leader, humility should be at the top. People who lead well put others above themselves and are willing to keep an open mind. Humility, when practiced regularly, leads to a humble character.

It doesn’t take much looking to realize that many of the leaders in our world and in our own country do not practice humility and often see humility as a weakness. The opposite of humility is pride and prideful people with power are dangerous. Pride drives us to operate out of our base instincts, me and mind over you and yours. Pride turns everything into an opportunity to exploit and power gives permission. Prideful leaders divide people and can very easily crush those whom they feel are less deserving.

Humble leaders lead from the middle in the sense that they are in touch with the wants and needs of the people they are leading. They are servants who seek the good of those around them before the good of themselves alone. Humble leaders are self-aware and regularly examine themselves to root out pride and the lust for power. And humble leaders hold their ideas and beliefs loosely, allowing others to speak into them before using them to make decisions.

Herod the Great exemplified a prideful leader. He had grand building projects, he levied incredibly high taxes on the people, and he covered everything in gold. He was corrupt, and he encouraged corruption in those around him. When he heard that a king had been born, he had baby boys killed, so no one would threaten his throne. Herod operated on pride and fear.

The antithesis of Herod is Jesus. He was declared to be a king at his birth, and while he may not have known that he was God during his lifetime, he certainly had to have known the Spirit was with him. The demons knew who he was and called him the Son of God long before any people did. He performed miracles and healings and people flocked to him. Jesus had tremendous power, yet he used it for the sake of the poor and the oppressed and the persecuted, those who suffered under men like Herod.

In the gospel of John, at what we call the Last Supper, Jesus takes off his robe, wraps a towel around his waist, and washes the feet of each disciple. By that time, he knew what was coming, though he didn’t necessarily know the details or the extent of his future suffering. Instead of hiding or avoiding what would be painful, which is the tendency of prideful people, he served his disciples in the humblest way possible. He prepared them for what was coming and encouraged them to live humbly, doing for others what Jesus had done for them.

In a society that worships power and values pride, how do we practice humility? The same way Jesus did. Wrap a metaphorical towel around our waist and serve. What does it look like to serve? Serving others can be actions such as volunteering to help through an organization or grabbing a garbage bag and picking up trash around town. Serving others can also be having conversations and making eye contact with people who are often shunned in the community. Humility looks like putting our pride and our fears aside for the sake of someone else. Humility is a muscle that grows when we work it.

Seek opportunities to serve others and find that in serving, there is life.

Prayer - God, forgive me when I act out of my pride and my fear rather than out of my trust in you. Help me to hold loosely to what I believe so that I am open to the ideas of others and especially to the nudging of your Holy Spirit. I never want to be too proud to serve. Keep me humble. Amen.

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