Fellowship is more easily experienced than explained. It is sharing joys and sorrows. It is celebrating successes and being quiet in disappointment – together. The hard to explain but easy to experience fellowship is the thing that keeps you coming back to your small group. It’s what makes you, after a hard day's work, feel pulled to go to your small group when every logical impulse would say to stay home and sit on the couch. The breaking of bread together is a common way for us to experience feeling connected to each other. For in the moment we are eating together we are connected through the shared experience of a meal.

In worship, we read the Bible and usually a Pastor shares a message based upon the Bible reading. This practice has been done for thousands of years. But hearing the Bible in worship is only one way to encounter the Bible. In a small group setting, though, we are allowed to go deeper. We hear different perspectives. We tell our stories and find application to life. When this happens in the context of a small group God’s spirit can guide and teach us through the reading and application of the Bible. The study of the Bible in a small group connects us together in a unique way that enlivens our spirits and draws us closer to our creator.

When someone asks “How’s it going”, it seems like more often than not we've said, “Oh, its been crazy. I’ve been so busy.” Why do we wear our busyness like a badge? What would we find if we were to give ourselves permission to slow down?

Summer Camp 2018 at Gladstone Campus

How often do we like a second chance? How often are we willing to extend that to others?

What does it say about the character of God that the work may be different but the reward is the same!?

Gladstone campus • July 15, 2018

The tradition of the host providing wedding garments greatly influences how we read this story! Are you willing to accept God on God’s terms?

Gladstone campus • July 8, 2018

How often do you consider a potential investment before you make it? Jesus compares this to following him. In order to follow Christ we must first count the cost.

Gladstone Campus • July 1, 2018

One of the unique things about United Methodism is our theology about how God works through grace. John Wesley pioneered a profound way of understanding the different ways God operates in our lives through prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace. As we experience these means of God's love, it becomes more natural to extend them to others.

Many things in our culture are becoming more polarizing than ever before: from politics or practice of religion to parenting or pro sports. We’ve all got opinions, we’re hard to convince or persuade, and very few of us are interested in another point of view. How can you socialize with others when people seem to always pick a side? Where did the middle go? Does anybody live on Central Avenue anymore?