The Gathering [news]

End of a Decade

10 years ago the Gathering started, and a decade later, while the work God gave us to do has touched many people in many ways, it is coming to an end.

But not THE end.

The Gathering has come to the point of being unable to continue weekly services, but rather than lose that part of who we are entirely, we'll be exploring the possibility of doing monthly services starting in September.

There will be two services before summer, as well as a few get-togethers (i.e., the Labyrinth walk), in the event that should the summer see us incontrovertibly scattered, we still have a sense of closure.

June 1, George Hardy will lead a time of contemplative prayer around the question "what is church?" A prayer walk will be involved, and people will have an opportunity to share thoughts on the possible future of the Gathering.

On June 22, we are holding a 10th anniversary celebration. Past Gathering Videos, music, and faith stories from all who attend.

We'll be taking the summer off entirely, and seeing what the future holds. Taylor Reese and Mike Perschon will be leading monthly worship services come fall, but we're hoping to see the community freed up to share their gifts and faith journey in new and exciting ways.

The Guy's Group will continue to meet monthly on the last Tuesday at George Hardy's house. We're hoping to see a Girl's version emerge, but we're still short a leader for such a gathering. Any interested ladies should contact Mike Perschon.

Carnival Season 2008

It's a rollercoaster ride of music this Carnival Season at the Gathering. Carnival at the Gathering is our answer to the reality that January is National Suicide Awareness month. It's a grey, lonely month in the wake of Christmas, and we look for ways to play the fool, to celebrate, to party. Think of this as the chill-out room after the rave. Come enjoy the witty and wise Lawrence Kim as he shares thoughts about Heaven, and new music every week that will wipe the winter blues away.
January 13 - Vicky Berg - acoustic worship
January 20 - Mikey Hamm and "The Joe" - hip-hop/rap
January 27 - Scott Kosman and Taylor Reese - acoustic meanderings
February 3 - The Timeless - Nick Brouwer's acoustic rock

Services start at 6PM every Sunday (excluding long weekends) at Holyrood Mennonite Church (9505-79 Street). Everyone is welcome. No ties, bibles or secret handshakes required.

Advent Season 2007

This year's Advent features long-time Gathering musicians Dean Cottrell, David Howard, Mike Perschon and Taylor Reese, a.k.a. Seven Devil Fix bringing their renditions of Christmas cheer. Mike will also be speaking throughout the season, with the following messages:
December 2: A Very Scary Christmas: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
December 9: May It Be: Mary Mary
December 16: Gifts: We Three Kings and the Little Drummer Boy
December 23: What You Can't See: I Believe in Father Christmas
Services start at 6PM every Sunday (excluding long weekends) at Holyrood Mennonite Church (9505-79 Street).

DECEMBER 8:
EVERYONE WELCOME! Please join us for a Christmas coffee house with the individuals from Holyrood Mennonite Church on Saturday, December 8, at 7:00 pm. We will spend time learning to know those who attend Holyrood, enjoy musical selections, sing with the puppets, sample Christmas goodies, and sip Christmas beverages! Please bring a plate of Christmas cookies or squares (cut small so that we can try lots of variety!) Come on out and celebrate with us!

All Saints 2007

This year's All Saints Season is from October 14-November 25. George Hardy will be the season's Messenger, and will be speaking from the 7 letters to the 7 churches in Revelation. Blaine Kehl will be performing the scripture reading each week, and there will be several puppet performances throughout. Waiting For Judas will be leading music: Vicky Berg on vocals, keyboards and acoustic guitar, David Howard on guitar, Mike Perschon on vocals and bass, and Kyle Wilson on drums. On October 14, we will be holding a special service to welcome new Hardcore members. In addition to hearing each other's faith stories, the music will be done in Taize style by Mike Perschon.
Services start at 6PM every Sunday (excluding long weekends) at Holyrood Mennonite Church (9505-79 Street).

Gathering Season 2007

We kick off the new season at the Gathering in a new environment - we are no longer at the Sandy Lane location, but are now at Holyrood Mennonite Church (9505-79 Street). We still meet Sunday nights at 6PM, and do not have services on long weekends.
September 9: Mike Perschon will be leading music, George Hardy will be speaking, and Lord willing, there will be puppets!
September 16: Mike Perschon will both lead music and speak.
September 23: Deborah Brososky will be leading music, and Craig Brososky will be speaking.
September 30: The annual G-Arts festival! Come for a night of variety and talent - in years past we've seen Salsa and Belly Dancing, Comic art and Rock Collections, Depression Glass and Woodworking, Poetry readings and original songwriting! Please submit your G-Art offerings to Mike Perschon this year.
Throughout the Gathering season, George will be bringing The Reverend Doctor's Doctrinal Dig (aka, Mystery Moment with a focus on the Gathering's doctrinal statement) each week.

A quick heads up: All Saints Season begins after the Thansgiving Long Weekend. On October 14th, we'll be holding a "Hardcore Welcoming Service" for those that wish to join Hardcore. In addition, any current Hardcore who want to share their faith story are invited to also share. This will constitute the "Thin Place" for All Saints season. More on All Saints soon!

It's a new environment, and it's gonna be an exciting fall. Get ready for it by praying for our start up, for the renovations we have yet to do, and for our relationship with Holyrood.

Creation Season 2007

The Gathering held its last service in the Sandy Lane location at 15620-95 Ave on May 27. We'll be moving out into as yet undetermined new digs for the fall, but in the meantime, we'll be meeting at the Brososky Manor, at 10423 - 127 Street. Our Creation season services will be highly informal, small group oriented experiences of getting to know each other better, and digging deeper into our identity as a member of the Body of Christ. The topics for each evening will be as follows:
June 3: Vision and Focus
June 10: Theology and Doctrine
June 17 or 24*: Missions and Outreach
June 24: Worship and Community
July 1-August 5: Yearly Sabbatical Month - no services!
August 12: Worship and Community
August 19: Change and Conflict
August 26: Stewardship

There will still be music, and we're hoping to send everyone on nightly prayer walks through the beautiful neighborhood Brososky's live in. Come and join us as we revise, revisit and recycle the Gathering.

*One of these nights may be a meet and greet with members of the church we're looking at sharing space with in the fall.

Pentecost Season 2007

Pentecost Season at the Gathering is all about the Church. It might seem like all services at church should be about the Church, but this is the season where we focus on the Christian life - what it means to be part of the Body of Christ.

This year, as in many years past, we'll be using a video series - this time, Rob Bell's NOOMA series. The season kicks off with a Thin Place (contemplative prayer service) on April 15 lead by Michael Buttrey, followed by a series of Ascension services featuring the Rob Bell videos and musical worship. The season concludes the first week in June with a Critical Mass (all music service).

Lent 2007

We will be taking a journey through Handel's Messiah this season at the Gathering. Our tour guide will be Michael Buttrey, as he introduces us to pieces of music beyond the Hallelujah Chorus and gives us opportunity to respond through interactive discussion, creativity, prayer and play. This season will also see the arrival of the G-puppet team - at the outset of four of the services (March 4, 18, 25 and April 1) the puppetry team will entertain, enchant and hopefully enlighten both children and adults! "Versus" returns to provide musical worship throughout the season, and there are rumors of a Taize service as well! The whole season begins this Sunday, February 25 with a Thin Place, a contemplative prayer service of reflection and confession...and temporary tattoos. Come and join us this Lenten season on Sunday nights at 6:00PM at 15620-95 Ave, Edmonton, AB.

Carnival Season 07

Sorry to everyone for how late I got this information up! January 14-February 11 is CARNIVAL season at the Gathering, and this year is a "campfire-storytelling" theme, one of the most original Carnivals we've had since the year Daughters of Eve introduced the masquerade. Mike Perschon and Taylor Reese have been bringing us their acoustic renderings of many popular worship songs and a few hymns to boot, to accompany George Hardy's simple and straightforward, discussion lead journey through the story of Abraham. Check out the downloads page to get a taste of what this season has been like, and get ready for our "Storytelling Critical Mass" on February 11 - an entire evening of Telling Stories. So bring your stories, excerpts (or whole works) from your favorite stories, sing them, read them, ask someone else to read them, act them...build them out of LEGO. Whatever spins your crank. Sundays, 6:00PM at the Gathering 15620-95 Ave, Edmonton, AB.

Incarnation Season 2006

This week we begin Advent at the Gathering, a week earlier than everyone else who's currently following the lectionary year! Since we run things on volunteer steam, we agreed that having a service on Christmas Eve (the final week of Advent this year!...it's like, "yeah, I'm anticipating Christmas and BAM! It's HERE!)would be asking a lot of our hard working volunteers. So we started Advent a week early. And for anyone who keeps tabs on these things, it IS usually the last week in November.

I digress.

We call Advent, Christmas and Epiphany "Incarnation Season" at the Gathering, and back for the third year in a row to bring us their unique, ambient renderings of many beloved Christmas songs and carols is the wife and husband team of Deborah and Craig Brososky, better known to the Gathering as "We Three", joined by special guests. Craig will also be bringing the message throughout Incarnation Season. For great Christmas music, you can't do better than We Three. So come check it out, Sunday evenings at 6:00PM at the Gathering: 15620-95 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta.

NOTE: The Gathering will not meet on December 24 or 31.

All Saints Season

The last of our year's sacred season. The liturgical calendar ends right before Advent begins, so this season will run up until November 19. Services are, as always at 6:00PM at 15620-95 Ave.

This season's band is "Verses": (featuring Taylor Reese on electronic percussion, Jeff Nelson on bass guitar, Michael Buttrey on keyboards and Jenica Perschon on vocals.) Think Massive Attack does worship and you're getting an idea of their sound. You can check out some of their tunes in our current download section.

Luella Reese is conducting our discussion around a DVD of a lecture series by Eugene Peterson on leadership called "Follow the Leader". You can get a sample of the discussion by clicking here.

We look forward to seeing all the saints who come to the Gathering this season, and hope you'll be blessed by joining us, online or in the flesh.

More Schedule Madness

Many of you have been searching for it, and now you've got it -- schedule information! Check this Gorums post to view the schedule for this season.

Back in Full Swing

After our sabbatical break in July and various outdoor services in August, The Gathering's services are back to being held regularly (as ever) at our home (15620 95 Ave). Come out this season for a "taste of The Gathering". Every service this season from September 10 to October 1 will have a different speaker and a slightly different mix of musicians. Service starts at 6:00pm every Sunday.

Creation Season continues

The next three services at the Gathering are going to be great contemplative, creative and interactive worship experiences. This Sunday, August 13, the Gathering will gather in the parking lot of Laurier park (just down the hill from the Zoo)at 6:00PM for a drum circle lead by Craig Brososky and Taylor Reese. The best way to describe a Gathering drum circle is praying with your hands in a corporate rhythm.

The following week, August 20, the Gathering will meet at Providence Renewal Center (3005 - 119 Street) to experience an outdoor labyrinth. The labyrinth is a wonderful way to contemplatively prayer walk, and the Providence Renewal Center's outdoor laybyrinth is the perfect way to do it! Meet outside the Renewal Center at 6:00PM. Michael Buttrey is in charge of this evening. A time of sharing will follow.

And finally, to cap off our 2006 Creation Season, we'll be hosting our annual G-Arts festival on Sunday, August 27 at the Gathering (15620-95 Ave). This is an open invitation Arts Festival where we celebrate all the talents God has given us at the Gathering. You don't need to be a member of the Gathering to participate either! Contact Deborah Brososky for more information, or to sign up your art, music, performance or presentation.

Prayer Walk at the Parliament

In preparation for Canada Day celebrations, this Sunday, June 25, we'll be meeting at the steps of the Parliament Building at 6:00PM for an evening of walking our prayers for Canada, for the people who make up our government, and for the way in which our nation interacts with the global community. The Weather Network says we're supposed to have good weather, so let's hope their right for a change! We will meet on the steps for instruction, then spread out across the grounds for an hour long solo-prayer walk. We will then reconvene at the steps, move to an area suitable for sharing and talk about our experience.