What We Believe

It’s simple.  We were created in God’s image, but when we tried to do things our way instead of God’s way some of that divine image got lost in our sinful selfishness.  God realized that the only way to bring back what was lost was to send Jesus, the perfect image of God, into the world.  Jesus’ life shows us that meaning and purpose doesn’t come from serving ourselves but from serving and loving others- the orphan, the widow, the outcast.  Jesus’ death shows us the depth of his love and the freedom we can find in the forgiveness of all our sins.  Jesus’ resurrection shows us that we don’t have to live in sin anymore, we are called to let God transform us from the inside out so that others can see the image of God restored in us.

What do we believe about the church?  It’s not a building, it’s a group of two or more people gathered together to worship God, serve God, love God.  The church and people in the church won’t always get it right.  We all make mistakes and need to learn to forgive each other and try again.  Church is not something that just happens on Sunday morning.  If you’re the kind of Christian who wants to show up on Sundays for an hour and have nothing else to do with God during the week, you will be challenged at The Gathering.  Challenged to step out of your comfort zone and get to know other people in the church community.  We encourage everyone at The Gathering to be a part of a small group that meets once a week for a chance to get to know others and to learn more about God while getting involved in some type of outreach.

What do we believe about society today?  We all realize that something is missing in our lives.  St. Augustine said, “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.”  So when you’re not connected to God and each other in meaningful ways there’s an emptiness that you can’t fix on your own.  We want to be the kind of church that shows our love for God and faith in God by the way we serve our community and the world.  The questions we’re always asking ourselves are, “If the Gathering was gone tomorrow, would Hampton Roads notice?  Would the world notice?  Are we really making a difference in our local and global community?”

What do we believe about Sunday worship?  It should be relevant to the struggles you face in everyday life.  It should be casual, not stuffy; empowering, not defeating; friendly, not judgmental.  Everyone should be welcomed in worship and everyone should have a chance to learn more about  God- that’s why we have preschool and elementary aged Sunday school classes during worship to help kids experience God on their own level.  Worship should be uplifting and challenging as we remember how Christ has called us to serve in the world.

VISION STATEMENT:

Gathered together

Empowered by Christ

Transforming the world