The Bible for Normal People (thebiblefornormalpeople.com) is a resource hosted by Peter Enns, author of books such as The Bible Tells Me So (HarperOne, 2014), The Sin of Certainty (HarperOne, 2016), and How the Bible Actually Works (HarperOne, 2020). The site includes podcasts, study courses, blogs, and more, with such...
Authors: Gathering Worship Resource
It happens suddenly. As clergy and church members, we find ourselves in the midst of a devastating situation, a natural environmental event causing disaster, a human-caused tragedy, a community-wide mental health crisis, a pandemic, or a tragic death that affects the whole community. This Exploring section is filled with personal...
The editors of Gathering recently came across a very helpful webpage from Stanford Libraries called The Public Domain (search Stanford libraries and public domain), which is part of a whole website on copyright and fair use. But this particular page defines and categorizes material that is in the public domain...
“Does the good news of Christ limit its truth to certain stories, terminology, or cultural frameworks?” is the question being asked by Aboriginal theologians of Australia. Using Paul’s image of a “treasure in an earthen vessel” (2 Corinthians 4:7), Aboriginal Christians are working to distinguish the “treasure” from the “earthen...
Janet Gear’s new book, Undivided Love: Navigating Landscapes of Living Faith (FriesenPress, 2022), invites us to explore the five streams of lived faith that she has identified through research with congregations: evangelical, ecclesial, missional, ecumenical, and spiritual. Each congregation is a beautiful mix of these five streams. By exploring the...
During 2022, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada has been celebrating its centennial with 100 Years of Song. It’s not too late to host your own celebration with a hymn fest or musical service. Check out thehymnsociety.org for resources, events, webinars, and more to support congregational song...
Get ready for World Day of Prayer, which is set for the first Friday of March each year. In 2023, World Day of Prayer services will be held on March 3. Women of Taiwan have prepared worship material based on Ephesians 1:15–19, with the theme “I Have Heard about Your...
Do you know about the Moose Hide Campaign? It is an Indigenous-led movement of men and boys standing up against violence toward women and children. The goal is to support one another as men, to seek healing, to join in fasting, and to hold each other accountable. It is about...
When is a number more than a number? When it is in the Bible! That’s what this Exploring section is all about—the numbers in the Bible. Seven days of creation, seven churches in Revelation, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 disciples, 40 days on the ark, 40 years in the wilderness...
Introduction Extemporaneous prayer means praying without the whole prayer being written out in full form to read. It is a part of many cultures and practised by many people. Some people are able to pray extemporaneously quite naturally, relying on the Spirit to guide them. Others are terrified of being...