Do you remember last year’s Christmas season? Who can forget it? It was the year that holiday parties, family gatherings, and even church services were modified at best, and in most cases outright canceled. I’ll bet you never thought you’d miss that special aunt of yours that would always bring the green jello to Christmas dinner, but you kinda did, didn’t you?

This year, while we are not 100% out of the COVID-19 woods yet, we have much to be thankful for and can breathe much easier when it comes to gathering together. We’re gathering together at the retail stores, at sporting events, at office parties, at family celebrations, and for some, even at church services.

Of course, it’s not always possible or wise to gather, but when it is, let’s do it! Let’s gather to hear more stories. Gather to enjoy more festivities. Gather to indulge in more tasty treats and delicious meals. Let’s gather to make more memories. Let’s gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, worship our amazing God, and encourage each other.

Have you found yourself appreciating the gift of gathering this year?

Why gather?

Because we can! Unlike last year.

This year we get to experience community at a whole other level. Virtual is good. Virtual is way better than not at all, but it’s not better than gathering in person, in my opinion. Just to clarify, I’m not on a soapbox against all things online. Not at all. I realize It may feel like I have at least one foot on the soapbox though, I admit. But that’s not where my heart is. My heart is to be WITH each other because life is precious and relationships are the most important things in this world, in my opinion.

I can’t stop thinking about these Scriptures: “And let us consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting [gathering] together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the DAY approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

Let’s treat gathering like the gift that it is. Bridgeway meets in person each Sunday at 10:30 am at our Owings Mills/ Reisterstown Campus and at 12:00 pm at our Columbia Campus. As always, masks are required for those who are unvaccinated.

For those of you ready to gather and serve, we have lots of serving opportunities this year to help us celebrate the Christmas season at Bridgeway.cc/Christmas.

Please make the decision to join us in person if it’s right for you and your family. We miss you! Hope to see you soon!