Welcome To Gateway

After multiple back surgeries throughout my life, I am relegated to walking for exercise rather than running. Unfortunately, my walks at night can be weighed down with the cares and concerns I have gathered up through the day's events and activities. If I allow this to continue, I walk at a slower pace, thus diminishing the cardiovascular benefit of the walk. But I have discovered a remedy. I take my I-phone and search my music library contained within for a certain song. It may surprise you which one it is, but I freely admit to its usefulness in my life today in this writing. The song is Amy Grant's rendition of "Count your Blessings Instead of Sheep". The song is soothing, peaceful and thought inspiring to me. And I begin to count my blessings. With each step a blessing is remembered and I thank the Lord for it. I have discovered that by doing such it does not take long for my emotional load to lift and my pace to quicken!

As we take part in Thanksgiving and throughout this month, let's remember to take the advice of the Apostle Paul to fill our prayers with thankfulness unto the Lord. A dependent spirit is a thankful spirit. Even in the dire difficulties of life, there is something to be thankful for. And let us not only thank for the spectacular. The mundane taken for granted moments we experience each and every day are worthy of thanks too.

If you are struggling with a lack of thankfulness, take a walk within your house. How blessed you are! Take a walk around your home and think on your friends and family, yes, even the ones you don't get along with! How blessed you are! Take a walk around your church and think on your church family. How blessed you are! Walk around your neighborhood. How blessed you are! Keep walking until your pace has quickened and your feet feel light upon the pavement due to your heart filled full of thankfulness! Then offer a prayer up to almighty God. Those prayers will surely reach His thrown!

In "Practical Piety" compiled by Rev. Gerry Coates, the following prayer is found:

"Father, I offer up a prayer of thanksgiving this day. With every breath, I breath thanks for sustaining my life. Let every beat of my heart sound a note in chorus of praise for your immeasurable blessings. With my mind I remember with thanksgiving all Your provisions. May I join with the servants of old again in giving thanks to you."

Advent Zoom Meetings

with Rev. Wendy Shuffett

Starting Monday, December 2

6:30-7:30pm

Supt. Tolly has requested Pastor Wendy Shuffett to host Advent Zoom meetings open to all conference Pastors and Lay Leaders.

Advent is an invitation to slow down spiritually and spend time contemplating and reflecting over the gift of Jesus to this world. GOD's risk-taking reaches new levels with the incarnation of Christ. The Three Persons of the Trinity commit their creative and redemptive plan to the free response of a politically, socially, and culturally insignificant young woman in a small village in a war-torn and occupied territory in the Middle East. GOD desires that she become the mother of the Word made Flesh. This has never happened before in human history. GOD reveals His plan to this young woman - a plan that breaks all codes of orthodox religious behavior and conventional wisdom.

During our time together, we will engage contemplatively with the Annunciation as told in Luke 1:26-38. As we gather together, I recommend that you zoom in from a quiet place and bring your journal.

Beginning Monday, December 2nd, 6:30-7:30pm and ending on Monday, December 23rd.

Rev. Wendy Shuffett's Bio:

As a spiritual director, I prayerfully journey with others to discern God's presence in their daily lives. An ordained minister with a background in pastoral work, I’ve served in various ministries, including women’s, youth, and children’s ministries. My work extends to co-pastoring a church with my husband and supporting a non-profit dedicated to restorative healing for trafficked individuals. Alongside preaching, I offer spiritual direction to those healing from trauma.

Married for 33 years, I'm a mother of four and a nana of four. I cherish family time, nature, and hosting gatherings. I trained with Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction and am here to help you encounter Christ in everyday moments.

We are announcing an open opportunity for the position of Conference Superintendent overseeing the Gateway Conference of the Free Methodist Church.

We are actively seeking an Ordained Elder who is experienced in leading churches through seasons of change and transition. As a spiritual leader, you will guide the congregations within the 28 churches of the Gateway Conference. Candidates with a focus on leadership development and who value Midwestern culture are invited to apply.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume with no fewer than four references and completed questionnaire responses to allyson.kuczmynda@fmcusa.org by December 6, 2024. We look forward to welcoming a dedicated individual to this impactful role.

Click here for link to job position description and more information on applying

We received important legal updates from the Free Methodist Church - USA:

These legal updates include information on the following:

Employee Retention Credit (ERC) Amnesty Program

New Privacy Laws Related to Handling Personal Data

Copyrights

Updated Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Laws

Click here to read letter with more detailed information

Engaging and Impacting Your Community

MissionInsite tools give your church leaders important information about your community, but how will you know whether your congregation is ready to "meet and greet" the neighbors? With the holiday season fast approaching, now's the time to prepare!

This webinar will remind you of some MissionInsite neighbor and congregant plotting tools while introducing you to the Readiness 360 assessment. Dr. Phil Maynard, our May 2024 webinar guest, is back to provide an overview of what Readiness 360 measures, and to discuss the congregational coaching that comes along with the assessment.

Click here to view webinar

Access to MissionInsite is provided through courtesy of the Gateway Conference BOA. Click here if you would like to request enrollment.

Women with the Free Methodist Church are entering the path to ordained ministry each year, enriching our leadership pipeline.

PreacHer Sunday is a joint initiative of the Advocates for Women in Leadership (AWL) and the Strategic Catalyst for Love-Driven Justice.

Visit https://buff.ly/45nYY6f to get more information about PreacHer Sunday, connect with AWL to access resources, explore their vision and mission statements.

Giving

Tuesday

2024

This year, December 3 marks Giving Tuesday, offering a fantastic chance for people and organizations to support our various ministries and their essential efforts. The following ministries will be promoted during Giving Tuesday:

° Bishops' Crisis Response Fund

° Free Methodist World Missions and their One Voice Offering

° ICCM

° Marston Memorial Historical Center & Free Methodist Archive

° Men's Ministries International

° Set Free Movement

° The Center for Pastoral Formation

° The Chaplains Association of the Free Methodist Church

Mark your calendars to visit and bookmark the FMCUSA website around Tuesday, December 3, to stay up to date on the latest information about the ministries involved and how you can help them continue their critical ministerial work and expand their impact.

Free Methodist World Missions

Advent Resources

As the Father Has Sent Me . . . I Am Sending You

Celebrate Advent this year with a global focus. God’s mission to make disciples of all nations depends on us responding to being sent, just like Jesus was sent.

Resources include:

A video for each week of Advent

A four-week sermon series

Candle lighting liturgy for each week

Advent backgrounds for your worship service