The Gate

08/08/2025

Here is the Caring Bridge page for updates on Todd that Hannah has set up. Please continue to pray for the Miller family.

We are using CaringBridge to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

06/18/2025

There is something that almost every one of us has thought, or felt, or said - privately or publicly - at one time or another...if I only knew what God wanted me to do, what God's will is for my life, how and when and where he wanted to lead...I would do it. But I don't have that leadership clarity. I don't hear the voice of God like that. I don't always know what he wants me to do. Sure, He talked to people in the Bible, and he led people in the Bible, and made things clear in the Bible, but that was then, and this is now, and this is me, and it's not happening.
Does God still lead and guide us today? How do you recognize God's guidance today? What does it mean to be led by the Holy Spirit in everyday life? What are some challenges in following God's leadership? Lots of good questions to discuss at our next gathering. God's guidance is promised...are we listening?
We always share a meal when we gather. It's become an essential part of our life together! So, bring something to share with everyone. If you're visiting with us or if you're new to The Gate, please just come and be our guest. Let us know what your plans are so that we know how to plan.

05/20/2025

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed..." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

No matter the weight of the past or the uncertainty of the future, we carry on. We carry on through challenges, through doubt, through moments that test our strength. Because within each step forward lies courage, within each struggle lies growth, and within each journey lies the proof that we are capable of more than we imagined. So, we carry on - not because the road is easy, but because your story is worth telling, your dreams are worth chasing, and your strength is worth believing in.

How do you personally find the strength to move forward when you're not sure that you can? What does it mean to carry on in the face of difficulty? How can trusting in God's bigger plan give us the strength and courage to keep going? We will discuss these and other questions at our next Gate Gathering. Your participation and presence are needed. See you this weekend! We always share a meal together as an important part of our gathering, so bring something to share with everyone. If you're new to The Gate or visiting with us, please just come and be our guests.

04/09/2025

The Gate Gathering
Saturday, April 12, 6:00PM
Aldersgate Church @ 21st and Post Rd. Indianapolis

Here's a question to think about: What if you had one month to live AND what if you knew it?
What would you do with that month?
What would you change?
How would things be different?
How would you spend your time?
How would you relate to people?
What would you do to make each day count?

One thing is for sure, that last month would take on an intensity, a purpose, almost a sense of mission, wouldn't it? It certainly wouldn't be business as usual.

In the church, we call the week leading up to the cross and Jesus' death as 'Holy' week, or 'Passion' week. It's a time to focus on the last days of Jesus' life on earth. And in that week, Jesus had a last night with his disciples. And he knew it was going to be his last night with his disciples. So, what did he do? That will be the focus of our conversation this weekend at the Gate Gathering.

At The Gate, we always share a meal together, it's become an important part of our gathering. Bring something to share with everyone. If you're new to The Gate, just come and enjoy the family!

03/11/2025

The Gate Gathering
Saturday, March 15, 6:00PM
Aldersgate Church @ 21st and Post Rd., Indianapolis

Have you ever heard someone talk about things escalating? We know exactly what that means, right? Things are getting more intense, more volatile, more serious. Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, he constantly tried to deescalate one thing in particular - who he was. That he was indeed the Messiah. Things dramatically changed when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Why did things change so dramatically? How did it go from, 'Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,' on Sunday to 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' all in 1 weeks' time?
This Saturday at The Gate we'll go on a whirlwind tour through 5 things Jesus said and did that final week of his life. Once Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we see Jesus making it clear who he was and letting the world deal with its weight.
Hope you can join us for the discussion.
At The Gate, we always share a meal together, it's become an important part of our gathering. Bring something to share with everyone. If you're new to The Gate, just come and enjoy the family!
See you Saturday,

03/05/2025

Lord, Our Father,
We seek Your guidance to keep our hearts and minds attentive to both the solemnity and the anticipated joy of the Lenten season. Uphold and inspire our worship and prayers during this time. We pray, Lord, that this period serves as a moment for reflection and revitalization of our faith.
Amen.

03/03/2025

PREPARING FOR LENT

I mentioned at our last Gate Gathering that I would be sharing a few weekly devotional thoughts during lent.
Below are a few thoughts to get you started...
“A purpose of fasting is to increase our awareness of specific spiritual blockages that prevent God from acting freely in and through us. To that end, consider these questions when trying to determine what you will fast from during Lent:
1. "When I'm tired or stressed, what things do I turn to in order to help me relax, decompress, or escape?"
2. "Do I routinely make nonessential purchases that could be ceased for a time in order to redirect that money to those in need?"
3. "When I consider my daily routine, what are my favorite parts of my day? Do I love those things more than I love my time with the Lord?"
Honest answers to these questions will likely yield an idea of what you are being called to give up for Lent. Once you determine what you're giving up, ask two more questions:
1. "How will giving up this thing make more space in my life for prayer?" When you're craving the thing from which you're fasting, pray that God's power would be made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Lent is a perfect season to commit to a new prayer practice.
2. "How will giving up this thing make more space in my budget for almsgiving?" Almsgiving is giving beyond your normal tithe, and the practice comes from Isaiah 58. The tradition of almsgiving during Lent expands the focus of fasting from a personal spiritual experience to a compassionate communal sacrifice.”
From “SACRED SEASONS: A Family Guide to Center Your Year Around Jesus” by Danielle Hitchens.
Stay tuned!

03/03/2025

Attached is the link with information of the special sitting of the Free Methodist General Conference that I promised at our gathering on Saturday.

General Conference 2023 Special Sitting Letter to General Conference Delegates Executive Summary from UMM Unleashing Missional Momentum Recommendations FAQ's

02/26/2025

The Gate Gathering
Saturday, March 1, 6:00PM
Aldersgate Church @ 21st and Post Rd, Indianapolis

We are going to try this again at our Gate Gathering this weekend...
We are told almost nothing about the years between Jesus' birth and the beginning of his public ministry at around age 30. What do you think Jesus was like as a child? We do know that 'the child grew up and became strong; was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him,' and that he 'grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.' (Luke 2:40, 52)
This weekend we will discuss this 'heavenly' endorsement found in Matthew 3:13-17 at Jesus' baptism. What is the significance of Jesus' baptism for us today?
We always look forward to being together and learning from each other. Hope to see you Saturday.

We always share a meal together when we gather, so remember to bring something to share. If you are visiting with us, please just come and be our guests.

02/11/2025

We are told almost nothing about the years between Jesus' birth and the beginning of his public ministry at around age 30. What do you think Jesus was like as a child? We do know that 'the child grew up and became strong; was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him,' and that he 'grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.' (Luke 2:40, 52)
This weekend we will discuss this 'heavenly' endorsement found in Matthew 3:13-17 at Jesus' baptism. What is the significance of Jesus' baptism for us today?
We always look forward to being together and learning from each other. Hope to see you Saturday. We always share a meal together when we gather, so remember to bring something to share. If you are visiting with us, please just come and be our guests.

01/30/2025

In the midst of difficult circumstances, we often pray to God. Sometimes we wonder if He's able to meet our needs, but usually we question whether He's willing to do so. In the story we will discuss this weekend, we'll see that Jesus was both willing and able to help His disciples - and even when they thought He didn't care, He really did.
If you're interested you can read this story ahead of time - Mark 4:35-41. As you read, think about any storms that might be going on in your life. Does Jesus want to intervene in them? If so, how?

We always share a meal together so remember to bring something to share. If you're new to The Gate or are visiting for the first time, please just come and be our guest.

01/15/2025

What did Jesus teach about more than anything else? It's referred to over 100 times in the Gospels. Why is this the priority teaching of Jesus? And what does it have to do with us today? If you want to get a head start on our discussion, take a look at the following passages: Matthew 5:3-10; 13:24-50; 18:1-5; Luke 20:27-36; John 14:1-3.
We hope you can join us this Saturday.
We always share a meal together so remember to bring something to share. If you're new to The Gate or are visiting for the first time, please just come and be our guest.