As we step into the new year of 2025, it's essential to revisit our purpose and vision as a church community at Westover. Our mission is to develop maturing followers of Jesus Christ, and our vision is to be a church that both gathers and scatters. This morning, we explored what it means to be a maturing follower of Christ and how this leads us to gather as a church. We focused on three key aspects of gathering: worship, encouragement, and equipping.

Gathering to worship is not just about physical assembly but about the inner experience of treasuring God's beauty and worth. Worship manifests in various forms, such as singing, prayer, giving, and acts of service, all of which are expressions of our heart's devotion to God. Encouragement is another vital aspect of our gathering. It involves supporting one another in our spiritual journey, fostering a community where we can share our burdens and joys, and spurring each other towards love and good works.

Equipping is the third aspect, where we gather to be prepared for the work of ministry. This involves sitting under the teaching of God's Word and being part of small groups where authentic community is developed. Our gathering is not just for our benefit but to prepare us to go out and live our faith in the world. As we mature in Christ, we grow in gospel-centered stability, contribution, and Christ-likeness. This maturity is a lifelong journey, marked by progress and growth in our relationship with God and others.

As we look forward to the coming weeks, I encourage each of us to commit to gathering, both in large and small groups, as we embark on our winter church-wide series. This commitment will help us grow deeper in our faith and prepare us to scatter and live out our purpose in the world. Let us embrace this new year with a renewed commitment to our mission and vision, trusting that God will equip us for the journey ahead.