The Gathering at Windsor
“Gathering those not yet gathered”

By Kelly Shepherd, Attendee of The Gathering

The Gathering at Windsor in Windsor, Colorado, is a new church development on a mission. Its purpose is clearly defined by Isaiah 56:8. It exists to gather those not yet gathered. Organizing Pastor, David Barton, says, “While many people think in terms of ‘going to church,’ The Gathering is a church that thinks in terms of ‘going into the world.’” The congregation is challenged to cultivate relationships within their spheres of influence. Suddenly church isn’t just something you go to on Sunday mornings anymore. You are charged to think of yourself as a disciple of Christ 24/7 in the world: at work, in your neighborhood, at the coffee shop, at the park play group, anywhere you have unchurched friends. 

This outward focus has been part of The Gathering’s identity since its inception in August 2004. Seeded by the Presbytery of the Plains and Peaks and supported by many generous area partner churches, David was called to serve as organizing pastor. David and his family moved to Windsor from Vancouver, Washington, and immediately began to mold the vision of The Gathering with a small group of people interested in seeing a Presbyterian church in Windsor. Public worship was launched the last week Sunday in November 2004, in the cafeteria of an elementary school with about 30 people in attendance. Since then, the church is still meeting in the elementary school, but now in the gym with about 150-200 people in attendance each Sunday and more than 250 people who call The Gathering their church home. They are actively seeking land and a permanent location. However, the mission of gathering those not yet gathered will continue with or without a permanent home. 

The Gathering believes that the gospel is passed on from person to person by building relationships with the unchurched. Taking its cue from Jesus, sitting at the table with people is an important way that relationships are developed. “During Jesus’ time, to sit at table with someone was intimate and connecting. It said that we belong to one
another,” David explains. "We are trying to be a community that honors Jesus' parables of the lost in Luke 15. If we can be accused of sitting at table with ‘sinners’ — the very charge the Pharisees made regarding Jesus — then we know that we are on the right path." 

Ask anyone involved with The Gathering, and they will tell you that outreach events are the focus. From small “taste and see” events like having a mix of people from work and people from church over to watch the big game, to huge outreach events like the annual Christmas show, reaching out to the unchurched in a natural, normal way is at the heart. God has assembled an incredibly gifted group of people to help pull off these outreach events in a way that belies the church’s size. Amazing musicians and vocalists, artisans, carpenters, decorators, and even a couple that used to work on movie sets in Hollywood call The Gathering home. 

“Turn to Wonder,” last year’s Christmas outreach event, was a Garrison Keillor-style old-time radio variety show lead by music director Erika Lundberg. Erika and her husband Pat (who also happens to be the youth pastor and member of a Christian rock band) assembled a team of more than 20 performers to do humorous skits and commercials, funny songs, and nostalgic songs. Pastor David played the part of the host and read monologues leading the audience through a wide range of emotions. The audience was treated to a catered meal complete with linens and centerpieces. Congregation members paid for their tickets and their unchurched guests were free. A Christmas card was sent to the guests with a professional photo taken in front of the nostalgic Christmas tree. Inside was an invitation to join the church on Sundays for the continuation of the message planted in the heart of the audience. 

This is just one example of the type of outreach event the church has become known for. They have also had a neighborhood harvest party with a hay maze for the kids, a neighborhood 4th of July barbecue complete with a kids’ bike parade, a town-wide end of school barbecue with inflatable play equipment for the kids, and even an 80s party for the 30 and 40- something crowd. 

Youth outreach is also an emphasis with The Gathering. The youth pastor, Pat Lundberg (remember that he’s the “rock star” of The Gathering mentioned earlier), leads both a middle and high school group on a variety of weekly meetings and outings. He also has started a youth gathering called “The Fifth Quarter” that treats students at the local high school to pizza after the home football and basketball games. There are 300 or more students at each Fifth Quarter event who are awed that a church would do this for them with no strings attached. Many members of the youth groups do not attend church with their families, but are developing a relationship with Christ through Pat’s ministry. Recently, The Gathering joined forces with Young Life to make outreach to youth even more powerful in Windsor. 

Why does The Gathering do these types of events? Pastor David explains, “Discipleship and outreach are one in the same. Jesus models this for us in Luke 15. The priority in holiness is not religious rule-keeping, as the Pharisees thought, but on building relationships and loving our neighbor, as Jesus demonstrated.” Outreach events help The Gathering to develop these relationships with others in their community. The goal is to make the guests feel welcomed into a faith community, even if only for the event itself. God’s unconditional love for these “lost sheep” flows through The Gathering as it reaches out and engages with its community. David concludes, “And I can’t think of anyone in this world that doesn’t want to be welcomed, included, loved.”

About the Author:  Kelly, her husband Bill and their three children have attended The Gathering since Oct. 2004. This is the first church Kelly has ever attended, and she was baptized on the profession of her faith in 2005. Praise God!