View source for Gathering Church, The (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)

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[[File:Gathering-Church Kitchener ON 2015.jpg|300px|thumbnail|''Jim Loepp Thiessen and Catherine Gitzel in from the the church's offices. Canadian Mennonite photo.'']]
The Gathering Church (also known as "The Gathering") was established on 30 January 2005 in the Laurentian Hills West area of [[Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Kitchener]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] as a place welcoming to persons uncomfortable with traditional "church." The goal was to explore questions of faith in a safe, non-threatening environment. Their mission statement was "Making Jesus real to people, inviting them to follow." The Gathering was accepted as an emerging congregation in [[Mennonite Church Eastern Canada|Mennonite Church Eastern Canada]] on 29 April 2006 and became a full member congregation in April 2010.

Since its inception the congregation has met for worship at the W. T. Townshend School in Kitchener. In fall 2010 the congregation rented space for an office and other activities in a strip mall located near the school. The Gathering Church has provided a variety of activities to bless and serve the community around them, including neighborhood parties, and after school games for kids. They have also partnered with the local community center to provide youth programming for area youth. The church has also offered English as Second Language (ESL) conversation classes and a Mom's and Tot's drop-in.

The founding pastor was Jim Loepp Thiessen, who continued as lead minister in 2015. Attendance is about 120 on Sundays, including 55 children.
= Bibliography =
"The Gathering Church." ''Canadian Mennonite'' 14 (20 September 2010): 29.

Rogalsky, Dave. "The Gathering Church celebrates ten years." ''Canadian Mennonite'' 19 (6 July 2015): 16.
= Additional Information =
'''Meeting Address''': W. T. Townshend Public School, 245 Activa Ave., Kitchener, ON N2E 4A3

'''Office Address''': 192 Activa Ave. Unit 8, Kitchener, ON N2E 4K5

'''Phone'''>: 519-576-6776

'''Website''': [http://www.gatheringchurch.ca/ The Gathering Church]

'''Denominational Affiliations''':

[http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/ Mennonite Church Canada]

[http://www.mcec.ca/ Mennonite Church Eastern Canada]

== The Gathering Church Pastoral Leaders== 
{|  class="wikitable" 
! Name !! Years of Service
|- 
| Jim Loepp Thiessen || 2005-2015
|- 
| Catherine Gitzel  || 2010-present 
|- 
| Randall Schwartzentruber (Youth) || 2008-2013 
|- 
| Rachel Brnjas<br />(Children's Pastor)  || 2015-present 
|-
| Craig Stephens<br />(Youth Pastor)|| 2015-present 
|-
| Clare Lebold<br />(Interim Pastor)|| January 2016-July 2017 
|-
| Steve Cox|| August 2017-present
|}

== The Gathering Church Membership==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Members
|-
| 2011 || 35
|-
| 2015 || 35
|-
| 2020 || 80
|}

= Maps =
[[Map:Gathering Church, The (Kitchener, Ontario)|Map:Gathering Church, The (Kitchener, Ontario)]]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=July 2015|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Congregations]]
[[Category:Ontario Congregations]]
[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]