The Encounter Church ministry has come to a close. Read more here.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Friday Night FWD - Friday, April 16 @ 7pm

We invite you to come to Friday Night FWD next Friday night. Journey with us together as we explore what it means to follow Jesus in a real, tangible way. With live music, coffee, and spiritual discussion.

LOSING OUR RELIGION
This week's topic is "Losing Our Religion." Are Christians hypocrites? Are there times when you don't live up to your own standards? We'll talk about what truly enraged Jesus on Friday, April 16 @ 7pm

WHAT IS FRIDAY NIGHT FWD?
Friday Night FWD is a mid-size interactive group gathering that meets on alternating Friday evenings. It is the perfect opportunity to encounter God, experience community, and then move forward to engage our culture. More importantly, it is a great way to connect with friends and meet new ones, participate in a some great worship - a little edgy and loud, and engage in a real spiritual conversation about life and faith.

GET THE WORD OUT
Invite some friends and get the word out about our new FWD gatherings downtown. Click on the image for a JPG or download a PDF flyer here. Oh yeah, because we want to keep FWD fresh, we're always on the lookout for rockin' musicians who might want to get involved one or more weeks. So let contact us if you know someone.

NEW DOWNTOWN LOCATION FOR APRIL 16
On Friday, April 16 @ 7pm, we're moving back to the heart of downtown Helena in the Dunphy Building. We're right across the street from the Mediterranean Grill, just behind the Base Camp. Just look for the Friday Night FWD signs.

WHAT: Encounter Friday Night FWD
WHEN: Friday, April 16, 2010 @ 7pm

WHERE: Dunphy Building 3rd Floor, 38 S. Park Ave [map/directions
]

EncounterKids session available during the discussion
More about Friday Night FWD here
RSVP on Facebook here

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Encounter LifeGroup @ The Powell's - April 9

Join us for the next Encounter LifeGroup as we discuss the HOLY SPIRIT & SPIRITUAL GIFTS. We'll be meeting will be at the Powell home this Friday, April 9 @ 7pm.

An Encounter LifeGroup is a small group of six to eight people who gather regularly for spiritual growth, life encouragement, and support. It's a safe place to ask tough questions and build lasting friendships in an environment with others like you.

THE HOLY SPIRIT & SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We are going through The Purple Book to form a foundation that no storm can demolish, and a heart that is formed and guided by truly knowing and following Jesus. This time, we are discussing chapter 4 of The Purple Book on the Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gift.

WHAT: Encounter LifeGroup @ The Powells
WHEN: Friday, April 9, 2010 @ 7pm

WHERE: Powell Home [map/directions]


Snacks will be provided. There will be Wii and board games for the kids. So kids are welcome, but there will be no child care.

Please RSVP on Facebook here

Monday, April 5, 2010

Servolution in Helena 2010 Afterburn

Servolution 2010 is a effort of churches and organizations around the world to "Share God's Love and Change Lives Through Simple Acts of Kindness" from March 26 to April 2.

HOSPITAL ER
In realizing that many ER nurses and doctors work crazy long and exhausting hours, we wanted to thank them, bless them, and let them know God cares. So Servolution at Encounter focused on faculty and staff of St. Peter's Hospital Emergency Room.

The gift basket was a big hit in the ER. As we brought in the collected items one nurse said "It's like Christmas!" We we able to collect donations of home-made goodies, mixed snacks, chocolates, energy drinks, waters, lotions, gourmet bread and of course, our signature Tootsie Pops.




EASTER EGG HUNT & CARNIVAL
To take an active part in helping, a group of us from Encounter also volunteered for the largest Easter Egg Hunt & Carnival in the North Helena Valley. In assisting our sponsor church, Big Sky Fellowship, we were there especially setting up the the large and small kids' bouncers. The final report is that nearly 800 people had an awesome time!

HOSPITALITY BASKETS FOR YWCA
To finish off our efforts for Servolution 2010, we delivered more baskets. We've previously put together YWCA Hospitality Baskets for new women staying at the Helena YWCA Home for Women. This Monday after Easter, we delivered as many additional baskets as we could collect and put together, and the YWCA was very appreciative and stressed how special the baskets have been for their new residents since October!

SERVING OTHERS IS A LIFESTYLE
For us at Encounter, serving our community is a lifestyle. It is part of engaging our culture and helping them to know that we are not just a church IN Helena, but a church FOR Helena. Join us in our next community impact effort and 'Be The Change' in Helena.

View the Picasa slideshow here
View the photos on Facebook here

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Good Friday FWD: 04-02 Afterburn

Wow, what an amazing night! Our very first Good Friday FWD was both an "impactful" and "meaningful" evening according to those who attended.

The live acoustic-style set featured violin, guitar, and piano with songs like Nothing But The Blood, Love Is Here, and Mighty To Save.

The focus of the evening was the power of forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Christ. More specifically, we described how the blood of Jesus Christ flowed from seven places.

Jesus bled from His head.
There are thoughts thoughts that we might not want to face up to, because of what we've seen or heard. We asked people to touch the crown of thorns and imagine how His head was beaten. His blood cleanses you of those thoughts.

The blood poured from His back.
There are times when we’ve turned our back and walked away from Jesus. At this station, we asked people to turn their back to the cross on the wall and imagine how Jesus was whipped with shards of bone and metal until His back was raw. His blood covers the times when you've turn your back on Him.

Spikes were driven through the bloody hands of Jesus.
There is stuff that you ought not to have handled and things you ought not to have done. We asked people to place your hands in the red paint and leave their mark on the wall. Imagine the spikes driven through Jesus’ hands and know that His blood cleanses you.

Blood and water poured from Jesus' side.
There are times when you harbor sins such as bitterness and anger in your gut. At this station, We asked that people write a sin, challenge, or struggle on a slip of paper and slide it into the bowl of thick red liquid. Imagine how the spear was thrust into Jesus’ side and give thanks that even our deepest sins are cleansed and forgiven through the blood of Christ.

Jesus bled as the spikes were driven through His feet.
There are paths you ought not have walked and places you ought not have been. At this station, people followed the lighted path outlined on the floor. Knowing that the spikes were driven through Jesus’ feet and into the cross, we can give thanks that He continues to draw us back to His path through forgiveness and grace.

His Body, His Blood, & The Resurrection
The evening included communion – an examination of how Jesus' body was broken and His blood was poured out. And because Encounter will be focusing on "being the church" on Easter instead of gathering for a service, the evening concluded with a look at the resurrection – that Jesus is the Light of the world. We each lit candles and from the Christ candle to represent how Jesus’ light spreads from Him, then to us, and then to all the world.

We invite you to join us for our next regular Friday Night FWD on April 16 – great friends, edgy worship band, and an interactive group discussion.

View the Picasa slideshow here
View all the photos on Facebook here
 

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