Saturday, July 24, 2010 5 Cool Things About Our Sneak Peek Tomorrow

It is Saturday night and we are all ready for tomorrow — our very first Sneak Peek Worship Gathering. As I am getting more and more excited, I am wondering if I am even going to be able to sleep tonight!

The Sneak Peek Worship Gathering will retain an authentic and casual atmosphere, the band is going to rock, and we're going explore what it means to "burn!" Here are 5 cool things about tomorrow's Sneak Peek Worship Gathering.

1. The music is going to rock! The band sounded awesome at rehearsal — the sound was edgy, cool, and meaningful. But not like your mom and dad's traditional church.
2. The EncounterKids session will be awesome! We're rolling out a cool new kids experience during the adult message and discussion time. We're talking fun music, goofy videos, and lots of plastic balls — but solid stuff on how to be like Jesus and impact our world.
3. It's going to be hot! I'm not necessarily talking about the temperature, but about a "Burning", about "Flame", and about "Fire." We entertained thoughts of starting a bonfire in the Dunphy Building, but I don't think the landlord and other tenants would appreciate it — but it's still going to be hot!
4. Tomorrow is the start of something new in Helena. Not a morning service, but an evening gathering to explore what it mean to follow Jesus. Not an event to hear someone talking at you, but a safe interactive environment to explore spiritual things with others on the same journey. We are laying the blueprint for how this generation and beyond can worship in an authentic, unique, and creative way.
5. This is only the first one. You can help the gathering get better and better from July, to August, to September. We're finding out what works best and leaving out the rest as we countdown to the Encounter Grand Opening & Worship Gathering on 10-10-10. So come on out and invite all your friends each month as we lead up to launch.

Just remember, we at Encounter believe the worship gathering should be awesome. But an event does not a church make. Nor is it a substitute for a life lived for Jesus. We are a faith-community that is welcome to young and old, believers and nonbelievers alike.

We envision experiential and relevant gatherings to help lead people to a place they can pursue three vital relationships — Encounter God (a relationship with God), Experience Community (relationships with others), and Engage Culture (a relationship with our community).

Friday, July 16, 2010 Summer Fun & Concert at Memorial Park — Afterburn

The Summer Fun & Concert at the Park on July 14 was an amazing success in reaching out to our community!

With the help of our friends at Big Sky and Kingsland, there were two loud and edgy bands (including the Encounter band), a rock climbing wall for all ages, kids bouncy jumpers, and free cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn.

Check out all the Summer Countdown photos here.

We saw between 700 to 1000 people come out — which is really awesome considering we had to hold the event during Alive@Five at another park at the very same time! Furthermore, I overheard a lot of great comments from people surprised that a church would do such a thing for FREE.

I mean, we had some great music and everything was free. We probably handed out another 300 flyers for our first Sneak Peek Worship Gathering during the event and there were a number of people asking where and when we meet.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 EncounterCast 7.14.10: Connection BBQ

Yes, another EncounterCast! This time for the Connection BBQ this Saturday, July 17 @ 4pm. Make sure you join us at the Powell's place [directions here] for Friends, Fun, Food, and PASSION! Anyway, enjoy the video... I think :-)

RSVP on Facebook here

View the video above or on YouTube here.

Monday, July 12, 2010 EncounterCast 7.12.10: Summer Fun & Concert at the Park

This EncounterCast, you are invited the Summer Fun & Concert at Memorial Park on Wednesday, July 14 @ 5pm. There will be two edgy bands (the Encounter Band and Kingsland Band), rock climbing wall for all ages, kids bouncy jumpers, cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn. All FREE to the community. This event is rated "E" for everyone and is part of the Encounter Summer Concerts and the Summer Countdown to Launch.

View the video above or on YouTube here.