Friday, May 29, 2009 'Crazy Love' Discussion on June 2: Are We In Love With God or Just His Stuff?

Creating a dialogue in public spaces is an intentional way to build relationships and engage our community. We've been doing this on Tuesdays at the Staggering Ox through our Encounter Discussions.

JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND
Do we really understand the extent of God's love for us? Are we in love with God or just His stuff? Don't miss this week's topic simply titled "Crazy Love" at the Staggering Ox this Tuesday, June 2 @ 6:30pm. You're invited to join us for a weekly DVD clip and discussion response – a forum of honest interaction and exploration.

You don't have to attend every session to get something out of the discussion. So even if you're just curious, drop by and bring a friend. Arrive early at 6:00pm and grab a sandwich with us.

Check out the Facebook event here. No Facebook? Click here.

ABOUT CRAZY LOVE
This current discussion series from Francis Chan's book Crazy Love tackles what Jesus really meant about being the church, both as individuals and as a community of faith.

It's crazy that the extent of faith has become simply going to church, singing some songs, and trying not to cuss. The truth is that we long to break free of the status quo.

Life is much more than a religious set of do's and don'ts. Find out more and experience this crazy love and you will never be the same!

Read more here from the series introduction.
Or explore the Crazy Love website here.

Friday, May 22, 2009 Encounter Informational Meeting: A Burning Bush - May 28

Like a burning bush, something has been set on fire deep within your soul - a passion that longs to be unleashed. Not a lukewarm and watered-down religion, but a calling to take hold of a passionate and life-giving relationship.

Encounter is not a safe, comfortable, and predictable church, but a new community of faith boldly following Jesus. Reject the status quo and ignite your passion for a powerful and authentic faith as we share our strategy to reach this generation and beyond through this new church plant in Helena.

Curious? Want to know more? Know someone who might resonate? Please join us for this special Informational Meeting. Come find why Encounter will be unlike any other church in Helena.

WHAT IS AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING?
We are hosting this event to share the vision, mission, and strategy to publicly launch Encounter Church to reach this generation and beyond. We will identify who we plan on reaching as we give a taste of how Encounter will be different and how we're addressing a desperate need in Helena.

We will also explain the opportunities and expectations involved with joining the Encounter Launch Team and other ways you can help. Light food and drink refreshments will be available as you arrive. After the planned presentation, there will be a question and answer time.

WHERE IS THE EVENT?
We are planning to hold the Informational Meeting in the Placer Center Lobby, the historic Placer Hotel in the downtown Helena Walking Mall district (just South of Taco Del Sol). A parking structure is located East the building and should be available at no cost.

PLEASE BRING A FRIEND
So please join us on Thursday, May 28 at 7:00pm. And if you have a friend that you think might resonate with Encounter, we're asking that you not only invite them — come together.

HELP THE HELENA FOOD SHARE
We would also like this event to help the Helena Food Share. So if you are able, please bring at least one non-perishable food item later delivery to the Food Share.

WHAT: Encounter Informational Meeting | Bring a friend
WHEN: Thursday, May 28 @ 7:00pm
WHERE: Placer Center Lobby | 21 N. Last Chance Gulch
REGISTRATION: RSVP not required, but helpful. Click here.

Check out the Facebook event here.
No Facebook? Click here.

'Crazy Love' Discussion on May 26: You Might Not Finish This Discussion

Creating a dialogue in public spaces is an intentional way to build relationships and engage our community. We've been doing this on Tuesdays at the Staggering Ox through our Encounter Discussions.

ABOUT CRAZY LOVE
This current discussion series from Francis Chan's book Crazy Love tackles what Jesus really meant about being the church, both as individuals and as a community of faith.

It's crazy that the extent of faith has become simply going to church, singing some songs, and trying not to cuss. The truth is that we long to break free of the status quo.

Life is much more than a religious set of do's and don'ts. Find out more and experience this crazy love and you will never be the same!

Read more here from the series introduction.
Or explore the Crazy Love website here.

JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND
Don't miss this week's topic "You Might Not Finish This Discussion" at the Staggering Ox this Tuesday, May 26 @ 6:30pm. You're invited to join us for a weekly DVD clip and discussion response – a forum of honest interaction and exploration.

You don't have to attend every session to get something out of the discussion. So even if you're just curious, drop by and bring a friend. Arrive early at 6:00pm and grab a sandwich with us.

Check out the Facebook event here.
No Facebook? Click here.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 New Discussion on May 19: Crazy Love!

Getting out into public spaces and creating a dialogue — a forum of open and honest communication – is an intentional way to build relationships and engage our community. We've been doing this for over ten weeks now on Tuesdays at the Staggering Ox through our Encounter Discussions.

Our recent They Like Jesus But Not The Church discussions were both enlightening and impactful. We had some really honest and open dialogue about the common misperceptions emerging generations have about the church and Christians. Our new discussion series from Francis Chan's book Crazy Love takes the next step. It tackles what Jesus really meant about being the church, both as individuals and as a community of faith.

ABOUT CRAZY LOVE
There is a lot of craziness going around. As Chan puts it, the God of the universe created "nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor" and yet He loves us with a "radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love." And what is the extent of our response? We simply go to church, sing some songs, and "try not to cuss." We know deep inside that there has to be more.

The truth is that we long to break free of the status quo. We're too comfortable and we're hungry for more. God's crazy love for us is meant to translate into our crazy love for the world and the people He created. And as we do so, we find that life is much more than a religious set of do's and don'ts. Experience this crazy love and you will never be the same!

Explore the Crazy Love website here.

JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND
Don't miss our first discussion "Stop Praying" at the Staggering Ox this Tuesday, May 19 @ 6:30pm. You're invited to join us for a weekly DVD clip and discussion response — a forum of honest interaction and exploration.

You don't have to attend every session to get something out of the discussion. So even if you're just curious, drop by and bring a friend. Arrive early at 6:00pm and grab a sandwich with us.

Check out the Facebook event here.
No Facebook? Click here.

Saturday, May 9, 2009 'Crazy' Meet & Greet Mixer at the Red Atlas

Want to meet some new people in a fun and casual environment?

Come join us Tuesday evening, May 12 for an opportunity to get to know some great people over food, conversation, and music. We'll meet at 6:30pm at the Red Atlas (in the Staggering Ox).

While the focus will be on casual conversation, we'll take a couple of minutes to introduce our next 'crazy' series of Encounter Discussions that will be starting on May 19.

One hint: It'll be crazy!

View at the Facebook event here

Encounter Church on Google Search

Encounter Church now officially exists in the world of Google search. Try it here and see. Of course, the map that comes up is to our p.o. box since we are still building our launch team and don't have an official location.

If you have any experience with Encounter, I might encourage you to offer a review on Google under our listing. In the last ten weeks, we've been busy sharing our vision and leading worship around Montana, we've organized and served our community through the Servolution, been having insightful Encounter Discussions at the Staggering Ox, working hard as volunteers in community organizations such as Youth Connections, and recently led music for the National Day of Prayer event at the Montana Capital steps.

We would appreciate any positive impressions you could share on Google that would allow others to connect with us and ultimately a growing faith in Jesus. I would encourage you to keep it short, avoid religious lingo, and be positive.

It's so good to know that Google now knows that we exist. Of course, we're more intent on being a positive agent of change in Helena to help this generation and beyond encounter Jesus.