ENCOUNTER is a community of people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life, that get together on a regular basis, for friendship, fellowship, fun and to encounter GOD in real and fresh ways, through worship, Word, prayer and discussion.
Through ENCOUNTER the Marlow Area Team Ministry, seeks to explore what it means to be church and to do church, within our current culture, in ways that are creative, real, and interactive; that meet individuals where they are at, and provide a safe space for them to get to know other people and to know GOD.
When? 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at 11.30 - Look out for the yellow banner.
Where? In Church, but older children (roughly 3-11) start in the Church Hall and join everyone else in Church for refreshments after the service.
It is good to gather!
At ENCOUNTER we believe that the best way to get to know others and God is by getting together and spending time with each other. This is also in line with Jesus' teaching and ministry, which was devoted to building communities of people that would share their lives together and embody the Kingdom of God on earth. There are two ways in which we get together...
As a Congregation, we meet for Celebrations at All Saints Church in Marlow (the Church by the bridge) every first and third Sunday of the month. In these gatherings we use multimedia to facilitate our encounter with God through a worship that is diverse, informal and contemporary, through a teaching that looks at practical life issues in the light of Jesus message, and through prayer, our most precious way of communicating with God.
As Community Groups (CGs): These are small groups that meet in homes or other places in the Marlow area, for fun, friendship, and mutual support as we follow Jesus together. They are all very different (some formed by people beginning to explore the Christian faith, others by mature Christians; some by people with particular interests, others by people of a particular age group; etc). The CGs meet at different times/days, mostly on a fortnightly basis. They are open and inclusive groups, which means you can come when you can and as you are!
Keep in touch zone
In addition to the above gatherings, ENCOUNTER members are encouraged to keep in touch with each other and to share their throughts/ideas on the life of our church, through our FORUM. You can take part in the forum by clicking here:
forum.
ENCOUNTER Services for January to April 2007
The theme for the beginning of 2007 is "The Story we Find ourselves in: a practical introduction to the Bible". Through this series you will be equipped, through the services and CGs, to read and understand the Bible in a way that is real and relevant. In addition to the blue book, used by CGs, I would like to recommed Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis" (2006), as a companion book to the series.
Programme for Winter 2007
7 Jan The Story… Patriarchs, Priests and Kings
21 Jan The Story… Prophets, Poets and Philosophers
4 Feb The Story… Jesus, the Rabbi
18 Feb The Story… Jesus, the suffering Servant
4 March The Story… Jesus and the Meal of the Kingdom
(Holy Communion)
18 March The Story… Jesus in Gethsemane
1 April The Story… Palm Sunday (Time Out)
HOLY WEEK SPECIAL SERVICES*
5 April The washing of the feet
6 April Proclamation of the Cross
7 April Service of Light
8 April Easter Day
* times and venues for these services TBA.
