Introducing EncounterHelena 2.0

It's been over a year now since we first introduced the Encounter Helena blog. We are excited to unveil the new EncounterHelena 2.0 — a new look and feel over at encounterhelena.org.

WHY THE CHANGE?

With all the momentum Encounter Church has been gaining lately, the amount of news updates and information on the blog has increased two-fold. It's been getting more difficult to find the information you needed.

WHAT'S NEW?

The front page of encounterhelena.org now highlights some of our featured news with a revolving image gallery, our new introduction video, a number of key article teasers, and a series of great pull-down menus to find out everything you need to know about Encounter.

You can still find the blog under the "Latest News" menu link at the top. All the old articles from the very beginning are still there, but now they have the brand new look.

TELL US, TELL THE WORLD

We would love to hear how you like the new site. Just make a comment to on the new site, or on tell the world on Facebook and Twitter (there are new fancy links at the bottom of every article to make this easier). Also, we are still taking the plastic wrap off this thing so if you find any glitches, please let us know.

Oh yeah, if you've been going to this old legacy site at encounterhelena.blogspot.com, please switch over to the new URL at encounterhelena.org today! There will be no new posts at this old blog!

Serving Friends at Memorial Park

This last Friday, August 7, we had the opportunity to serve our friends from Blue Cross Blue Shield at Memorial Park.

We hosted employees' families by providing and operating a rock wall, two kids inflatable bouncers, as well as a cotton candy and snow cone booth.

The volunteer team of about ten people from Encounter did an awesome job as well as some volunteers from our Helena sponsor church Big Sky Fellowship.

We see it as just another way to share God's love in tangible way by "being the change" in Helena.

What an awesome way to make a difference, demonstrate God's crazy love in action, and engage our culture! We invite you to to Be The Change in Helena and join us in our next project at Encounter Church.

You can also find some great photos of the effort on Facebook here.

EncounterCast 8.8.09: Introducing 36 Parables

From the Journey Block in Helena's Great Northern Town Center, this week's EncounterCast introduces the new Encounter Discussion series '36 Parables.' Come join us at 6:30pm on August 11 at the Staggering Ox. More here.

New Discussion Series: Introducing '36 Parables' on August 11

Our Encounter Discussions are about getting out into public spaces and creating a dialogue. The weekly discussion is an intentional way to meet new friends, build relationship, and engage our community. More than that, you'll have some great conversation about life and faith.

ABOUT THE NEW SERIES: 36 PARABLES
Parables make us think. They cause us to engage and ask questions. We can look at these stories and determine how we ourselves are changed by them.

Of the 36 parables that Jesus told, we will examine and discuss five of these which have been adapted into short films depicting real life in a modern setting.

Consider that Jesus told these stories so that we could relate them to our everyday lives. Jesus reveals himself through such common experiences, and we can encounter Him in the most unlikely places.

So join us. Step beyond safe and routine faith. And discover for yourself the deep spiritual truths in these often ordinary stories.

THE FIRST WEEK: FOUND
Have you ever lost something that, perhaps had little value to others, but had great value to you? What things do we value and why? We'll look at the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic value and why it matters.

Our first week, we will start with the short film "Found" which is an adaptation of the Parable of the Lost Coin in Luke 15:8-10. Don't miss this week's discussion at the Staggering Ox this Tuesday, August 11 @ 6:30pm. You're invited to join us for a weekly short film and discussion response — a forum of honest interaction and exploration.

JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND
Each week's discussion stands on it's own. 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 36 Parables short film series here.
Check out the Facebook event here.