April ENCOUNTER

Well, April's Encounter is now a thing of history. 30 valiant Encounters gathered for worship, prayer, teaching and (thanks to Jason) a cuppa!

Gordon went deep and wide, giving a broad-brush coverage of Spiritual Disciplines but exploring why they're helpful. The challenge now is for us to explore them more and start including them in our lives - then watching what God does as we walk the path that places us where we are most receptive to what He wants to say and do.

For those who wanted the powerpoint notes, check out Gordon's comment added to the previous blog. He's put a link to the notes.

Remember, next month's event is on MAY 12th. Same time, same place. We're waiting for questions on ethical issues that we can put to the panel. Email them to holyencounter@hotmail.co.uk or post them on the blogsite.

Encounter April is almost here!

Only 2 days left until April 21st and the next ENCOUNTER gathering. Gordon Cotterill's powerpoint presentation's saved to memory-stick, the worship songs are chosen and the kettle's on for coffee (well, almost!).

It's gonna be a good one. God's been making himself known a lot recently.

Remember, April 21st, 7.30pm
The Salvation Army, Bromley.

First Encounter

The first Encounter gathering focussed on the issue of freedom, coinciding, as it did, with the bicentenary commemoration of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. We encountered God in worship and prayer and interceded on behalf of those who are even now, enslaved. A hilarious drama saw an elderly couple reminiscing about their days as Hebrew slaves in Egypt when they had pots of meat and didn't have to listen to Miriam's tamborine playing in the wilderness! The teaching focussed on the things that keep us enslaved in our own lives; things that make us want to remain in or return to, 'Egypt', whatever that might be.

The evening ended with an opportunity to exchange a stone, symbolic of the things that hold us back from experiencing total freedom, for a key, symbolic of the freedom which Christ offers.

God made himself known that night. Roll on April 21st!

The next ENCOUNTER gathering will be on Saturday 21st April at 7.30pm at The Salvation Army, Ethelbert Road, Bromley.

The theme will be 'THE BALANCING ACT', and we'll be exploring balancing relationships, work, leisure, faith and life in general, with Captain Gordon Cotterill (Spiritual Programme Director, William Booth College). He'll also be looking at spiritual disciplines and how we can incorporate them into our lives.