ENCOUNTER WINTER SCHEDULE

Encounter will not be meeting much during break. We do meet this Sunday as we finish off our "Emmanuel" series with a message about "God through us".

For obvious reasons, we will not be having small groups on either Wednesday of Christmas Eve or New Years Eve. We also will not have service on the weekend of December 28th. Head over to main service with your family.

We start back up again on January 4th with a new series and at our normal times of 9 and 10:45 am.

We will also kick off the new year with a night of dodgeball on January 7th from 7 to 8:30pm. We'll post rules and such in a post soon.

Have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and join us in 09 for a great new year!!!!

THE HUNT IS BACK ON

So, we dreamed up the plot to steal, hide, and then give a bounty for a "lawn ornament" as Sarah calls them. I just call it a lighted deer. Anyway, watch the videos below.

This one is the challenge.




This one is the rules and the first clue



However, the clue was too easy and within hours a student had figured out that "1/2 way between Jesus and a dizzy family" was on mount helix on a trail 1/2 way between a large cross and famous house that actually rotates.

So... I got the deer back and I re-hid it.

Here's the deal:

• Same rules.
• in the city of La Mesa
• I will not pay a ransom should you find it and hold it hostage and doing so will forfeit the prize
• You may not dismember, alter, or otherwise jack with the deer. Doing so will forfeit the prize.
• You must be in both services on Sunday, Dec. 21st to claim your prize. Prize however is now $40 cash plus $40 off either OGN or the Spring Retreat. That's an $80 prize.
• Code to unlock the deer is the same.
• New updates everyday the deer is not found. They will add up to the location of the deer. No, it will not move. No, I will not be offering another ransom when this one is done.
  

Now the clue:

Is here on twitter or in the side bar. Good luck.

BLACK AND WHITE BALL IS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY!

BLACK AND WHITE BALL- DECEMBER 12TH!

Less than 2 weeks from today, is your chance to Get dressed up in your best duds and come to encounter on December 12th from 6:30 to 9pm for a great time. You'll get a first class meal, the unstoppable and unpredictable comedy of Issac Improv, and a night to never forget.

Buy your ticket in advance in Encounter. Seating is limited to 150 and the cost is $20 per person for this no-regrets night of your life!

• Walk the Red Carpet
• Eat Well
• Laugh Often
• Enjoy some new and old Friends.
• It's gonna rock.

IT'S THE ANNUAL BLACK AND WHITE BALL!

NEW SERIES STARTS THIS WEEKEND

Ever wanted to ask God a question? Well, this series is based on ones you turned in and we have some great surprises in store for you with some fun and thought provoking stuff. Here's the line up by weeks and some of the questions that inspired them:

November 16: Dear God, who are you really?

• If you love everyone, why don’t you let everyone into heaven?
• Why do some people hear your voice and they don’t truly want to hear it and when people need to hear You they can’t?
• Why is satan’s voice louder and easier to follow than God’s?
• I feel like many things about walking with you are just becoming cliché. So many statements on t-shirts, cheesy emails …you know. So how do I get past the sermons I’ve heard ten times, the “fully rely on God” statements, the “Jesus freaks.” I feel like it’s all been done before. Can you show me things I’ve never seen? The fresh, the different, the new…not the cliché?
  

November 23: Dear God, why am I me?

• Why did you make me the way I am?
• What do you want me to do to live for you? Where do I need to be? How can I be your servant?
• Help!?
• Why am I a middle class white boy in America and not a 12 year old African girl in charge of raising my family?
  

November 30: Dear God, what's the deal with sex and sexuality?

• Why would you give us sexual urges at this age and then say no sex?
• Why am I so confused? Why does the bible say you’ll always love us, but then it says that you don’t love same sex pairings? Does this mean you don’t love me?
• Why is sex so bad? It’s a natural thing so I’m just wondering.
  

December 6: Dear God, why do people suffer?

• Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? Is it related to the concept of “free will?”
• Why are you making life so hard for me? Is this a test? Please dear Lord, I need some help!
• Why don’t you just end all the pain and suffering? I know your suck an awesome God, You can do it.
• How come my friend was killed and I wasn’t?
  

Deember 13: Dear God.... ?

• this week will be decided during this series as more questions come in. Special guest speaker, Scott Berglin will be here this weekend. It's gonna rock.

MYSPACE IS BYE BYE SPACE

After a student leader meeting discussion on Sunday, we have canceled our myspace account.

There are 3 reasons:

#1. SIMPLIFY: We are communicating through e-mail, text message, myspace, facebook, twitter, and this blog with students and parents. This is too many inputs and some had to go. We decided myspace is the first to go.

#2. EASE AND RELATIVE PURITY OF FACEBOOK: We decided that facebook is cleaner and easier to use. There are no crazy backgrounds to navigate around, all the pages look the same, they are just as "private" if not more so than myspace, and we don't get ads like this one on facebook. This was in the sidebar of our encounter myspace page as I canceled it. Ridiculous!!!! Can we make a lie look any more sexually ridiculous than this one?


#3. LACK OF USE: We had not logged into or updated Encounter's Myspace page since last June and only received two complaints in 4 months.


SO......

• if you want some social networking and get pictures of events and announcements via message with us. TRY OUR FACEBOOK GROUP HERE.

• If you only want simple announcements via text, JOIN US ON TWITTER HERE.

• If you enjoy this kind of information, keep coming back to our blog or login via an RSS reader of your choice. I like Bloglines.
  

MEXICO

Wanna join us for 3 days of serving in Mexico? Well- good news, you can! Here's some FAQ's

WHEN? Sunday afternoon Nov. 9- Tuesday evening Nov. 11, 2008

WHERE? His Ministries Day Care center in Tecate Mexico.

WHAT ARE WE DOING? We'll be playing with the kids, building a new ministry sign or two for them, helping some local families, providing some great lunches, and bonding as we serve.

DO I NEED A PASSPORT? Officially you will be required to have one by the government in June of 2009. Before then, you may continue to cross with a photo id and an original copy of your birth certificate.

WHAT DOES IT COST? The 3 days will cost you $100.

IS THERE AN APPLICATION? Sorta. There is some paperwork you need to grab and get notarized. So if you haven't already done so, please come on by our high school room and pick it up ASAP.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Brian by clicking here.

PARTY TIME

Hey Encounter people,

we have a sweet weekend in store for you on Sunday, November 9, 2008. We are teaming up as a student ministries and bringing in a great comedy team- ductape comedy. They'll make you laugh and maybe even cry- but only cuz your gut hurts. It's going to be a fun weekend and we'll have a great challenge for you as we finish up our series called "regeneration". So bring a friend and join us in Student Center A at either 9am or 10:45am. IT'S FREE!

NEW SERIES AND NEW SERVICE TIMES THIS WEEKEND

We're kicking off a new series this weekend in high school and we're going to two services. Here's the details:

1. HIGH SCHOOL HAS 2 SERVICE TIMES STARTING THIS WEEK:

• 9am
• 10:45 am.
  
• pick the one that's best for you and join us- bring a friend.

2. WE ALSO KICK OFF A NEW SERIES:


It's all about our passion to see a generation think and re-think what it means to follow Jesus. We're "inviting a generation to understand, own, and live out a life changing faith in Jesus" for the next 4 weeks.

DON'T MISS THIS SERIES. It's going to be awesome and we're praying that it will inspire and encourage you as you strive to both become and live more like Jesus.

SEMINAR SUNDAY

Anyone can talk like they live for Jesus. Some can even fake it in the way they behave, but start asking questions and the real truth comes out:

there are way too many non-thinking “christians” in this world.

Well encounter is here to change that. Join us for an afternoon of thinking and re-thinking this thing we call faith on a day we call seminar sunday.



We have 3 classes for you to choose from. Pick one and sign up. You’ll be glad you did.

1. THE ESSENCE OF IT:
   Whether you are just starting out your life as a follower of Jesus or if you’ve been trying to serve God for a while, this class is a great way to reinforce the basics of the faith. We’ll interact with your questions and cover the following essential topics: how to know you are “saved”, how to get the most out of church, the value of helping others connect with God, the power of prayer, and more. This class will help get you grounded in the essence of what it means to follow Jesus.



2. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
   Ever wondered: Where did the Bible come from? Where did denominations come from? When did people first start talking about the doctrine of the trinity? Who are the saints you hear about in Catholicism? if, so then this class is for you. A long time pastor and college professor named James Smith III is going to be here to answer your questions and challenge your level of normal. You’ll leave this class both smarter and filled with more questions too.



3. WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD:
   Want to read your Bible but just don’t know where to start? Wish you could connect with God but need some help?
   Want to grab some new ideas to take your personal
   devotional life of prayer to a new level? If so, then this class is the one. You’ll learn some new and experience some tried and true methods that have helped people truly serve God all through the centuries. Take your understanding of prayer and the Word to a new level.
   

WANNA TWITTER?

If you'd like to get announcements over twitter or if you'd like to receive them over text message then you're in luck.

Encounter is now updating a twitter account with small group info, event details/reminders, and information on the weekend.

You can read our posts or sign up for an account via twitter here.


Also, if you don't want to check a twitter account, you can just simply follow twitter via text message. All you do is sign up for a twitter account, under devices sign up for data updates by entering your cell phone, and then go in and select which accounts that you are following that you want sent to your phone- IE: say yes to Encounterhsm for data updates!!!

Then BAM. You have instant cell phone texts of the latest data from encounter for FREE. You only pay whatever your cell phone charges for a standard SMS text message.

SO FOLLOW US NOW! AND TELL A FRIEND!

We also added a twitter feed in the right column of this blog and you can subscribe to us by clicking the "follow me" on twitter there too.

OCTOBER SMALL GROUP SCHEDULE UPDATE

Our small groups operate on a rotation during our school year. They meet for about 3 weeks and then take a brief, one week break where meeting is optional or more casual. Some groups take a much needed break. Others plan a movie or starbucks run or whatever.

So, this Wednesday, October 1, is the first of such days during our school year where there are no official small groups.

HERE'S THE OCTOBER SCHEDULE:

October 1: NO GROUPS- check with your leader to see if you're meeting.

October 8: GUYS MEET IN STUDENT CENTER A. GIRLS GROUPS MEET ON JOURNEY'S CAMPUS FOR A GIRLS NIGHT OUT (a new thing where once every 3 months our girls groups are meeting together all in one place for friendship and teaching together.)


October 15: NORMAL SMALL GROUPS

October 22: NORMAL SMALL GROUPS

October 29: NO GROUPS- check with your leader to see if you're meeting.

WANT TO SEE OUR VIDEOS?

If you've ever wondered where some of the videos we show in encounter end up- the ones we've made and such... well, you can find several of them here on youtube.

We'll add some more soon. But drop on by and enjoy the ones we have there.

A BUCK A WEEK

Hey encounter. A buck a week is all we ask.

If you can muster up a buck each time you join us on the weekend, then you can help us seriously change the world.

Last week there were 157 people in our weekend service. If everyone brought a buck, it'd be... drum roll... 157 bucks. We know. Our math skills are amazing. Sadly, there was only 37 bucks in the piggy banks. Seriously. $37.

What would we do with $157 you ask? Answer:

Well last week we sponsored walk their walk for $150. (not all from that weeks offering obviously- our math skills are not miraculous you know)

We sponsored the following 3 children living in poverty around the world, which costs about $100 a month for all 3 of them combined.




We also sponsor an orphanage in Uganda called Welcome Home that some of our students visited this last summer for about $50 a month.


SO, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. A buck a week. It's all we ask.

SMALL GROUPS FALL RESTART

Hey students,

our small groups restart for the fall TOMORROW!!!!

If you're a guy, then they meet at Journey in Student Center A from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and you bring $4 for dinner. If you're a girl, then they mostly meet in homes from 7 to 9pm, but it kinda varies a little.

But either way, small groups ROCK. Please come and join us for a great year of friendships, deepening our faith, and building memories.

Please contact us ASAP if you'd like to get involved.

STUDENT SERVANT TEAM BBQ

Calling all high school students who want to serve in some significant way in Encounter this year. It's that time of year and we're accepting applications for one of 6 teams you can join this year.

You can pick up an application in Encounter or even download one here.

We are looking for people for the following teams:

• PEOPLE: help greet, write visitor cards, pass out Bibles, help with game supplies, just generally love on those who come to our weekend services.

• PRAISE: join our band and lead out with your voice or another insturment. They practice thursday nights in Encounter.

• PROGRAM: Help us plan out our weekend services and review the past ones. We meet every Wednesday from 4:30 to 6pm.

• PRODUCTION: help us with sound, lights, and computers in our student center.

• PLANET: help us with our recycling program as we strive to raise funds for sponsor children and for camp scholarships as well.

• PRAYER: we are looking for a group of students with a passion to pray who can dive in and help us plan a few annual prayer and worship nights in our ministry as well as pray over our ministry on a weekly basis as a team.

IF ANY OF THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO YOU, then fill out an application and join us today! Our kick off BBQ is from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Brian's house. Directions will be available in Encounter this weekend and next.

NEW WEEKEND SERIES

Our Sunday's are busting at the seems these days. Come and join us. We're starting a new series of teaching this weekend called "everybody matters". It goes for the next 6 week and we're serious... EVERYBODY MATTERS.

And yes... that means you too.

Come join us, this Sunday at 10:45am. We'd LOVE to have you.

SUMMER DAY TRIP CALENDAR

Here's the general list of what we're planning for this summer.

You can download a printable version here. More details will be available in our high school weekend service.

All students, incoming freshmen through graduating seniors are welcome to attend any of the items below.

BEACH BONDING AND BONFIRE DAY:
Wed. June 18: 10 am to 10pm. $5 for gas and dinner.
South Mission. Bring the stuff you want for the beach and
either a lunch or money for lunch.


Monday, June 23: Beach Monday.
Meet at Encounter. We’re going to Pacific Beach.
10am to 3pm. Bring $ for lunch.

Wed. July 9: Worship and prayer night.
Student Center A. 7-9pm

Monday, July 14: Beach Monday.
Meet at Encounter. We’re going to Mission Beach.
10am to 3pm. Bring $ for lunch.


Wed. July 23: Movie Night
Student Center A: 7-10pm. Free food.


Monday, July 28: Beach Monday.
Meet at Encounter. We’re going to Ocean Beach.
10am to 3pm. Bring $ for lunch.


Wed. Aug 13: Padre Game.
$20 for trolley/game seat. Bring $ for grub.
Buy your tickets soon. Families welcome.

SUMMER SERVICE TIMES

Last October we launched a new plan to try and reach students we were missing at the 6:30pm time slot. We decided at 8:30 am was way too hard to get students up for and our production team was arriving at 6:30 in the morning to set up. So, we decided to cancel our 8:30am service to try an evening service.

Well, it was lots of fun and we enjoyed it this school year. Our 10:45 service was a hit and grew in energy and numbers by nearly 50 students. But after 8 months of giving it our energy, we decided that it was not working as well as we thought it might. So yesterday, June 8th was our last Sunday night service.

As a result, for the summer- from fathers day and through august, we will be offering just one service for high school students at 10:45am. We'll see where we go from there, but for now, we're going to be pouring all our energy into making one amazing space and time for your teen to laugh, think, experience some new friendships, and enjoy exploring their faith in God with their peers.

So, join us at 10:45 am this Sunday and through summer.

ONE FINAL NOTE: We will not be having a service on Sunday, July 6 as our team is away at our OGN trip listed in the post below.

OGN IS COMING JULY 1-7

OGN or (Operation Good News) is just around the corner. It's a great summer experience for a high school student who not only wants to build new and deeper friendships among students in our group, but who also wants to take their ownership and depth of the faith in God to a whole new level.

Check out all the details, watch a promo video, and get the latest details on the official OGN website here. Then drop on by Encounter and fill out an application and get ready for a life altering experience.

SMALL GROUPS

Our small groups are now done for the summer. Our official re-start of them will be the Wed after labor day. September 3, 2008.

GOD AT THE MOVIES

After taking a week off on April 27th due to being at our spring retreat, we'll be re-starting, Sunday, May 4, we'll be starting our own high school version of God at the Movies. It's a series where we go looking for the God moments in some popular recent stuff many of our students have already seen in the theater. The main service will be doing it's own version of this series, something we actually stole from them anyway.

Here's the line up.

May 4: JUNO

May 11: BOURNE ULTIMATUM

May 18: DAN IN REAL LIFE.

May 25: I AM LEGEND

JUNE 1: ENCHANTED

SPRING RETREAT IS THIS WEEKEND

This weekend we are going to take 42 young women and leaders to the beach front retreat of the dana for a weekend of bonding, spiritual discussion, and good times. A group of 45 men are going to the desert for a weekend of team building, food, bonding, explosions, and seeking God like Moses did. Both trips are sure to be life changing.

The girls trip has just 1 spot left and costs $175. The guys trip has about 4 spots and costs $125. If you're interested, contact us at journey for more info.

Here's the trip t-shirt logo just for fun.


ALSO, AS A REMINDER, THERE ARE NO SMALL GROUPS THIS WEEK ON WED. APRIL 23 AND THERE ALSO IS NO ENCOUNTER THIS WEEKEND, ON SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH EITHER.

SPRING RETREAT

The Spring Retreat is upon us. We're taking our men to the desert and our women to the dana in beautiful mission beach. This is a time for fun, bonding, and some serious God moments. It seems like every year we do this trip our youth group takes a notch up or two in commitment and the "get it" factor. The vulnerability, relevance, and community that are natural parts of gender specific retreats, coupled with some amazing locations, and some great teaching turn an average weekend into a life changing three days.

Cost is $125 for the guys and $175 for the girls. A deposit is required to save your space and the trip is limited to the first 25 guys and 25 gals who sign up.

If you'd like to download the brochure and permission slip, all the data is here.

SMALL GROUP SCHEDULE

Our new small group schedule is out. You can download a PDF of it here. We meet for the first 3 weeks in April and the first 3 weeks in May too. If your son or daughter is not in a small group with us, this is a great time to get started. Contact us at the encounter@journeycom.org

NEW SERIES

We have a new series on our weekends in high school called "$ave the Green". Here's a summary of what we'll be talking about.

It’s super trendy to care about the planet these days. Companies claim to be “green”. Food products are better if they are “organic”. We are told to conserve gas, electricity, plastic bag usage, and to go green with our green money. We recycle everything from our coffee grounds to newspapers. There’s no question that today it’s hip. But is it Biblical? What does the Bible say about this world God created and what is our responsibility to care for it and at what expense? Does your life affect the world around you and the planet too? Is your money yours to spend and do with as you please or is there a deeper, more communal responsibility we have to God, the planet, and all it’s inhabitants to use our money and resources responsibly? This series will take what is so 2008 cool and see if it’s really so 2008 BC old school but somehow we’ve been missing it.

Lots will be changing in Encounter through this series- pray with us as we seek to invite students to think and re-think how they live in our world today.

MEXICO BOUND

We're headed to Mexico this spring for 3 days. March 27-29th to work with a church in Tecate Mexico. It should be an amazing experience where we will help a local church, aid and encourage their teens, and help expand the hearts and minds of our students who live just 3o minutes from them, but in a whole different world. We may also be able to meet with Hector, the little boy we sponsor each month as a ministry to provide for his needs through our weekend offering in Encounter. So fun. Cost is $150 and we're taking sign ups now for this trip if you'd like to go.... pick up a packet in Student Center A and let us know ASAP.

THIS WEEK

This Sunday we continue in out dating series with services at 10:30 am and 6:30pm with a message on dating and while it may seem like a long way off- the implications it has on marriage someday. Should be lots of fun and we hope and pray it makes students really think.

We have small groups this Wednesday too. Guys meet in SC A and the girls meet in various houses. E-mail us at the address in the side bar if you have questions and we'll get your son or daughter dialed in.

NO ENCOUNTER THIS WEEKEND

We're away in the snow and such this weekend, Feb. 10. So there's No encounter. See you on Feb. 17th as we continue our dating series. It will be awesome!!

UP AND DOWN RETREAT

We're going to the snow and to Universal Studios the weekend of Feb. 9 and 10. This weekend is the last weekend to turn in your stuff. Also, reminder- for those not going, we also will not have high school group on Feb. 10 due to the fact that we are gone. Join us for an awesome weekend and don't miss out. Brochure and all the permission slips are available in high school.

NEW WEEKEND SERIES

We start a new series this weekend in Encounter. It's called "hooking up" and it's about dating and sexuality and God's design for relationships. You don't want to miss this series. It always rocks. Join us at 10:30 am or 6:30pm this sunday, Feb. 3.

SMALL GROUPS MEET THIS WEEK

Guys meet in SC A from 6:30 to 8:30pm this Wed, February 6, 2008. Bring $3 for dinner. Girls meet in homes. Contact us if you're not already in a small group and we'll get you dialed in.