Soup and Pie Social
More Than Soup and Pie For me, the Soup and Pie Social was more than a meal after a meeting. It was a chance to pause and help our church family see the bigger picture of what God had been doing among us. In the past, our congregational meetings could feel formal and mostly focused […]
Joseph Sabatical
Following Elijah’s Path to RenewalPastor Joseph’s Sabbatical For more than twelve years, Pastor Joseph has poured himself into our student ministry. In that time he has laughed with a lot of goofy teenagers—my own kids included—and walked alongside countless families. He has shown up week after week to teach, listen, and point students to Jesus. […]
Tap Phone Where?
The Reason Behind By now, you’ve probably noticed the small circle stickers on the backs of our seats that say “tap phone here.” I’ve had many people ask what they are, but the bigger question I’m answering is: how do we make it easier for people to take a real step into community instead of […]
Women’s Conference: IF One Night
Women’s Conference 2026Men Serving Women at the Conference When we gathered for our Women’s Conference on February 28, I loved seeing the room fill-up with women from many different stages of life. We opened the day to women ages 16 and up, and from the start it felt warm and welcoming. We shared breakfast and […]
Circle Up Saturday
Choosing Our Own AdventureReflections on Circle Up Saturday When we started planning Circle Up Saturday, I kept thinking about how to refresh our traditional Mountainside weekend. This year, we decided to try something new. Instead of a two-day retreat, we packed the excitement into one focused day of community building, and the results were beautiful. […]
Taste of Love Dinner
From Dinner Tables to Stronger MarriagesA Taste of Love Dinner I had been wanting to bring a “Taste of Love” dinner to our church, and this winter felt like the right time. I’ve hosted similar events before, but this was a first for our congregation. The goal was simple: provide couples a low-pressure date night […]
Behind the Scenes with the Minards
I’ve had the joy of serving in ministry alongside Dan and Sharon Menard for several years now, and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them—especially Dan. He started attending Encore events not long after I became involved, and little by little, he stepped in to help, always offering to serve wherever he could. […]
Scoops, Smiles, and Sweet Fellowship
The Seniors Ice Cream Tradition Every summer for the past four years, we’ve wrapped up our Encore senior ministry season with an ice cream social—and let me tell you, it’s become one of the favorite events. Unlike our regular monthly luncheons, which involve a full meal, this event keeps it light and simple: just dessert. […]
From BBQ to Blessings: God at Work in Our Community
Seniors Summer Picnic This year’s Encore Summer Picnic was more than just a meal – it was our kickoff to the 2025-2026 season, and it’s become a tradition I genuinely look forward to. Our friend Bill Bender grilled up a delicious spread of salmon and two kinds of chicken, and everyone else pitched in with […]
From Field to Feast
The Spirit of the Men’s Wild Game Dinner Our Wild Game Dinner is an event designed for anyone with a taste for wild game meat and adventure, but it’s also accessible to all with various other food options available. At its core, it’s an opportunity for men of all ages to connect over a unique […]