A mobile church: That serves in the community

 Gathering This Sunday
December 10th
Parkwood Club
3045 Madrona Dr.
10:00am- Coffee
10:25am Worship/ Teaching

Classes for 
Adults- Tim Blair- Angels and Jesus- part 2
Youth will join the Angels class this week!
Children- Lisa Blair

Ekklesia House Churches 
Ekklesia (Bell/Hanson) House Church on Monday evenings
The first church 2000 years ago often meet together in houses wherever believers in Jesus were found. They didn't construct worship buildings until several centuries later. They met from house to house and shared their food, labor and money with others as needs arose. They were an organic group of people without significant organization. It was simple. They had leaders called Elders, Shepherds and Apostles. They dedicated themselves to prayer, the teaching of the Word of God and to serving others. 
Ekklesia is also dedicated to an organic approach to Christianity. We do meet together as a larger group on Sundays but we also meet throughout the week in "House Churches" in various locations. Each House Church studies the Word together, they eat together, they serve others together, and they recreate together. These four components of Study, Eating, Serving and Recreating make up the four rhythms of our House Churches. It's about living life together "on mission" for Jesus as a united group. These four aspects of life create bonds among the House Church members.  As we grow together we also grow in our relationship with Jesus. In a real sense we are making Disciples of Jesus. House Churches will continue to grow within the Ekklesia family and we will plant new locations as new families enter the Ekklesia church. 

Ekklesia Christmas Party
Ekklesia members are all invited to the annual Christmas party for all ages on Wednesday evening, Dec. 20th at the Bell home. Everyone will be encouraged to bring a small gift as part of our annual White Elephant gift exchange. We will also share food together. So, bring finger foods or something special to share. 
Ekklesia Christmas party in past years

Ekklesia Leadership Meeting- Sunday, Dec. 10th
The Ekklesia leadership team will meet this coming Sunday evening at 6pm at the Cartwright home. Everyone attending is encouraged to bring a side dish to share as we eat dinner together. Let's pray for the Holy Spirit to lead our church in the direction the Lord would desire.

Ekklesia to Build the Bath and Shower Houses for the new Tiny House Village
Ekklesia has been asked by Kitsap County Commissioner Garrido to begin working on designs for the new bathroom and shower buildings that will be placed in the tiny house village for homeless residents. These two buildings will be about the same size as the other eleven tiny cottages (8' x 12') but will provide the needed fixtures and plumbing needed for the whole village of tiny cottages. The First Lutheran Church will also be working with Ekklesia to construct these two bathroom buildings. We have been so blessed to be a part of this new ministry to serve the homeless. Pray for the completion of the planning that is presently happening between the county and the city planning staff who are working on the various important issues like permits, ordinances and set back issues. This project is truly drawing close to completion and we will soon begin working on the property to prepare it for the arrival of the tiny cottages we have built!
An example of a bath house at the 22nd St. Tiny House Village in Seattle

Possible designs for the bath house and shower house
Prayer Needs

  • Craig Thomas - who broke his wrist several weeks ago.
  • Ekklesia members with new jobs! Lori White, John Powless
  • Melissa Bell's step-dad, David Latham and his wife LaDonna as David struggles with health issues. 
  • James & Angela Goodman and family as they minister at the Sound View Christian Camp. Also for Heath Goodman as he recovers from surgery. 
  • The selection of a site for the Tiny Cottage Village-  A site is now being considered! We need prayers that all the red tape will be taken care of and the land preparations might begin.
  • Direction is needed as Ekklesia builders are designing the new bath house for the Tiny Cottage Village. 
  • The Parry family and Joe- as he has been deployed to San Diego for a few months. 
www.ekklesiakitsap.org
Helpline Food Bank- 
Christmas Food & Toy Distribution Dec. 18-19 

Ekkklesia members will be helping again this year with the Christmas food & toy distribution to over 1,000 families. The food bank distribution will again occur at the National Guard Armory on Mile Hill. On Monday and Tuesday Dec. 18th and 19th. We will need volunteers over those two days to help with the distribution from 9am til 6pm. This will be another great opportunity to serve others in our community. 

Christmas Party  Dec. 20th 

Ekkklesia members are invited to the annual Christmas party at the Bell home on Wednesday evening, Dec. 20th at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited to bring a white elephant gift for the gift exchange. Please bring finger foods or snacks to share. 

Tiny Cottage Construction Update 

A big thank you to our local Lowes store who has stepped up to help park three of our recently built tiny cottages. Cottages #7, #8 are now parked in front of Lowe's and we await the transfer of #9 in the next few days. These three cottages will remain in front of Lowes until we receive the go ahead to move them to the new village site. Thank you to Valerie the store manager for accepting our request for help to park these tiny cottages in their parking lot.

Prayers are needed as Kitsap County planning officials are meeting with City of Port Orchard planning officials and determining the land use details on a piece of property we are considering for the new homeless village site. Everyone is very excited and we only need to receive the "go ahead" in order to begin the grading and development work on the proposed property. A local family has stepped forward to offer the use of their property for the village and it's location is just right. 

We will now begin the process of designing the community kitchen building and the bathroom building for the village. Several opportunities to build more tiny cottages will occur over the next few weeks. Volunteers will be needed. 

Ekklesia and First Lutheran will build two more cottages in the coming weeks. 
Grace Bible Church will build #7, #8 & #9 cottages on August 19th in their parking lot.
First Lutheran Church will now store three of the completed cottage in their parking lot.  #6, #3 and #10 
Habitat For Humanity has built #10 tiny cottage in Port Orchard
Kaiser Permanente Corp. has committed to building three tiny cottages on the three clinic locations across Kitsap County in the next few months.
United Methodist Church in Port Orchard has committed to giving the funds to build another cottage to Mr. Winn the SK High School wood shop teacher.
Spirit of Life Lutheran Church has committed to build a cottage in a few months.

We now have eighteen tiny cottages sponsored by local businesses, service groups or churches. Ten cottages have been built!

Thank you to Leo's Towing who continues to offer his services to move our cottages when needed!
Four tiny cottages completed and parked on Mitchell Rd. at First Lutheran Church

Thank You For Supporting Us! 

We have been blessed by you for your prayers for our family and new church. Your support has enabled us to help many homeless and needy in our community. As this year comes to a close we know it is the faithful support of so many who have enabled us to serve the Lord in the Port Orchard community. 
Thank you. 
Tim and Lisa Blair

Ekklesia Church | P.O. Box 601 Burley, WA 98322 | 360-801-0012 | [email protected] | www.ekklesiakitsap.org
donations to Ekklesia may be made on the "GIVE" tab. 
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