A mobile church: That serves in the community
  
 Candle Light Gathering This Sunday
December 24th
Parkwood Club
3045 Madrona Dr.

10:00am - Coffee
10:30am - Worship

Peace on Earth
Many people have different ideas about what Christmas is all about. Some may think it's about family time and opportunities to make wonderful memories together. Others may think it's about presents and giving gifts to others. Some may even think it's about all the lights and glitz that have become a part of our culture. The real confusion occurs when people forget the original story of Jesus and why he came to earth. The announcement of his birth by the angel to the shepherds came with a special message to the world. The angel said, "Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." Jesus came to give peace to the world between God and man and also between people. It is God's ultimate desire to love his creation and to also have his creation love him back. Jesus came to show that love and to also show us how to love others. Let us all strive for peace in everyone's life that is eternal because of the life of Jesus. 

Ekklesia Children Telling the Story 
Ekklesia children Mia and Ella sing Away in a Manger
On Sunday, December 17, our Sunday gathering focused on telling the story of Jesus' birth. Our children helped out by telling the story from the Gospel of Luke and also sang the song, Away in a Manger. We had a wonderful time of eating together and then followed that by a time of worship around tables. 

Ekklesia to Build the Bath and Shower House 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 building that will be placed in the tiny house village for homeless residents. This will be an extended version of our original prototype tiny house. Rick Bell (Ekklesia House Church leader) has designed this new bath house and it will house both toilet/sink rooms and also three shower rooms. One of the rooms will be large enough for wheel chair access.  The First Lutheran Church will also be partnering with Ekklesia to construct this new bath and shower house. A special meeting was held last Monday, Dec. 18th between the Kitsap County planners of the village and an architectural firm that has donated their time to be the designers and land development firm. Some great meetings have occurred between the county and the City of Port Orchard to drastically reduce the permit fees. We have been so blessed as God has opened the doors of city and county officials to make this all possible. We are also so grateful to the loving family that has opened their hearts to the homeless and has offered the use of their land for this project. 
The prototype Bath and Shower house design presented to the county
Also, last week a mechanical contractor firm in Silverdale has agreed to donate up to three mobile office trailers for use as the tiny house village offices, kitchen, security building and laundry facilities. One might be used for the security gate office, another for the storage and laundry and the third largest one for the kitchen and gathering room. We will most certainly be busy remodeling the interior of these three trailers as the deal is firmed up! Pray for everything to go smoothly!
Ekklesia contractor (Gene Cartwright) inspecting the interior of the large 10x32 ft trailer
The large 10'x32' trailer which will become the kitchen and meeting room facility
Prayer Needs

  • Craig Thomas - as he visits his mother in San Ramon, CA.
  • 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. 21st and 22nd 

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 Thursday and Friday Dec. 21st and 22nd. 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. 

Candle Light Worship  Dec. 24th 

Ekkklesia will have a special candle light worship gathering on Sunday morning, Dec. 24th at 10:30am at the Parkwood Club in Port Orchard. We will have a time of scripture reading and songs. 

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 & #9 are now parked in front of Lowe's. 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

Merry Christmas! 

At this time of year Lisa and I would like to express our love and appreciation to all our supporters who have so faithfully contributed to our work here in Port Orchard. May the Lord bless you and your family in this Christmas season. The Lord has been so good and we know his blessings will be faithful to support us in the coming year.  
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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