The Pavilion Has Blessed Ekklesia
Three years ago Ekklesia was a brand new church with about five or six families. We were meeting on Sunday evenings in a home with about 20 people in attendance. We were connecting with new people and knew God was going to bring new people to become a part of our new family. In the spring of 2013 we connected with a local artist named Rich Washek who was battling cancer and we knew we needed to serve Rich in whatever way possible. Rich was also an employee of Delilah Luke who operated the downtown Pavilion event center. After a few weeks of serving Rich, Ekklesia was offered the privilege of using the Pavilion on Sunday mornings as our gathering place.
So, we began meeting there on May 5th, (Cinco de Mayo) 2013 and have been blessed ever since. Over the first eighteen months we were allowed to meet in the Pavilion for free but after a while knew that we needed to return our blessing and begin paying rent.
We saw our Sunday morning location in downtown Port Orchard as a strategic opportunity to connect with the city, downtown businesses and become involved with the heartbeat of our town. We experienced the many local events and attempted to become a blessing to these civic festivals. We would have homeless families and individuals drop in on our gatherings and we always attempted to help and bless them. We were and will continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this community! We will meet this Sunday for the last time in the Pavilion but will always remember the early days of the Ekklesia church and how we were blessed to find a foothold in the Port Orchard community. A new chapter awaits us as we continue to be a mobile church serving, connecting and meeting in house churches. We will also find a new place to gather as a group on Sundays but this will not be our identity! Our focus and identity is to "BE THE CHURCH" throughout our city wherever Jesus leads us to bless others.
The Pavilion in Downtown Port Orchard is Closing- March 15th
Our last gathering there will be this Sunday, Feb. 21st!
New Calendar on Web Site
The Ekklesia web site now has an up-dated calendar reflecting the many events and Sunday rhythms for the next several months. Check it out!
New Sunday rhythms
1st & 3rd Sundays- Teaching Sundays
2nd & 4th Sundays- Service Sundays
5th Sundays- Family Sundays
Family Retreat at Ocean Shores
May 27-29
Ekklesia will have another Family Retreat at Ocean Shores over the Memorial Day weekend. This will be a time for families and individuals to gather together at the ocean for some time of rest, relaxation and spiritual recharge! We will share meals together and some time to worship together. We'll also provide lots of time to walk the beach and connect with God!
the Ocean Shores beach at sunset
House Churches Share a Common Meal
Bell House Church family meal
House Churches eat, study, serve, recreate and play together