Getting Started

How to use our resources…

There is a LOT of information on this website about how we run ENCOUNTER. Bear in mind, we have been doing this for many years now and things have changed along the way. Don’t feel you need to implement everything straight away. We suggest the essential elements are: the visual timetable, the overall format of the services, and a welcoming environment. Beyond that, some of the other suggestions can be implemented as you get going.

All the service plans on this website can be adapted to suit your Church. If you don’t know a particular song, then you can swap it for something you do. Or, if your building doesn’t give you the space to use a particular response, then perhaps one of our other ideas would work better.

We strongly recommend you stick to the format of the services as we designed them, which has been tried and tested since 2018. It might be a little different to what you’re used to, but trust us, it works! In fact, we have made it work in person, online and in hybrid services.

To get started, have a read through the information on accessibility, environment and the format of the services, then head to the service resources, where you can find loads of fully planned services to pick from. In the section below you will also find some useful external links.