New Here?

Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

A Welcome Message From Pastor Ted

Thanks so much for checking out Encounter Church online. Whether you're new to the church or new to the area, we're so excited that you're here! If you've never been to one of our services before, just know that you are invited to join us this Sunday, either in person or online. We are so excited to meet you and hope that you have a wonderful day!

For His Glory, Lead Pastor Ted Simmons

FAQ

We are located at 220 Campbelltown Road, Palmyra, PA 17078.

Encounter Church is easy to find—just off Route 322, Route 422 and close to several main interstates, including I-83. Whether you’re coming from Lebanon, Hershey, Hummelstown, or anywhere in Central Pennsylvania, we’re just a short drive away.

Scroll down to view our location on the map or click for directions. We can’t wait to welcome you in person!

At Encounter, we invite middle and high school youth into the service to worship with the adults. Middle school age students are also invited to "Impact in the Morning" on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month during the 9:30am service for a chance to dive deeper into Scripture and discipleship. This gathering is meant to supplement—not replace—the Sunday worship service, as we value students engaging with the larger church body.

There is a large parking lot in front of the church building that extends to both sides. If the lot is full, a parking attendant will help you find a spot in the grass, or at our overflow locations, which include Bartolo's Pizza near the entrance of our parking lot and the Penn State Health office behind the church on Park Drive. Both businesses are closed on Sunday and have graciously offered their lots for overflow parking. Look for the parking attendants in bright orange or yellow vests, and they will be happy to help you find a parking spot.

Come as You Are
We’re a relaxed and welcoming community, and there’s no dress code here. Most people (including our staff!) wear jeans, so feel free to be yourself and come however you're comfortable.

Friendly Faces, No Pressure
You’ll be greeted with a smile and pointed in the right direction if you’d like help. We have a Welcome Center to the left of the sanctuary when you come in the main doors. There are friendly people waiting to show you around and answer any questions. But if you prefer to explore on your own, that’s totally fine too. We want you to feel at home and connect at your own pace—no pressure, no awkward hovering.

Worship That Glorifies the Lord and invites you to Encounter Him
Our worship team plays contemporary music that’s energetic, meaningful, engaging but above all else, gives all praise, glory and honor to God. It’s not about putting on a show—it’s about helping you connect with God in a real way.

Creative & Inspiring Services
We bring together creative elements that are exciting, inspiring, and designed to complement the sermon's theme. Our hope is that through worship, the message and God's word, you are equipped to grow in your faith journey and live in a continual pursuit of a deepening relationship with Jesus.

Messages That Matter
Our messages are rooted in Scripture but also applicable to real life, tackling real-life topics and asking: What does God's word have to say about this?

Kids Will Love It Here
Our Encounter Kidz Konnection program is one of our top priorities. It's high-energy, safe, and super fun—led by a passionate team that makes church the best part of your child’s week.

A Place for You
Encounter Church is a warm and welcoming church body where you and your family can grow, build meaningful friendships, and discover how much God loves you. We hope that every time you walk in our doors it feels like home and that you leave knowing: you matter—to God and to us.

Encounter Church is excited to welcome your kids! Our Kidz Konnection ministry is ready to provide a fun, safe, and engaging environment for children from Nursery through 5th grade during each of our Sunday services.

Each child is placed in an age-appropriate classroom where they’ll be cared for by our amazing team of trained, background-checked volunteers who love Jesus and love kids. Our goal is to make sure every child feels known, safe, and excited to come back each week!

You will receive a numbered tag for your child when you sign them into their classroom. If you are needed in Kidz Konnection at any time during the service, the number on your tag will pop up at the bottom of the screens in the sanctuary.

We also offer private rooms with live audio/video of the service for nursing moms or parents with little ones who need a break. From check-in to pick-up, we’ve created a process that’s smooth, secure, and easy to follow.

When you arrive, head straight to the Kidz Check-In area, or look for someone wearing a lanyard, and they can direct you to our KK. Someone from our team will be at the Check-In area to answer any questions, walk you through the check-in process, and make sure your child has a great experience. You do not need to register your child in advance of arriving at the church.

Jesus Prioritized: In what way did my actions represent Jesus today?

Colossians 3:17

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Matthew 16:24-25

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it.'"

Growth Pursued: How am I walking in accountability with others on my journey of faith?

Acts 2:42

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer."

Titus 2:11-14

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."

People Empowered: How am I using my gifts to serve in the Body?

1 Peter 4:10-11

"God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

Generations Bridged: How am I investing in the lives of someone older/younger than me?

Psalm 145:4

"Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; let them proclaim Your power."

Proverbs 20:29

"The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old."

Communities Transformed: Am I close to someone far from God? What am I doing to show them God's love?

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

At Encounter, we have groups that meet at various times throughout the week. We call these Growth Groups. Typically Growth Groups run on a semester basis and start in September, January, & June.

Growth Groups are groups that can range anywhere from 8-15 people that meet in homes or at the church. Growth Groups are geared toward making relational connections with others at Encounter - especially for those relatively new to the church - while growing together through study of God’s Word.

Through Bible Study Groups studying God’s word, to Fellowship Groups focused on connecting those completely new to Encounter or not yet plugged into the church, find community, to Interest Groups where kids and adults can foster intergenerational relationships through similar activities, to Hope Groups that offer support through life’s most difficult days, there is one aspect that unites them all: Discipleship. Discipleship comes in many shapes and forms, yet its purpose remains the same, to call all people to be fully devoted followers of Jesus and bring His love to life!

Our prayer is that you grow more deeply in your relationship with the Lord while finding life-long connections and friendships through these groups.

This group is for those who are new to Encounter, still feel new, or simply looking to connect. Our desire is to make a large church feel small by connecting those who may not have connection find it through a group specifically tailored for connection!

Our goal is to help you make deeper connections through conversation, with those who are seeking to find "their people" within the church. This is done by helping you find your place to plug into where you can serve and grow deeper in your walk with Christ, all while learning about the mission and values of Encounter. By the end of this group, we hope that you feel connected, plugged in and ready to serve and move onto other groups and ministries within the life of the church.

Special Note: This group runs year-round. We have one on the 1^st Sunday of the month at 9:30am and another meets the 1^st Wednesday of the month, at 6:00pm.

Registrarse para el Grupo de Conexión

Este grupo está dirigido a quienes son nuevos en Encounter, a quienes aún se sienten nuevos en la iglesia o, simplemente, a quienes desean conectar con otras personas que comparten una herencia cultural hispana y hablan español. Nuestro deseo es hacer que una iglesia grande se sienta pequeña al conectar a los hispanohablantes, permitiéndoles sentirse apoyados y parte de una comunidad.

Are you new to Encounter, or do you still FEEL NEW? If this is you, we invite you to join us for one of our Connect Lunches. What better way to get connected to one another than over a meal together? Various staff and leaders of the church will be present and eager to meet you. Children are also encouraged to join and eat with the adults, and then they can head back to Kidz Konnection to play with our youth helpers while the adults chat. Registration is open three weeks prior to each lunch via the button titled "Connect Lunch RSVP." Or you can sign up in the church lobby at the Connect Lunch Registration table. We're very excited to see you there!

Upcoming Lunch Dates:

October 18, 2026

January 17, 2027

April 18, 2027

Connect Lunch RSVP