This church also advertised its Facebook group.
Location: 3645 Roland Ave.
Worship time: 11 a.m.
Spiritual leader: Pastor Dan Hyun, a new dad clearly thrilled about God and life in general, used a lot of slang and reached out to a younger audience. He talked a lot about what he didn't want the church to be--a "holy huddle," as he said, of people who stayed with people, circumstances, and messages they knew.
Congregation: There were 32 people there, many of whom were there for the first time. About three-fourths of the people were under 30. A few people who weren't Caucasian were there--a nice change.
As soon as you walked in the door, greeters actually started conversations and encouraged you to wear a name tag--even the pastor wore one. It wasn't just a new member thing, which was nice.
Interior: Going up the steps, which could be difficult for a few people. The church from the 1870's had 10 stained windows. I'm still impressed by the lit up stained glass of Christ's face.
Coffee and homemade cookies were waiting (unaccompanied by offering basket!) inside the church itself, making a pre-service watering hole as a preview for the free lunch held downstairs after the service.
Presentation: A presenter run through a computer displayed the Bible verses and song lyrics on either side of the organ pipes. Text was big enough to read comfortably. Free Bibles were available at each end of the pew and matched the version displayed on the screen.
The sides were roped off, and the pastor's wife asked us all to move up. This made the space seem cozier, of course, and showed good presentation skills. People talked to each other a little more when they were physically closer.
Sermon: I would have enjoyed a little more history lesson about the Samaritans from the lady by the well story (John 1-30), but a brief background of how the Samaritans came to be and how Jesus didn't have to go through Samaria was appreciated. Context clues were really fleshed out. That the woman by the well (normally at the time a social activity) chose to go alone and at noon, the hottest part of the day, was connected to the fact that Jesus knew that she had had five husbands and was sleeping with one who wasn't married to her now. Then, Pastor Dan connected the effects of gossip to what often happens in churches; he talked about healthy ways for members to support each other.
Music: The pastor's wife played the keyboard and led the songs vocally while another member played a drum. A variety of late 90's and more contemporary songs made up about 15 minutes at the beginning of the service and then a little less than that at communion/closing.
Communion, by the way, gave the parishioner the choice to go up whenever he or she was ready at the end to dip the bread into the wine. This avoided long lines and being forced to break off reflection, but it did mean that people were constantly looking around to read others' nonverbal communication to see who was going up when.
Overall atmosphere: Anyone who's liked the college church presentation but felt lost in the big numbers would feel right at home here. The newer technology and energy don't intimidate here; they draw in. The members have noted that there will be a lot of changes in the next few years as they get on their way. It should be interesting to see what happens.
8 comments:
village church a G12 cult?
Check it out.
http://www.g12cult.com/
Read your Bible it tells you
how the church is to be
governed. Don't be deceived
by cell groups and group
leaders and confessing
sins to the congregation
and groups.
i attended the village church for three years. i became ill and lost my job and no one from the village contacted me. I gave two guitars, a piano, a mandoline to members of the church. i gave books to almost everyone at the village. they would not let me join the worship team on sundays. i helped one member move. i gave a hundred dollars to a member. i was wrongly accused three times and told i was a liar twice when i was telling the truth. GOD BLESS them any way.
Six signs of a cult. 1. Cell groups and group leaders. 2. Emphasis on community, little or none on doctrine. 3. Bible studies are discussion based, not scripturally based. 4. Supporting of secular organizations. 5. Inner circle meetings. 6. Members confessing sins to the congregation or group. For more information read, "What's Wrong with the 21st Century Church" by Dr. Klenck, "A Facilitator-led Church is the gate to Hell" A letter of warning to Kurt Gebhards' Hickory Harvest Church, "Cell Churches" by Jo Gardner, "Confession Sessions" by Let Us Reason. All these articles are available on line. Every concerned Christian should read them.
I called the Mid Maryland Baptist Association and they told me that the Village Church is a Rick Warren purpose driven church. Read Joel Rainey's open letter to mosquitoes. I can't imagine a nonChristian being fooled by Rick Warren"s books. How can a Bible believing Christian swallow such garbage? Read my take on the Village in my scribblings by terrence "E-Village Church.
Government funding of churches is unlawful according to the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Tell your Congressman and Senator to repeal the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996 which grants funding to religious organizations.
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