Vineyard Church

[jumpyjan]

I am planning on going along to a Vineyard Church service on Sunday and just wondered what to expect - has anyone come across them before?

A friend has recommended them to me and so far I am very interested in what I have heard but would love to hear some other opinions.

Vineyard churches are known as mega churches - they have big congregations.

They are known for 'servant evangelism'.

Never heard of this. Off to google now

So similar worship style to the Pentecostal worship style of Hillsong etc? Love Hillsong's music! We sing lots of contemporary songs in our church (although our congregation is not huge - about 300 for Sunday morning service) and I find it very inspiring!!

jumpyjan, what did you think?

Hi Oxocube - I'm afraid I really didn't enjoy it at all. The people were lovely/welcoming etc but I just felt it was all a bit blah really.

I have been listening to podcasts from Hillsong and find them so inspiring and thought provoking and I was hoping for more of that.

The first half an hour was worship which I found quite uncomfortable. We all stood up to sing (the songs were modern and unfamiliar to me so I could not really join in) I had expected this but they sang about 5 songs in a row so it went on for about half an hour! We then sat down for notices which lasted about half an hour - really boring just info on events etc (which I realise is something that needs to be done but surely not in the middle of the service).

The talk followed and unfortunately it just didn't seem very relevant to me.

Am feeling really flat actually as I thought I was going to love it and find somewhere I enjoy going but I don't think there is any point in giving it another go as it just wasn't for me.

I am not knocking it for others by the way - it just didn't do it for me.

Oh what a shame . I must say that we begin every Sunday morning worship with about half an hour of singing which I found a bit unnerving at first until I learned the songs!! We have a fab band and singers which is very Hillsong inspired. My church is quite hand-waving/clapping/"Praise Jesus!" IYKWIM. It took me a month or so to feel comfortable with but now I love it. About 20% of our congregation is Nigerian and their passionate style of worship is something new to me but something I have come to love

30 mins worth of notices seems v excessive though! Sometimes I find the sermon really moving and I think, "Wow, God is actually speaking to ME here!" but occasionally (like last Sunday) I feel rather uncomfortable with the message. Do you think it is simply not for you or worth giving another go? What was the sermon about if you don't mind me asking?

I went a Vineyard church once in st albans. I left as I found some of the behaviour hypocritical.

I attened a Pioneer church now, similar to a baptist church, and we do about half an hour of worship first. It is different from Anglican services, where it is split up.