A Family-versary

My family and I have been blessed to be part of The Vineyard for the last seven years. During that time I marvel at the many friends we’ve made through our small groups and the volunteer outreaches we’ve been part of.

Both my husband and I grew up in households where church and “religion” were more a duty rather than a way of life. We attended weekly services in our starched Sunday best because it was expected of us.  Church attendance was more punishment than privilege.

I’m not going to lie to you – I dreaded going to church as a child and quite frankly understood very little about the rituals and the scary organ music.

Once I became an adult I sampled many different types of churches – some that I liked and some that scared the bejeebers out of me. I’ve been around the religious block a time or two and I know the difference between a “religious church” and one that’s a Bible-based follower of Christ.

When we visited The Vineyard seven years ago we were looking for a church home – some place we could plug in to and become a part of.

Our previous church home of 18 years in downtown Phoenix was changing and for us, church started to have that obligation feel.  The 35 minute drive added to the weekly “punishment”  – especially in the long hot summer months with three whiny complaining kids.

With a move to a new house in 2004 we decided the timing was right to start fresh with a new church.  We made a list of churches in the Peoria and Glendale area to visit. I had seen an ad in a local paper the year before about the opening of the Vineyard’s new sanctuary and boasting that The Vineyard had a coffee bar.

I don’t drink coffee (I’m a Diet Coke caffeine junkie) but something about the idea of being able to drink anything in the sanctuary appealed to me. It made the church sound “homey” and welcoming which was quite unlike anything I was used to. (As a child I used to get the look if I so much as raised my voice in church.)

After our first visit to The Vineyard, we liked the church so much we didn’t want to look anywhere else. The combination of the music, the teaching and the warm welcome we felt from all the people made us feel so at home we decided to become members. And yeah, seeing people walk in with their Bibles and their coffee or Diet Coke made me feel like I was part of a family that all shared the same love for the Word of God, Jesus Christ and a good jolt of morning caffeine.

Being part of the building of the new sanctuary (with caffeine cup holders in the seats) makes us love being part of something bigger.  We belong to a family and that’s a privilege we never take for granted!

CONGRATULATIONS Brian and Thora on your 25th anniversary! You’ve built a wonderful family at The Vineyard that we are proud to be part of!

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy
www.kathkurlin.com