River of Joy

I visited River of Joy Fellowship (River of Joy Petaluma) this Saturday evening, Oct. 15th. They meet in the cafeteria of Legacy Marketing Group at 2090 Marina Avenue (across the street from the old Yardbirds/Home Depot). They gather around 6 p,m. with an average attendance of between 20 and 40 of mixed ages.

The phrase I think of in trying to describe this church is free flowing. When you arrive, you find them in the process of laying out a small light hot dinner on tables. They invite you to have some with them, and they all casually sit around at the tables in the cafeteria and talk for anywhere between half an hour to an hour. Then they start a worship time of anywhere from half an hour to an hour. After the worship (or sometimes in the middle of it), they invite anyone present to give a testimony about anything God is doing in their life, and various members take up the invitation.

At all times during the service, anyone is free to sit, stand, move around, or get more food or snacks. They tell everyone they want you to feel at home. Unlike all churches I have visited, they do not give you a bulliten (or missal). The entire service has a very free and breezy feel to it. If you visit, be prepared to be there till as late as 9 or 10, though they often finish between 8 and 9.

Larry & Cindy Laxton co-pastor River of Joy. When it comes time for the sermon, which feels more like a message, they both come forward to speak. Larry begins and speaks for about 5 minutes. The Larry and Cindy look at each other, and at the right moment, Cindy begins to speak. They go back and forth like this, in a sort of complimentary team tag manner for half an hour to an hour. You get a male and female perspective on their message. dy Laxton co-pastor River of Joy. When it comes time for the sermon, which has more of the feel of a message, they both come forward and deliver a sort of team tag sermon. Jerry begins

One reason they meet on Saturday evening is so pastors can come and be ministered to and refreshed to go and lead their church service on Sunday morning. They often have pastors who visit for this reason.