The Vine Church of Petaluma - 1st Preview Service

I attended the first preview service of The Vine Church of Petaluma this Sunday (Nov. 20th) at 1129 Industrial Avenue, Suite 208 (the offices of the Money Coach Institute). The preview service provides an opportunity for those interested in our church to get an idea of what it will be like when we begin regular services at the start of the year on January 8th (2012). It also gives us the opportunity to try out what the services will be like, to get feedback, and to make adjustments. (A big thank you to Deborah Price of the Money Coaching Institute for contributing her office to us without charge for this preview service.)

Rev. Dave Weidlich is our pastor and delivered the sermon (about Thanksgiving). He last served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church where he resigned in May (of this year, 2011). We feel very fortunate to have this pastor, with his educational background and experience (see the link above). He is an able preacher with a very conversational sermon style, as well as being very based in the word of God. He also led us in worship as well as Holy Communion.

We had about 25 in attendance, a good start for a preview service. We had a wonderful lunch following the service. We have several pictures of the service on the blog at our website. Many thanks to those who came, as well as to Petaluma Christian Church, which donated chairs, and to Petaluma Valley Baptist Church, which loaned a sound system.

The leadership asked me to play guitar as part of the worship band, and deliver a devotional message on worship, at the service. So I had a wonderful time attending the service. It took a lot of work to set up the church at an office site, and then to take it down, but it was well worth it.