Worship

Why do we worship the way we do at the Vineyard? One thing people notice almost immediately about the Vineyard is the worship. It’s often quite different from anything they have ever experienced at a church before. Perhaps you have asked some of the same questions others have about our worship: “Why do you sing so many songs? Why is there a rock band up on the stage rather than a choir and organ? Why do people close their eyes and raise their hands? Why don’t you just sing up beat, happy songs to get people in a good mood?  Why do some people seem to get so emotional during worship?”

Worship is most central to God and to us as Christians and us in the Vineyard because worship is central to the Bible and is central in heaven.  Among other things, heaven is a place where things work the way they are supposed to work, where people are doing only that which they are supposed to be doing, where God is actually ruler and it looks like it.  Heaven is what God intends for us and is what God is restoring our world to.

That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” John was given a revelation of the scene in heaven at present and in the future.  The curtain was peeled back for a moment and John saw God’s heavenly kingdom: God on the throne and Jesus right with him.  And do you know what else he saw?  Kingdom worship.  I’m so grateful he wrote this down so you and I could see, too, what Kingdom worship looks like.  We, at the Vineyard, long to become a Kingdom worshiping community.

What worship at the Vineyard is not:

Worship is not a “spectator sport” at Vineyard.  The singers and musicians on the stage during our worship services are not there to entertain us but to lead us in worshipping God and into His presence.  This is why you will see people throughout the congregation with their eyes closed and their hands raised. They are participating in and not just watching worship.

Worship at Vineyard is not a “warm-up” to get us ready for the sermon. Although worshipping God often does soften our hearts and open our minds up to hearing from God during the sermon, that is not the purpose of worship. Worship is to express thanks and adoration to God for who He is and what He has done. Worship has value in and of itself and is not a prelude to anything, including the message.

Worship at Vineyard is not a “sing-a-long” time. Most people have at some time in their lives joined in a sing-a-long-sitting around a campfire as a kid or gathered around the piano after a big family meal.  Worship, however, is more than songs and music. It is coming into contact with the living God. Expressing our thoughts and feelings to Him in song is simply a vehicle towards that end.

What worship at the Vineyard is:

Worship at Vineyard is about intimacy with God. It is during worship that we come into contact with the living God in a deep and personal way. Worship is when we turn our attention away from the pressures and stresses of daily life, and through song, consider God and what He has done for us.  At Vineyard, we try not to hide behind “religious” masks and keep God at arms-length. We come to Him honestly, letting Him see us as we really are, with all our weaknesses, failings and needs.

The Bible teaches that God “dwells in the midst of our praises.” It is during worship that many people actually feel God touching them at their point of deepest need. You will see people with their eyes closed, their hands raised, they might even be crying. God is doing something in them at that moment.

It is because we value intimacy with God that:

  • we worship for 20-30 minutes. It takes time for people to re-focus and open themselves up to God.
  • we project the words to songs up onto overhead screens rather than use songbooks. We want people focused on the Lord and not distracted behind a book.
  • we sing songs with simple lyrics that are easy to follow and memorize. That enables people to focus on the Lord as they worship and not worry if they are singing the right words.
  • we sing songs that are directed to the Lord and are not just about the Lord. We want to build up our relationships with God during worship.
  • we won’t always have an “up-beat” type celebration during our worship services because people don’t feel up-beat all the time. We don’t use music to manipulate people or manufacture a certain “mood.” Instead, we value honesty and authenticity in worship.
  • we use songs that express how we really are-that admit weakness or need, ask for help, or tell God how much we love Him for what He has done.

Worship at Vineyard is about being culturally relevant. Our desire is for people to be able to walk off the street, into our worship service and not feel out of place or like they have stepped back in time a hundred years.  We try to make everything we do and say easy to understand and relevant for a person living today. This is why:

  • we have a “rock-and-roll” style worship band.  This style of music has become the most relevant and meaningful to our culture today
  • we have a simple auditorium without any ornate decorations or religious symbols
  • we dress casually, allowing people to “come as they are."

Please feel free to participate in worship here at the Vineyard to whatever degree you feel comfortable. You may discover after a few times that you are really looking forward to that part of our service-that worshipping God is a wonderful experience. It can help lower your walls of defenses against the Lord, allowing Him to touch you deeply and change your life forever.

Vineyard’s worship ministry recruits and trains musicians and artists while incorporating Vineyard values to give direction to our style and practice. We would like to develop enough worship leaders to be able to have a leader in each home group, to have multiple worship teams for Sunday morning celebrations, and to lead worship in children’s ministry on Sunday mornings. For more information contact Josh Colley (501-1468) or
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The following teachings from our Podcast Library reflect on the role and purpose of worship at the Vineyard:

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