This is an exciting time for us as a church community.  As you're probably aware, the First Baptist Church of Ferndale and the Royal Oak Vineyard Church have come together, meeting in Ferndale (at 1841 Pinecrest).  We've even got a new name: the Renaissance Vineyard Church.  

We've changed our name, but not our sense of purpose: to be a community centered on the person of Jesus, blessing the people of our city - rooted in God, growing in community, reaching out in love.  As we step into this new year, we'll be one people, one purpose.

So, what will make the Renaissance Vineyard Church successful?

 

Here is a copy of the Advent Journal for use by individuals, families and small groups this Christmas season.

 

The Bible gives us four biographies of the life of Jesus, each with a slightly different riff on a common theme. Like good jazz. Mark's biography of Jesus emphasizes what happens when the amazing work that God is doing in the world intersects with everyday people. Mark's Gospel is not for religious superstars. If there were a Dummies® Guide to Following Jesus, the Gospel of Mark might be it. In Mark, we see what it looks like for regular people to try to follow Jesus, fall down, get up, and try again. We'll see what happens when we begin to open our hearts to the possibility of a God who loves us, and open up our lives to the possibility that we get to be a part of that amazing work God is doing.

 

If Jesus built a church, what would it look like?  We can be pretty sure he wouldn't erect some facade.  We're convinced he would build people - people with a purpose, a community with a cause.  As the master builder, Jesus laid out the blueprints for what it means for us to be his church.  This fall we'll take a look at five foundations.