Church of the Spirit

Church of the Spirit (directly behind the WalMart and Kohl's in Kingstowne Town Center.)
Kingstowne Community Church
5775 Barclay Drive,
Kingstowne, VA 22315

Services:
Sunday- 9:00 am – Traditional Communion Service (featuring piano, flute and guitar)
11:00 am - House of Spirit Band

Service I attended: Sunday, 11:00, am

Congregation: Mixed ages/races, Caucasian/Hispanic/Black, families, young adults, 30+, middle-aged

Overall Church: Meets in an office park complex near Kingstowne Center. Off-street parking. Small, really nice, diverse congregation. They describe themselves as “…a user friendly church for those who have not found a home in more traditional churches.” I was very comfortable, and I think church newbies would be, too. The songs were easy to learn praise and worship style.

Band set-up: Bass, drums, electric and acoustic guitars, keys,trumpet.

Overall band: Wow! Fabulous musicianship. Professional and studio musicians – perhaps some volunteers as well (I wasn’t real clear on that - inquiring minds should ask.) Some of these guys are top-notch studio musicians - they are the best. Low-key and not showy, but GREAT music. Nice vocals. I chatted with one of the guitarists at the end, he let me play his Frankencaster (Danny Gatton-made, unbelievably-superb-pick-ups guitar.) Dang! Now I’m struggling with the sin of desire…

Would I go back? Yes. Good preaching, friendly and diverse congregation, non-showy fab musicians – I’m there!

Learn more: http://www.dovefromabove.org/
Email: cotsva@aol.com
Phone: 703-971-5242

Westgate Chapel

Westgate Chapel, meets at Navy Elementary School, 3500 West Ox Rd, Fairfax, VA
PO Box 710718
Herndon, VA 20171

Services:
Sunday 10:30 am

Congregation: Mixed ages, mostly Caucasian/Asian, mostly 30+ middle-aged

Overall Church: Meets in an elementary school near Fair Oaks Mall. Busy Road, but Off-street parking. Small congregation, but very nice and chatty – they are definitely happy to see you. Mission is ACTS “Accepting Others, Caring for needs, Transforming Lives, Sending to Serve.”

Band set-up: No band! Lyrics projected onto screen, use of video, nice and well–run portable sound system

Overall band: Off-the-shelf cds with congregational singing. Believe it or not, I loved this set-up! There was no one to gaze upon, no stage-presence or musician-ego issues. It was pure worship with great singing straight from the heart. Mainstream contemporary praise and worship in style. Those whom the spirit moved were encouraged to dance or sway – but in the back of the room, where they wouldn’t detract from the worship. Pastor is a musician and very supportive of independent Christian musicians – the day I visited he introduced a young Christian artist who was visiting (and also mentioned that he had a CD he was selling in a non-pushy way. )

Would I go back? Yes. Their neat, low-budget concept of presenting contemporary worship without a band is laudable and very well-done. I was very glad to have started my church visits here- I felt commissioned by this congregation, even though I had never met any of them before!

Learn more:
http://www.westgatechapel.net
Email: info@westgatechapel.net
Phone: 703-447-5326

Destiny Church

Destiny Church, Meets at Ball's Bluff Elementary School - 821 Battlefield Parkway, NE - Leesburg, VA

Services:
Sunday 10:00 am

Congregation: Mixed ages, mostly Caucasian, mostly 30+ middle-aged

Overall Church: Meets in a new elementary school in the new suburbs of Leesburg. Lots of off-street parking. May be using the portable church system - everything was well-organized and coordinated. Congregation geared towards making visitors feel cherished. Mission is to “help you find what you are looking for…your Destiny.”

Band set-up: Drums, synth, guitars, bass, lead & back-up singers
Lyrics projected onto screen, use of video, really nice portable sound system

Overall band: Very good volunteer band and great singers. Very friendly; I talked gear with one of the guitarists after the service and was treated really well. Mainstream contemporary praise and worship in style – I knew most of the songs. The service I attended seems to be geared towards young families and baby boomers.

Would I go back? Yes. Because they meet in a school, everything gets totally packed up and hauled away after the service, but the musicians were welcoming and unrushed, just like the super-friendly congregation.

Learn more: http://www.destinychurch.info
Email: info@destinynet.net
Phone: 703-777-4700

McLean Bible Church

McLean Bible Church, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA (West of Tysons Corner)

Services:
Saturday, 6:30 pm,
Sunday, 9:00 am, 10:45am, 12:30 pm
Frontline: Sunday; 5:30, 7:30 pm

When visited: Saturday night service, 6:30 pm

Congregation: Mixed ages, mostly Caucasian, mostly and 30+ middle-aged

Overall Church: Huge congregation and great new facility, with parking garage. Two campuses. Radio broadcasts. Mission of bringing the gospel to D.C. area rather than foreign countries.

Band set-up: Drums, synth, guitars, bass, lead & back-up, singers
Words projected onto screen, use of video

Overall band: No bad notes or look-at-me-showmanship here! The very competent band apparently rotates players; the night I heard them they were extremely professional, which is rumored to be the norm. The music was mainstream contemporary praise and worship in style. The service I attended seems to be geared towards 30+ baby boomers. Different styles of music apparently at different services designed to interest varying generations and worship styles.

Would I go back? Yes. It’s so big that I think assessing the music based on one service probably doesn’t do it justice. And Frontline, the Young Adult ministry is a whole different thing. There’s a lot going on here!

Learn more: http://www.mcleanbible.org
http://www.frontline.to

Phone: 703-790-5590